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IBM Champions
IBM Champions are a community of 800+ external experts across IBM offerings and around the world who are recognized by IBM for their extraordinary expertise and contributions to the technical community.
Champions are developers, technologists, consultants, CXOs, managers, faculty, students, engineers, and architects who are nominated and selected annually based on thousands of contributions.
IBM Champions support the success of IBM products by offering feedback from the front lines and technical ideas from the cutting edge. They nurture and support technical communities by running user groups and conferences, writing blogs and articles, contributing code and content to forums, and speaking at conferences.
IBM Rising Champions Advocacy Badges - a pathway to IBM Champion
While not all advocates may be fully ready for nomination into the IBM Champions program, we want to thank and engage all IBM advocates! IBM Rising Champions Advocacy Badges is a graduated program, which recognizes, acknowledges, and rewards IBM technology advocates who may be advocating on behalf of IBM or wish to progress through IBM’s badging process towards a future nomination to become an IBM Champion. The IBM Rising Champions Advocacy Badges provide:
- IBM Contributor, Advocate, and Influencer badges
- Support for ongoing advocacy activities
- Other benefits, including certification and learning discounts* and connections to other advocates, including the IBM Champions
- A supported pathway to become an IBM Champion
*Certification and learning discounts may be available and are offered at specific levels in the program.
What do IBM Champions and IBM Rising Champions do?
These groups of advocates contribute regularly to the body of knowledge around IBM products and offerings and to the technical community. Typical contributions and engagement fall into the categories below and IBM Champions have active, ongoing significant contributions in two or more areas:
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IBM TechXchange Community Engagement: Create original technical content in the form of a blog, a forum comment / answer, add a document, typically with a minimum of 150 words.
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User Group or Community: Actively run, volunteer for, moderate, or play a leadership role in a forum, meetup, or User Group that focuses on an IBM technology.
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Content Creation: Create or translate and publish content about an IBM solution (for example, blog posts, articles, videos, podcasts, case studies, white papers, and books).
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Events: Host, facilitate, or support an IBM solution related face to face event or virtual event such as webinars, meetups, etc.
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Present: Present a session on IBM solutions at user groups, webinars, podcasts or industry events such as IBM TechXchange, THINK, User Groups, or industry events etc.
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Feedback: Provide product feedback and/or technical contributions by participating in councils, surveys, and beta testing opportunities.
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Marketing, Sales, or Analyst Reference: Provide a quote/testimonial, participate in a Peer-to-Peer IBM sales call, complete an analyst survey, interview, or product review.
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Teaching and Research: Create and teach one or my IBM technology-related course or participate in an academic research project about an IBM solution.
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Code: Contribute code to at least one or more IBM-related open-source projects, such as Hyperledger, or a Call for Code Project.
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Other: Is something not on the list? When you visit the application form, provide us with an act of advocacy you think should be considered and we will let you know if it qualifies!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the duration of the IBM Champion designation?
IBM Champions receive the title for one year, during which they can enjoy the benefits that are associated with the program. Existing Champions are eligible to renew their status for the following year, as long as they can demonstrate that they have made significant contributions to the community over the past 12 months. Renewal applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a panel of IBM employees. Being named IBM Champion one year does not automatically guarantee that you will remain in the program the following years. IBM also reserves the right to remove a Champion before the 12-month term ends.
What is the duration of the IBM Rising Champion Advocacy Badges?
IBM Rising Champions Advocacy Badge program offers three levels – 1) IBM Contributor 2023, 2) IBM Advocate 2023, and 3) IBM Influencer 2023. IBM Rising Champion Advocacy badges are issued based in the year in which earners have applied and submitted their acts of advocacy through the application process. All acts of advocacy can be submitted cumulatively to progress to higher levels within the program and are acknowledged within the calendar year only. In subsequent years, individuals may apply for new badges within the program.
How do I become an IBM Champion?
When nominations are open, individuals can either nominate themselves or be nominated by their peers or IBM employees based on their contributions in the past 12 months. An IBM panel compares nominees to the contributions of other nominees during the same time period. If you know of someone who you feel is worthy, nominate him or her. Nominees must be members of the IBM TechXchange Community and should have a detailed profile, so if you’re nominating yourself, take a moment to create or expand your profile.
How do I obtain one or all the IBM Rising Champions Advocacy Badges?
All applicants must be a member IBM TechXchange Community. IBM TechXchange Community members can submit their acts of advocacy by completing the application form.
IBM Rising Champion Advocacy badge criteria:
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IBM Contributor: Apply for the badge by completing the application form and submitting two (2) acts of advocacy you have completed within the last 12 months.
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IBM Advocate: Apply for the badge by completing the application form and submitting three (3) additional acts of advocacy (for a total of five) you have completed within the last 12 months.
Badge applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year, and you may apply at any time. The badge review committee meets monthly to assess the applications and issue badges.
Are IBM employees eligible for these programs?
No. IBM employees are not eligible for these programs, but are welcome to nominate other worthy members of the community and interact with IBM Champions.
Are IBM Rising Champion Advocacy badge holders eligible to become IBM Champions?
IBM Rising Champion Advocacy Badge-holders may be eligible for IBM Champion nomination, by submitting the quality and requisite acts of advocacy to qualify. Holding IBM Rising Champion Advocacy Badges and progression through the program does not guarantee entrance into the IBM Champion program.
What are the benefits and obligations of being an IBM Champion?
IBM Champions may be eligible to receive:
- Invitations, discounts, and VIP perks at IBM conferences and events.
- Annual package of IBM Champion logo gear to wear, use, and display.
- An IBM Champion-verified digital credential through the IBM Digital Badge Program.
- Visibility, recognition, and networking opportunities.
