IBM Champions :: And then there were three
by Volker Weber
All photos Hogne Bø Pettersen
Julian Robichaux is the third IBM Champion to receive a lifetime achievement award. Last year IBM gave this award to Theo and Gab, so now there are three. And they are the nicest people you can imagine.
There are of course a lot more IBM Champions than these three, but all the others need to be nominated and vetted year after year. They come from all walks of life and from all over the world. Which leads me to two other important people in this program: Penumbra Prism Award winner Amanda Bauman (center) and The Libby (right):
Amanda and Libby manage the community. A community that spreads around the world. Why would they be threatened by an IBM program, that forces employees to work out of a hub office, when they have absolutely no business there? Amanda is in Austin, one of the IBM hubs, but not necessarily her designated one. The Libby is in Houston, which looks close enough on a map, but really isn't.
Suggestion for IBM Champions: stay in close contact and raise hell when necessary. IBM needs you more than you need IBM.
Comments
That's a very good point. IBM has already lost good and talented people because of their latest HUB-policy. I've already told IBM-ers what I think of their latest stunt. Smells like a ploy to downsize without having to fire people, but that's my opinion.
It's probably both. But don't forget that IBMers lose a lot of time in telephone conferences that are only necessary because you have no peripheral vision when working alone.
From my point of view Amanda creates the lion's share of what I really like about IBM.
Since Niklas Heidloff went off to greener pastures there are not many other IBMer's saying 'we care about you'.
First off, thank you so much! I couldn't believe it when I saw this. I still blush when I see my picture anywhere but my Mom's house.
Second, I hope that everyone reads the article all the way to the end. You kind of buried the lede on this one, and people might get scared away after seeing a big picture of me. :)
It's important for everyone to know how much impact Amanda and Libby have by running the IBM Champion program for Social Business, and doing it so well.
I haven't buried anything. I am building up the suspense, you muppet. :-)
It's hard to find the right words when someone does something nice like this. So I'll simply say THANK YOU - to you, Volker, for shedding a little light on a frustrating subject, and to my entire community for all of your support for Libby and me. We love our jobs because of YOU.
Someone (from IBM ?) has listed all the champions here in wikipedia : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Champions
Apparently there are three Rudi Knegts on this list. :-)
Several people are listed three times. I am just one of those yes.
That's not the point of that list though :-) I just wanted to show how many others there are.
Good point, Rudi. Linked the list from the main post now.
Hi Volker: Amanda said exactly what I wanted to say. So, much delayed, but thank you very much for shining a light on our amazing Champions as well as on, as Amanda says, a difficult subject. We appreciate you and our Champions very much.
