How to turn your passion into a 20-year career in web development

One of the biggest advantages of working in a leading global company is that you are rarely the smartest person in the room. Nearly every room you walk into is filled with people who can challenge and inspire you – it all comes down to how willing you are to learn and grow.

And yet, sitting in a room with Marco Chiesi is a unique experience. With over 20 years in the IT industry, he remains remarkably humble and open to sharing his journey, insights, and life lessons.

Trying to capture two decades of knowledge in a single blog post is no easy task – let alone fitting it all into one conversation. But I’ll give it my best shot. Here are 20 years of wisdom distilled into a 7-minute read.

Taking the leap into technology 

20 years in the tech industry is an impressive track record. What initially sparked your interest in technology?

This question takes me back to a long time ago. My fascination with technology started in childhood. Computers seemed like magical devices capable of anything. I spent hours exploring programs, trying to understand how they worked, and even creating simple video games. 

This curiosity grew into a deeper passion for the Internet during my teenage years. The ability to connect with people worldwide and access information from all over the world was mind-blowing. I was eager to learn how to build websites and contribute to this exciting online world, which ultimately led me to a career in web development and, eventually, to my current role at Hostinger.

What were the stepping stones of your professional journey?

My career has been defined by a willingness to step outside my comfort zone and embrace new challenges. It started with my decision to teach in a high school before finishing university, followed by a leap of faith into web development.

From there, I gradually took on more responsibility: moving from developer to tech lead, embracing emerging technologies, and working with new clients and markets. 

Discovering the WordPress ecosystem was a turning point that accelerated my growth thanks to its vibrant community and ecosystem. Joining Hostinger was another significant step, taking me from a small web agency to a leading force in the hosting industry. 

Was joining Hostinger an easy decision? Or was it also “a leap of faith”?

A bit of both. I was first headhunted on LinkedIn for the Head of WordPress position, likely due to my visibility and contributions to the WordPress ecosystem.

At the time, I knew little about Hostinger. As I learned more, I was incredibly impressed by their product and company culture. Their commitment to innovation and focus on empowering website owners truly resonated with me. So, I took the chance and never looked back. 

Let’s take a look at the present, then. As Head of WordPress at Hostinger, how do you balance technical and managerial duties?  What challenges do you face?

Finding the right balance between technical and managerial duties is an ongoing process. My days often involve switching between strategic planning, team management, and hands-on technical work.

One of the biggest challenges is staying connected to the technical details while empowering my team to take ownership and grow. I overcame this by fostering a culture of open communication and collaboration. We have regular team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and retrospectives to ensure everyone is aligned and contributing their best work.

Another challenge is managing time and priorities. In such a fast-moving industry, it’s all about focusing on what will have the biggest impact.

Could you share a recent challenge and how you managed to overcome it?

One situation that immediately comes to mind is the development of our AI Website Builder for WordPress. Building on our experience with the Hostinger Website Builder, we wanted to bring that expertise to WordPress. 

It was a complex project, involving multiple teams and diverse skill sets. We faced challenges in scoping the project effectively and ensuring a smooth release timeline.

We started with in-depth user research to define key features and ensure the product will meet users’ needs. Each team member took ownership, working closely to stay aligned and push the project forward.

With tight deadlines, we prioritized key features and launched a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in beta to gather feedback and improve quickly. The iterations are ongoing as we expand the product’s capabilities, always focused on creating an easy-to-use, AI-powered website builder for WordPress.

It seems that you had to make several calculated decisions. What guided you in making them?

All decisions were deeply grounded in Hostinger’s principles.

Our culture is fast-paced and focused on customer success and continuous growth. Open communication, honest feedback, and taking action were key in building the AI Website Builder for WordPress.

At the same time, being curious and eager to learn helps us adapt, innovate, and improve to create something better every time.

How do you foster a culture of curiosity and learning within your team?

We have regular “learning days” for developers to explore new skills and technologies and “know-how” sessions where team members share their expertise. There are many learning opportunities, including internal training, access to learning platforms, and libraries. 

Most importantly, we learn from each other every day, creating a collaborative environment where the whole team keeps improving.

Navigating in the WordPress ecosystem

Outside of work, you’re an active member of the WordPress community. Can you share your contributions and what you’re most proud of?

I’ve been involved in the WordPress community for many years, contributing in various ways. I developed a popular plugin that climbed to the top 15 most popular plugins, ultimately achieving over 10 million downloads. 

As a member of the Italian Polyglots team, I’ve also contributed to translating WordPress and several plugins into Italian. I’m currently a Global Project Translation editor for the Italian locale. To further support the Italian WordPress community, I founded and organized a local WordPress meetup in my city, which provides a space for knowledge sharing and networking.

I have attended more than twenty WordCamps and have spoken at several of them, sharing my experiences and insights with the community. 

The contribution I’m most proud of was being part of the organizing team for WordCamp Europe 2024 in Turin, Italy. It was a celebration of the Italian WordPress community, and contributing to its success was incredibly rewarding. 

Sounds impressive. Has working at Hostinger enhanced your presence within the WordPress community?

It did, yes. My role at Hostinger has given me opportunities to connect with people and participate in global events. 

Previously, attending flagship events like WordCamp US and WordCamp Asia was a bit out of reach. Hostinger’s support has allowed me to expand my horizons and contribute to the WordPress community on a truly international level. 

Do you encourage your team to participate in open-source projects as well?

Absolutely! I think contributing to open-source projects is incredibly valuable. Whether it’s coding, translating, organizing events, or improving documentation, there are so many ways to get involved and make an impact. 

I encourage my team to take part by giving them dedicated time for contributions and celebrating their efforts. For example, we are part of the Five for the Future initiative, and we sponsor individual WordPress contributors.

It’s a win-win – it helps our team grow while supporting the WordPress community.

Prioritizing what matters most

Sounds like a full plate.  Given your active role in the WordPress community and leadership at Hostinger, how do you maintain a work-life balance?

It’s a constant balancing act!  With a demanding role at Hostinger and my passion for the WordPress community, I’ve had to prioritize.  This means being more mindful of my time, sometimes scaling back community activities to ensure quality time with my family.

Are there hobbies or interests you pursue outside of work?

I used to love traveling and exploring new places, but these days, my biggest passion is spending time with my three amazing kids: Lisa, Giorgio, and Luna. We love playing, exploring the outdoors together, and discovering new parks. It’s been a wonderful experience adapting my love for travel to create these shared adventures with them.

Could you give a word of advice, to those who are still trying to place their priorities in order?

I can share a story instead. There was a period in my life when I put my university studies on hold, even though I had completed all the exams and only needed to write my final thesis. This situation dragged on for a few years as I prioritized working. Eventually, I did complete my degree, but that experience had an impact on my professional and personal philosophy.

Professionally, it highlighted the importance of focus, commitment, and seeing things through to completion. This experience shaped my approach to work, making me more decisive, action-oriented, and results-driven. I now prioritize effectively, set clear goals, and encourage my team to do the same.  

Personally, I learned to make time for the things that matter most. No matter how involved I am in work or the WordPress community, my family will always be one of my biggest achievements and priorities.