Is Mullenweg Adaptable to Change?

At WordCamp Asia 2025, Matt Mullenweg, the co-creator of WordPress, was asked whether he is adaptable to change. The question came during a live Q&A session, where attendees had the opportunity to challenge him on key topics related to the future of WordPress and his role in shaping it.

One of the major concerns raised was the steep learning curve that many users experience with WordPress. Some attendees questioned whether there were plans to simplify the platform, making it more accessible to beginners and non-technical users. As WordPress continues to evolve, user experience remains a significant area of discussion, with calls for improvements in usability and onboarding.

Another critical topic was Mullenweg’s openness to change, particularly in how WordPress is developed and maintained. Some community members expressed concerns about the direction of updates and features, prompting a discussion on whether he was willing to reconsider certain decisions based on user feedback. His response reflected a commitment to innovation while balancing the needs of the broader WordPress ecosystem.

Additionally, the discussion touched on Automattic’s contributions to WordPress core. In recent years, the company has adjusted its level of involvement, leading some to question whether these reductions would negatively impact the platform’s long-term stability and growth. Mullenweg addressed these concerns, explaining the reasoning behind these decisions and reaffirming his dedication to WordPress’s continued success.

Despite facing difficult and sometimes critical questions, Mullenweg handled the discussion with composure. Even when his answers did not align with what some attendees hoped to hear, he maintained a positive and forward-thinking approach. His ability to navigate challenging conversations while staying focused on the bigger picture demonstrated his leadership within the WordPress community.

As WordPress moves forward, adaptability and openness to feedback remain crucial elements of its development. Events like WordCamp Asia serve as valuable forums for discussion, allowing users, developers, and industry leaders to engage in meaningful conversations about the platform’s future.

 

Mullenweg Says Being Adaptable To Change Is Important

During one of the discussions at WordCamp Asia 2025, someone asked Matt Mullenweg what WordPress would look like in five years. Surprisingly, he admitted that he couldn’t provide a definitive answer. Rather than seeing this as a limitation, he explained that not having a long-term plan beyond Gutenberg was intentional.

Mullenweg described this approach as a strength rather than a weakness, arguing that maintaining a shorter-term perspective allows WordPress to remain agile. In a constantly evolving technological landscape, he believes flexibility is key to long-term success.

He elaborated on this by highlighting WordPress’s history of adapting to industry changes. Instead of following a rigid roadmap that spans years into the future, the platform focuses on responding to new trends and challenges as they emerge. This adaptability, he suggested, has been a crucial factor in WordPress’s longevity and relevance.

Mullenweg further supported his perspective by referencing Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. He pointed out that survival isn’t about being the strongest or most advanced—it’s about being the most adaptable to change. He believes this principle applies to software just as much as it does to living organisms.

Quoting Darwin, he stated:
“It’s not the fittest of the species that survives. It’s the one that’s most adaptable to change.”

For WordPress, this means embracing innovation while staying open to new directions based on user needs and technological advancements. The focus isn’t on rigidly sticking to a predefined vision but on evolving in response to real-world demands.

Mullenweg’s response reassured attendees that WordPress will continue to evolve in an organic and flexible way. While some may prefer a more structured long-term roadmap, he emphasised that adaptability remains one of WordPress’s greatest strengths.

 

Change Is Not Coming To WordPress

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Matt Mullenweg has long championed adaptability as a key strength of WordPress. However, when it comes to governance, he appeared to take a different stance.

During a Q&A session at WordCamp Asia 2025, Taco Verdonschot, co-owner of Progress Planner, raised a pointed question about the project’s willingness to embrace change.

Introducing himself, he asked: “I’m Taco, co-owner of Progress Planner. I was wondering, you were talking about adaptability before and survival of the fittest. That means being open to change. What we’ve seen in the last couple of months is that people who were talking about change got banned from the project. How open are you to discussing change in the project?”

In response, Mullenweg firmly rejected the idea that discussing change could lead to a ban.

“Sure. I don’t want to go too far into this, but I will say that talking about change will not get you banned. There are other behaviours… but just talking about change is something that we do pretty much every day.”

He went on to highlight that WordPress has evolved significantly over time and continues to do so.

“We’ve changed a lot over the years. We’ve changed a lot in the past year. So yeah.”

Despite this, Mullenweg avoided addressing any specific incidents or individuals who may have been removed from the project.

Rather than diving into details, he kept his response general and encouraged a positive approach to discussions about WordPress governance.

“I don’t want to speak to anyone personally, you know. So keep it positive.”

His comments left some attendees wondering whether governance in the WordPress community was as adaptable as its technology.

 

Calls For Change In Governance

There have been increasing calls for a shift in how WordPress is governed, with one of the most notable voices being Joost de Valk. As the creator of Yoast SEO and a co-owner of the Progress Planner WordPress plugin, he has been vocal about the need for change.

Joost previously shared his concerns, stating that the current governance structure within WordPress is unhealthy. He described conversations with industry professionals who compared the WordPress ecosystem to a cult, a sentiment he admitted to understanding.

In a strongly worded statement, Joost wrote:

“A lot has happened over the last few months, that I think all comes down to the above. I’ve often considered how the WordPress world ‘worked’ unhealthy. I’ve spoken to many slightly outside of our industry over the past months about what was happening and several people, independent of each other, described WordPress as ‘a cult’ to me. And I understand why.”

He went on to argue that WordPress needs new leadership and a structured governance board. According to him, waiting for legal battles between Automattic and WP Engine to resolve is not a viable option.

“I think it’s time to let go of the cult and change project leadership. I’ve said it before: we need a ‘board’. We can’t wait with doing that for the years it will take for Automattic and WP Engine to fight out this lawsuit.”

Joost also pointed out inconsistencies in Matt Mullenweg’s statements about his future involvement in WordPress.

“As was already reported, Matt said recently in Post Status that ‘it’s hard to imagine wanting to continue working on WordPress after this’. A few days later, he gave a completely conflicting message in the State of the Word. Yet he never came back on that first statement or clarified that he’d changed his mind. He also didn’t come back to talk to the community he turned his back on.”

Joost de Valk had originally been scheduled to speak at WordCamp Asia 2025. However, in his absence, his co-owner at Progress Planner stepped in and didn’t shy away from asking the tough questions.

 

Mullenweg Challenged To Adapt To Change

Matt Mullenweg’s statement about being adaptable to change led to an awkward moment during the event. At the 6:55:47 mark, Taco Verdonschot, co-owner of Progress Planner, stepped up to the microphone to directly question whether Mullenweg was truly open to change.

Taco Verdonschot, who was previously part of Yoast SEO, is currently sponsored to work on WordPress by Emilia Capital, a company owned by Joost de Valk and Marieke van de Rakt. Given his background, his question carried weight in the discussion.

Addressing Mullenweg, Taco asked:

“I’m Taco, co-owner of Progress Planner. I was wondering, you were talking about adaptability before and survival of the fittest. That means being open to change. What we’ve seen in the last couple of months is that people who were talking about change got banned from the project. How open are you to discussing change in the project?”

Mullenweg responded with a measured answer, aiming to downplay concerns.

“Sure. I don’t want to go too far into this but I will say that talking about change will not get you banned. There’s other behaviors… but just talking about change is something that we do pretty much every day. And we’ve changed a lot over the years. We’ve changed a lot in the past year. So yeah. But I don’t want to speak to anyone personally, you know. So keep it positive.”

His response avoided specifics, leaving room for interpretation. However, the exchange highlighted growing tensions within the WordPress community regarding governance and openness to change.