Let’s start with your name. Easy, right?
Well, saying it is, writing it less so, because my father wanted to make it “Italian-style”, so I’m always there saying, “With a G, like ‘goat’.” Gessica, Gessica Peretti.
Tell us which of your professional talents helped you the most in organizing this WCTRN.
It’s not the first WordCamp I’ve organized, but in general, when people collaborate, the key words are always clarity, alignment, and honesty. It may sound obvious, but trying to do more than you can handle risks causing problems. Better to do less and see it through than to become a burden on others.
At this point, tell us what you do for work. What do you do?
To keep it short, I do traditional graphic design and build websites with WordPress. But in reality, my job often feels like Mr. Wolf’s in Pulp Fiction: I solve problems. Whether I handle them myself or point people to the right professional doesn’t really matter.
What’s the most unexpected skill you used while organizing WCTRN?
In terms of organization, there’s not really a funny or unusual anecdote; but during a WordCamp, I remember one year when my knot-tying skills, learned in scouting, turned out to be surprisingly useful.
What’s something people don’t realize about the work your team does behind the scenes?
I’m not sure people don’t realize it… but diplomacy is definitely the essential skill to do this role well. Balancing the needs of sponsors, venue, logistics, and trying to make things easier for everyone, because in the end, we all want the best, is a great exercise in management.
What was the most fun or memorable moment you experienced with your WCTRN team?
There hasn’t been a single standout moment, but rather a constant “good atmosphere” that makes everyone’s effort enjoyable. Like when you go hiking in the mountains and, despite the effort, there’s sunshine, fresh air, great company, and the anticipation of reaching the summit to fully enjoy the day.
Describe your WCTRN experience so far using only emoji, GIFs, or stickers.
If WCTRN were a music festival, what would your team’s soundtrack be?
Nah… I’m not a one-soundtrack kind of person. I’d go for a mix of songs, all very popular, the kind everyone can sing together in chorus.
We’re in Turin, city of the Mole Antonelliana and the Cinema Museum, if your team were a movie, what would it be? TV series count too.
It might sound obvious, but I’d say Friends.
Turin was the first capital of Italy, if you had to “govern” something in the WordPress world, what would it be?
Me, govern? Let’s not even go there, I already struggle to survive a single day 😅.
Which famous fictional character would be a perfect addition to your team, and why?
I liked the idea of having a pirate on the sponsor team, and honestly, it would work great! Monkey D. Luffy, because he has a clear vision: even if he doesn’t always know the route, he always knows the goal. Because the “who” and the “how” matter more than anything else. His crew, relationships, people, respect, all of that is essential to how he reaches the destination and is part of the destination itself.
In the spirit of open source collaboration, what’s the most important lesson WCTO has taught you about teamwork?
To share problems, above all. You can’t manage? Say it. You can only get so far? Say it. You can’t do something? Say it. Sharing, especially difficulties, activates other resources that can step in and solve the issue. Often problems come from pride, because we think we should have handled them alone.
Convince someone, in 10 words or less, to attend the next WordCamp.
WordCamp is like a gianduiotto… one leads to another. Try it!
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