What is a “Camunda Champion”
I was appointed to Camunda Champion. How do you become a Camunda Champion? What are the perks? What does it mean?
How do you become a Camunda Champion?
The process sounds simple: you go to https://camunda.com/developers/champions/ and apply. But in order to apply, you need to bring a few assets. Your account at the Camunda Discord forum, GitHub and social media handles. Also you need to state contributions you made. That can be contributions to open source projects, organised meetups, talks at conferences. Something for the community in general.
You see, since the community is in focus, the term “Camunda Champion” is a bit misleading. You do not need to be an expert in Camunda tool stack. I doubt you can even be an full stack expert, if you are not a full time Camunda consultant. “Champion” means, you are somehow recognized for contributions in the community.
What are the perks?
First: swag. Anyone given a talk at a Camunda conference knows, Camunda hands out awesome swag. I am still fascinated by the disco bag with an integrated arduino that I got for speaking at the Camunda Community Summit.
Second: events. You get invites for meeting peers from Camunda company, asking your questions, pitching your ideas, networking with other champions.
The magic spell is “Developer Relations”
Most of all: appreciation. Camunda is very close to its community already. One reason probably is its culture. Another, which is in a way the conclusion derived from that culture, is the developer relations department. Everyone is authentic. You are taken serious as a person. Its complete contrast against cringing in front of sales pressing to score.
When you become a champion, it feels like the whole company knows you. Your office suddenly has a virtual extra corridor with new teammates. Of course you talk about Camunda and your ideas, but you also discuss streaming equipment, ergonomic keyboards or how to attract communities joining your meetups.
What does it mean?
“Champion” clearly does not mean, you are an expert in all Camunda tools. I think most users use what I call “Camunda embedded”, meaning a Java application with Camunda as embedded workflow engine. I have no experience in using it that way, although it is probably the most popular use case. My use case is Camunda Platform as a service, but I am continue learning as I use it.
You remain appointed to “Camunda Champion” for 1 year. You might take that the wrong way and interpret that you are forced in to becoming a cheap extended workbench. But I do not think so. You are appointed for community work that motivates you. You would do it anyway. If you stop doing it, it is because you find other topics and thus would probably don’t miss that much the title.
Becoming a champion only for the perks is highly inefficient!
Do not aim for the rank of a champion only for the perks! You would be better off investing in a few consulting hours. That would even be cheaper, considered the time you invest.
But since you become a champion with artefacts that motivate you, you will continue with your community work anyway and get appointed again. To be certain, you need to checkout this blog end of 2022!
