He creates music, lives in a Swedish forest, and has pioneered one of the most influential platforms in the developer community. Erwin van Hunen, known as "The Father of PnP PowerShell," recently joined MondayCoffee as the Head of Product at the beginning of May 2024. We caught up with Erwin to discuss his new role.
Erwin van Hunen and his dog Kaj
Q: Erwin, you've just started as our Head of Product a few days ago. How have your first days been?
A: The reception has been incredibly warm. It's my first time working with a Swiss company, so I didn't know what to expect.
Q: Having the "Father of PnP PowerShell" on board is an exciting development for all of us. What expertise and experience can our team and clients expect from you?
A: Being called “a father of” always makes me feel a bit old, but now that I'm a grandfather, I guess I can accept it. With over 30 years in IT, I've seen both many successes and many failures. I have been everywhere in IT, starting from running around at helpdesks to serving as Chief Technology Officer.
My expertise lies in the Microsoft ecosystem. I transitioned into it around 2000. I assisted customers implementing SharePoint in the early stages of its development and witnessed its evolution into the platform it is today. In 2013, frustrated by the monotony of repetitive tasks, I developed an open-source PowerShell module for automating tasks in Microsoft 365.
Its impact was unexpected. Today, it is used 20 billion times a month worldwide. In 2014, I donated the module to Microsoft in something that came to be known as PnP (Patterns and Practices) and have since collaborated with the broader community to further enhance its capabilities.
“The impact of my open-source PowerShell was unexpected. Today, it is used 20 billion times a month worldwide.”
Q: What attracted you to the new role and to MondayCoffee?
A: I got to know MondayCoffee because of two people who always approached me during conferences to ask very complex questions: Oliver Zeiser, Head of Software Development at MondayCoffee and SharePoint Master, and Christian Züllig, Product Development Lead and Partner. Additionally, Daniel Ispanovits, Senior Software Engineer, was my classmate at Microsoft's Certified Master program.
The offering of MondayCoffee, combining a product with competent consulting, really resonates with me. CoffeeNet 365, our Modern Workplace Solution, truly helps clients utilize the Microsoft Suite to its full extent and establish a modern way of working. As Head of Product, together with my colleagues, I strive to continuously improve our offering, allowing both my colleagues in consulting and our customers to be even more effective in their day-to-day business.
Q: Your certifications as a Microsoft Certified Master: SharePoint 2010 and a Microsoft Certified Solution Master: SharePoint places you among a select group of experts worldwide. What drives your passion for the Microsoft ecosystem?
A: Coming from a Java background, Microsoft technology just clicked for me. It felt intuitive and comfortable. When evaluating collaboration platforms for clients, Microsoft stood out, and I pursued certifications to deepen my understanding. I know the Microsoft Suite by heart — both in front and behind the scenes.
“ I know the Microsoft Suite by heart — both in front and behind the scenes.”
Q: You'll be attending the European Collaboration Summit on 16th May alongside Oliver Zeiser, where you'll deliver a keynote. Could you give us a sneak peek of your presentation? What can attendees expect?
A: I'll share the stage with other members of the Microsoft 365 & Power Platform community (previously known as the "PnP community) to reflect on the 10-year journey and our individual experiences. It's foremost a moment of gratitude for personal and professional growth within this great community.
