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Sitecore MVP Article

How to Thrive at 25: As Sitecore Charts an AI Future, Community Remains its Greatest Asset     

matt-garrepy

MVPs Assemble: Sitecore Recognizes 213 Digital Innovators as ‘Most Valuable Professionals’ for 2026

<a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/mattmcqueeny">Matthew McQueeny</a> is a North American Peer Group Leader for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/boye-co/posts/?feedView=all">Boye &amp; Company</a>, Head of Relationships at <a target="_blank" href="https://konabos.com/">Konabos,</a> and a CMS Critic contributor. <hr /> Last week, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore</a> unveiled its 2025 class of <a target="_blank" href="https://mvp.sitecore.com/">Most Valuable Professionals</a>, known across the industry as “Sitecore MVPs.” This hallowed tradition, now in its nineteenth year, celebrates individuals who display outstanding engagement and support of the Sitecore community worldwide.The latest cohort includes 241 Sitecore experts, featuring 61 Ambassadors, 34 Strategy members, 145 Technology members, and one Honorary member. Of these, 43 were welcomed as new Sitecore MVPs.Earning my third Sitecore MVP is an honor that carries deep meaning for me. When I joined <a target="_blank" href="https://konabos.com/">Konabos</a> nearly four years ago, Sitecore was already a platform this team was renowned for. Led by several multi-time MVPs, the company had a strong reputation in the digital experience space. My own history with Sitecore had been more distant. I knew it as a powerful <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">enterprise CMS (Content Management System)</a> and DXP (Digital Experience Platform), but my previous agency primarily worked with <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/wordpress">WordPress</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/kentico">Kentico</a>. While that agency’s own website was built on Sitecore, there was little exposure to its customer base or the broader Sitecore community. Konabos, however, provided a gateway into an ecosystem I hadn’t fully explored. It’s funny to think back to how it all started—through Konabos co-founder <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshaysura/">Akshay Sura</a>, who I worked with at that previous agency many years ago when we originally launched that Sitecore site. It all makes sense now!<h3 id="starting-my-sitecore-mvp-journey">Starting my Sitecore MVP journey</h3>In my first year at Konabos, I gained more hands-on experience with Sitecore as many of our customers were deeply embedded in the platform. I took a shot at earning my first MVP title but quickly realized I hadn’t yet contributed enough to the community to warrant the distinction. The following year, I made a deliberate shift—not just in learning the technology, but in engaging with the Sitecore community at a deeper level. Through <a target="_blank" href="https://konaverse.konabos.com/ ">Konabos’ Konaverse podcast,</a> I interviewed executives, MVPs, and practitioners. I attended Sitecore events that felt as high-level and exclusive as major tech conferences. More importantly, I shared my insights through articles, webinars, social media posts, and podcasts, focusing on Sitecore’s value from a business perspective. That year, I earned my first MVP, and with it came access to an inner circle of thought leaders and innovators. Suddenly, I was having meaningful discussions—both recorded and unrecorded—with Sitecore leaders like CEO <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/big-shift-at-sitecore-dave-oflanagan-takes-the-helm-as-interim-ceo">Dave O’Flanagan</a> and Chief Product Officer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerconnolly/">Roger Connolly</a>, as well as agency leaders like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sureshdevanan/">Suresh Devanan</a>, Founder and CEO of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/nish-tech-inc./">Nishtech</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rolandvillemoes/">Roland Villemoes</a>, CTO of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/alpha-solutions-usa/">Alpha Solutions</a>, who, coincidentally, lives only 30 minutes away from me in New Jersey by way of Denmark.<h3 id="globetrotting-with-the-mvp-crew">Globetrotting with the MVP crew</h3>It's crazy to think that the Sitecore MVP program has been an institution for almost two decades, celebrating the efforts of amazing builders, architects, strategists, and visionaries from around the world. In fact, six MVPs are celebrating their ten-year anniversaries in 2025, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/baslijten/">Bas Lijten</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/robhabraken/">Rob Habraken</a> of the Netherlands, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmwilkerson/">Jason Wilkerson</a> of the USA, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammedsyam/">Mohammed Syam</a> of Jordan, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigopeplau/">Rodrigo Peplau</a> of Brazil, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyouttram/">Troy Outtram</a> of Australia.Becoming an MVP opened doors I hadn’t anticipated. It provided direct access to Sitecore’s roadmap through NDA-level discussions, private Slack channels, and MVP Summits. It also took me across the world—from reporting at <a target="_blank" href="https://community.sitecore.com/community?id=community_event&amp;sys_id=05403a571b74e19038a46421b24bcb37">SUGCON Europe 2023</a> from a rooftop overlooking the stunning Alboran Sea to pub-hopping along the River Thames with my newfound friend – and, of course, another Sitecore MVP—<a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-clisby-sitecore/">Peter Clisby</a>.  <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:75.94%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/02/matt-mcqueeny-sitecore-mvp-photo-2.jpg" alt="" /></figure>At SUGCON Europe 2023 on a rooftop in Malaga, Spain. Source: Matthew McQueeny There were so many memorable moments, like experiencing the awe-inspiring Croke Park in Dublin for <a target="_blank" href="https://community.sitecore.com/community?id=community_event&amp;sys_id=25403e571bbf791038a46421b24bcbec">SUGCON Europe 2024</a>, belting out songs at MVP karaoke nights, and collaborating from 4,000 miles away with Rodrigo Peplau on our own rendition of Pride (In The Name of Love) by U2, with me on guitar and bass and him on vocals. And, of course, all those nights along Broadway in Nashville and at Opryland for the impressive <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/sitecore-rocks-and-rolls-in-music-city-the-top-5-tracks-from-symposium-2024">Sitecore Symposium 2024.</a> <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:72.63%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/02/matt-mcqueeny-sitecore-mvp-photo-3.jpg" alt="" /></figure>At SUGCON Europe 2024 at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. Source: Matthew McQueeny It wasn’t just the destinations that made the journey meaningful—it was the people. The MVP badge comes with pride, but it’s the relationships built within this community that are the real reward. Whether it was devouring a Juicy Lucy burger on a food tour organized by Sitecore MVP <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chesterpotvin/">Chet Potvin</a> during Sitecore’s North American 2023 event in Minneapolis, exploring the massive Mall of America, or working alongside an extraordinary group of Sitecore MVPs at Konabos—who have collectively amassed over 60 MVP awards—I’ve felt deeply embedded in this ecosystem.  <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:72.52%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/02/matt-mcqueeny-sitecore-mvp-photo-1.jpg" alt="" /></figure>Sitecore North American event in Minneapolis, USA. Source: Matthew McQueeny Special mention goes to Konabos founder <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamruzjaman/">Kamruz Jaman</a>, who just notched his thirteenth MVP, and co-founder Akshay Sura, who has an incredible nine. Through their leadership and the camaraderie of this group, I’ve gained a global perspective on enterprise technology.Of course, none of this would be possible without the man behind the Sitecore MVP curtain, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vargat/">Tamas Varga</a>. He is a “lifer” who truly devotes himself to leading and advocating for this MVP community from within Sitecore. This program would not be what it is without him.<h3 id="standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants">Standing on the shoulders of giants</h3>Even with three MVP titles to my name, I still sometimes feel like an impostor in a room full of brilliant technical minds. Yet, I remind myself that my value lies in my unique perspective—bringing visibility to the community and Sitecore’s positioning within the composable DXP landscape. As an Ambassador MVP, I use my strengths in storytelling, strategic insight, and relationship-building to highlight the platform’s evolution and foster connections within the industry. This program has given me opportunities beyond what I could have imagined—traveling, collaborating, and learning from some of the most talented professionals in the field. Through it all, one thing remains clear: this isn’t just about technology. It’s about community.And I’m grateful to be a part of it. <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:30.46%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/cms-summit-25.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">CMS Summit 25</a></h4>May 13-14, 2025 – Frankfurt, GermanyDon't miss the first European edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community! CMS Summit 25 will bring together top-notch speakers, our renowned learning format, and engaging social events. Hear from leading practitioners like Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Oetker, and more – and join customers, agencies, and CMS vendors as we discuss current trends and what's ahead for the content and digital experience fields. Connect and network at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference focused on CMS. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">so book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:31.83%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/01/cms-connect-2025-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-connect-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">CMS Connect 25</a></h4>August 5-6, 2025 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present the second annual summer edition of our signature global conference dedicated to the content management community! CMS Connect will be held again in beautiful Montreal, Canada, and feature a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. Join vendors, agencies, and customers from across our industry as we engage and collaborate around the future of content management – and hear from the top thought leaders at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference exclusively focused on CMS. Space is limited for this event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">so book your seats today.</a>

Reflections on a Third Sitecore MVP: A Community That Opens Doors

mattmcqueeny

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How to Thrive at 25: As Sitecore Charts an AI Future, Community Remains its Greatest Asset

MVPs Assemble: Sitecore Recognizes 213 Digital Innovators as ‘Most Valuable Professionals’ for 2026

Reflections on a Third Sitecore MVP: A Community That Opens Doors