Open Channels FM The Real Impact of Sponsored Contributors on WordPress Progress and Innovation
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Aug 5, 2025 Miriam Schwab, Head of WordPress at Elementor with 18 years in the field, and Amy Kamala, a WordPress developer and contributor since 2018, dive into the impact of corporate and individual contributions. They discuss how minimal efforts can greatly enrich the ecosystem and the importance of effective sponsorships at events like WordCamp. The conversation emphasizes building trust within the community, actionable engagement steps, and the balance between individual developers’ careers and their contributions, showcasing how collaboration drives innovation in WordPress.
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Amy's Role in Hosting Contributions
- Amy works in an administrative role linking web hosts and WordPress open source for smoother testing and bug reporting.
- She facilitates communication to improve WordPress before public release, benefiting hosts and users alike.
Elementor Formalizes Contributions
- Elementor initially contributed through sponsorship and free plugins before formalizing structured involvement.
- Miriam led efforts to sponsor contributors in performance, plugin review, theme review, and hosting teams.
Contribution Builds Trust and Sentiment
- Supporting WordPress contributors improves company sentiment and trust within the ecosystem.
- Contribution demonstrates a company gives back rather than only taking from open source.