Some people discover community advocacy along the way. For Bart Grabowski, it grew naturally from something he has always loved doing: solving problems.

As a Principal System Support Specialist at DHL and a 9-year IBM Champion, Bart has spent much of his career helping others navigate technical challenges, not just within his own organization, but across the broader IBM i community.

That motivation is what first drew him toward advocacy.

“I always loved to solve problems,” Bart says. “Another reason is that a platform will survive only if there is enough knowledge around the technical community.”

It’s a perspective that reflects what makes strong technical communities so valuable. Technology evolves, but shared knowledge is what helps people keep pace, solve problems faster, and support one another along the way.

A deep appreciation for IBM i

When asked about his favorite IBM technology, Bart doesn’t hesitate: IBM i.

“It is a masterpiece how the operating system with the database is tied together.”

It’s the kind of answer that comes from hands-on experience and a real appreciation for thoughtful engineering. For Bart, IBM i stands out not just for what it does, but for how its architecture simplifies and strengthens the environments that depend on it.

Advocacy in many forms

Bart’s community contributions span several channels, from blogging and helping others through community discussions to speaking at events.

“I love everything—blogging, helping others on Community blogs, and speaking at the events, which is the cherry on the cake.”

That variety reflects an important truth about technical communities: people learn in different ways. Some prefer written guidance, others benefit from conversations, presentations, or peer-to-peer problem solving. Bart’s approach embraces all of it.

Over nine years as an IBM Champion, that consistency has helped make him a trusted contributor within the IBM ecosystem.

Success measured by impact

When asked about an accomplishment he is especially proud of, Bart doesn’t point to a single milestone. Instead, he focuses on the moments that create broader impact.

“Solving an issue where multiple people are affected always comes with the biggest satisfaction.”

It’s a perspective many technical professionals will recognize. Some of the most meaningful wins happen behind the scenes, resolving issues, sharing fixes, and helping others avoid the same challenges in the future. That mindset is part of what makes community advocacy so powerful: one solution can help far more than the person who discovered it.

Learning through community

Bart is a regular attendee (and often speaker) at IBM and IBM community events across Europe, particularly those focused on IBM Power and IBM i. For him, one of the most valuable aspects of these gatherings is the exchange of ideas.

“Local COMMON events are a great opportunity to meet local talent,” he says. “It is unbelievable to hear how each individual can fix the same problem with a completely different approach.”

That diversity of thinking is what makes technical communities so dynamic.

Among the events Bart highlights:

COMMON Europe, which he sees as a major gathering for the IBM Power Systems community in Europe, bringing together IBMers and practitioners to share knowledge and connect.

LUG (Large User Group), held in IBM Rochester, offers enterprise customers unique opportunities for deeper technical conversations—including direct discussions with IBM development teams about design decisions and platform capabilities.

And IBM TechXchange, which Bart values for its broader industry perspective and opportunities to connect across technology communities.

Each event offers something different, but all reinforce the same idea: community accelerates learning.

Advice for future IBM Champions

Bart encourages aspiring advocates to start with empathy.

“Think about what kind of advice you would like to hear from the community and start producing such content—or try to organize things which will help others find the content.”

It’s practical advice because advocacy doesn’t have to begin with a big stage or formal title. It can start with a blog post, an answer in a discussion forum, or simply helping others find useful information.

Small contributions often grow into lasting impact.

Beyond technology

If Bart hadn’t built a career in technology? His answer comes quickly: NBA player. A fun reminder that even the most dedicated technologists have passions beyond the data center.

For the IBM community, though, his chosen path has made a lasting difference. Through problem solving, knowledge sharing, and nearly a decade of advocacy, Bart continues to demonstrate what makes strong technical communities thrive.

Lightning round:

• What would be your superpower and why Being able to speak multiple languages, it comes from living in different countries. It provides an incredible ability to connect with people, learn about different cultures, and feel confident and safe in unexpected situations
• Ice cream or cake? Cake, ice creams are too caloric 😊
• Cats or dogs? Dogs, there were too many cats in my home when I was a kid
• Summer or winter? Winter in the mountains, summer at the sea cost
• Morning or evening? I am getting older so --morning
• eBook or paper book? eBook
• TV shows or movies? Movies but in cinemas
• A night out or a night in? out. I will have my night in when I get older.
• Cannonball into the pool or dip a toe in first? Dip a toe in first
• Go-to karaoke song?  When I was a child at music school, I had to attend choir, but my role model was Arnold Schwarzenegger—so you can imagine how frustrated I felt and how reluctant I was to sing. The feeling remains to this day
• Drive or fly? I am getting older so fly