NetCom Learning Named Finalist for Microsoft Training Services Partner of the Year Award

NetCom Learning has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 Microsoft Training Services Partner of the Year Award, standing out among thousands of global partners for its leadership in AI-driven skilling, customer outcomes, and impactful implementation of Microsoft Cloud technologies. The recognition comes from more than 4,600 nominations across over 100 countries, highlighting the company's exceptional worldwide training solutions that accelerate AI readiness and advance Microsoft's mission to empower every person and organization to achieve more.

Russell Sarder, CEO of NetCom Learning and Sarder Inc., stated that being named a finalist represents a powerful affirmation of the shared mission with Microsoft to build an AI-ready world. The partnership continues to expand access to transformative skilling and unlock pathways of opportunity for learners everywhere. Across NetCom Learning and the broader Sarder Inc. AI ecosystem, the commitment remains to empower individuals, organizations, and communities with the knowledge and tools to thrive in an AI-powered future, with an ambitious goal to educate and certify 1 billion learners worldwide by 2035.

The company is being recognized for its ability to make AI learning inclusive, accessible, and transformational across industries and geographies. Through visionary programs like Agent X, an AI readiness movement spanning emerging and enterprise markets, NetCom Learning equipped more than 74,000 learners across 4,000-plus organizations in 2024-2025. The company's initiatives range from gamified Microsoft Copilot training for over 100,000 learners to large-scale enterprise AI adoption programs that shift organizational culture, accelerating Microsoft's North Star learner goals and helping customers transform AI from concept to productivity reality.

Nicole Dezen, Chief Partner Officer and Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, congratulated all winners and finalists, noting that partners harnessed the transformative power of Microsoft Cloud and AI platforms to deliver groundbreaking solutions that push innovation boundaries. The annual Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognize partners who deliver exceptional applications, services, and AI innovation on the Microsoft Cloud, with winners and finalists celebrated at Microsoft Ignite in San Francisco. Additional award details are available on the Microsoft Partner blog, with the full list of winners and finalists published online.

This recognition matters because it highlights the critical role of training partners in bridging the global AI skills gap at a time when organizations worldwide are struggling to keep pace with rapid technological advancement. As artificial intelligence transforms industries and job requirements, the ability to scale effective training programs becomes essential for economic competitiveness and workforce development. NetCom Learning's achievement demonstrates how strategic partnerships between technology providers and training organizations can create meaningful pathways for skill development that benefit both individual careers and organizational performance.

The implications extend beyond corporate recognition to broader economic and social impact. With the company's goal to educate 1 billion learners by 2035, this partnership model could significantly influence global workforce readiness for the AI era. The emphasis on inclusive, accessible training across diverse markets suggests potential for reducing digital divides and creating more equitable access to emerging technology skills. For businesses, this recognition validates the importance of investing in comprehensive AI training programs that can drive digital transformation and maintain competitive advantage in an increasingly AI-driven economy.