UiPath Community: pathways to belonging and growth

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how automation professionals started their journey and how they reached their full potential in the industry? We have discussed with some of the UiPath Community members about their experience in the tech world, in order to find out what inspires them in their professional life. The information was gathered through interviews with members who are actively involved in activities and programs.

Meeting the community members

We have reached out to UiPath Community members from all over the world, who work in different companies and have distinct expertise. However, they have one thing in common – they use UiPath, and they enjoy sharing their knowledge about it. All of them are part of our advocacy programs, meaning that they are actively participating in community activities and are rewarded for their contribution. As part of the programs, based on the level of their engagement, they receive titles like Most Valuable Professional, Student Champion, Chapter Leader, or Community Champion.

One of our interviewees, who is an ex-Student Champion, has recently started his journey as a specialist in automation, after making a switch from engineering to automation. He confirmed it was a great decision and is now delighted with his role as a Junior Consultant Automation Developer. Some of the MVPs, who have been part of the Community for a long time, surprised us with updates and new information about their profession. A few of them are making transitions to management roles and some of them are pursuing their artistic passions at the same time. One thing is for sure, we were enthusiastic for this opportunity to find out little bits about their lives in automation and beyond.

The first question we asked the members was: how was your first contact with the UiPath Community? Most of them reminisced about the beginnings of their journeys in automation and confessed that, while searching for new information about the automation world, they stumbled upon it or found out about it from colleagues’ recommendations. According to them, the best resources for learning the basics of automation are:

UiPath Academy, where courses and learning paths for experts of all levels are available for free‌ covering:

• Automation

• AI

• RPA

• Intelligent document processing

• Test automation

UiPath Forum, a platform dedicated to automation professionals, developers and enthusiasts, where they can share knowledge, innovation, solutions and best practices.

After the first contact, they revealed that they began getting immersed and diving deeper into the ecosystem. Since all parts of the UiPath Community, from the UiPath Forum and Community events to the Community blog and newsletter were available for exploration, everyone got to become familiar with the platform and started engaging in the activities that they became interested in.

What keeps the community members engaged?

After learning about their first contact with the UiPath Community, we wanted to know more.

• What kept them coming back?  

• What was their motivation to engage in more and more activities?  

• What do they like the most about the Community? 

The positive and diverse answers brought us a sense of gratitude for being able to take part in their remarkable professional journeys. The respondents mentioned they felt thankful for the help they received from fellow professionals at the start of their career. This inspired them to bring back to the community and create value for others, by engaging in events, being active on the Forum, writing blogs and simply spreading their knowledge.

Besides the most common reason, others mentioned that they are using the platform to give information and even break stereotypes about their work. A few of the MVPs, who are also Chapter Leaders, got involved in the creation and development of Community chapters in their regions, where the industry is not so popular yet. They managed to gather local communities and give developers the support needed for advancing in their careers. We were thrilled to find out the many diverse reasons why members like to get involved, including the wish to always keep learning and to get people to enjoy UiPath products.

We've asked our members to share some memorable moments from their journey, and from all the great memories they hold with the Community, the MVP Summit stood out as an event in which participants got the opportunity to connect with fellow automation professionals and participate together in all kinds of activities, including networking and relaxing with afterparties. Check out the MVP Summit vibes in the videos below!

More events that the respondents enjoyed attending were FORWARD, the annual UiPath event that brings together industry leaders and automation experts to present and discuss the latest updates in AI and automation. The hackathons, which happen regularly and have different themes and challenges, were also mentioned as some of their favorite to attend. UiPath Community events take place either locally, via meet-ups, or virtually, via webinars and global series.

In addition to the events, the members had a few inspiring stories to share. Ruchir Mahajan, one of the MVPs from the APJ, talked about how fulfilled he felt after he helped a beginner upgrade his career from a salesperson who has never used a computer before, to a professional who now has a job in automation. Rajneesh Khare, who is an ex-Student Champions, felt a sense of pride when he became the youngest person to clear one of the UiPath Certification exams.

Pieces of advice from the professionals

Towards the end of the interview, considering the members’ high level of expertise and experience, we asked them what lessons they’ve learned since they joined the Community. With the great stories that they have shared, we compiled a list of dos and don'ts that we can learn from and apply in our journey.

DOs:

• Be genuine

• Admit when you don't know something

• Stay connected to what you know

• Start with Academy (the ABC of automation)

• Help others the way you were helped

• Be happy to provide value

• Make sure there is always good communication and transparency

• Always ask when you are not sure

• Always be well-prepared

• Expect the unexpected

DON'Ts:

• Don't think too hard about something. Just do it.

• Don't be afraid of making mistakes

• Don't try to do everything by yourself

• Don't stop exploring and learning

Conclusion

One thing that we can learn from the UiPath Community members is that their commitment and engagement bring inspiration and growth to the automation world. We felt inspired by all the different starts and paths they've taken. They showed that with passion and determination, you can do anything!

Other than that, the Community represents both a platform for learning and collaboration, and a space where professionals from all over the world can come together, connect and make a long-lasting impact.

Who is ready to become the next automation leader? Join the UiPath Community and get immersed in the energetic and dynamic ecosystem! Special thanks to our network of partners and customers members who took part in this project by participating in the interviews and offering invaluable information!

• Tracy Dixon: Operational Excellence Partnership Lead @ Centric Consulting   

• Djuro Ivankovic: RPA Developer @ Magna International   

• Emmanuel Kolawole: Team Lead – Process Automation @ Sterling Bank   

• Jose Andres Quesada: RPA Solution Engineer @ BankUnited  

• Mason Turvey: Automation Technical Lead @ Privia Health   

• Nicolas Erlichman: Co-CEO @ GoGrow   

• Rajneesh Khare: Jr. Consultant – Automation Developer @ WonderBotz   

• Ruchir Mahajan: RPA POD Lead @ Globant India Pvt. Idt. 

Join us and stay tuned for updates with UiPath Community!