Hey everyone! I’m Jhimross, a coffee-fueled WordPress nerd. I’m part of LevelUp’s Core Operations Team, but my journey began with one unexpected message that changed my life. What followed was a story of how a supportive company culture, the principle of relentless improvement, and an incredible community helped me grow from a random WordPress nerd into a leader.
An Unexpected Beginning
My LevelUp journey began in 2017 with a LinkedIn message from a "random British guy" named Arron Parkinson. He was offering a job in WordPress. I almost ignored it, and I thought it was a scam.
But something made me reply one month after receiving the message. The interview was not a formal coding test or troubleshooting test. It was a casual coffee chat with Arron and Paul, two friendly British guys in black T-shirts and shorts, sitting in a tiny meeting room.
They explained their vision for building a team of WordPress Support Heroes, and presented the relentless improvement principle that convinced me to join the company. Little did I know, this was where it all started, where my life truly began to change.
Eventually, I accepted the offer. I remember our first day: we did not have any equipment yet. So, together with the bosses, we went to Glorietta Mall and bought our essentials like laptops, monitors, and mice. It was a humble beginning.
Back then, we were just a tiny team of 5 people (shoutout to EJ, John, Kate, and June) squeezed into a cozy coworking space at Penbrothers, collaborating on everything every day. Our mission? Providing top-notch WordPress Support. Incredibly, that core team is still together at LevelUp, more than seven years later.
LevelUp Taught Me The Power of Deliberate Practice
I started as a WordPress Support Engineer. LevelUp’s philosophy wasn’t just about working hard; it was about growing intentionally. Our CEOs introduced us to deliberate practice, a concept from Anders Ericsson's book, Peak.
The idea was simple: you can master anything through focused, consistent effort, receiving high-quality feedback, and developing a mental model. With each skill we mastered, we moved on to the next.
My first challenge?
Typing speed.
Every day, for 30 minutes before work, I practiced. I started at a modest 50 words per minute (wpm). It still blows my mind that I steadily climbed to an average of 105 WPM and even reached a personal record of 146 WPM. It was proof that deliberate practice works.
But typing was not the only skill I had to work on.
One of my biggest personal challenges was communication. I was naturally shy, speaking up, asking questions, or even sharing ideas felt uncomfortable. However, I knew it was a skill I had to build to grow. So I applied the same deliberate practice mindset: I pushed myself to speak more in meetings, I practiced writing clearer documentation, and I started creating video tutorials for our YouTube channel, scripting, recording, and editing them myself.
Of course, feedback was very important, and both Arron and my colleague gave it regularly. Those "good old days" became the foundation of the communication skills I rely on today.
This commitment to deliberate practice and relentless improvement did not just influence my professional growth; it completely changed how I approach my personal development. It taught me that you can transform any weakness into a strength with consistent, focused effort
A Team That Plays Together, Grows Together
Years flew by as I grew from a WordPress Support Engineer to a Senior, then to QA, a trainer, Training Lead, and now part of the Core Operations Team. I also saw firsthand how our company blossomed. This progression was not an accident; it resulted from a culture that actively invests in its people.
As I grew, so did the company, from a five-person team in a shared coworking space to a fully distributed workforce of over 150 people across multiple countries.
We grew together by bonding, playing games (even with our boss), attending WordCamps, conquering a Spartan Race, and facing every challenge as a team.
It Wasn't Always a Straight Line
My transition from Senior WordPress Support Engineer to a training role, and then into Core Operations wasn’t easy. I went from solving problems myself to teaching others how to solve them, building learning paths, creating new courses, and improving my communication and project management skills. There were moments when I doubted if I was truly effective, and I felt intimidated.
On top of that, the LevelUp Core Team also tasked me with researching and leading key internal projects, like building our Recruitment ATS System, designing the Training Program, and launching our Team Portal. These were big responsibilities, and I remember questioning myself, “Can I really do this? Am I even capable of pulling it off?”
Nevertheless, this is where LevelUp’s culture stood out. Arron didn’t just hand me the role; he coached me through it. He even set up weekly one-on-ones to discuss challenges, solutions, and how to improve. Those sessions felt more like coaching than check-ins, and they played a big part in helping me grow into the role.
