What is an Evangelist?

Question

I often notice Evangelist title with some folks but never understood the role and meaning of this title. Any body can share some words on this? Thanks!

Suthish Nair · Answer

these links might help about Evangelist.. http://dbalink.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/how-to-become-a-microsoft-evangelist/ http://drewby.com/2010/08/what-does-a-technical-evangelist-do/ http://www.microsoft.com/northafrica/careers/positions/de.htm

Mahesh Chand · Answer

Thanks Suthish. This link answered my question. http://drewby.com/2010/08/what-does-a-technical-evangelist-do/ At Microsoft, the evangelist that do not work at Microsoft office, is usually a technical expert who goes to the clients and explains them how a particular technology or a product works and how he can help them adopt it.

Mahesh Chand · Answer

I am definitely talking about Technical Evangelists. They are not marketing and sales guys. The people I know/met, they are definitely not marketing or sales guys. We should just ask Microsoft about it.

Ibrahim Ersoy · Answer

If we describe "Technical" as Engineering,then "Technical Evangelists" do not do it. What they do is helping product teams(marketing or sales) in their geographic area. They are just Consultants who are not working at Microsoft but working together to improve the product and help the customers in where market or sales team member do not have technical knowledge according to Evangelist.They are independent people.But Microsoft choses them. As what i saw from my mentor,he was just like a Microsoft Regional Director but in a specific product.So we can describe the job as "Technical Consultants" whom Microsoft requests help and knowledge from. These were what i saw when i was working with him. And i have asked this to one of Microsoft Employees in here,he told me "To become evangelist one must apply at Microsoft from careers.microsoft.com . Evangelists must have passion for technology". So the question still remains.But Evangelism can differ from product to product or team to team.

Sam Hobbs · Answer

If you go to Microsoft and search for jobs with evangelist in the job title, nearly every one is classified as either sales or marketing. So calling them technical is confusing. They are expected to learn about technical things but as best as I can determine they don't do technical things.

Destin Joy · Answer

They are technical people helping sales and marketing team.They would be able to answer the questions from client from the particular technology.sales people may not be expert to comment on some of the queries of Clients so they seek the help of Evangelist

Sam Hobbs · Answer

Apparently, for Microsoft, evangelist is a sales or marketing position. I did not look extensively, but I see no technical positions called evangelist; they are nearly all sales or marketing, and maybe a few customer service positions.

Mahesh Chand · Answer

Well you did in terms of meaning. But my question still remains answered :).

Sam Hobbs · Answer

As I said, it is typical of Microsft to confuse us. I hope I have helped to clarify the meaning.

Mahesh Chand · Answer

Thanks Sam. My question was in reference to Microsoft using word "Evangelist" as a title of its employees only. I was just curious what makes an employee an Evangelist. I found it very confusing the title was used by the company. Cheers!

Sam Hobbs · Answer

Let's start with dictionary definition, such as: http://dictionary.die.net/evangelist So note that in it's original and most common definition it refers to a religious person. It seems to be primarily a person that travels and gets people interested and/or excited about the religion. It is the part about being excited about something that I think is an important ingredient. Some people, especially including Microsoft, like to use terms in confusing ways. Microsoft likes to use the term Wizard, but my impression of a Wizard is exceptional intelligence and ability and most of Microsoft's Wizards don't have a lot of intelligence. I think the term Evanagelist can also be misused; it seems to me to be inapproriate to use it to refer to technical people and technical topics instead of religious people and religous topics, but there are many more important things for me to be concerned about. To the extent that the term evangelist implies zealot, evangelist can be interpreted as a term that tries to put a positive connotation on a negative thing. To the extent that the term evangelist has a positive connotaion, it can be very useful but I think it helps to be aware that some people will (mis-)interpret it in a negative way. A zealot can be defined as someone that is closed-minded to alternatives.

Destin Joy · Answer

I dont think its a title given by a company.Evangelist more over a role.Most of the product companies having Evangelists for their prodcucts.They usually more techi and having deep knowledge in that particular technology.They try to make more adoption to that technology by various medium

Ibrahim Ersoy · Answer

Microsoft posts some Technical Evangelist jobs at careers.microsoft.com I think Microsoft selects Evangelists. Good Luck Sir :)

Mahesh Chand · Answer

Thanks guys! Question is, is this title given by a company or you can add it yourself? Let's say I live and breath technology (many of us here on C# Corner). Does that make us enagelists?

Ibrahim Ersoy · Answer

I know a Sharepoint Evangelist in MEA Region.He was my mentor while working in the same company.His name is Evren Ayan and he is also a Sharepoint MVP for 6 years :) http://microsoftfeed.com/2010/meet-evren-ayan-sharepoint-services-mvp-from-turkey/ They are non-Microsoft workers and ambassador of the product in a specific region.

Jaish Mathews · Answer

As far I understtod, it's not a role. But a general term like "Tech savvy" which is normally using to indicate a person who's breathing and eating technology :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_evangelist

What is an Evangelist?

Answers (16)