It feels…full circle, honestly. I’m actually going to WordCamp US 2025. And it’s hitting me, this little wave of – well, not just excitement, but recognition. Like, twenty years. Twenty years I’ve been tangled up in the WordPress ecosystem. It’s almost comical when I think about it. I remember stumbling onto it back in the early days, just wanting a way to ensure that my colleagues visit my site often and the need for something more powerful than blogger.com
But it quickly became so much more. WordPress wasn’t just a platform; it was a gateway. A gateway to understanding how websites *worked*. How to get them seen – that whole SEO rabbit hole, which felt incredibly daunting at first. Social media marketing, building little web applications, the surprisingly complex world of hosting and security… it all unfolded from there. By 2007, I was offering custom blog designs, and soon after, trying to build actual business solutions around it. It felt like building with LEGOs – endlessly adaptable.
And then, a bit of a crazy idea – Co-organizing India’s first WordCamp in 2009. That was…intense. A lot of late nights, a lot of learning on the fly. But the energy, the community – it was electric. It solidified something in me, this belief in the power of open source and the people who build it. – Thanks Priyanka Sachar!
A few years later, in 2011, I took a leap and started another agency, this time in the US. It felt like a big move, a real test. And then, in 2017, I finally made it to my first WordCamp in the US – #WPRaleigh. I remember feeling a little overwhelmed, honestly. So many faces, so much knowledge swirling around. It was a bit like being a kid in a candy store.
And now, 8 years later, here I am, heading to my third WordCamp – but my first WordCamp US. It’s not just about the sessions, though I’m sure those will be fantastic. It’s about being *with* the community again. It’s about acknowledging the journey.
There are so many people to thank. First and foremost, Matt Mullenweg, for creating WordPress – for giving so many of us a platform, a livelihood, and a community. And then, Rajat Bhadani for believing in me and introducing me to the world of enterprenuership. And Hiral Bhatt, who’s always been that gentle nudge, that encouraging voice saying, “You should go to WordCamp.” She’s right, every time.
But mostly, I’m looking forward to connecting with people – industry experts, developers, designers, folks I’ve followed online for years, whose work has quietly shaped my own. I might not even talk to all of them, but just being in the same space, absorbing the energy, knowing we’re all part of something bigger… that’s what it’s about. It’s about continuing to learn, to grow, and to – hopefully – become a better professional.
And picture this! I’m now a Drupalist too – who’s going to WordCamp!