Summary
AI Nancy
The podcast episode features a conversation between the host and Winstina Hughes, a long-time acquaintance from the WordPress community. They reminisce about their first meeting at a WordCamp New York City event, where Winstina served as a co-organizer and a Speaker Wrangler. The discussion then turns to Winstina’s recent endeavors, including her passion for learning the violin – a pursuit she began recently despite initial challenges due to financial constraints during her childhood. She shares her experiences with learning the instrument and the significance it holds in her life.
Winstina has a deep connection to the WordPress community, having first encountered the platform during her time as a Rutgers University student. An assignment involving public health data mapping introduced her to WordPress, and she quickly became an active blogger. This led to her being recruited by the New York Times for their hyper-local news initiative. Her engagement with the community grew as she attended New York City WordPress MeetUps, which eventually led her to become a Meetup organizer.
The conversation also delves into Winstina’s academic background, where she studied planning and policy at Rutgers University for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She focused on housing and real estate development before pivoting to transportation, a field in which she has built a significant career. Winstina reflects on her job moves, including leaving The Peabody Prep where she was taking violin lessons to return to New York for a new role in transportation.
Towards the latter part of the podcast, Winstina talks about her involvement in supporting diverse voices within the WordPress space through her initiative, Support Inclusion in Tech (SiNC). SiNC aims to empower speakers and contributors from diverse backgrounds, providing them with the resources and support needed to excel. Winstina emphasizes that all funding for this initiative is transparently managed through Open Collective and highlights some of the organizations and individuals that have supported her passion.
The conversation wraps up with Winstina sharing personal anecdotes about her family, including her joy at becoming an aunt to two new babies in the family. The host and Winstina exchange thoughts on the importance of giving back to the community and supporting initiatives that they find valuable. Winstina recommends having Mary Baum as a future guest on the podcast, citing her long-standing support and contributions to the community.
What’s Winstina Up To? Find Out At The WP World.