As Human Made COO, author of a book on the history of the WordPress project, and founding organiser of WordCamp Europe and WordCamp London, Siobhan McKeown has been deeply involved in the world of WordPress for over a decade. Together with Francesca Marano, Siobhan is also co-founder of WP Includes, a leading advocate for increasing the representation of women in WordPress boardrooms and leadership.
What is WP includes?
WP Includes’ mission is to increase the representation of women in leadership roles at WordPress companies through mentoring and supporting women to take the next step in their careers. Myself and Francesca set up the scheme because we were disappointed by the lack of representation of women in leadership roles at companies in the WordPress ecosystem.
We do this by providing mentorship to women in the WordPress ecosystem, growing a supportive network for mentors and mentees, and by sharing leadership roles within the network. But in order to achieve our aims of equal representation within WordPress companies, we want to first get an accurate assessment of the current landscape.
The Gender Equality in WordPress Businesses Survey
At WP Includes, we’re passionate about fostering diversity and inclusivity within the WordPress community. That’s why we have launched our survey, aimed at delving into the experiences of women and gender-diverse individuals working in WordPress businesses.
As pioneers in advocating for increased representation of women in leadership positions within the WordPress ecosystem, we recognised the need for a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by women and gender-diverse individuals in the workplace. Thus, the Gender Equality in WordPress Businesses Survey was born.
Our hypothesis is that WordPress business leadership is generally male dominated. This is our experience of working within the ecosystem. We want to both validate this and learn more about the experience of women and gender-diverse individuals who are working in WordPress businesses, especially when it comes to support at work and opportunities for progression.
The survey aims to shed light on various aspects of gender representation within WordPress businesses, including the composition of leadership teams, the experiences of women and gender-diverse leaders and employees, and the barriers to career advancement they may encounter.
How the survey will help
The insights gleaned from this survey will form the foundation of the Gender Equality in WordPress Businesses 2024 report, slated for release later this year. This report will offer a snapshot of the current gender equality landscape within the WordPress business community and provide actionable recommendations for companies to enhance workforce diversity and inclusivity.
All data collected will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, aggregated, and anonymised for the forthcoming report, which will be made freely available to the public.
This initiative not only aims to create a better working experience for women but also contributes to a healthier, more inclusive WordPress ecosystem. We invite everyone, regardless of gender, to join us in this important endeavour.
To participate in the survey and contribute to this vital research, visit our Gender Equality in WordPress Businesses Survey.
We extend our gratitude to Crowd Favorite, Human Made, and XWP for their invaluable support.