His support turned one of my biggest challenges into my most rewarding experiences.
Fueling My Passion, Supported by LevelUp
As I grew professionally, LevelUp’s support allowed me to get deeply involved in the WordPress community. I started organizing local meetups here in WP Manila and then WordCamps. This deep engagement made me realize something critical: WordPress was our livelihood.
I approached Arron with an idea. What if LevelUp formally gave back to the project that sustained us? He approved without hesitation.
I began dedicating five hours per week to contributing to the open-source project. My motivation was clear: WordPress powers 43% of the internet. By contributing to its improvement, I’m helping make nearly half of the web better for millions of users worldwide.
My contributions earned me badges across multiple teams, a testament to this commitment.
Photo: Badges I earned for contributing to WordPress.
This initiative led LevelUp to adopt the Five for the Future pledge. Today, the company allocates one hour of my workday, every single day, to my WordPress contributions.
LevelUp also sponsors and supports local WordPress meetups, such as providing snacks for attendees, and more. They don't just support my career; they actively fuel my passion.
Because of LevelUp’s continued support, I even had the incredible opportunity to visit Japan and was invited to attend the exclusive and invite-only State of the Word in Tokyo. This annual keynote, delivered by WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, highlights the project's achievements over the past year and outlines the future roadmap for WordPress.
It is a rare and intimate event, especially when hosted outside the U.S, and being there was a huge honor. I even got the chance to meet and chat with Matt again, something I never imagined possible when I started this journey as a random WordPress nerd.
Stepping Up on a Global Stage
My journey reached a new peak at WordCamp Asia, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious open-source conferences. It’s a flagship event that brings thousands of developers, designers, and business owners from across the globe together to share, learn, and connect.
After attending WCAsia in Bangkok (2023) and volunteering in WCAsia in Taipei (2024), I was given an opportunity that felt like the culmination of my entire career: leading Contributor Day for WordCamp Asia 2025, right here in my home city of Manila.
For those who may not know, Contributor Day is the very heartbeat of a WordCamp. It’s a full day dedicated not just to talking about WordPress, but to actively building it. It’s where volunteers from all backgrounds, coders, writers, designers, marketers, come together to improve the open-source software that powers nearly half of the web.
To be chosen to lead this event is a profound honor and a massive undertaking. It’s a huge vote of confidence from the global WordPress community. My role was to create a productive and welcoming space for nearly 800 people, many first-time contributors, to make their mark on the project we all depend on.
At this point, my journey at LevelUp truly came full circle. The confidence and communication skills I honed from creating video tutorials, critical thinking from troubleshooting websites, the meticulous attention to detail from my time in QA, the leadership experience, and project management skills, all of it was put to the test.
LevelUp’s support was more than just an approval; it was an active partnership. They gave me the flexibility and time to dedicate to planning, a clear sign of their trust. Seeing that room buzzing with energy, with hundreds of people collaborating to improve the open-source software that powers our careers, was a true leadership milestone. It was the ultimate proof that a supportive company can help you grow in ways you never imagined.
It's All About People
Looking back, my journey has been defined by more than just code, support tickets, or my rocks. It has been about a company that saw potential and invested in it. It has been about a community that thrives on collaboration. And it has been about the realization that with focused effort and the right support, you can achieve things you never thought possible.
None of this would have been possible without the people around me. I’m deeply grateful to LevelUp for continuously believing in me, not just as an employee, but as someone with the potential to lead, contribute, and grow.
To my colleagues who cheered me on, collaborated with me, challenged me, and made the journey meaningful…thank you! And to my bosses and mentors, Arron and Paul, your support and guidance have been life-changing. You didn’t just give me a role; you helped shape who I’ve become.
Even after all these years, LevelUp continues to support my growth. Whether through new challenges, mentorship, or opportunities to contribute to the broader community, they’ve never stopped investing in my development. I’m excited for what lies ahead, and I look forward to many more years of growing, giving back, and leveling up together.
My story with LevelUp and WordPress is not just a career path; it is proof that when you empower people, everyone levels up.
This post is part of LevelUp’s Company Blog, where we highlight the people, lessons, and culture that power our offshore teams.