- Exclusive access to online IBM communities.
- Exclusive access to IBM product development teams.
- Promotion of content and assets via IBM’s channels.
- Special recognition on their IBM TechXchange Community profile.
What are the benefits of being an IBM Rising Champions Advocacy Badge-holder?
The IBM Rising Champions Advocacy Badge program is graduated, and badge-holders may receive:
- Invitations, discounts, and VIP perks at IBM conferences and events.
- An IBM-verified digital credential through the IBM Digital Badge Program.
- Visibility, recognition, and networking opportunities.
- Exclusive access to online IBM communities.
- Special recognition on their IBM TechXchange Community profile.
Are IBM Champions and IBM Rising Champions Advocacy Badge-holders compensated for their role?
No. IBM Champions and IBM Rising Champions Advocacy Badge-holders may receive special program benefits, but they are not compensated nor employed by IBM.
Do IBM Champions have any obligations to IBM?
While the IBM Champion title recognizes past contributions to the community over the previous 12 months, IBM Champions who wish to remain active in the program are encouraged to do the following:
- Continue to contribute regularly to the technical community. (We ask for a minimum of one contribution per month knowing that most Champions contribute far more.)
- Regularly share and report those contributions with the IBM Champion team.
- Participate actively in Champion communication channels, such as regularly joining Champion-convened calls, communities, and chat channels, and receiving our newsletter.
- Tag posts and social media with #ibmchampion as appropriate so that we can both track and amplify contributions.
- Identify yourself as an IBM Champion and disclose our relationship when recommending IBM solutions.
- Sign and abide by the IBM Champion agreement that governs our non-disclosure agreement.
- Remain professional and constructive in your Champion-related interactions.
Once you’re selected as an IBM Champion, you are encouraged to round out your public IBM TechXchange Community profile. For example, visit your profile and update your status often to keep it current. Also request an endorsement quote from a colleague or IBM employee, and fill in your most notable achievements or contributions.
Do IBM Rising Champions Advocacy Badge-holders have any obligations to IBM?
While the IBM Champion Advocacy Badge-holders are recognized for their past contributions an acts of advocacy over the course of a year, badge-holders who wish to remain active in the program, obtain badges in future years, or work towards nomination into the IBM Champions program are encouraged to:
- Continue to contribute regularly to the IBM TechXchange community in meaningful ways.
- Regularly share and report those contributions in your ongoing application form.
- Participate actively in IBM Rising Champion Advocacy communication channels, such as regularly joining scheduled calls, communities, and chat channels, and receiving our newsletter.
- Tag posts and social media with #IBMRisingChampion, #IBMContributor, #IBMAdvocate, or #IBMInfluencer, as appropriate, so we can both track and amplify contributions.
- Identify your digital badges - IBM Contributor 2023, IBM Advocate 2023, or IBM Influencer 2023 on your social networks.
Do IBM Champions or IBM Rising Champion Advocacy Badge-holders have any formal relationship with IBM?
No. IBM Champions and IBM Rising Champion Advocacy Badge-holders do not formally represent IBM nor do they speak on behalf of IBM.
How are IBM Champions selected?
IBM Champions are selected annually through a nomination process. Anyone can complete a nomination, although those seeking to become IBM Champions are encouraged to self-nominate in addition to any community or IBM nominations they may receive. As nominations are received, the selection committee will evaluate each nominee’s contributions over the preceding 12 months from the date of the submission. At the close of the nomination period, the committee will consider the community impact, expertise, and overall contributions of the nominee. The selection committee will evaluate nominees both on the quality of contributions and the level of participation across a wide variety of community activities. See Who is an IBM Champion? for examples of community contributions. Nominees will be notified by IBM if they are selected as IBM Champions. Nominees are encouraged, but not required, to earn the IBM Rising Champion Advocacy badges prior to applying.
How are IBM Rising Champion Advocacy Badge-holders selected?
IBM Rising Champion Advocacy Badge-holders are selected and badged based on meeting the criteria within the application process. Applicants may submit their acts of advocacy at any time throughout a calendar year, and successful applicants be awarded the appropriate badge for the year in which their submission was received. All acts of advocacy can be submitted cumulatively to progress to higher levels within the program and are acknowledged within the calendar year only. Individuals may apply for the badges each year, with new acts of advocacy.
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IBM Advocate: Apply for the badge by completing the application form and submitting three (3) additional acts of advocacy (for a total of five) you have completed within the last 12 months.
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IBM Influencer: Apply for the badge by completing the application form and submitting three (3) additional acts of advocacy (for a total of eight) you have completed within the last 12 months.
Badge applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year, and you may apply at any time. The badge review committee meets monthly to assess the applications and issue badges.
What are the specific nomination categories for IBM Champions?
Ultimately, IBM Champions advocate for the community of technical professionals using IBM solutions, services, or products. In that role, IBM Champions will collectively represent the spectrum of IBM products and technologies.
How do I withdraw my nomination for an IBM Champion?
You will receive an email after you submit the nomination form, which will include the email address of an IBM Champion support administrator. Contact this admin to have your nomination withdrawn.
How do I end my participation as an IBM Champion?
Contact your program administrator to end your participation in the IBM Champion program. (Your Champion admin is the person who contacts you during the nomination, vetting, and acceptance process.) Champions and IBM may each end participation at any time.
How can IBM Champions share their accomplishments?
IBM Champions have multiple opportunities to share their accomplishments, including the following:
- Wear and display IBM Champion merchandise.
- Use IBM Champion logo marks.
- Accept and share the IBM Champion Digital Badge on social and networking sites.
- Be part of the social conversation by using the #IBMChampion hashtag.
- Report IBM Champion activity so the program team can share it through blog, social media, and other channels.