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Meet Hazem Adel, Community Manager for the SGH Career Month!

amanda.k
Community Manager
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3 min 54 sec read
HazemAdel.jpg

Hazem Adel has been working for Autodesk for almost a year as the Community Manager for the German and Arabic communities. Prior to joining Autodesk he worked as a community manager/facilitator for a co-living/coworking space in Berlin. Learn how he manages the language and culture differences between the two communities in his interview below.

 

 

Question: What degree did you graduate with, and how has it affected your career? Or, what education / training do you have that has helped with your role?

Hazem: I studied Architecture in Cairo, Egypt, then Urban Development in Berlin, Germany, and worked as an architect, urban researcher, and community manager—besides some smaller gig—before joining Autodesk last year.

During my studies, I was always interested in how communities collaborate and self-organize themselves: whether it’s an informal settlement community developing/building their own neighborhood, or open source and hacker communities, or intentional communities, or cohousing cooperatives.

 

I was always drawn to joining community-related projects whenever possible, and architecture and urban studies let you interact and coordinate between several stakeholders and fields.

So, that led me to working with a cohousing project and collaborating on some community festivals and participatory design workshops, and to working as a community manager for a community focusing on social innovation.

 

Question: How would you describe your role as Community Manager at Autodesk? What does a typical workday look like? Which and qualities are important to be successful in your role?

Hazem: I am working as a Community Manager for the German and Arabic communities. My typical work week includes daily communication with Autodesk community members and experts on the forums and other channels. My coworkers include Community Program Managers, Community Managers, Social Media Managers, Product Support, Tech Sales, and Country Managers.

 

All of my daily interactions improve my communication and organizational skills as everyone uses a different vocabulary and comes from a different background. I also need to know how to navigate conflicts, negotiate, present the community, be flexible, be inclusive, and adapt to different situations.

 

Most of the people that I communicate with are using different Autodesk products, some I know little about and some I know nothing about, but my main responsibility is to set the stage for collaboration, support the process itself, and connect people together.

 

Question: What do you find interesting about your role? What are the challenges? What do you find satisfying about your work? 

Hazem: Community management in general is interesting as it gives you chances to learn from the different individuals in the community. In Autodesk, I get to learn the new trends and technologies in various fields from the people who are leading and making these technologies. Personally, I have been disconnected for a while from the new technologies in design, architecture, and construction; being here now I get to know how this developed for the last decade and become updated on what’s going to happen.

 

What’s challenging is that I am working in between three different main fields (Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Design & Manufacturing, and Media & Entertainment), two languages, and two cultures (German and Arabic). Sometimes keeping up with everything is not very smooth but this also lets me always learn something new so I don’t get bored.

Generally speaking, setting up and maintaining a platform for collaboration is always a satisfying thing to do as you can see the results of your work by time: observing how members help each other, how knowledge is being shared, and “gaps” being bridged. At the same time, you are learning as well and being part of the community.

 

Question: What advice would you give to a student who is interested in pursuing a role like yours?

Hazem: I am not a fan of giving general advice as every person and path is different. I also don’t consider myself in this place of giving “advice,” but if I can say what I think might have worked (or not) with me: which is trying to be curious, flexible, adaptable, and not shying away from learning about new fields and experiences.

 

Community managers, from my experience, come from various backgrounds, and one can find his/her own way if they are interested in the topic.

 

If you are a student who is interested in pursuing a community manager role, I would suggest joining different communities that you are interested in (such as your professional field or hobbies) and collaborating with other members so you get to experience what makes a “healthy community.”  This way, you can naturally acquire skills that will help you in your career.

 

 

Remember to comment or ask question directly to @hazem.adel below!

 

Contributors
9 Comments
patrick.emin
Alumni

Thanks @hazem.adel , I was going to say that you have an atypical background; but finally when you read the biographies of our team of community managers in particular, you realize that we all have had very diverse backgrounds in fact. It's encouraging for our readers who want to consider a career or a period of their professional life in this activity. Not necessarily at Autodesk. Managing a community is about spending time, making regular and sustained efforts, having a passion for communication, being willing to learn from others. Congratulations on your career path, you are juggling more language than most of your colleagues. I think we can be happy for working in such an international and friendly environment. Keep up the good work! :grinning_face:

MarkGunnAutodesk
Alumni

I think this advice is indispensable, @hazem.adel.

 

" trying to be curious, flexible, adaptable, and not shying away from learning about new fields and experiences."

 

This is what I try to guide my two sons with. Not originally, I tried to insist they would on math, science, and it was only later that I matured and let them move with their passions. You're right everybody is different, as the key is never to close any door, keep your mind open and curious!

bharat.borate.27
Advocate

Thanks, @hazem.adel, for such beautiful piece of advice at the end!

omarab8zaid
Explorer

thanks @hazem.adel for the advice ♥

omarab8zaid_1-1644922572178.png

 

Elmoataz.Bellah.Salem
Collaborator

@hazem.adel ,you are inspiring person and very very cooperative Person with us...great job and go on my friend:clapping_hands::clapping_hands:

hazem.adel
Alumni

@Elmoataz.Bellah.Salem thanks for your kind words.

The Arabic community is being built and is growing thanks to active members like you : D glad that our paths have crossed and looking forward to more cooperation : D

SoaresASBCAD
Collaborator

Seguir em frente, pois é capaz de conseguir mais.

ruyraoli
Mentor

Thanks for such good information.

ahmadfiroozi000
Advocate

Thank you for the information