Last Thursday, Faizal Dawood, Business Analyst Consultant at Hippo, spoke at a co-hosted event with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) UK in Birmingham. The evening, initially targeted at business analysts from across the Midlands but later grew to include attendees from over 100 miles away, gathered business analysts to explore how Communities of Practice (CoPs) can strengthen professional networks, encourage knowledge sharing, and support long-term growth.
Why Communities of Practice matter
At their best, Communities of Practice offer more than just a regular catch-up. They create space for like-minded individuals to share challenges, test ideas, and learn from one another in a way that’s open, safe, and genuinely useful.
With over a decade of experience, Faizal opened the evening with a simple idea: communities don’t just support individuals, they shape how we work. He was joined by Helen Holder, Lead Business Analyst at the Ministry of Justice, who facilitated an interactive activity looking at analysing your network and provided a framework to uncover the roles we play in the networks of others.
Together, they invited the room into a conversation, not about best practice in theory, but about what works in the real world.
From shared vision to shared learning
The discussion moved from the practical to the personal. How do you keep a community active? What makes people show up and keep showing up? And how do you create an environment where every voice feels welcome?
From regular meetups to informal drop-in sessions, the examples shared highlighted a common thread: when people feel able to speak openly, ask questions, and offer ideas without judgment, better ways of working start to emerge.
CoPs, in that sense, aren’t just professional groups. They’re support systems. They help people grow in confidence, build meaningful relationships, and navigate change together.
Space to connect
The event, held at The Studio in Birmingham, brought together a mix of early-career professionals and seasoned practitioners. Regardless of experience, one thing was clear: everyone had something to contribute and something to learn.
That openness was at the heart of the evening. In a profession where the work can be complex and often isolating, simply having a place to reflect, share, and listen can make a real difference.
Strong communities often work quietly in the background. They don’t always need to be loud or formal to be effective. But over time, they shape how people learn, support one another, and drive change in their organisations.
This conversation in Birmingham showed just how powerful that can be. When people come together with curiosity and a willingness to share, small conversations can lead to lasting impact.
