Thanks to everyone who joined our Designing a Center of Excellence event!
We had a lively discussion about when and how to build a Center of Excellence (COE), the balance between governance and enablement, and practical steps for supporting builders across teams. Whether you’re an admin, a champion, or just starting your Airtable journey, there was something for everyone.
3 Key Takeaways
- A COE is about enablement, not just control. The goal is to create guardrails that empower builders, not gates that slow them down. Governance, enablement, and community are all essential pillars of a successful COE.
- Start simple and solve real problems. You don’t need a massive COE on day one. Begin by addressing the biggest friction points—like training, templates, or integration guidance—and build from there. Prioritize what your builders need most and iterate as you grow.
- Leverage existing resources and build community. Don’t reinvent the wheel—use Airtable Academy, community forums, and shared templates to support your builders. A champion network can help scale best practices and reduce bottlenecks for admins.