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

Today, we meet Whitney Marin, a Senior Customer Success Manager at Hivebrite, based in Paris, France. Whitney’s journey into community work began long before she used the word “community” professionally. Her interdisciplinary background in storytelling and public policy provides a unique lens through which she facilitates connection and understanding. Let’s hear her story in her own words.

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How It Started

My entry point into community work started long before I ever used the word “community” professionally. I studied storytelling and public policy, two fields that are really about the same thing: understanding people, how they connect, and what shapes their behavior. When I moved to Paris, I felt firsthand what so many internationals discover, which is that connection can be surprisingly difficult, even in a vibrant city like Paris. That experience became the catalyst for everything I do now.

I began informally hosting small gatherings, facilitating conversations, and experimenting with formats that helped people feel seen. In 2023, a facilitation course sharpened my skills, and in 2024 I had what I call my “apprenticeship year,” a year of trying out formats and learning through events, workshops, and community building projects.

Professionally, I’m also a Senior Customer Success Manager at Hivebrite, a community management platform. Working in the community-tech industry gives me a unique vantage point to see how so many different organizations build belonging at scale. It’s inspiring for sure!

I took on a leadership role as the Chapter Director of CMX Connect Paris, which gave me a deeper understanding of the mechanics of professional community building. Alongside that, I developed my own initiative, Two Story, focused on belonging, relationships, and personal development for internationals in Paris.

Today, I blend my professional experience with my personal mission, creating monthly conversations, designing workshops, studying loneliness and digital culture, and building spaces that bring people closer to each other and themselves.

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A Day in the Life

I run Two Story, a community initiative focused on relationships, belonging, and personal development for internationals in Paris. I also lead the CMX Connect Paris chapter, where I bring community professionals together for conversations and networking.

My day-to-day work is primarily as a Senior Customer Success Manager at Hivebrite, where I enable organizations to reach their community and organizational goals through the platform. This looks like sharing best practices and community development strategies unique to their use cases. I’m constantly deepening my understanding of how people engage, communicate, and scale impact in digital spaces.

When I shift into community builder mode after work, I coordinate partners and venues, plan our regular meetups, develop new event formats, spotlight Paris community builders on Instagram, and write my Loneliness Economy newsletter. Some days I moderate Learn & Link sessions, and other days I review feedback from past events or refine ideas for upcoming gatherings.

I also set aside time to read the latest research on loneliness, digital culture, and modern relationship dynamics. These themes guide the way I design experiences and conversations.

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Everything I do is driven by the same goal, which is helping people feel more connected, both online and offline.

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The Tools that Power My Work

Great question! I genuinely love productivity tools and use many of them to stay on top of my community work and projects.

I use Notion to document processes, track milestones, and store historical information, and I rely on Google’s suite of Docs, Sheets, and Calendar for collaboration and planning. Most of my creative work, including brainstorming prompts, cataloging ideas, and capturing insights, happens in Apple Notes. It is simple, but it keeps my thinking organized and accessible. I use Airtable for database management, Canva for creating promotional event materials, Substack to distribute my newsletter, and Luma has become my go-to for easy event management for Two Story. All CMX Connect events are managed through Bevy. Last but not least, I of course use Hivebrite daily to support my customers and to contribute to both our customer community and internal employee community.

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Advice for Newcomers

My advice for someone starting in community is to stay curious and build your own board of advisors. Community building is one of the few fields where experimentation is essential, so attend events, participate in different communities, and surround yourself with peers who understand your challenges and support your work.

I learned early on that clarity comes from doing, not thinking. Host the gathering. Try the idea. Run the workshop, even if only five people show up! Every event teaches you something about what people need and what you’re uniquely good at offering.

It is also important to protect your energy. Community building is emotional work, especially when your mission touches belonging or personal development, so boundaries and support systems matter.

I’d also encourage everyone to internalize that success is about resonance more than numbers. A deeply connected group of 20 can be more impactful than an audience of 2,000. With intention, consistency, and sincerity, I think you’re onto something.

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Resources I Suggest

I’m a big fan of newsletters, so I’ll recommend two. When I first started formally working in community, I was inspired by Gareth Wilson’s Community Inc., which offers deep dives into successful community businesses. I also love Anne Ditmeyer’s Override, a creativity-focused newsletter that speaks directly to the imaginative work behind building community.

One of the books resonating most with me right now is bell hooks’ All About Love. It invites you to reflect on the foundations of connection and asks important questions about who and what taught us how to love and relate to one another. It is a powerful read.

There are many more books on my list I’d like to read to continue to grow my community building practice. The Culture Map by Erin Meyer has been on my radar for ages and is incredibly helpful for cross-cultural communication, and Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure le Cunff is another recent addition I am excited to read.

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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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