We’re thrilled to celebrate @Karen_Zhang as our “Champion of the Month”. As a Data Engineer at Cilo and MongoDB Champion, Karen has become a driving force in our community, transforming how developers understand and implement MongoDB solutions.
Karen’s technical expertise shines through her widely-read publications, including “The Inheritance Schema Design Pattern for MongoDB Data Modeling” and "What is MongoDB? Key Concepts, Use Cases, and Best Practices", that have empowered countless developers to build better data architectures.
We asked her some questions about her journey, so read through to learn more about the icon that is Karen 
Tell us about your journey to becoming a MongoDB Champion.
I initially learned about MongoDB years ago, primarily drawn to its schema flexibility, as it solved a major headache for the dynamic data models I was managing. My personal learning quickly transitioned into sharing that knowledge, which is how I got deeply involved through the Guest Author Program. Writing technical deep dives felt like the most natural way to contribute. That consistent work, sharing expertise across multiple platforms, led to a fantastic surprise: the nomination and acceptance into the MongoDB Champions program.
What drives you to continue helping the community?
My biggest drive is a combination of technical fascination and the ability to influence others’ growth. MongoDB is always pushing new frontiers, and dissecting features for an article or talk is the best way to keep my skills sharp. But the real satisfaction comes from receiving feedback on an article where someone says, “That piece clarified this confusing concept perfectly.” Knowing my writing and presentations save others hours of struggle and maybe even inspire them to try a new feature is incredibly rewarding. It’s about sharing the “how-to” and building a more knowledgeable ecosystem.
Can you share one impactful or favorite moment you’ve had as a Champion so far?
My favorite moment relates to the “What is MongoDB?” article I contributed early on. I received feedback that the post quickly became one of the highest-trafficked and most-referenced pieces of content on the community hub. Knowing that my writing has served as the foundational introduction to MongoDB for literally thousands of new developers—that it’s the “start here” resource for countless users—is incredibly rewarding. That article’s success highlighted the real need for clear, foundational content, and seeing its wide consumption validated my passion for writing impactful technical guides.
If you could share one piece of advice to people in tech, what would that be?
Stop consuming and start creating. Instead of just reading endless tutorials, pick one thing you struggled with this week, master it, and then write about it. Whether it’s a quick blog post, a detailed guide, or even just documenting your process for yourself, turning knowledge into content forces you to understand it deeply. This is how you solidify expertise, build a portfolio, and naturally find your voice within the tech community. Documenting your journey is the ultimate accelerator.
Where can developers connect with or learn more about you?
They can find me on LinkedIn at Karen Zhang 
Thank you very much, Karen Zhang, for sharing your story with us today and for all the incredible work you’ve done for the MongoDB community. We can’t wait to see what you share next in the community.
