Microsoft Partners of the Year Revealed

What does the Microsoft Partner Program have against suspense, anyway? The big Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference blowout will happen in New Orleans next month, and the partners of the year will be the guests of honor.

There's only one problem. We already know who they are! Microsoft this week revealed the winners and thereby ruined all the excitement for everybody except the partners who know that they've won.

Think about it -- this thing could have gone off like the Oscars (or at least like the Grammys), with nervous partners hanging on every word as some presenter from the Partner Program prattled on about the significance of a particular category and opined on the sacred art of partnering. We could have even had a video montage of each of the finalists -- salespeople out making deals, consultants implementing software, partner-company employees responding to urgent calls -- all set to overly grandiose "awards-show" music.

Then, the presenter would finally open a small white envelope...and some overjoyed representative of a partner company -- eyes welling with tears -- could approach the podium, begin a speech and quickly be spirited off by "get-of-the-stage" music and a lovely Microsoft assistant while desperately trying to say thanks to a third-grade teacher or a particularly influential sales trainer.

But, no. Microsoft is no fan of suspense, glamour or excitement. So, enjoy reading the list of partner of the year winners. Or, if you want to really make the Partner Conference worth attending, don't read it and just show up at the awards ceremony in New Orleans. It's your choice.

What would it mean to you to be a Microsoft partner of the year? Share the dream at lpender@rcpmag.com.

Posted by Lee Pender on June 25, 2009 at 11:55 AM