This year's Certified Professional of the Year, Michael Schreier, is a software engineer at Charles Schwab who made a career switch from music after discovering his passion for coding. He completed MongoDB University's curriculum and became certified, which has helped him advance his career and give back to the community. Schreier believes that there are connections between music and technology, as both require logical elements and creative approaches. Outside of work, he enjoys playing video games, board games, and spending time outdoors. To individuals looking to learn MongoDB and get certified, Schreier advises them to "just do it" and take advantage of the free courses offered by MongoDB University.