Women in WordPress: Introducing Syeda Sanjida Afrin

The WordPress community is huge, diverse, and inclusive. And some inspiring wonder women from the community are contributing to the platform to make it even better. #InspireInclusion

So, today, I’ll discuss such a name from a remarkable woman in WordPress, Syeda Sanjida Afrin. Let’s find out what she shared with us about her WordPress journey.

Greet Syeda Sanjida Afrin

Syeda Sanjida Afrin is a Digital Marketing Executive at WPDeveloper. She has been working with the company since 2019. Currently, she has proven herself as a skilled and experienced Digital Marketer who is helping her team to grow with her personal growth as well. 

Tell us about you, and your background first

I am Syeda Sanjida Afrin, Digital Marketing Executive of WPDeveloper. In addition, I have two degrees – MBA & B.SC in Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering. 

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

I think the stability and growth of the organization made me face lots of challenges at the beginning of my career until I joined WPDeveloper.  

How did you manage to navigate with the WordPress ecosystem?

In 2019 I joined WPDeveloper, and then for the first time I realized the connection, network & WordPress community strength. So gradually I cope by researching, learning by doing, and analyzing our products. Back then we had a team of three people, so fast and effective learning helped navigate the WordPress ecosystem. 

Tell us about your career development and growth.

I am a skilled and experienced Digital Marketer now who is helping our marketing team to grow including self-progress. And of course, everyday new learning, and solving complex issues also help you accelerate your growth as a professional. 

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

I think I am lucky in that way. Also, the department I worked for always had a balanced equation of male and female. 

How do you balance between work and life?

As a female you need to multitask by balancing your family life and professional life. Of course, I always got enough support and encouragement from my family, the current organization I have worked at for almost 5 years, and the WordPress community I belong to helped me a lot.   

Did you receive any mentorship and support?

Yes, I got sponsorship from my current organization to contribute to WordPress. In-house training, WordPress-related workshops, and meetups helped a lot in career progression. In addition, proper guidance and encouragement from my organization’s seniors and the team I worked for shaped my career. 

How do you handle criticism and build resilience?

I think whatever I am doing self-evaluation is important. In the meantime, if you get any criticism you need to take it in a good way even if it sounds wrong. You need to think and debug and positively work on your progress. Specific explanations, feedback-accepting capability, and calmness in thinking can help you be resilient and increase work dedication to build a better personality. 

Tell us about your contributions to the WordPress Community.

I got selected as a volunteer in WordCamp Kolkata 2022, WordCamp Sylhet 2023, and WordCamp USA 2023. Also got a core contribution batch for the 6.2 Dolphy release. Also, Co-hosting in LearnWP Online Workshop & got WordPress.TV & training badge. Besides that, I joined WordPress-related meetups and worked as a training team meeting notes taker. And in total I got 7 contribution batches from WordPress. 

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

I would like to be an organizer of any of the preferred WordCamps. That is one of my goals to know how the organizing team works. Also now I want to participate as a speaker in WordCamps for the future to make better connections and build networks with this beautiful WordPress community of people and encourage women in WordPress. Besides, I want to continue my core contribution journey.

Meet more women from WordPress

1. Mee Na Tamang
2. Katie Keith

Key takeaways from Sanjida’s interview

1. “In 2019 I joined WPDeveloper, and then for the first time, I realized the connection, network & WordPress community strength. So gradually I cope by researching, learning by doing, and analyzing our products.”
2. “I think I am lucky in that way. Also, the department I worked for always had a balanced equation of male and female.”
3. “As a female you need to multitask by balancing your family life and professional life. Of course, I always got enough support and encouragement from my family, the current organization I have worked at for almost 5 years, and the WordPress community I belong to helped me a lot.”
4. “I think whatever I am doing self-evaluation is important. In the meantime, if you get any criticism you need to take it in a good way even if it sounds wrong. You need to think and debug and positively work on your progress.”