From Backstock to WordPress: A Journey I Never Planned

I recently shared about moving to Canada 20 years ago—but what I didn’t say then was that my English wasn’t strong enough for me to work as a journalist, the profession I loved and had trained for. That realization hit hard. I had made it to my new country, full of hope, only to discover a big part of my identity no longer had a place—at least not yet.

My first job was at the MEC store in Calgary, earning minimum wage. I still remember my job interview: I misunderstood several questions and answered them all wrong. But the backstock room was a quiet, forgiving space for someone struggling with language.

I wasn’t ready to give up, though. I enrolled in a grammar class, practiced English with a friend, and read book after book to grow my vocabulary. At the same time, I was navigating another challenge: the harsh Canadian winter. I went from long, bright days in Brazil to just a handful of daylight hours in a deep, cold winter. It took a toll.

After a year at MEC, I was ready for something new—something closer to my skills and with better pay. I found a role at a not-for-profit organization, where I stayed for three years. That job changed the course of my career: it was my first time working with websites, and that tiny spark of web experience turned into a steady flame.

Around 2007, our freelance developer (who lived in a small town in Alberta) suggested I try WordPress to build my own site. Back then, it felt too complicated and clunky. But I came back to it a year or two later, and what a difference! WordPress had evolved—and so had I.

That simple suggestion led to ten years of freelance work, running my own business and creating nearly 100 websites. It eventually brought me to Automattic, where I now work as a Happiness Engineer and team lead.

If you had asked me back then, I could never have imagined this path. But growth rarely shows up with a map in hand.

So I ask you: what might be quietly trying to begin in your life right now? A new routine? A friendship? A version of yourself that wants space to grow?

You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin.

Coaching doesn’t provide answers—it holds space for you to find them. And when you open yourself to curiosity, the next step often finds you.

If you’re ready to explore what’s next based on where you are now, I’d be honoured to walk with you.

---