At Human Made, we believe that a thriving, diverse, and inclusive WordPress ecosystem is stronger for everyone. Yet, the reality is clear: gender inequality remains a systemic issue across our industry. Too few women are in leadership roles at WordPress companies, and the path to leadership is often obstructed by barriers that should no longer exist.
That’s why we’re proud to support WP Includes and their Women in WordPress Mentorship Scheme; an initiative dedicated to increasing representation of women in senior and board-level roles across WordPress businesses.
Why representation matters
Gender disparity in leadership isn’t just an abstract problem; it’s something that affects real people, careers, and companies every day. The 2024 WP Includes report revealed that women are significantly underrepresented across the WordPress ecosystem:
4%
of the 200 companies pledging to support Five for the Future are led by women.
5
out of 69 WordPress VIP Agency Partners have female leaders.
10.4%
of Fortune 500 companies are led by women—already too low, but WordPress still lags behind.
This underrepresentation doesn’t happen by chance. The report uncovered systemic barriers:
- A “broken rung” effect, where women are overlooked for first-line managerial roles, preventing them from moving up.
- Widespread disparities in workplace experience; while men often feel supported and fairly compensated, nearly half of women report barriers to success due to gender.
- Harassment, bullying, and discrimination that disproportionately affect women, with almost a quarter of women nearly a quarter of women experiencing it at work, compared to just 4% of men. One in three women reported not feeling safe enough to speak out.
These challenges show us how much work we still need to do as an industry.
What WP Includes is doing
WP Includes is tackling these challenges head-on by:
- Mentoring women within the WordPress ecosystem to support their next career steps.
- Building a supportive network of mentors and mentees.
- Sharing leadership opportunities and ensuring visibility for women leaders who can inspire others.
The mentorship scheme is not just about helping individuals—it’s about reshaping the future of WordPress businesses so that boardrooms and leadership teams reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.
Our commitment at Human Made
As a supporter of WP Includes, we’re making the following commitments:
- Acknowledge and address gender disparity wherever it exists in our organisation.
- Activating support for women into senior roles when opportunities become available.
- Support and remove barriers to women advancing in their careers at Human Made.
- Create opportunities to showcase women leaders within our company, ensuring they act as role models for future leaders.
By partnering with WP Includes, we’re holding ourselves accountable to these principles and ensuring we play an active role in shaping a more inclusive future.
Looking ahead
The health and sustainability of the WordPress ecosystem depends on diverse leadership. If we want to continue to innovate, collaborate, and grow as a community, then we must ensure that women have equal opportunities to lead and succeed.
At Human Made, we’re proud to stand alongside WP Includes in making this vision a reality. Together, we can break down barriers, build stronger pathways to leadership, and create a WordPress ecosystem where gender equality isn’t an aspiration, it’s the norm.
Learn more about WP Includes and their mentorship programme and find out how you or your company can get involved.