The Importance of Fostering Relationships in an AI World
This discussion, led by Derek Andersen and Francisco Cruz Mendoza exploring Francisco’s journey into community management, strategies for scaling communities, and the evolving role of AI in enhancing community experiences. The event serves as an insightful resource for community professionals, with a focus on actionable strategies and real-world examples from Francisco’s experiences at Notion and Startup Grind.
Three Actionable Takeaways:
Prioritize Personal Relationships in Early Community Building:
Focus on non-scalable activities when starting a community. Francisco emphasizes the importance of building relationships with the first 10-20 members, as they set the tone and culture for the community. Host onboarding calls and maintain regular, personal check-ins to establish trust and engagement.
Leverage Community Feedback for Continuous Improvement:
Actively gather feedback from members and use it to drive meaningful changes. Francisco shared how open conversations with members identified issues like time zone challenges and lack of inter-member engagement, which led to adjustments that improved community satisfaction and activity.
Use AI to Handle Repetitive Tasks and Free Up Time for Strategic Work:
Incorporate AI tools to manage administrative and repetitive tasks, such as summarizing meeting notes, tracking engagement metrics, and automating welcome messages. This allows community managers to dedicate more time to meaningful interactions and higher-level program development.
Access the Complete Webinar Replay
This discussion, led by Derek Andersen and Francisco Cruz Mendoza exploring Francisco’s journey into community management, strategies for scaling communities, and the evolving role of AI in enhancing community experiences. The event serves as an insightful resource for community professionals, with a focus on actionable strategies and real-world examples from Francisco’s experiences at Notion and Startup Grind.
Three Actionable Takeaways:
Prioritize Personal Relationships in Early Community Building:
Focus on non-scalable activities when starting a community. Francisco emphasizes the importance of building relationships with the first 10-20 members, as they set the tone and culture for the community. Host onboarding calls and maintain regular, personal check-ins to establish trust and engagement.
Leverage Community Feedback for Continuous Improvement:
Actively gather feedback from members and use it to drive meaningful changes. Francisco shared how open conversations with members identified issues like time zone challenges and lack of inter-member engagement, which led to adjustments that improved community satisfaction and activity.
Use AI to Handle Repetitive Tasks and Free Up Time for Strategic Work:
Incorporate AI tools to manage administrative and repetitive tasks, such as summarizing meeting notes, tracking engagement metrics, and automating welcome messages. This allows community managers to dedicate more time to meaningful interactions and higher-level program development.
Upcoming events
Community, AI and the Most Valuable Skill Left in Tech with Derek Andersen
As AI reshapes tech, human connection becomes the scarcest skill. Derek Andersen reveals why community professionals are the new unicorns at CMX Summit 2026.
Metrics, Measurement & Community-Led Growth with Anuj Adhiya & Josh Zerkel
Your community metrics are broken — and AI is hiding it. Anuj Adhiya shares a framework to measure real member value, not bot-inflated engagement.
Hot Takes: Friction, Advocacy & Trust with Santiago Espinosa, Gabrielle Herrera & Vero Heino
Three provocative takes: why friction builds belonging, why advocacy is earned media, and why your community is a trust engine — not an engagement tool.
Career, Growth & the Renaissance Mind with Guilda Hilaire, Suzanne Shaw & Avital Knoller
Community managers are strategists, signal translators, and career architects. Three speakers make the case for what the role is really worth — and how to prove it.
CMX x Blomma: Growth, Career & Community in SF
Join us for an intimate evening in SF bringing together a small group of community pros for networking, an honest fireside conversation, and real hands-on time with tools to help you advance your career and your practice.
Loop 2026: The Global Community Summit
For the first time ever, the global community industry is coming together in one continuous, 24-hour virtual experience. Loop is a full-day orbit around the world, starting where we finish and circling through every region, time zone, and voice that makes this industry thrive. Hosted by CMX, Led by Community, and The Community Collective, this summit is more than an event—it’s a global relay of ideas, connection, and inspiration.
CMX Summit 2027
The community industry's flagship event is coming back. CMX Summit brings together the world's leading community professionals for two days of honest conversation, tactical depth, and the kind of connections that actually stick.
