How Automattic communicates across the world
Paolo Belcastro of Automattic on how a text-first culture is the key to asynchronous communication.
The Full Stack Leader
Full-stack leaders are generalist specialists, end-to-end from idea to finished product
Latest posts
Are you a WordPresser?
Great list! Here are my additions: What would you add? Are you a WordPresser, too?
Talking Quality on the Complementary Podcast
When I started my new role in late 2024, I came across a blog post by Anthony Hobday listing companies with dedicated quality efforts. I found it inspiring and motivational; these are people that get it. Last week I spoke to Anthony (a product designer) and his co-host Katie Langerman (a systems designer) on their [ ]
Between Two COOs
I recently joined Between Two COOs to chat with Michael Koenig about quality, leadership, and how we scale open-source software at Automattic including WordPress.com, Woo, Jetpack, and lots more. A fun conversation since MK and I have known each other 15+ years after working together at Automattic in the earliest days. I ve followed his career [ ]
Head of Quality
What does a head of quality do? “Move purposefully and fix things.” Doc Pop This role is all about systems thinking, operational excellence, and the long-term compounding effects of quality work. Whether working in design, code, customer support, or leading teams of people, I believe everything valuable in building a durable business comes down to [ ]
Five Steps to Optimize a Process
“Elon Musk” level questioning as a rigorous, five-step process (in this exact order, paraphrased): Source, Christian Scheb: Elon Musk’s Engineering Principles – The 5 Step Process The order matters, since you don t want to automate or accelerate work that doesn t matter. Challenge: How will I apply this rigor at work? In my personal life?
Quality is a Choice
Highly recommend this talk, and agree with the notion that quality, craft, and care are competitive advantages.
People Skills: Help Others Reduce Errors and Awkwardness with Proactive Name Pronunciation Guides
Most people I interact with don t proactively help others greet them by name. And yet, we all know that hearing our own name spoken is the sweetest sound. Right? Here are several proactive techniques, when in doubt. Use the available name pronunciation entry field appears in your personal profile settings. This is common in consumer [ ]
Move Purposefully & Fix Things
Source: Doc Pop on YouTube explaining the Fediverse, on the WordPress.com channel—the first frame shows this motto on a sticker graphic. I love this for a 2025-era product quality motto.
Good Work
You can’t capture lightning in a bottle. But you can care. If you care about what you do, if you bring to it that which initially got you to choose to work on this, you’ll make something special. Good Work Wise words from Joen, someone I’ve long admired as a craftsperson who brings care to [ ]