My experience speaking at WordCamp Malaysia 2024 (WCMY24) began a year prior. A friend had asked if I would be attending WordCamp Malaysia 2023 (WCMY23). That was the first time I learnt of the event.
In all of the 20 years I have been using WordPress, I had never known of WordCamps. I was only exposed to big tech conferences pre-Covid.
Upon checking on the details for WCMY23, I proceeded to buy myself a ticket promptly.
Attending WordCamp Malaysia 2023
What made me decide to purchase a solo ticket for WCMY23 was there would be 8 women among a total of 18 speakers. I was excited that a tech conference would have almost half of its speakers list to be women! I didn’t bother if I would have a friend there because those women could be my new friends.
It had been years since I last attended a tech conference, but the excitement of attending one with many women speakers gave me a different kind of high. I was looking forward to hearing and learning from all the speakers.
While there were 2 different rooms, I chose the topics listed so I can move about between the rooms easily. I felt so accomplished at the end of the event day having heard and learnt from the speakers.
I thought to myself, perhaps I would speak the following year.
Speaking at WordCamp Malaysia 2024
The call for speakers was in August. I submitted my topic and waited for the selection results. By early October, I was confirmed for my WCMY24 speaker spot. The excitement began!
You can watch my segment which I recorded and edited here.
Bigger & Better Venue
The venue for WCMY24 was at KEN TTDI – a bigger & better venue than WCMY23. It was a much spacious venue for attendees to move around between the vendors’ booths. Even the main and secondary halls were bigger than the previous year.
Women In WordPress
I was disappointed when I saw the list of speakers for WCMY254. Including me, there were only 3 women speakers; one other was Aisha Preece – my mentor-turned-friend! I also did not see many women attendees that day. I only saw and made friends with Nithiya, another woman attendee.
I had hoped that there would have been as many if not more women speakers and attendees than last year’s WCMY. I wonder how differently this year’s event was being marketed from last year’s that we lost the women in attendance.
Future Hopes
Having had the experience of attending and speaking at WordCamps now makes me feel the affiliation that I never thought I would love to have. I am more sure of advocating and contributing to the WordPress cause.
I also would love to see a gathering of Women in WordPress in this region. Perhaps I could find some other friends who are already using WordPress to have a small intimate gathering to discuss WordPress.
If you are a woman who uses WordPress in your daily life – whether to write or edit articles, design or develop the pages – please send me a message. I would love to get to know you and be friends!
