Taco Verdonschot on Community, Yoast, and Saying Yes to Opportunity

Send us Fan MailAn unexpected conversation with a guy who got hired at Yoast because he had no skills. This episode features an engaging conversation between Bud and Taco Verdonschot, who discuss various aspects of Taco's life and work. They begin by acknowledging the challenging Dutch pronunciation of Taco's last name and move into a discussion about his sense of privilege. Taco attributes his privileged status to his location in Western Europe, successful career, and happy family life.The conversation then shifts to Taco's educational background, where he details his time at Stedelijk Gymnasium Nijmegen and his subsequent studies in AI at university. Though AI was less popular back then, Taco found the mathematical challenges too daunting and eventually dropped out, later pursuing part-time studies in computer science while working at a telecom company.Bud and Taco also delve into Taco's personal life, including how he met and fell in love with his wife Fay, their marriage, and their two daughters. They discuss the joys and challenges of parenthood and how Taco's daughters get along remarkably well. Additionally, Taco shares his involvement in volunteer work, something he has been passionate about since childhood.Taco's current role at Yoast as Head of Relations is explored in depth, emphasizing his responsibilities in community and support teams, as well as his involvement in the broader WordPress community. Taco acknowledges the benefits and challenges that came with Yoast being acquired by Newfold Digital and discusses maintaining the company’s unique culture.Towards the end of the conversation, Taco highlights the joy he finds in both his personal and professional life, sharing tales of recent volunteer work and athletic pursuits like powerlifting and motor trials. He also offers his recommendation for a future podcast guest, Patricia Brun Torre who is a lead organizer for WordCamp Europe. The episode wraps up with Bud expressing his appreciation for Taco's contributions to the WordPress community.