How to become AWS Community Builder

Since joining as AWS Community Builder last May, I have been receiving lots of questions about what is this about and how to join.

First of all, what is this about? I copy-paste the description from the official website

The AWS Community Builders program offers technical resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to AWS enthusiasts and emerging thought leaders who are passionate about sharing knowledge and connecting with the technical community.

This still sounds abstract, more specifically, what do AWS Community Builders get when they join?

• Mentorship by AWS experts and access to AWS product teams
• Swag and other surprises (see picture in the head of this article)
• Promotional credit to build your Proof-of-concept in AWS
• Exclusive access to technical webinars, including services and features still not public

There are several categories you can request to join, though there will be no barriers to join activities from other categories.

What are the requirements to apply? Who can apply?

Any individual who is 18 or older and passionate about building on AWS can apply to join the AWS Community Builders program. The application process is open to AWS builders worldwide, and all interested individuals are welcome and encouraged to apply. The AWS Community Builders program seeks applicants from all regions, demographics, and underrepresented communities.

The program will accept a limited number of members per year. All AWS builders are welcome and encouraged to apply.

Apart from the obvious above, you will also need to sign an NDA, since you will get access to some information which is not yet public. Doesn't that sound cool?

The only question remaining is the selection criteria!

How to get in?

While there is no universal criteria for "thought leader" or "passionate about building on AWS", I can share what I believe were the key points in my case:

• Significant work experience in SW industry in a big technology company
• Several connections to professionals at other SW companies including AWS, Microsoft, Google, etc.
• Being active in professional networks. Not only LinkedIn, several technical Slack and Discord workspaces and forums related to my category (Machine Learning). Additionally, I founded and currently organize the TinyML community in Germany with near to 300 members (example)
• AWS Cloud certifications. Concretely 12 active cloud certifications, 2 of which from AWS
• Active learner at Pluralsight, Coursera, Datacamp, LinkedIn Learning and Udacity
• Public posts about AWS and Machine Leaning (my category)
• Volunteering as Mentor in The Mentoring Club, DeepLearning.ai, Github Campus Expert, Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador and several others

The official information to become AWS Community Builder can be found here.

Good luck!