Global Knowledge MVP becomes first woman to win Microsoft
Tech∙Ed Speaker Idol award
A lead Global Knowledge Microsoft instructor,
Ilse Van Criekinge who became a Microsoft Most Valued Professional
(MVP) earlier this year, has become the first woman to receive the
Speaker Idol Award at the vendor’s European Tech∙Ed IT Forum
event.
According to Microsoft’s estimates, only 1 percent of attendees
at the annual gathering of experts are female. This year’s event,
which was held in Barcelona, between
12th and 16th November 2007, attracted more
than 5,000 delegates, who came to hear about the latest
Microsoft technologies and share views and ideas with other
Microsoft professionals and the company’s own experts.
Van Criekinge, who is Microsoft Business Development Manager for
Global Knowledge and based at the company’s Belgium office,
delivered a presentation on the new AutoDiscover client
configuration feature in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 at this
year’s Tech∙Ed event. She was subsequently named on a short-list of
four contenders for the Speaker Idol award, which is presented to
the best young or new speaker at the event. Each of the contenders
had to give a five-minute presentation from which the final winner
was decided by an expert panel of judges.
Commenting on her award, Van Criekinge says:
“I was surprised but also absolutely delighted to win the award.
This year’s Tech∙Ed was extremely valuable and very well organized.
I certainly gained a lot from attending and I’m pleased that I was
able to make a useful contribution as well.”
Global Knowledge had a strong presence at the
event where it was showcasing its unique ability to deliver
consistent high quality learning experiences in Microsoft
technologies across the entire EMEA region. As well as being
Europe’s largest independent training provider, Global Knowledge is
also the leading Microsoft Certified Partner for Leaning Solutions
(CPLS) and the only company to hold this accreditation throughout
the region.
In addition, Global Knowledge’s acquisition of
Synergy Professional Services (SPS), the leading Certified Partner
for Learning Solutions (CPLS) in the Middle East and Africa region,
earlier this year, enables the company to offer a consistent and
comprehensive schedule of Microsoft curriculum courses throughout
the EMEA and North America regions.
Jeffrey Smithies, Microsoft Product Director
EMEA at Global Knowledge, says that Van Criekinge’s award capped
what was a very good event for the company and for Microsoft. “As
well as underlining her undoubted expertise, Ilse’s achievement
demonstrates that Global Knowledge’s lasting commitment to
developing high level skills in Microsoft technologies and sharing
and exposing that expertise to the widest possible community of its
customers and partners, is of real value.”
During 2007, Global Knowledge has worked
closely with Microsoft on a number of key skills development
programmes, including the Microsoft Readiness Program for Office
Communications Server 2007. It has also been delivering in-depth
briefings on the unified messaging solutions to major customers and
partners worldwide.
About Global Knowledge
Global Knowledge is the worldwide leader in IT
and business training. We deliver via training centers, private
facilities, and the Internet, enabling our customers to choose
when, where, and how they want to receive training programs and
learning services.
Our core training is focused on Cisco,
Microsoft, Nortel, and Project Management. Our IT courses include
networking, programming, operating systems, security, and
telephony. Our business courses feature project management,
professional skills, and business process curriculum, including
ITIL. Our more than 700 courses span foundational and specialized
training and certifications.
Our OnDemand Software division provides
enterprise application training software solutions that enable
rapid user adoption and accelerate the return on investment for
enterprise application implementations.
Founded in 1995, Global Knowledge employs more
than 1,500 people worldwide and is headquartered in Cary, N.C. The
company is owned by New York-based investment firm Welsh, Carson,
Anderson, and Stowe. Learn more at http://www.globalknowledge.com/.
Media contacts:
Harminder Sangha
Global Knowledge EMEA
+44 (0) 118 9121839
Email: harminder.sangha@globalknowledge.net