Our guest for today’s interview is none other than the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at WPDeveloper, Afshana Diya. She is also the Global Community Deputy at WordPress and an organizer for WordCamp Europe, WordCamp Dhaka, and the upcoming WordCamp Asia 2023 in Thailand.
Afshana Diya actively helps brands with digital marketing strategies to drive sustainable ROI growth and optimize conversion rates. She started using WordPress back in 2009 and, since then, has emerged to become a difference maker for the WordPress community by volunteering in several memorable events. Her efforts deserve all the praise as she inspires many young girls who wish to join the WordPress Community. To learn more about Afshana Diya and her contribution to WordPress, read our detailed interview.
Q#1 How long have you been in the WordPress industry?
I have been using #WordPress for nearly 14 years now. My journey began in 2009 when I was in school and started using it for blogging. Later on, I built my personal website using WordPress. As I continued to work with WordPress, I gradually got heavily involved in the WordPress community.
Q#2 How did you become Global Community Deputy at WordPress? Would you like to share your journey with our followers?
I became a Global Community Deputy at WordPress as a result of my active involvement in the community. My contributions included volunteering, contributing to Make WordPress, organizing meetups & WordCamp, and providing guidance to newcomers. Through these efforts, I was able to establish a positive reputation and was offered the role by the Global Community team.
Q#3 What are your day-to-day responsibilities at WPDeveloper as a CMO?
As the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at WPDeveloper, my responsibilities have evolved and changed over time as the company has grown rapidly. During the early days at WPDeveloper, my primary focus was building a team and setting up processes and strategies from scratch.
However, it is difficult to describe day-to-day responsibilities as they tend to be dynamic and vary depending on the current needs and priorities of the company. Therefore, a more helpful perspective would be to discuss an average week or more extended period.
After almost 5 years as CMO at WPDeveloper, my main responsibility is to support the company’s growth and scalability. This involves working closely with other departments and stakeholders to ensure that all the business and marketing efforts are aligned with the company’s overall goals and objectives.
Q#4 Being an organizer at WordCamp Asia, what are your expectations from the first flagship WordCamp event in Asia?
As an organizer of WordCamp Asia, I expect the first flagship WordCamp in Asia to be a success with high attendance, engaging and informative sessions, opportunities for networking, and growth of the WordPress community in Asia. However, the success of the event will ultimately be determined by factors such as the engagement and involvement of the participants, along with the overall ambiance and energy of the event.
Q#5 Is there any major difference in organizing WordCamp Europe or WordCamp Dhaka from WordCamp Asia? Are you facing any significant challenges?
I organized the first WordCamp Dhaka in 2019, before the COVID pandemic, as a local event. Afterward, I joined the organizing team for WordCamp Europe, which was the 10th-anniversary edition with a well-established community and organizing team. Currently, I am a part of the team organizing the first-ever flagship WordCamp Asia event, and we are facing some challenges due to differences in location, community size, and our limited experience with organizing such large-scale events as we work to establish the processes from the ground up.
Q#6 From a marketing viewpoint, what is your opinion on AI tools like ChatGPT and their place in the WordPress industry?
As a marketer, it is important to acknowledge the growing trend and increasing demand for AI tools like ChatGPT in the WordPress industry. The integration of AI technology offers numerous benefits, such as increased efficiency, enhanced customer experience, and faster resolution of customer inquiries. ChatGPT can be integrated into WordPress websites and applications to provide real-time support and enhance the overall user experience.
In the WordPress context, AI tools like ChatGPT can play a crucial role in automating tasks and providing customers with quick and relevant information, which can drive customer satisfaction and improve overall business performance. However, it’s worth noting that AI tools still have a way to go in terms of delivering the depth of content and empathy needed to provide personalized experiences for customers.
Q#7 What WordPress-related contribution or moment are you most proud of?
As someone who is passionate about the WordPress community and its development, I am incredibly proud of my involvement in the WordPress 5.6 release squad. This experience was particularly special for me because it was led entirely by women, making it a truly unique and empowering moment for the WordPress community.
Being part of this release squad was a great opportunity for me that allowed me to work closely with other talented individuals and make a tangible impact on the WordPress ecosystem. It is a testament to the strength of the WordPress community and its commitment to diversity and inclusion, and I am proud to have been a part of it.
Q#8 Where are you envisioning the future of WordPress? Does WordPress have any threat from any other CMS like Shopify, Wix, Magento, etc.?
As a marketer, I see a bright future for WordPress as it continues to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of the web development industry. WordPress has a growing user base, a thriving ecosystem of plugins and themes, and a commitment to making the platform more accessible and user-friendly.
However, other content management systems like Shopify, Wix, Magento, etc. have gained popularity and have their own strengths. These platforms can offer more specific solutions for e-commerce, website builders, and enterprise-level businesses.
WordPress still has a strong position in the market due to its flexibility and customizability. It also has a large community of developers and users, which helps to keep the platform constantly evolving and improving. Other content management systems do not pose a significant threat to WordPress, but the WordPress community needs to continue to innovate and stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive.
Q#9 Apart from WordPress-related activities, what do you like doing in your spare time?
I am an adventurer on the move and have traveled to almost 30 countries, experiencing new cultures and gaining new perspectives. I have a passion for trying different foods from diverse cuisines. In addition, I am an avid reader, enjoying books and articles and continuously striving to learn new things and expand my knowledge.
Q#10 Who are your favorite WordPress people here on Twitter?
I follow many individuals in the WordPress community on Twitter, but Angela Bowman (@askwpgir) is one of my favorites. She is the co-host of the Women in WP podcast and the Boulder WordPress Meetup organizer. I appreciate her commitment to empowering women in the tech industry and her dedication to the WordPress community.
Time To Say Goodbye!
At the end of the interview, we‘d like to thank Afshana Diya for spending her precious time with us. It’s time to say ciao until the next interview. Stay connected!
