Originally published at: Mindshare Elections: Interview with Sumantro Muckherjee (sumantrom) – Fedora Community Blog
This is a part of the Mindshare Elections Interviews series. Voting is open to all Fedora contributors. The voting period starts today, Tuesday 20th May and closes promptly at 23:59:59 UTC on Monday, 2 June 2025.
Interview with Sumantro Muckherjee
- FAS ID: sumantrom
- Matrix Rooms: fedora-kde, mindshare, fedora-social, fedora-social-hour, fedora-arm, workstation, devel, fedora-qa, badges, fedora-test-devs, docs, I18n, ambassadors
Questions
What is your background in Fedora? What have you worked on and what are you doing now?
I’ve been an active contributor to the Fedora Project for over a decade, primarily as a key member of the Fedora QA team. Throughout this journey, I have participated in and signed off on numerous Fedora releases, ensuring quality through structured test planning, organizing test days, and coordinating Rawhide test efforts. My role has evolved over time to include not just testing, but also community engagement and advocacy. I have been a visible and vocal ambassador for Fedora, regularly promoting it at conferences, university events, and through online platforms.
In addition to QA, I’ve taken on mentorship responsibilities — helping new contributors onboard, guiding Google Summer of Code interns as an Org Admin, and actively contributing to Fedora’s mentorship and onboarding initiatives. I’ve also helped shape test planning and communication processes for Fedora’s diverse SIGs, including accessibility (a11y), power management, and container technologies like Podman. More recently, I’ve helped integrate AI/ML use cases with Fedora tooling, organized Fedora x PyTorch sessions at events like DevConf.IN, and contributed to Fedora Magazine and community documentation.
Please elaborate on the personal “Why” which motivates you to be a candidate for Mindshare.
Over the last 10+ years in the Fedora Project, I’ve come to realize that contribution is only part of the story — the rest is recognition, representation, and reach. My motivation to be a candidate for Fedora Mindshare comes from these values, built through years of engagement as a QA contributor, release sign-off lead, mentor, and passionate advocate.
I believe recognition is not just a pat on the back; it’s a vital tool for sustainability. I’ve seen firsthand how a single word of encouragement or a spotlight on someone’s work can inspire long-term engagement. This is why I’ve taken on roles that go beyond testing — helping onboard new contributors, organizing Fedora Magazine articles to highlight community voices, and shaping mentorship initiatives that offer visible pathways for growth.
I’ve also worked to expand Fedora’s adoption in local and underrepresented regions. Whether it’s representing Fedora at DevConf.IN, mentoring GSoC contributors from across India, or leading Fedora x PyTorch meetups, I’ve tried to meet people where they are — in language, in accessibility, in culture. I want to bring this local-global balance to Mindshare: empowering Fedora contributors from diverse geographies to feel that this project belongs to them.
Most recently, I’ve been deeply involved with the Fedora a11y initiative — not just to improve accessibility for users, but to rethink how we include testers, contributors, and advocates who rely on accessible tools to participate. Fedora’s strength lies in being inclusive, and Mindshare plays a critical role in amplifying that.
With my background in QA, mentoring, event organizing, accessibility, and digital advocacy, I hope to strengthen the bridges between Fedora’s technical excellence and its human stories. I want to ensure that contributors feel seen, new users feel welcomed, and Fedora continues to thrive in both global and local communities.
How would you improve Mindshare Committee visibility and awareness in the Fedora community?
To improve the visibility and awareness of the Mindshare Committee, I would focus on recognition, digital ambassadorship, and local engagement. We need to consistently highlight the people behind Fedora — not just through global events but by showcasing contributors’ work in everyday channels like Fedora Magazine, social media, and newsletters. Recognition builds momentum.
I’d also strengthen Fedora’s presence through digital ambassadors — contributors who share Fedora stories, updates, and achievements online in their regions and languages. This helps us reach new audiences authentically. Finally, I’d support local events and regional meetups by providing templates, promotion kits, and spotlighting them globally — making sure community-led efforts aren’t just heard locally, but celebrated across Fedora.
Mindshare can be the bridge that connects contribution with visibility.Mindshare needs to be seen not as a separate silo, but as a support structure that’s actively invested in the success of contributors. With better visibility, we strengthen Fedora’s contributor experience and make it easier for people to join, stay, and thrive.
What part of Fedora do you think needs the most attention from the Mindshare Committee during your term?
The part of Fedora that I believe needs the most attention from the Mindshare Committee right now is localized engagement and contributor recognition. While Fedora has a global contributor base, much of our outreach, documentation, and event focus remains centralized. We need to empower local communities — not just with translations, but with resources to run events, share success stories, and advocate for Fedora in their own voice.In parallel, recognition remains an underutilized tool. We have contributors doing impactful work in QA, accessibility, mentoring, and packaging, but they often go unseen. Mindshare can help build a more visible and sustained culture of appreciation through shout-outs, badges, contributor spotlights, and structured pathways for digital ambassadorship.