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

Hye-Jin Kim

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_Devoteam_  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! ✨