Welcome to The People Behind the Programs, a blog series celebrating the voices, stories, and impact of the community professionals powering connection and belonging across the globe.

Today, we journey to Ibadan, Nigeria, to meet Tope James Moses, the Co-Founder of ATC Africa, where he is on a mission to cultivate tech talent across the continent.

Tope’s story is a testament to the transformative power of a shared purpose and collaborative effort. From leading his computer science department in university to spearheading tech communities, Tope has navigated a path that intertwines his technical skills with his passion for community building. Let’s explore this journey in his own words.

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How It Started

My journey into the community industry began during my undergraduate studies. Initially, I didn't know the formal term "community building," but I realized I had a profound passion for bringing people together and supporting them to achieve greater impact.

This innate drive led me to take on leadership roles, most notably serving as the President of my Computer Science department. During this time, the events and programs we organized generated surprising and positive results. I continued to blend this interest with my technical skills by working as a Technical Product Engineer while also taking on Campus Lead roles at various startups.

Ultimately, my love for building products for community impact led me to co-founded ATC Africa, driven by the mission to cultivate tech talent across the continent. My current role is a direct result of that journey.

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A Day in the Life

My current role is two-fold: I serve as Co-Founder of ATC Africa and the CMX Connect Ibadan Director.

At ATC Africa, a typical day involves a heavy focus on team management and ensuring key deliverables are met, from the initial task kick-off to completion. A significant part of my time is dedicated to securing and managing strategic partnerships and sponsorships to ensure our community members have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

The communities I manage are diverse, encompassing tech talent across Africa (through ATC Africa) and a specific community of fellow community managers (through CMX Connect). My day-to-day responsibilities center on fostering these ecosystems, which often requires me to collaborate with various stakeholders to successfully execute projects, secure support, and maximize opportunities for our members.

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The Tools that Power My Work

My essential toolkit for community building is a combination of platforms tailored for specific needs:

For documentation and knowledge sharing, my preference is Google Docs. Its real-time collaboration and easy access ensure that all necessary guides, policies, and meeting notes are transparent and continuously updated across the team.

For virtual and hybrid meetings, Bevy is my go-to platform. It offers robust event management capabilities that are critical for organizing and scaling community gatherings effectively.

When it comes to real-time discussion and engagement, I utilize Slack, Discord, and WhatsApp. This multi-platform approach allows me to meet community members where they are most comfortable, fostering broad accessibility and participation.

Finally, for task management and workflow oversight, I rely on Trello. It helps track project progress, delegate responsibilities, and ensure the team meets all key deliverables efficiently.

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Advice for Newcomers

If you are just starting in the community industry, my first advice is to recognize that community is the future of technology. For African tech talent, opportunities—including resources, jobs, and networking—are overwhelmingly found within vibrant communities. We urgently need more committed community managers ready to drive this growth.

While funding is a common hurdle, remember that building personal connections is crucial. Invest time in meeting people and clearly articulating your needs. When people see your genuine impact, support will follow.

What I wish I had realized sooner is the central role community would play for everyone. If I could go back, I would have taken community building even more seriously than I did. To all current and aspiring community managers: let the talent know that beyond the excitement of big events, we need to focus on building impactful communities, not just communities with large numbers.

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Resources I Suggest

One book that I recommend is Master Your Focus by Thibaut Meurisse. It's instrumental for anyone looking to improve their productivity and focus within the community space.

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💬 Let’s connect on LinkedIn — I’d love to hear from fellow community builders.

💡 The People Behind the Programs is a blog series that shines a light on the community professionals powering impactful programs around the world. Want to share your story or nominate someone doing incredible community work? Submit your spotlight here.

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Are you passionate about building communities?

‍Join the movement, start a CMX Connect chapter in your city or virtually and become a local leader in the global community industry. 👉 Apply to become a chapter director

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