Alina Kakshapati receives the Yoast Care fund for her contribution to the WordPress community

Meet Alina Kakshapati, a valued member of the WordPress Community Team! Nishal Gurung nominated her for the Yoast Care fund because of her commitment and valuable contributions. Let’s learn more about this WordPress enthusiast.

Nominator Nishal Gurung: “Alina is an active and dedicated member of the WordPress Nepal community. She consistently contributes her time and energy to organizing local meetups and WordCamps, helping strengthen and grow the community. As one of the organizers of WordCamp Asia, she has demonstrated strong leadership and commitment at both local and regional levels. She is especially passionate about encouraging more female participation in tech, organizing meetups, and initiatives that create inclusive and supportive spaces for women in the WordPress ecosystem. Her dedication, leadership, and impact on the community make her a truly deserving nominee for the Yoast Care Fund.”

Let’s get to know Alina Kakshapati

Those are some lovely words by Nishal. Let’s get to know Alina a bit better and ask her some questions about her work and passion for WordPress:

How did you first discover WordPress, and why did you start contributing?

I first encountered WordPress while working as a PHP developer back in 2011. At that time, my project manager assigned me a completely new project that had to be built using WordPress. Before that, I had experimented with several other CMS platforms, but honestly, none of them felt as simple and flexible. WordPress immediately stood out to me because it was easy to use yet powerful enough to build almost anything. That initial experience really stuck with me, and I never looked back.

As I continued working with WordPress, my curiosity grew into a genuine interest. Eventually, I got introduced to the WordPress community through local WordCamps in Nepal, and that’s where everything changed for me. The community was incredibly welcoming and inspiring, which motivated me to give back. I started by speaking, volunteering, and over time, I became more deeply involved – eventually contributing as an organizer, even on flagship events like WordCamp Asia.

What’s one WordPress-related goal you have for this year?

This year, I really want to focus on growing the community in a more inclusive way. I’d love to see more new faces, especially from diverse backgrounds, feel comfortable joining and contributing. Starting the Women in WordPress Nepal meetup was a big step in that direction, and I want to keep building on it. Alongside that, I’m hoping to organize meaningful events, support new contributors, and just make the community feel more approachable and supportive for everyone.

Who is your WordPress hero?

For me, WordPress is a Hero itself. And honestly, I don’t have just one WordPress hero. It’s the community as a whole. I’ve met so many amazing people through WordCamps who are always ready to help, share knowledge, and support others. Being part of organizing something as big as WordCamp Asia gave me a chance to see that dedication up close. It’s really inspiring to see how much people care and contribute selflessly. That collective spirit is what I look up to the most.

What’s your favorite WordPress memory or something you’re most proud of?

There are quite a few special moments in my WordPress journey, but what stands out the most is how it has come full circle for me. From being a first-time attendee at a WordCamp to becoming the first female speaker at WordCamp Nepal – it’s been an incredibly meaningful journey.

I’m also really proud to have started the Women in WordPress Nepal meetup, which has helped create a supportive space for women in tech to connect, learn, and grow together. Becoming the first female global lead of WordCamp Nepal is another milestone that means a lot to me; it reflects not just my personal growth but also progress toward better representation in the community.

And, organizing WordCamp Asia is definitely one of the biggest highlights for me as well. It was such a proud moment to be part of something at that scale. Seeing how all these experiences have come together and the impact they’ve created is honestly the most rewarding part of my journey.

Where can people connect with you? Online, at WordCamps, or other meetups?

You’ll most likely find me at WordCamps and local meetups. I’m pretty much active in the community space. I’m also involved in things like WordCamp Asia and the Women in WordPress Nepal meetup, so those are great places to connect.

Besides that, you can always find me on social media. I enjoy meeting new people, having conversations, and sharing experiences, so feel free to reach out, say hi at an event, or connect online – always happy to chat about WordPress and community building!

Thank you for this interview, Alina, and for all your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Alina Kakshapati who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.