How I created a ServiceNow RiseUp:er

We did it! Today Amanda and I held our session on Knowledge 2024 on stage in Las Vegas. I'm very proud of both of us - we did a great show. Afterwards, we both received great feedback from the audience, and we were also interviewed by ServiceNow. We were both very exhausted afterwards - but it was a great feeling standing on that stage, sharing our story together.

Mission completed!? Good things come pouring in. Amanda just landed her very first ServiceNow job - so I guess she can now be considered to be a ServiceNow professional. In a near future, Amanda is starting a position as Junior ServiceNow Developer at the ServiceNow partner organization Axians in Stockholm, Sweden. Amanda's efforts haven't passed without notice - and she is now rewarded for all the time and energy she has put in learning the ServiceNow platform. Congratulations Amanda! And congratulations Axians!

Good things eventually come to those who never give up! With the spring bringing warmer weather and brighter longer days (winter is long and dark in Sweden), Amanda found the energy to pick up the ServiceNow studies again. And shortly after that we received unexpected and very existing news Amanda and I just now received an email from ServiceNow inviting us both as speakers at ServiceNow Knowledge 2024 conference in May in Las Vegas, USA. We will be live on stage in Las Vegas sharing our story of creating a new ServiceNow professional of Amanda (with no prior IT background) with the support of ServiceNow RiseUp, ServiceNow Now Learning, and the mentorship of me (a very seasoned and experienced ServiceNow Certified Master Architect (CMA)). We are so excited about this - and we are so happy to share our story. Naturally, this is the first time for Amanda - but for me it is the second time I'm a speaker at ServiceNow Knowledge. Last time was Knowledge 2019 - last Knowledge before the ...

Several people have been asking me about Amanda, and how she progress in learning ServiceNow. Unfortunately, I must confess that we both have lost momentum a little bit. Since Amanda failed the second attempt at becoming a Certified System Administrator (CSA), back in January, I've had so much on my plate. I've been so busy at work that I haven't been able to support Amanda properly, and help her find new energy to progress. At the same time, Amanda has had a low period in both her jobs. Things have felt dull, and she has had a bit of a struggle finding the energy to pick up full speed again. But we will both do our very best. We haven't given up - we will come back, even stronger! I hope I can report back really soon.

A month after the first attempt at the Certified System Administrator (CSA) exam, Amanda decided it was time to have another go at the exam. Over christmas and new year, Amanda had studied hard to become more proficient at the areas she performed less at during the first attempt. Amanda defied a heavy snowstorm to make her way to the test center - but unfortunately the weather conditions reflected how Amanda felt afterwards. She didn't reach a passing score this time either. In fact, the result was much worse than at the first attempt. Why? Amanda witness that the questions were much different than the last time. Much, much harder - and also covering topics she couldn't find in the study material at Now Learning. She think it feels very unfair - because she had studied hard. And I agree. I'm very upset too, because in my opinion Amanda knows everything one can expect from a ServiceNow System Administrator.