In a world where the online world keeps changing, some amazing women are doing good in it. #InspireInclusion

They face problems with confidence, hard work, and a bit of cleverness. Their stories are not just about doing well online but also about helping and encouraging others to do the same.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let’s say a big ‘thank you’ to these fantastic women who are good at using WordPress. They show us how to be creative and do great things on the internet. One such name is Katie Keith. Let’s listen to her about her career path.

Meet Katie Keith

Katie Keith owns half of the business of Barn2 plugins. She started her career in 2002 as a Technical Writer. She started building websites in 2009, and since then she has grown Barn2 into a successful plugin company along with her husband. Let’s see what she has to say about her career journey.

Tell us about you, and your background first.

I’m Katie Keith, the business half of Barn2 Plugins. Together with my husband Andy (the technical half!), we run the company. 

I studied English Literature and Philosophy at University. After graduating in 2002, I worked in various roles, starting as a Technical Writer and later working as a Trainee Manager, Public Relations Officer and Adoption and Fostering Project Manager. 

Eventually, I found my passion in WordPress and entrepreneurship. Andy and I started building websites for clients in 2009. Since then, we’ve grown Barn2 into a successful plugin company, selling WordPress and WooCommerce plugins to over 111 countries worldwide.

While I’m from England, I took advantage of the freedom of running a remote business and moved to the sunny Spanish island of Mallorca 2 years ago. Andy and I live with our 12-year-old daughter Sophia. 

What early career challenges you’ve faced at the beginning of your career?

As a child and teenager, I never knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. I felt like there was something wrong with me because everyone around me seemed to have clear ambitions. While I did well at school, I never saw a job that I felt would suit me. 

It turned out that was because the Internet was very new at the time, and my future roles didn’t exist yet! 

Unlike others who had clear ambitions, I focused on my skills and interests rather than predefined paths. This got me through University, and into my first jobs. 

I hated my first job – writing Help pages for a software company – and left after 5 months. Future roles were more flexible and allowed me to grow. As a highly motivated person, I enjoyed shaping and expanding each role to suit my skills and interests. 

In the end, it didn’t matter whether or not I had a specific career goal. What mattered was that I worked hard, tried different things, and kept learning.

How did you manage to navigate with the WordPress ecosystem?

Our journey with WordPress began when we chose it as our preferred platform for web design. Recognizing the shortage of WordPress experts, we specialized in it early on. 

In 2016, we transitioned to selling plugins, capitalizing on the gaps and opportunities we identified within the ecosystem. Focusing on WooCommerce proved successful, as our WooCommerce-specific plugins outperformed their generic counterparts.

Tell us about your career development and growth.

I have always been a go-getter who is surprisingly motivated and good at getting things done. I used this to grow my business and have always had many different roles, teaching myself whatever I needed as I went along. For example, I have been responsible for business development, marketing, overseeing product development, team management, customer support, and a lot more too! 

One area where my growth has been slower is people management. In my previous jobs, I was always a project manager but never managed staff. When I started Barn2, I spent many years outsourcing work on specific projects rather than building a permanent team. 

A few years ago, the plugin business grew to a level where it made sense to start hiring a permanent team. To be honest, I have figured that part out as I went along and applied common sense to it rather than any kind of formal Human Resources knowledge. 

It seems to work because in Summer 2023, TeamWP did a survey of the 15 Barn2 team members. We scored much higher in all categories than the industry benchmark of other WordPress companies. I was amazed with the result! 

Overall it has been an exciting journey, and I continue to learn and grow.

Have you faced any gender-related/physical challenges throughout your career? If yes, then how did you overcome those?

I have heard that many women in tech have experienced biases and stereotypes. However, I personally have found the exact opposite and believe that it’s a privilege to be a woman in WordPress. 

Due to being a woman, I regularly receive opportunities that are not available to my male colleagues. For example, I am often invited for interviews, podcasts etc. due to the need for better gender balance. I feel blessed and guilty about this at the same time because it doesn’t seem fair on the men who are equally or more qualified but may not receive these opportunities.

