After attending WordCamp Dhaka 2019, my interest in the WordPress community grew naturally.
That was my first real introduction to WordCamp. I saw how people came together, shared knowledge, built connections, and celebrated the community. Since then, I wanted to attend more WordCamps and explore the WordPress community beyond my local circle.
But then COVID came.
Like many other events, WordCamps also shifted online. The energy of meeting people in person, walking around sponsor booths, attending sessions, collecting swags, and having random hallway conversations was suddenly missing.
So when WordCamp Asia 2023 was announced in Bangkok, Thailand, the excitement was very high.
It was not only another WordCamp. It was the first flagship WordCamp in Asia after a long pause from in-person global events. Many people from Bangladesh were planning to attend. The whole community was excited, and I was excited too.
But this time, I wanted to do more than just attend. I wanted to contribute.
So I applied as a speaker.
Honestly, it was a big step for me. Speaking in front of a local audience is one kind of experience. But speaking in front of a global WordPress community felt completely different. I was excited, but I was also nervous.
My topic was “How Neuroscience Can Make You a Better Writer.”
As a writer and marketer, I always felt that writing is not only about words. It is also about how people think, feel, remember, decide, and connect. So I wanted to share how understanding the human brain can help us become better writers.
I tried to bring the topic from my own experience. I wanted other writers, marketers, content creators, and product people to take something practical from the session.
Before the session, I was nervous. I kept thinking about the audience, the stage, the language, and the overall environment. But one thing I will always remember is how supportive the community was.
People encouraged me before the session. They listened with attention during the session. And after the session, they came forward with kind words, feedback, and appreciation.
That support meant a lot to me.
It reminded me again why the WordPress community feels so special. You may feel nervous. You may feel new. You may feel unsure. But once you are there, you realize that people genuinely want you to do well.
WordCamp Asia 2023 was also my first visit to Bangkok.
The event was held at ICONSIAM, one of the most beautiful and vibrant places in the city. Everything felt big, colorful, and full of energy. Being in a new country and attending such a large event made the whole experience even more memorable.
Another exciting part was meeting people and brands I had only known online.
I met people from global WordPress companies, hosting providers, product teams, and communities. Some of the products I had used for years, like Elementor and other WordPress tools, were now represented by real people standing in front of me.
That feeling was different.
When you use a product online, you know the brand. But when you meet the people behind that brand, you understand the human side of the ecosystem.
I also met many people from different countries. Some were developers, some were designers, some were agency owners, some were marketers, and some were community contributors. Everyone had their own story, but WordPress connected all of us in one place.
For me, WordCamp Asia 2023 was not only about speaking.
- It was about courage.
- It was about showing up.
- It was about moving from being an attendee to becoming a contributor.
When I look back, I feel grateful that I took that step. I could have attended only as a visitor, enjoyed the sessions, collected swags, and returned home with good memories. That would also have been wonderful.
But applying as a speaker changed the experience for me. It pushed me out of my comfort zone. It helped me share my voice with a global audience.
And it made me believe that I also have something valuable to contribute to the community.
Where WordCamp Dhaka 2019 introduced me to the WordPress community, WordCamp Asia 2023 helped me find my voice in that community.
And that is why this event will always remain one of the most important milestones in my WordCamp journey.
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