IBM Champions Class of 2025
More than 1400 new and returning advocates were invited to become 2025 IBM Champions based on their expertise, contributions, and thought leadership. Throughout 2024, these individuals built a portfolio of advocacy as they completed thousands of activities and contributed hours of their time to code, to content, to community, to mentoring and teaching, to feedback, to user groups, and to events over the last year, beyond the scope of their jobs. We’re now pleased and proud to introduce them to you through our new IBM Champions directory and enhanced website.
IBM Champions directory
One of the key benefits of the IBM Champions program is recognition for these advocates. This year, as they accept their place in the class of 2025, we help them show off their status through our brand new IBM Champion directory, a key feature of our refreshed home page.
Our directory is also a benefit to all those who hope to connect with these amazing individuals, as you’ll be able to filter and search to discover where they are in the world, what products and technologies their expertise covers, and which advocacy activities are their favorites.
When you click View detail on their profiles, you can go a little deeper to read their bios, see their contributions to the community, and connect with them both in the community or across their social links and email, depending on what they’ve chosen to share. See examples below.
Additional Benefits of being an IBM Champion
Sharing knowledge and expertise is its own reward in many ways, from an intrinsic feel-good boost to increased eminence and visibility. But there are also concrete benefits, including:
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Complimentary passes to IBM TechXchange 2025 for Champions and their colleagues or customers, along with the full VIP “Blue Jacket” treatment at the event
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Verifiable digital credential (our annual badge) to share on social media, websites, and resumes
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IBM Champion logo gear to wear and display
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Learning and certification benefits, including vouchers for certification exams
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Other recognition and rewards
Many Champions tell us the benefits they like best are harder to quantify but deeply valuable, such as the worldwide community of similar-minded experts and introductions to IBMers and other industry experts who enrich their networks. The eminence and visibility from being named to this distinguished group and the gratitude of all of us at IBM remind these individuals that what they do matters.
Pathway to IBM Champion status
If you want to earn those benefits and that recognition, the first step to becoming an IBM Champion is to find an authentic way to share what you know. Find your own angle or niche and it can become easier to contribute.
As soon as you’ve made two contributions beyond the scope of your job, you can apply for the Rising Champions program. You’ll get a taste of the benefits and recognition and earn your first advocacy badge: IBM Contributor. Continue to contribute and report activity throughout the year, so that when the IBM Champions nominations open again in September of 2025, you'll be ready to submit your nomination. Read more about the Rising Champions advocacy badges and how to earn them to get started.
Congratulate the class of 2025 IBM Champions - online and in person
You’ll start at the new IBM Champion Directory to find IBM Champions who are near you geographically or are experts in the products you care about. The IBM Champions who have accepted their place in the class of 2025 are available in the directory - and more of those invited will continue to join throughout the month.
Once you find them, you can connect with them in the community, across social with #IBMChampion, or at upcoming conferences, workshops, and community events.
You may spend time with advocates in the Champions group to learn what constitutes advocacy and how to best contribute.
Champions are active in most major user groups, and will also be and gathering at (and speaking at!) Think 2025 (May) and IBM TechXchange 2025 (October). Look for them in their Champion gear, including the famous blue jackets, at the events in this great thread.
And finally, connect virtually at our webinar Meet & Celebrate IBM Champions class of 2025 on 20 February 2025 at 11:00-12:00pm Eastern Time, where we’ll introduce you live to some 2025 IBM Champions and give you the chance to ask questions about their path to success and the program.