How do you balance between work and life?

Balancing work and life is crucial. We’ve built a remote team, allowing flexibility and family time. Everyone in the Barn2 team works remotely from their own homes. Apart from the support team (who need to work fixed shifts so that customers know when we are available), everyone can choose their hours.

I have quite a relaxed attitude towards when to work and when to do other activities. For example, I will often take time out during the working day to spend time with Andy or go hiking with my friends. And if I’m not doing anything on an evening or weekend then I might work then – it’s pretty fluid. 

It also helps that I love my work and actively want to work when I can! 

Did you receive any mentorship and support?

The WordPress community itself has been an incredible mentor. Connecting with like-minded individuals, attending WordCamps, and learning from others have been invaluable. I constantly receive support and advice from other WordPress product owners on places like Twitter, Post Status Slack, and so on.

I’m also a member of a Mastermind group which has been meeting online (and in person at WordCamps) for more than 4 years now. We now know each other’s businesses inside out and have become good friends as well as advising and supporting each other every step of the way. 

How do you handle criticism and build resilience?

Criticism is part of growth. I focus on constructive feedback, learn from it, and keep moving forward.

I try to apply this to the way I manage my team. I’m not shy in giving feedback and suggesting ways that people can improve, but I try to start and end with a positive and keep it constructive. 

Overall, I receive such positive feedback and support from the WordPress community that I am not affected by the occasional criticism. I understand that everyone has different views and experiences which color the way they see others, and try to look at the reason behind anyone who is being negative in a non-constructive way. 

Tell us about your contributions to the WordPress Community.

My commitment to the community extends beyond selling plugins; it’s about empowering others and shaping a thriving ecosystem.

After getting so much from the community, I spend a lot of time actively supporting fellow product company owners, sharing insights and fostering collaboration. Hosting two podcasts – where we discuss building a successful WordPress product business – has allowed me to connect with a wider audience. I have also built up a very active following on Twitter where I regularly start discussions about different aspects of selling WordPress products. Everyone gets very involved in the discussions and we all learn from one another. 

I sponsored WordCamp Europe for the first time in 2023. That was a fulfilling way to give back and connect with a larger number of community members. I’m looking forward to sponsoring other WordCamps in future, starting with Asia 2024. 

How do you like to shape WordPress in future, or see yourself with WordPress?

I envision WordPress as a powerful platform for businesses and individuals alike. In the future, I look forward to seeing it continue to grow and develop – and I look forward to seeing how Barn2 can continue contributing to that! 

Where can people find you online? 

You can find the Barn2 website at https://barn2.com, or follow me on Twitter and join in with the discussions!

Meet More women from WordPress

1. Syeda Sanjida Afrin
2. Mee Na Tamang

Key takeaways from Katie’s interview.

1. “While I’m from England, I took advantage of the freedoms of running a remote business and moved to the sunny Spanish island of Mallorca 2 years ago. Andy and I live with our 12-year-old daughter Sophia.”
2. “Eventually, I found my passion in WordPress and entrepreneurship. Andy and I started building websites for clients in 2009. Since then, we’ve grown Barn2 into a successful plugin company, selling WordPress and WooCommerce plugins to over 111 countries worldwide.”
3. “Balancing work and life is crucial. We’ve built a remote team, allowing flexibility and family time. Everyone in the Barn2 team works remotely from their own homes. Apart from the support team (who need to work fixed shifts so that customers know when we are available), everyone can choose their hours.”
4. “Criticism is part of growth. I focus on constructive feedback, learn from it, and keep moving forward. I try to apply this to the way I manage my team. I’m not shy in giving feedback and suggesting ways that people can improve, but I try to start and end with a positive and keep it constructive.”
5. “My commitment to the community extends beyond selling plugins; it’s about empowering others and shaping a thriving ecosystem.”