🔎My Champion Journey: Discovered a version of myself I never expected

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Hello, I'm Hazel (Hyejin) Kim, a Community Champion for the Seoul Atlassian Community.

I’ve been working as a marketer in the IT industry for over a decade.

People often assume that marketers are naturally outgoing and love being in the spotlight. But I’m quite the opposite — I'm an introvert who has always found public speaking and social events intimidating. So how did someone like me become a moderator for events ranging from 10 to 100 people, and a speaker to present in other countries?

Today, I’d like to share my journey of becoming a Community Champion and the surprising experiences I’ve had along the way.

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🙌 Before Becoming a Champion – Experiencing Passion Firsthand

My first encounter with the Atlassian Community began in 2018 when I joined Open Source Consulting (OSCi), an Atlassian partner.

At the time, I had never heard of Atlassian or user meetups. But I was deeply impressed by how 20 to 30 people would gather after work every month to passionately discuss Atlassian products and philosophies. I saw people who didn’t just use Atlassian tools — they loved them. It was more than a product; it was a culture.

Sadly, as COVID hit in late 2019, those vibrant in-person gatherings came to a halt, and the community's energy began to fade.

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🔥 The Turning Point – Reigniting the Flame

In 2024, I unexpectedly reconnected with the Atlassian Community while helping organize the Seoul edition of Atlassian's global Agile/DevOps event, Unleash.

The Community team reached out, looking for a local partner to support the event, and I gladly accepted. Through the preparation, I witnessed how genuinely Atlassian cares for and champions its users.

What surprised me most was that over 100 people showed up to the event — despite the community being quiet for years post-COVID. It hit me:
"People had been craving this kind of learning and connection."

That day, I made up my mind:
“I’m going to help revive this community.”

And so began my journey as a Community Champion.

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🌎 Community Champions - A Whole New World

Since joining the Champion network, I’ve met amazing, inspiring people.

Champions are open-minded, passionate, and always lead by taking action. With them, even the impossible starts to feel doable.

• First Collaborative Webinar in Seoul with MERSELO
  Our first-ever cross-regional webinar took place in Seoul, thanks to a proposal from @Fun Man Andy  , the champion of the MERSELO community. His energy sparked the collaboration, and to our delight, he even flew in to join our Seoul event in person — a true No.1 influencer in every sense!

• First In-Person Event Outside Korea: Visiting Austin
  Thanks to a warm invitation from  @Suze , I had the chance to attend the Atlassian Community event in Austin. It was an eye-opening experience, seeing how other cities host their gatherings. And visiting the Atlassian Austin office is absolutely unforgettable.

• First Speaking Role at an Online Global Event: Budapest
  The Budapest Champion @Eszter Ernszt-Galamb @Attila Gaspar _META-INF_ invited me to speak at their online community event. Even though it was virtual, it was deeply meaningful — it reminded me that impactful collaboration knows no borders. It also became the first time I gave a talk in English, and the beginning of a new chapter for me.

• First English Presentation at an In-Person Event: Madrid
  A thoughtful invitation from the Madrid Champion @Huwen Arnone _Deiser_  led me to speak at a live event in a city I had never been to, in front of people I had never met — and in English. It’s something I would have never imagined myself doing. But that day, I discovered a version of myself I didn’t know existed.

All these moments were only possible because of the trust and inspiration from my fellow Champions.
Where I am doesn’t matter. Bond from a strong community makes me move. I am truly captivated by these positive vibes! 

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✉️ One Last Thing

Becoming a Community Champion pushed me far beyond my comfort zone. It encouraged me to try new things, and in the process, I surprised even myself.

You, too, might discover a version of yourself you never expected — and it might all begin in a community, just like it did for me. 😊

And now, I want to present more people with this moment of connection and the beginning of change.

Now, I hope to create more opportunities for connection and give a present to more people this change.

My first collaboration Seoul ACE, taking place in August, marks the first step.

Thank you for reading.
See you in the community! 💕

#AtlassianChampions #community #atlassiancommunity 

[Brita Moorus]

Such a lovely story, @Hye-Jin Kim! 💛 It’s amazing how much you've grown through the community. Can't wait to see what you do next! ✨

[Hye-Jin Kim]

@Brita Moorus Thanks for the sweet words. Community is a place of infinite opportunity! It's an honor to be here together! 🤗

[Huwen Arnone _Deiser_]

See? Your story is inspiring as well. Thank you very much for sharing @Hye-Jin Kim 🤩

You talk about discovering a new version of yourself, but I think the rest of us have just been aware of those qualities since the very first minute. In the end, it's always the quiet ones who shake up the world in the best way.

You've crossed cities and comfort zones; this is what courage looks like. Keep going⚡⚡