This question takes me back to a long time ago. My fascination with technology started in childhood. Computers seemed like magical devices capable of anything. I spent hours exploring programs, trying to understand how they worked, and even creating simple video games. <\/p>
This curiosity grew into a deeper passion for the Internet during my teenage years. The ability to connect with people worldwide and access information from all over the world was mind-blowing. I was eager to learn how to build websites and contribute to this exciting online world, which ultimately led me to a career in web development and, eventually, to my current role at Hostinger.<\/p>
My career has been defined by a willingness to step outside my comfort zone and embrace new challenges. It started with my decision to teach in a high school before finishing university, followed by a leap of faith into web development.<\/p> From there, I gradually took on more responsibility: moving from developer to tech lead, embracing emerging technologies, and working with new clients and markets. <\/p> Discovering the WordPress ecosystem was a turning point that accelerated my growth thanks to its vibrant community and ecosystem. Joining Hostinger was another significant step, taking me from a small web agency to a leading force in the hosting industry. <\/p> Was joining Hostinger an easy decision? Or was it also “a leap of faith”?<\/strong><\/p> A bit of both. I was first headhunted on LinkedIn for the Head of WordPress position, likely due to my visibility and contributions to the WordPress ecosystem.<\/p> At the time, I knew little about Hostinger. As I learned more, I was incredibly impressed by their product and company culture. Their commitment to innovation and focus on empowering website owners truly resonated with me. So, I took the chance and never looked back. <\/p> Let’s take a look at the present, then. As Head of WordPress at Hostinger, how do you balance technical and managerial duties? What challenges do you face?<\/strong><\/p> Finding the right balance between technical and managerial duties is an ongoing process. My days often involve switching between strategic planning, team management, and hands-on technical work.<\/p> One of the biggest challenges is staying connected to the technical details while empowering my team to take ownership and grow. I overcame this by fostering a culture of open communication and collaboration. We have regular team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and retrospectives to ensure everyone is aligned and contributing their best work.<\/p> Another challenge is managing time and priorities. In such a fast-moving industry, it’s all about focusing on what will have the biggest impact. One situation that immediately comes to mind is the development of our AI Website Builder for WordPress<\/a>. Building on our experience with the Hostinger Website Builder, we wanted to bring that expertise to WordPress. <\/p> It was a complex project, involving multiple teams and diverse skill sets. We faced challenges in scoping the project effectively and ensuring a smooth release timeline.<\/p> We started with in-depth user research to define key features and ensure the product will meet users’ needs. Each team member took ownership, working closely to stay aligned and push the project forward.<\/p> With tight deadlines, we prioritized key features and launched a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in beta to gather feedback and improve quickly. The iterations are ongoing as we expand the product’s capabilities, always focused on creating an easy-to-use, AI-powered website builder for WordPress.<\/p> It seems that you had to make several calculated decisions. What guided you in making them?<\/strong><\/p> All decisions were deeply grounded in Hostinger’s principles.<\/p> Our culture is fast-paced and focused on customer success and continuous growth. Open communication, honest feedback, and taking action were key in building the AI Website Builder for WordPress.<\/p> At the same time, being curious and eager to learn helps us adapt, innovate, and improve to create something better every time.<\/p> How do you foster a culture of curiosity and learning within your team?<\/strong><\/p> We have regular “learning days” for developers to explore new skills and technologies and “know-how” sessions where team members share their expertise. There are many learning opportunities, including internal training, access to learning platforms, and libraries. <\/p> Most importantly, we learn from each other every day, creating a collaborative environment where the whole team keeps improving.<\/p> Outside of work, you’re an active member of the WordPress community. Can you share your contributions and what you’re most proud of?<\/strong><\/p> I’ve been involved in the WordPress community for many years, contributing in various ways. I developed a popular plugin that climbed to the top 15 most popular plugins, ultimately achieving over 10 million downloads. <\/p> As a member of the Italian Polyglots team, I’ve also contributed to translating WordPress and several plugins into Italian. I’m currently a Global Project Translation editor for the Italian locale. To further support the Italian WordPress community, I founded and organized a local WordPress meetup in my city, which provides a space for knowledge sharing and networking.<\/p> I have attended more than twenty WordCamps and have spoken at several of them, sharing my experiences and insights with the community. <\/p> The contribution I’m most proud of was being part of the organizing team for WordCamp Europe 2024<\/a> in Turin, Italy. It was a celebration of the Italian WordPress community, and contributing to its success was incredibly rewarding. <\/p> Sounds impressive. Has working at Hostinger enhanced your presence within the WordPress community?<\/strong><\/p> It did, yes. My role at Hostinger has given me opportunities to connect with people and participate in global events. <\/p> Previously, attending flagship events like WordCamp US and WordCamp Asia was a bit out of reach. Hostinger’s support has allowed me to expand my horizons and contribute to the WordPress community on a truly international level. <\/p> Do you encourage your team to participate in open-source projects as well?<\/strong><\/p> Absolutely! I think contributing to open-source projects is incredibly valuable. Whether it’s coding, translating, organizing events, or improving documentation, there are so many ways to get involved and make an impact. <\/p> I encourage my team to take part by giving them dedicated time for contributions and celebrating their efforts. For example, we are part of the Five for the Future<\/a> initiative, and we sponsor individual WordPress contributors.
<\/strong>What were the stepping stones of your professional journey?<\/strong><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/03\/IMG_1776-copy-2-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>Building new tools with curiosity<\/h2>
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<\/strong>Could you share a recent challenge and how you managed to overcome it?<\/strong><\/p><\/a><\/figure><\/div>Navigating in the WordPress ecosystem<\/h2>
It’s a win-win – it helps our team grow while supporting the WordPress community.<\/p>