Just the beginning?
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Hi Reader, Walking into WordCamp Europe this summer felt like walking into high school as seniors. As usual, we knew many of the faces in the room, and we had experience on our side. The city was new (Kraków, Poland), but the energy was delightfully familiar. It’s like coming home to a community we’ve been with since freshman year. When you’re one of the “seniors,” you have wisdom to share with others who are earlier in their journey. We always love meeting people who are newer to the community, and sharing how we’ve grown our business by building WordPress websites. When you’re a senior, you feel like you run the joint. Yet, it’s also just the beginning of something new to come. The industry and the world have changed a whole lot since we first started with WordPress. Each year, it seems to change even faster, which means there are always new things for us to learn. User behavior is changing and AI is accelerating certain parts of the job. There are also plenty of bloated claims about how much AI can truly handle. Being at WordCamp reminded me of how much we all still need this community as we embrace those transitions. Because we can’t forget the value of experience and expertise. Even with all the AI tools, there’s still a clear need for deep design sensibility, an understanding of how to organize and present information, the ability to test across devices, and the knowledge required to write effective, structured content. We still need developers, designers, strategists, and WordPress experts who care deeply about building websites the right way and guiding clients through all the change happening around us. In fact, I think we need them now more than ever. When something’s evolving so quickly, you want people who understand the landscape to keep you grounded. People who can pause and know what questions to ask so you’re not blindly following the whims of algorithms. Being in Poland, hearing familiar friends and new connections talk about their work, I felt confident that the industry is in good hands. The WordPress world is a well of possibilities, and I don’t see it going dry anytime soon. This community of passionate people have been through a lot together, but there’s still so much more for us to be excited about.
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Hi! I'm Rachel, the Left Brain of Drio.
Hi Reader, Rachel and I recently went to a presentation for international exchange alumni (because of our Professional Fellows experience). During the event, one of the presenters shared how he’s now working with a peacebuilding organization called Mediators Beyond Borders. You know I’m all about a good analogy, and I absolutely loved the one he referenced. He described peacebuilding as similar to the Japanese art form kintsugi, which is done by repairing broken pottery using a gold substance...
Hi Reader, I don’t usually work late, but when I do, it’s because I’m fully immersed in something, head down, earbuds in. Recently, I was up late working on WholeSite, the AI-assisted website building tool we’re developing. When I finally came home, I asked my husband if he wanted to see what I had been doing. I hadn’t actually told him much about WholeSite yet, so I gave him the spiel. I told him WholeSite will allow entrepreneurs to create a high-quality WordPress website on their own. It...
Hi Reader, July was filled with connection, learning, and meaningful impact. From exchanging ideas with entrepreneurs and global leaders to launching a refreshed digital experience for a mission-driven organization and staying ahead of important website security updates, the month offered valuable opportunities to grow, collaborate, and support the communities we serve. 🚀 Learning from DC-Area Startup Founders On July 16, Rachel attended the Korea Innovation Center Washington DC’s TeX...