IBM Influencer 2026
Issued by
IBM
The IBM Influencer badge recognizes individuals who show sustained, high‑quality advocacy and visible leadership in the IBM technology community. Earners are trusted voices who consistently share insights, guidance, and experience that shape how IBM technologies are understood and used. Influencers demonstrate long‑term commitment, ownership of advocacy, and meaningful impact across communities and the broader IBM ecosystem.
- Type Experience
- Level Advanced
- Time Weeks
- Cost Free
Skills
Earning Criteria
-
Advocacy over time that reflects leadership, reliability, and long‑term ownership rather than one‑time or episodic participation.
-
Voluntary participation that extends beyond formal job responsibilities, employer‑directed marketing, or direct promotion of one’s own business (mandatory for evaluation).
-
Contributions that demonstrate clear influence, such as shaping conversations, enabling others’ success, strengthening communities, or informing ecosystem or product direction.
-
A well‑established pattern of engagement reviewed through qualitative evaluation, with emphasis on consistency, credibility, and impact.
-
Note on IBM Z and LinuxONE advocacy: If your activity focuses on IBM Z and LinuxONE, consider starting with the IBM Z and LinuxONE Advocacy Hub. Activities applied to those community badges are not counted toward IBM Rising Champions badges. You can still earn Rising Champions badges through different activities, and all contributions may be considered for IBM Champion evaluation.
-
Completion of advocacy activities establishes eligibility for review but does not automatically result in badge issuance or progression to IBM Champion.