Twenty twenty-five

A year of growth.
A year in which I fulfilled a long-cherished professional dream.
A year with many realisations. And with more questions than I had expected.

2025 was my last year in my thirties. I’m turning 40 this year and I realise how this number does something to me. Not loudly, not in a panic, but quietly and constantly. At the end of my thirties, I often ask myself: am I on the right path? Does it all still feel right? And what am I really doing for myself?

This review is my attempt to capture exactly that.

Events & Community – taking responsibility and creating spaces

Community was a big part of my life in 2025. Not just as a participant, but above all as an organiser and initiator. That’s exactly what made the difference for me.

Meetups – from the idea to regularity

I organised and accompanied two WordPress meetups in 2025:

• WP Jena (wpjena.de) A meetup that is very close to my heart. Unfortunately there wasn’t much going on in 2025. I’ll try to do better in 2026.
• WP Erfurt (wperfurt.de) was launched in September 2025. From the initial idea to the location communication to the first evening of real conversations. It was incredibly motivating to see how a small initiative developed into an active group.

Both Meetups cost time. Energy. Concentration.
But they give at least as much back.

WordCamps 2025 – inspiration on different levels

Leipzig was just right for me. Manageable, familiar, with lots of familiar faces. A camp where you don’t rush, but really get into conversation.

Basel was once again an absolute highlight for me. WordCamp Europe is the biggest WordPress event in the world – and you can feel it. Organisation, talks, people, atmosphere. For me, it’s a fixed date in the calendar every year and a real annual highlight in 2025.

Gdynia was my personal attempt to do something new again. My first WordCamp in Poland. New surroundings, new people, new perspectives. For me, it was a very good start and at the same time a great preparation for the next WordCamp Europe 2026.

Other events – thinking outside the box

In addition to WordPress, there were other events that shaped me in 2025:

Intensive, technical, challenging. The hackathon is not about lectures, but about doing. Recognising problems, building solutions, working in a team. Exhausting – but incredibly instructive and fulfilling.

An event focussing on exchange. Less stage, more dialogue. Honest, direct and very close to the reality of projects, teams and responsibility.

Open, varied and sometimes overwhelming. Many different perspectives on AI, few simple answers. That’s exactly why it was so exciting. I left with more questions than I arrived with – and I mean that in a positive way.

Personal – Gratitude and honest reflection

Personally, 2025 was not a year of major upheavals, but of quiet development. I have learnt to take a closer look. At myself. To my decisions. To what is really important to me.

I am very grateful for my family. For stability. For understanding. For patience.

And especially: Thank you Eva for doing all this. With all the thoughts, detours and unanswered questions.

Professional – a dream come true and an honest realisation

devowl GmbH

Since December 2024, I have been working as Marketing and Business Development Manager at devowl GmbH. In exactly the area I always wanted to work in. Not a supposed dream, but a real one.

It was a great opportunity. A great environment. A lot of trust. And an enormous professional enrichment. At the same time, I realised over the course of the year that this role wasn’t a long-term fit for me personally. Not because it was bad – but because it didn’t suit me.

This realisation did not come immediately. And it wasn’t easy. But it was honest.

Back to zollsoft GmbH

In September 2025, I returned to zollsoft GmbH, this time as Project Manager Web & Search. A familiar environment, I can contribute my experience, take on responsibility and at the same time be more myself again. And above all: a good feeling.

Sometimes further development does not mean higher, faster, further – but more coherent!

Self-employment – less action, more direction

My self-employment in 2025 was more a year of thinking than a year of realisation. Lots of ideas, lots of conversations, little output. But much more clarity.

I know pretty much exactly what I want for 2026.

• hejchris.de is restarted
• My private blog is back, you’re reading it right now 😉

Since November, the blog has finally been running with a proper block theme. I use OllieWP for this – and it feels good to have more fun with my own setup again.

Conclusion – with questions, but without fear

2025 was not a year of big answers. But one of honest questions. And perhaps these are precisely the most important ones.

I am entering my fortieth year with respect, but without fear. With more clarity. More calm. And a desire to realise more again in 2026.

Thank you for reading this review 😋