What is an AWS Community Day?

AWS Community Day DACH is not just an event—it's a celebration of community spirit, technical innovation, and the power of collaboration. This year, the event took place in Munich on September 17th, bringing together over 400 cloud enthusiasts, professionals, and community leaders from the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).

Organizing AWS Community Day: A Team Effort

Organizing the AWS Community Day DACH is truly a collaborative effort. As the Chairwoman of the Förderverein AWS Community DACH e.V., I am part of a dedicated board that ensures the event runs smoothly and delivers value to our community. Our team operates with a clear structure and well-defined roles to cover all aspects of the event:

• Content and Agenda: Philipp Garbe leads the selection and organization of session content. He coordinates the Call for Papers (CFP), works with the speaker selection committee, and ensures that we offer a diverse and engaging lineup of sessions.

• Sponsorship Management: Thorsten Höger is responsible for securing and managing event sponsors. He maintains strong relationships with our partners, ensuring we have the necessary support and resources to bring the event to life.

• AWS Coordination: Markus Ostertag manages our communication with AWS. He collaborates with the AWS Community Day Core Team and our local AWS Community Manager to align our event with AWS guidelines and to access resources like keynote speakers and promotional support.

• Marketing and Communication: My role involves leading the marketing efforts, including live social media coverage, content creation, and developing resources like the Know Before You Go Guide. I also manage our brand communication to ensure our message is consistent and resonates with our audience.

What makes our board dynamic is the close collaboration between us. We regularly synchronize our activities, share insights, and support each other in all phases of planning and execution. This strong team dynamic is a key factor in the success of the AWS Community Day DACH.

Our structured approach not only helps us manage the complexities of organizing a large-scale event but also ensures that every aspect—from content to logistics to attendee experience—is thoughtfully planned and executed.

Whether it’s refining the event agenda, negotiating with sponsors, aligning with AWS, or crafting a memorable attendee experience, our teamwork is what makes this event a true community-driven success.

My Role as Chairwoman: Keeping It All Together

As the Chairwoman, my responsibilities extend beyond my marketing role. I serve as the glue that binds all our efforts together. I:

• Ensure Cohesion: Oversee all aspects of the event to maintain alignment with our mission and goals.

• Facilitate Collaboration: Keep communication flowing between the board members and the broader organizing team, ensuring that everyone is on the same page.

• Make Final Decisions: When challenges arise, I assess the situation, gather input, and make the final call to keep the project on track.

• Hold Accountability: I bear the ultimate responsibility for the event's success, from planning to execution to the attendee experience.

My leadership approach is collaborative yet decisive. I trust my team to bring their best ideas forward and work autonomously while providing guidance and stepping in when needed. This balance of trust and leadership helps us create an event that is not only well-organized but also filled with the authentic community spirit that makes AWS Community Days so special.

My second Role: Leading the Marketing Team

As the Marketing Lead, my focus was to ensure that the event's message reached the right audience—not just in the run-up to the event but also live and beyond. Our marketing strategy included:

• Live Postings: Coordinating a team to capture real-time moments and share them on social media, using the hashtags #AWSCommunity and #AWSCommunityDayDACH.

• Content Creation: From drafting posts to editing videos, I was hands-on in making sure we shared authentic stories and engaging content.

• Know Before You Go Guide: I prepared a detailed guide for all attendees, covering everything from logistics to speaker details, ensuring everyone felt informed and welcomed.

What I loved most about this role was the chance to collaborate with a fantastic team of volunteers. We had room hosts, social media coordinators, and content creators all working together seamlessly. It was a perfect example of the community spirit in action.

What Makes AWS Community Day Special?

Unlike larger, corporate-led conferences, AWS Community Days are organized by community members for the community. This grassroots approach means that the content is highly relevant, authentic, and often features real-world use cases and success stories.

At this year's event, the sessions ranged from deep technical dives into AI and machine learning to practical workshops on cloud cost optimization and building serverless applications. One of the highlights was the Community Stage, where anyone could present their projects, share insights, and inspire others. This open format is particularly important to me because it gives everyone a voice, from seasoned AWS Heroes to first-time speakers.

Why Building and Sharing Matters

For me, AWS Community Day is not just about attending talks—it's about building and sharing. My journey often starts with an idea for a talk or project. Submitting a call for papers creates a deadline, and the opportunity to present at events like this motivates me to bring projects to life. It's a cycle of inspiration: building something, sharing it with the community, getting feedback, and learning from others.

For example, my first talk at the AWS Summit in Berlin was about a small data ML use case with data augmentation. The process of preparing for that talk not only pushed me to explore new technologies but also helped me connect with others who had similar interests. This is why I always encourage others to "learn by building" and to use platforms like the Community Day to share their work.

Looking Ahead

This blog post is just the beginning. I plan to continue sharing insights about my journey within the AWS Community, including more behind-the-scenes stories and deeper dives into specific projects. If you're curious about the AWS Community or want to get involved, don't hesitate to reach out—I’d love to help you find your own path in this vibrant, supportive network.

Stay tuned for more stories, and maybe I'll see you at the next AWS Community Day!