None. I have a cute 20 month old son though, who's totally rocking my world 😍

In 2018, right after completing my university education (including the compulsory Nigerian National Youth Service), I embarked on my journey as a front-end web developer intern at the Innovation Growth Hub, Aba. At that time, I was completely immersed in coding, unaware that there existed a career path called Developer Relations, or any of its associated roles. I took active and enthusiastic roles within the developer communities in my local area. Little did I know that these early experiences would shape the trajectory of my career in ways I couldn't have imagined.

Among the various communities that I participated in were some notable ones: Women Tech Makers Aba, ForLoopAba, Startup Weekend Aba, and the Open Source Community Africa's Aba chapter. My participation wasn't just passive; I was co-organizing events, delivering talks, and even dedicating my time as a volunteer. This was the serendipitous beginning that set the stage for my eventual foray into the world of community management. It wasn't until 2020 that

I joined She Code Africa, as a Community Manager. I began to immerse myself in the responsibilities, challenges, and rewards of the role. Through my dedication at She Code Africa, I found myself not only learning more about community management but also recognizing the strengths and talents within me that aligned with this path. Around mid-2020, I decided to gradually pivot away from my initial focus on front-end web development and embrace community management as a full-time career. This transition wasn't merely about shifting my job description; it was a conscious decision to align my career with my newfound passion and strengths.

I was elated to secure my first full-time role in community management with Sourcegraph, a year after deciding to pivot, an achievement that validated my commitment and passion. Since then, I've been on a path of continuous growth and learning, diving headfirst into the world of community management, forging connections, facilitating engagement, and fostering meaningful relationships within developer communities.

In light of recent industry changes and layoffs, there's a heightened awareness of the need to continuously emphasize the value of our roles within the ecosystem. It's natural for thoughts about job security to arise, which can be quite challenging.

A lot of things basically. Reading from other community managers, belonging to communities, scheduling coffee chats with inspiring community managers around the world, participating in webinars and workshops, and taking some community courses, are some of the ways I develop myself. There's also the aspect of "doing", and learning from my own experience. I shared some of my favourite community resources, including articles, videos and communities here: https://github.com/emmanuellar/Community-Management-Resources

Does Calendly count? I'd say Discord, if it doesn't

Educate Create and curate compelling and relevant content that addresses the specific needs, interests, and challenges of your community members.

A community isn't just a collection of people. It is finding your own tribe, your own people. It is shared experiences. It's an ecosystem that fosters support, learning, and growth. It's where we find encouragement in times of uncertainty and celebrate each other's successes.

Join communities - just as with everything else. You'll meet a plethora of useful content and people along the way, but acquaint yourself with a community of community managers.