Finding the Next Right Thing

You might not know this about me but I know almost every word of all songs in both Frozen movies. My youngest, Noelle, loves to watch these on repeat with me as often as she can. There’s this one song that tears me up almost every time; it’s dark but hopeful and deeply profound.

Anna just lost her sister and friend Olaf, and is deep in depression literally in a dark cave. Then she sings this melancholy, beautiful, hopeful song called “The Next Right Thing” and somehow walks her way one step at a time out into the light.

Throughout this year, that song in particular hit differently.

I haven’t been in a cave, but I am standing at a crossroads. After years of growth and challenge, today marks my last day at StellarWP. Tomorrow begins a new journey to find my own next right thing.

From Freelance Chaos to a Company That Changed My Life

I started as a freelance web developer in the Advanced WordPress community, learning through trial and error and connecting with others who loved to build. That season of uncertainty led me to meet Devin Walker and, together, we created GiveWP. From day one, I was drawn to the people side of our work—our users, our customers, our team.

I built our support foundation and hired Ben Meredith to lead it, shaping how we served and learned from customers. As we grew, I helped form our marketing team with Taylor Waldon, Kirkland Harrell, Drew Griswold, and later Camber Clemence. Each new phase taught me that growth only lasts when it’s rooted in being customer-first.

When GiveWP was acquired by Liquid Web and became part of StellarWP, everything scaled. I moved into leading Customer Experience across seven brands and more than a hundred team members. My CX directors are the best in the business: Ben Meredith, Molly Jaeger, Jenn Theodore, Jamie Wilson, and Amanda Gorman.

In Stellar Leadership, I had the privilege to work with leaders like Ben Ritner, Matt Batchelder, Susan Janzen, and Zach Tirrell. Those years stretched and refined me as a leader. We built systems that helped teams thrive and turned customer experience into one of the company’s strongest advantages.

The most rewarding part, though, was watching people grow. Seeing others step into their strengths and succeed remains my favorite part of the journey.

A Turning Point

After nearly a decade of building, scaling, and leading, something inside me started to shift. I realized that as I got deeper into Customer Experience leadership, I was being siloed from the day to day of product building that I’m so passionate about. I missed the creative spark—the conversations, the messy early ideas, the excitement of making something new just because it felt worth doing.

That’s when WP Product Talk began. Katie Keith and I launched it as a simple way to have real, honest conversations with other WordPress product creators. Over time it became one of my favorite projects—a space for the kind of thoughtful exchange that reminds you why you started building products in the first place.

A few days ago, I posted this quote on LinkedIn:

“[Work] should, in fact, be thought of as a creative activity undertaken for the love of the work itself; and that [humanity], made in God’s image, should make things, as God makes them, for the sake of doing well a thing that is well worth doing.”

Dorothy Sayers’ essay Why Work?

That line has stayed with me. I’m proud of what I’ve built so far, but it’s time to find the next right thing that is well worth doing.

I don’t know exactly what that will look like yet. I’m exploring opportunities, connecting with people, and continuing to build resources that help product creators thrive.

WP Product Talk recently landed its first paid sponsorship with Freemius (announcement and details to come!), and I’m excited to see what else can grow from that kind of support. It’s proof that good work attracts good partners when the intent is right.

My Next Right Thing is to Listen

This season feels a lot like a sabbatical, though I’m not sure that’s the right word. It’s a pause—a chance to step back, take stock, and pour into my family while also preparing for what’s next. I’m writing more, reading more, and having the kind of slow, honest conversations that clarify purpose.

It’s a wilderness period, but not a lonely one. There’s something freeing about not rushing. The WordPress space is full of possibility, and I’m giving myself room to listen—to see where my experience, curiosity, and conviction meet the needs of the community.

An Invitation

If you’ve followed my work, this is where I ask you to stay close. I’ll be sharing what I learn, what I’m building, and what I’m discovering along the way. Here’s the best ways to stay informed:

I don’t know exactly what the next right thing will be. But I know it will be work worth doing and I’m ready to find it, build it, and share it with you.