Yes! Cats. I love how playful they get

I started in digital marketing as a social media manager in 2019 for a video agency. There's been a debate about whether managing a social media platform like Instagram is the same as managing a community. Well, I think it is, depending on how you're looking at it. In 2020, after I got laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic, I paused to learn a new skill. That's when I joined a fast-paced internship at HotelsNG (fondly called HNG).

I was learning mobile development at the time, and I worked on a project built with Flutter with my team. Over the years, I've held roles like Community Relations Coordinator, where I managed a community of learners—and increased retention through strategic engagement efforts; and then Community Advocate, where I worked in a team of three to deliver high-level programs for members around the globe. Advocating for their skill sets while keeping a database of hiring clients gathered through research. Community Architect - I was responsible for the overall management and retention of learners. We successfully graduated 50% of the All In Africa program participants in the first cohort, serving as a testament to the efforts put into the program.

After the internship, some of us stayed to work on a project idea, just like Slack with some gamification and more features built on open-source principles and practices. At the time, we needed a community manager to constantly encourage contributors to the project, create and assign issues to teams, and much more. I ended up creating and leading a team of community managers. I was having so much fun that I barely realised the impact it was having on me, the skills I was building, and what I was setting myself up for.

Many months down the line, I made the tough decision to take on community building full-time. I am easily a people person, so I thought I'd fit in just fine. Which I did :). My journey has hugely been one of growth accompanied by grit and curiosity.

My major challenge has always been focus. I have a hard time focusing on a particular thing. People have asked me in the past, "MB, how do you do it?" I'm everywhere. But I can't help it because I have so much to give.

I spend a lot of my time volunteering in communities. Either helping them stay engaged or helping them grow. I end up giving myself more work than I should. Love it cause it challenges me sometimes.

It has to be surrounding myself with good people: career mentors, sponsors, and advisors. I've been fortunate to have someone assume one or more of these roles throughout my professional journey, and it's such an interesting thing as their expertise and experience have moved me from point A to B. I turn to them when I'm clueless and feel exhausted, for ideas and the momentum to move forward.

I would say Slack, Butter and Discord.

Listen, then implement. After you've listened to the needs of the members, be disciplined enough to implement them.

Community is beyond "the gathering of like-minded people" for me. It's a Tribe. It's my safe haven. You have to be truly seen, respected, inspired, and appreciated.

Find a community of experienced community builders. You'll learn a lot by just watching them interact. Also, commit to supporting the work they do or the services they render. Embrace experimentation. I like to say that there's no innovation without experimentation. Don't be afraid to explore different approaches. Prioritise your well-being - take care of your mental health and recognise when it's time to step away from a task or environment.