Pooja Derashri receives the Yoast Care fund for her contribution to the WordPress community

Meet Pooja Derashri, a valued member of the WordPress Community Team! Felipe Santos nominated her for the Yoast Care fund because of her commitment and valuable contributions to the community. Let’s learn more about this passionate WordPress enthusiast.

Nominator Felipe Santos: “Pooja is a highly active and proactive contributor in the WordPress community. She plays a key role in the Community Team and Plugin Review Team, always stepping up to support and solve issues. She’s literally everywhere, consistently driving initiatives forward and making a real impact. Her dedication makes her a perfect fit for the Yoast Care Fund.”

Let’s get to know Pooja Derashri

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

Hi, Pooja! If you could shape the future of WordPress, what would it look like?

If I could shape WordPress’s future, I’d make it a bridge that seamlessly connects aspiring contributors, students, and businesses to the limitless possibilities of open source. I’d create a world where contributing isn’t just for developers but for anyone passionate about giving back to the community.

Imagine an ecosystem where mentorship is as common as code commits, where students discover WordPress not just as a tool but as a career gateway, and where contributions are sustainable, valued, and celebrated. 

Most importantly, I’d ensure WordPress remains not just software but a movement that empowers, includes, and transforms lives globally.

What advice would you give to someone just starting with WordPress?

I suggest that someone who has just discovered WordPress start with curiosity and get involved in the lovely WordPress community! WordPress is more than just a platform—it’s an ecosystem where learning, sharing, and growing go hand in hand. Don’t be afraid to experiment, break things, and ask questions. The best way to learn is by doing.

Get involved beyond just using WordPress. Join a local meetup, contribute to a Make WordPress team, or attend a WordCamp or WordPress event. You’ll be amazed at how welcoming and supportive the community is. Every great contributor, developer, and leader started as a beginner, and there’s always room for one more!

Most importantly, remember that your voice matters. Whether you’re writing code, designing, testing, or supporting others, every contribution makes WordPress better. So dive in, explore, and enjoy the journey!

What’s one WordPress project you wish you had more time for?

One WordPress project I wish I had more time for is the WordPress Women’s Day Celebration. In December, we initiated this event to celebrate Women’s Day globally—an event by women for women, where everything from speakers to organizers and volunteers was led by women. The goal was to encourage and increase women’s representation in the open-source ecosystem, resulting in 26 events worldwide—a testament to the power of community-driven efforts.

However, this initiative could have been even bigger and more impactful with more time for promotion and outreach to global communities. I would have loved to introduce more mentorship opportunities, highlight more women’s success stories, and create hands-on workshops to inspire and empower women to contribute and lead in WordPress. Representation matters, and this initiative can potentially bring more women into open source, shape the future of WordPress, and drive meaningful change in tech.

Who is your WordPress mentor?

WordPress is a community-driven project, and I’ve been fortunate to learn from many amazing people along the way. Rather than a single mentor, I consider the WordPress community my mentor—a space that has constantly guided, challenged and inspired me.

From experienced contributors who welcomed me into the ecosystem to team leads who supported my journey, every interaction has shaped my growth. However, if I had to name one person, it would be Courtney Robertson, who has inspired me. Her leadership, vision, and dedication to making WordPress more inclusive and sustainable have deeply influenced me.

Mentorship in WordPress isn’t just about learning from one person—it’s about collective growth, and I’m grateful to be part of a community that continuously uplifts and empowers each other.

Where can people connect with you—whether online, at WordCamps, or at other meetups?

You can find me on X, Facebook, Linkedin, Github, WordPress, and Slack, or my website, iampooja.com. I love connecting with people and attending WordPress meetups and WordCamps. You can also find me there.

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