Google Cloud recognises Damian Sztankowski in its new Ambassador program.

When Google invites just 31 people globally to its Google Cloud Ambassador Program, it’s more than recognition – it’s a sign of true tech leadership. 

We’re proud to have one of those elite Ambassadors at Nordcloud: Damian Sztankowski, our Managed Cloud CoE Tech Lead. 

Here, we speak to Damian about what being a Google Cloud Ambassador means, how it translates into client value and what it takes to reach the top tier of cloud engineering. 

What is a Google Cloud Ambassador? 

Google describes the Ambassador Program as a community for top-tier professionals who work within Google Cloud partners, recognising thought leaders and advocates. The goal is to share knowledge and passion to support adoption, enablement and continuous improvement. 

Being chosen involved proving hands-on expertise, certifications and contributions to the community. 

What does your Ambassador status mean for Nordcloud and our clients? 

Trust and credibility. When someone sees that there’s a Google Cloud Ambassador in the company – 1 of 31 globally – it immediately signals expertise. It shows Nordcloud has people operating at the highest level of Google's partner ecosystem. 

There are also practical benefits, too. As Ambassadors, we have closer access to Google Cloud product teams and early insights into features and roadmaps. This helps us stay ahead and better support our customers. 

What trends should enterprises focus on in the next 12-18 months? 

Not just AI! From an engineering and architectural perspective, I think companies should focus on data, security and sovereignty. 

You can build applications faster than ever now, but those applications are only as good as the data behind them. If your data isn’t structured, governed or secure, the output won’t be reliable. Therefore, I think organisations should invest more in: 

• Data quality and modernisation 

• Security at every level (data, platform, access) 

• Sovereignty and control over where and how data is used 

How do you share your knowledge beyond project work? 

I run workshops and speak at conferences, including at Warsaw IT Days, a major event in the Polish ICT calendar. 

Beyond Nordcloud and IBM, I’m also active in Google Developer forums, publish on my Medium blog and create open-source tools that are available on my GitHub (like one that uses LLMs to assess Terraform code through Google Cloud’s Well-Architected Framework). 

How can people build elite Google Cloud skills? 

Becoming strong in Google Cloud (or any technical area) takes time, patience and consistency. 

The first thing I’d say is: be curious. I’m nerdy by nature and have always wanted to understand how things work and why they behave in a certain way. Having that curiosity naturally pushes you to go deeper and learn more. 

The second is to help others. A big part of my development has come from engaging with the community, taking other people’s problems and treating them as my own. And you don't need to build something huge. Even small, practical things that help others solve real problems make a difference. When you do that, you’re constantly learning in a practical, meaningful way. 

Finally, chase impact, not badges or titles. It’s easy to focus on certifications or recognition, but they shouldn’t be the goal. If you focus on building useful things, sharing knowledge and helping others, the recognition will come naturally. 

Ultimately, you’re never ‘done’ learning when it comes to cloud; it’s an infinite loop of learning – and that’s what makes it interesting. 

Damian Sztankowski is a Google Developer Expert, Kubestronaut and CoE Tech Lead who is known for making cloud technology both useful and accessible. He specialises in modernising legacy systems by integrating them with modern AI capabilities – ensuring organisations can evolve without losing the value of their existing expertise. His approach combines deep technical proficiency with a unique ability to guide clients through complex digital transformations in an engaging and functional way. 

Contact us to discuss how Damian and our Google Cloud team can help.