IBM Champions program overview & benefits
Who are Champions?
Champions are at the pinnacle of expertise and advocacy: these individuals are exceptional in their commitment to paying forward their knowledge and experiences. They are share with the larger technical community in the hopes of guiding buying decisions, inspiring innovation, shaping IBM product development, educating new generations of users, and deepening community growth.
More than 1400 Champions in 66 countries have been invited to the 2025 program. Each one combines deep knowledge across IBM products and technologies with the drive to help and support others. Find them on the Champions directory.
How the program works
Advocacy
You (or someone you know) are already doing the work: creating content, speaking at conferences, starting and running user groups, and much more.
Submit
You submit an application (or a referral) that gives us the details and evidence about your expertise and all the great advocacy work you’re doing.
Review The program reviews submissions year round to issue advocacy badges. During nomination season, we also review candidates for Champion status.
Select The committees review and select eligible candidates for badges. Top advocates may earn Champion status based on their ongoing and exceptional contributions.
Announce The new class of Champions is named each new year. Advocacy badges are issued monthly and may be earned annually.
All year
You might be a future Champion. But don’t wait until nomination season, get started now and join the Rising Champions program by telling us about your advocacy work!
Benefits of the program
Picture yourself here
From enhanced and highlighted profiles on our community to VIP treatment at events, Champions earn recognition, gratitude, and rewards for their advocacy contributions.
Membership in the program also means other important benefits, designed to enhance professional development and eminence.
Access to pre-release product briefings and advocacy opportunities with IBM
Champions programs offer a range of connection opportunities with our product and development teams including product briefings, opportunities to join advisory boards, or provide new ideas to product enhancements.
Conferences and events
Champions are the VIP guests at our flagship conferences, with complimentary passes, special gifts (have you seen the jackets?!), and exclusive experiences. Of course, you’ll also receive invitations and discounts to other IBM and industry events worldwide.
Learning and certification
Keep your skills and expertise in good shape with discounts and complimentary access to IBM Learning and certifications.
Gifts and gear
Show off your status and get recognized at industry and IBM conferences, user group meet-ups (and sometimes in airports), with our unique logo gear.
Program recognition
IBM Champions promote their status by sharing digital badges with their social networks, in their blogs, and on their websites. These industry recognized credentials are issued by Credly, independently verified, and industry recognized. Other opportunities to highlight their status include ribbons on community profiles, spotlight interviews, sharing their content, and more.
We celebrate the highest achievements of technical experts, who have contributed their time and talent to advancing the technical community. They are selected for their demonstrated commitment to ‘paying it forward’ through their extensive acts of advocacy over the previous year.
Champion 2025
Champion Lifetime Achievement
All Champions receive the digital credential and may receive additional milestone recognition at the 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 year renewals, which are verified digital credentials issued through our Digital Badge program and Credly.
Interested in starting your pathway to become a Champion? Start by qualifying through the Rising Champions Advocacy Badge program.
Your next steps
