Konstantina Papadea has spent the last dozen years building and nurturing communities around Mozilla’s products. Before venturing into the world of tech, Konstantina had been focused on mining and economic geology. Her dream was to pursue a master’s degree in the field, then live and work in remote areas of Canada or Australia, digging for ore deposits. Life took a turn when she started contributing to Mozilla and learned more about its mission to keep the Internet open and accessible to all. The rest, as they say, is history.
During her work at community events, Konstantina struck up a friendship with Michael Kohler, a longtime contributor, who has volunteered over the years on Mozilla open-source projects. The two clicked and were married earlier this year. We spoke with Konstantina, who just returned from her honeymoon, and she shared how they met, plus how continuous learning, openness and genuine care for the community have driven her work.
Tell us about your journey at Mozilla.
I began as a contributor to Mozilla twelve years ago, initially helping with community events in various countries around the world including India, Brazil and Spain, while still a student. I found it interesting, despite not originally considering it a career due to my background in geology. I started contributing to local Greek community events and organizing broader community events. In December 2012, Mozilla offered me a part-time contract to help organize events, which I accepted. My contract was extended multiple times, and I gradually took on more tasks. Torn between pursuing a master’s degree and continuing with Mozilla, I decided to stay and become a community manager. Then I moved to Berlin from my home country, Greece. I advanced to a senior community manager role and began running more campaigns, focusing on building communities. With training and guidance from my manager, I transitioned to the role of program manager, specializing in communities. Over time, my role has evolved from event coordinator to community manager, and eventually to program manager. I shifted from managing communities to building strategies for community engagement. Currently, I am part of the customer experience team, focusing on building product communities.
How does your current work with communities compare to what you originally signed up for?
As part of the customer experience team, I focus on building product communities around Firefox rather than providing one-on-one support. Our goal is to turn Firefox users into a community that interacts, gives feedback and supports each other. The team aims to be the voice of the customer. By integrating users into the community and involving them in the development process, we hope to enhance the overall customer experience.
Initially, Mozilla’s focus was on regional and project-based communities, asking what people could do for Mozilla. There was a strong emphasis on open source contributions. Now, the focus has shifted to understanding that people care about the products themselves. Mozilla aims to build communities around specific products like Firefox, emphasizing what Mozilla can do for the users. The goal is to create active product communities by engaging users and addressing their needs, rather than waiting for them to come to Mozilla. The mission and principles remain important, but the approach is now more user-centric.
What were some projects or initiatives that stood out as especially impactful?
I led the Reps program, which centralizes Mozilla’s community efforts, and I served as both community manager and program manager. I worked on numerous community projects, including support for Firefox Voice, Foxfooding, MDN and add-ons. The Reps program was a big focus, involving collaboration across the organization to engage the community. Key projects included Firefox releases, Quantum, localization and Common Voice. Campaigns often centered on community contributions, and extensive testing was done with Foxfooding.
The Reps program was a big focus, involving collaboration across the organization to engage the community
What was your favorite project?
It was a part of the community-building efforts around a voice assistant add-on for Firefox. Despite the product not launching, the process was interesting and collaborative. Initially tested with the Mozilla community, it evolved into a smaller community providing feedback, reporting issues and suggesting features. This first product community demonstrated the value of early engagement and listening to users. Although priorities shifted and the product didn’t progress, it served as a successful experiment in community collaboration.
What are the most rewarding aspects of working with the global Mozilla community?
I find it rewarding to see community members happy and appreciative of Mozilla’s efforts, thanking us for caring and meeting their needs. For example, organizing Mozilla’s presence at this year’s FOSDEM, Europe’s largest open-source conference, was extremely tiring but fulfilling, with attendees expressing gratitude for Mozilla’s mission and efforts to keep the web open. Engaging with passionate volunteers, who contribute as a hobby, is particularly meaningful. Their dedication and various levels of involvement are essential aspects of community work.
At this year’s FOSDEM, attendees expressed gratitude for Mozilla’s mission and efforts to keep the web open
What has been your approach to fostering strong connections within the Mozilla community?
There are two key aspects of community building: getting to know people personally and authentically. I aim to understand and meet community needs rather than market or sell to them. Over my twelve years with the organization, I have made many friends from the community. I believe in treating community members as individuals, not numbers, and balancing their needs with the company’s goals. The challenge lies in finding the right balance between marketing and community engagement to serve both effectively.
How has being part of the Mozilla community influenced your personal life?
I met my husband, Michael, and many friends through Mozilla. At my wedding, around 20 Mozilla-related people were present. In my mid-20s as a community manager, I spent a lot of time with contributors and employees working on the same projects. I started a relationship with my husband, who was also part of this group, despite the initial challenge of living in different countries (Greece and Switzerland) and balancing personal and work life. I eventually moved to Berlin, and he followed. This year, we married in my home country, Greece, and are expecting a baby girl later this year.
How do you balance your personal and professional life, especially when both are so closely tied to Mozilla?
Nowadays, it’s easier for me to balance my personal and work life as I’m no longer a community manager. In the past, setting boundaries was challenging, such as designating weekends free from Mozilla talk. My husband was highly engaged in the community, more so than I was, which alleviated concerns about favoritism. We managed to establish boundaries to separate work and personal life. I enjoyed group vacations with Mozilla colleagues and made many friends within the community. Some of these friends have moved on from Mozilla, while others remain. I feel fortunate to have built strong relationships.
How do you stay engaged and motivated in your role after more than a decade at Mozilla?
I would emphasize the importance of enjoying your work. I have stayed motivated by working on diverse projects and with different people, constantly learning and seeking new challenges. A friend advised me to move on if I ever stopped learning, and currently, I am finding motivation in a new project related to product and communities. This new approach at Mozilla is a learning opportunity for me. I value continuous learning, exploring new roles and promoting my career through varied experiences. Additionally, I cherish the supportive and engaging environment at Mozilla, highlighted by interactions at events like last year’s MozWeek in Montreal like the magic show with the legal team’s Mike Feldman, where the camaraderie and kindness of colleagues make it a positive workplace.
“I have stayed motivated by working on diverse projects and with different people, constantly learning and seeking new challenges.”
Can you share some memorable moments or experiences from your time working with the community?
I am amazed at the commitment and willingness of people to contribute to various projects. I recalled the Quantum project, where community members exceeded expectations in testing websites and providing feedback. A recent small campaign, where a simple banner asked users how they installed Firefox, received 2,500 replies, demonstrating strong engagement and care from the community. Such responses are motivating for me. I noted the positive energy at Mozilla events, like the one in Singapore, and highlighted that most community members are nice and genuinely care, despite the occasional negative interactions often associated with internet anonymity.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career at Mozilla?
I advise not to be afraid to ask for help, as people at Mozilla are friendly and willing to provide advice. Working openly is not something to fear but just a way of operating. Have fun and stay engaged with the community.