Champions: Community Building

Identify your goal

The best communities start with a simple question: what do you want people to get out of this? Whether it's connecting colleagues, growing data literacy, or solving shared problems, your goal shapes everything else.

Start small

You don't need a big audience to get started. Find a core group of five people, and be intentional about including diverse perspectives from across the business from day one. Hold one event and build from there.

Be consistent

Communities don't grow overnight, but they do grow when people know what to expect. Pick a cadence, whether it's once a month or once a week, and stick to the same day and format. Consistency helps turn a one-time attendee into a regular.

Learn from others

We've gathered the advice, real examples, and lessons from experienced community organizers at companies like AstraZeneca, John Deere, Regeneron, and so many more so you don't have to start from scratch.

Community Tip

Make people feel welcome first, everything else follows.

Think of your community event like a party at your house. Welcome people in, show them around, and introduce them to someone they'd enjoy talking to. Remember that every event may be someone's first time there. Engagement grows when people feel comfortable, and it's the small intentional gestures that turn a one-time attendee into a regular.

The biggest challenges?

Two things that trip up new community builders: waiting for volunteers and trying to please everyone. Communities that thrive aren't the ones waiting for people to raise their hands. They're the ones with someone behind the scenes personally inviting, welcoming, and planning. It's a bigger job than it looks, but it's also what makes all the difference. Libby and Rachael at Posit have learned most of what they know about community building by just getting started and actually doing it.

Watch the full Hangout

Libby Heeren, Host of the Data Science Hangout

JUST A REMINDER

It doesn't have to be perfect right away.

Think of this as an experiment. It’s okay to try new things and see what works best. Everything isn’t set in stone. Experiment to see what works well for people across your company. Every team may be different.

Scalability through standardization

Regis James, Associate Director of Data Science at Regeneron thinks about community building the way an engineer thinks about a pipeline. He identifies potential members through the company directory, reaches out once with a warm standardized message, and onboards the people who respond into a clear, welcoming structure. The result is an engaged community that keeps growing organically.