IBM Rising Champions

An extension of the Champions program, Rising Champions is a graduated badging program, dedicated to recognizing and supporting IBM technology advocates year-round. Rising Champions demonstrate a commitment to advocacy, while imparting their knowledge and expertise to the technical community. The program also provides the primary pathway to become a Champion.
Why become a Rising Champion today?

If you are an IBM client or business partner actively engaged in advocacy activities like content creation, posting on the IBM TechXchange Community, speaking at conferences, running a user group, or other activities, we want to recognize and celebrate you! You can earn badges progressively throughout the year, while working towards a future Champion nomination. But more importantly, your badges and participation in the program signify to your network that you are dedicated to broadening knowledge and expertise in IBM technologies.
By applying for the program badges, you also become part of a larger community dedicated to your success as an advocate. Our team will help you focus on enhancing your advocacy skills, creating connections with other IBM advocates, and supporting your pathway to Champion.
How the program works
As a year-round program, you have the time and space to progress through the badging levels. To apply for the program, you need to complete an initial application, and then continue to report your activities to us on a regular basis. By adding activities, you can progress to higher badge levels, as you work towards the Champions nomination season.


Earn your advocacy badges
We want to capture the moments when IBM clients and business partners are doing something great and they are ready to progress along the pathway to Champion status. Our Rising Champions advocacy badges recognize those who are going above and beyond the scope of their jobs to extend knowledge about IBM technologies. Report your act of advocacy.
IBM Contributor 2025
IBM Advocate 2025
IBM Influencer 2025
We welcome all badge earners from other IBM advocate programs. If you have received advocacy badges from other programs like IBM Z advocacy badges and IBM i advocacy badges, you are eligible to earn the IBM Rising Champions badges with additional or varied contributions. We do not accept duplicate submissions from other advocacy programs.
Benefits of the program
Your next steps

Join the community
Membership in the IBM TechXchange Community is a pre-requisite for the Champions programs and badges.

Be the best advocate
Connect with others on the advocacy journey by getting tips from current Champions, reviewing advocacy opportunities, and discussing when, where, and how to be a great advocate in our community.

Submit a nomination or a referral
Submit your own nomination or a referral for someone else. All submissions must be supported by acts of advocacy that meet the list of criteria, and they have been performed outside the scope of the individual’s job/role.
We love to celebrate advocacy year round!
Earn your Rising Champion Advocacy badges for the work you’re already doing.