Carola Speri

Get to know Carola 🎙️

Can you start by painting a picture of what a typical day looks like for you? What fuels your passion for the work you do, and how does it tie into your involvement with WCEU?

My days are very simple; I try to have a routine to be more organized. Usually, I wake up around 7:30, get ready, and head to the office. I work all day with a one-hour break, and around 5:00, I dedicate some time to practice yoga, or in the summer, I go stand-up paddle on the lake, which is one of my great passions. I’m a creative person; I love graphic design, illustration, lettering, and anything beyond. I also engage in other creative activities like crochet and journaling, so you can always find me making something! Within the community, I bring my enthusiasm for meeting new people by organizing meetups and my ability with graphics in the design teams at WordCamps.

What sparked your interest in becoming a speaker at WCEU? Was there a particular moment or experience that motivated you to share your insights with this community?

I’ve been involved in the WordPress community in my city for 4 years. I’ve volunteered and organized other WordCamps, so at this point, the only thing I miss is experiencing the thrill of being on stage! Let’s just say I wanted to do something that really scares me to prove that anyone has something to say and can bring their experiences and a different approach to help people see things from another perspective.

For those awaiting your talk, could you give us a preview of what we can expect to learn from your talk? Any sneak peeks?

My main job is in graphic design, so I’ve always used page builders, and over time this has become easier and more accessible to everyone. Now, with Gutenberg constantly improving, I believe that the pool of non-developer users will expand even further. That’s why I want to propose a brief approach to web design with a working methodology and some simple rules of visual communication. It will be a talk for everyone, with insights not only for professionals but also for those who want to approach this world and start building their own website.

Is it your first time at a WCEU or WordPress event? Any standout memories or lessons learned that you’d like to share?

As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been involved in the community since 2016, and my very first WordCamp was here in Turin, so I can say I’m really attached to this city and its community. After that first WordCamp, I started organizing meetups in my city, Verona, and attended more WordCamps in other cities. I’ve only attended WordCamp Europe once, in Berlin in 2019. I have a lot of memories, but to embrace them all, I just want to say that the thing I love most about these events is the friendly atmosphere that you can feel during the conference days and the people you meet, many of whom have become really good friends for me.

Looking beyond the scheduled sessions, what do you hope attendees will take away from their overall experience at WCEU? How can they leverage the event to enhance their professional development or personal growth? 

When you come home after a WordCamp, you bring with you a mix of emotions and happiness that can fuel you for months! Talks are great, and you can always learn something new. You have the chance to meet new people, companies, and colleagues. If I can give one piece of advice, it is simply: don’t be shy! We tend to speak only to people we already know, but take the chance to meet new people, enjoy the event, and get the most out of it! This is the thing that over the years I feel has made me grow the most, connections with other people, beyond the screen.