#719 WP-Tonic This Week in WordPress & SaaS, We Interview Josepha Haden Chomphosy, Executive Director, WordPress Project | Open Source Division

What Are The Main Opportunities & Challenges That WordPress Faces in 2022 Josepha Haden Chomphosy Executive Director, WordPress project | Open Source Division Josepha Haden Chomphosy has been the Executive Director of the WordPress project since 2019. Her work to coordinate and guide volunteer efforts spans 21 teams and involves thousands of volunteers. She is sponsored by Automattic, where she leads the open source division that focuses on all aspects of open source contribution, including design, development, volunteer engagement, sponsorship relations, and the health of the overall WordPress ecosystem. Josepha is well-versed in conflict mediation tactics and knows how to explain complex topics clearly and respectfully. https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephahaden/   Main Questions of The Interview   #1 - I personally get the feeling that the WordPress project is facing a critical period (18 months) that will see either a semi-rebirthing of the project or the start of a significant decline; what are your own thoughts, and do you feel that I might be onto something here? #2 - What do you see as some of the significant opportunities and challenges that WordPress is facing at the present moment? #3 - Do you feel the present leadership structure at both WordPress and Automattic is up to the challenges that the project is facing at the present moment? #4 - Matt Mullenweg, "your boss," has declared publicly that he sees himself as the "benevolent dictator" of the WordPress project. I know myself and many in the WordPress community that is deeply unhappy with this particular statement and philosophy; however, we don't want WordPress to be managed by a committee is there an effective middle way? #5 - I'm frustrated with the Gutenberg project. I can see all the promises and opportunities that will come from a semi-finished and improved WordPress editor and website builder; however, the whole process has been painful and extremely slow. Do you feel lessons have been learned, and how can we together improve the situation? #6 - What personally excites you connected to being a key team player in the WordPress project, and what has it been like working closely with fantastic entrepreneurs and visionary like Matt Mullenweg?