It’s interesting to look back in time and see how much change the month of February has brought me in the past few years. Moving to new apartments, relationships that start or end, new job situation and this year a much bigger transformation – much more than just a job change – a life change!
The new beginning for this February 2011 is that I joined Automattic full-time!
I would like to share a story with you, of the road that led me here.
The year was 2008.
I had been working with WordPress for around 3 years – It changed the way I managed a moderately successful freelance carrer as a webdesigner.
That year I decided to make a special trip – a mix of work and vacation – to California. The motto for it was to attend An Event Apart in San Francisco. Coincidently I discovered – a week prior to my flight – that there was a “thing” called WordCamp happening during my stay in SF, and thought it was a fantastic idea to attend it since I was there! And I did!
WordCamp SF 2008 changed the way I relate to WordPress completely – it made me realize how incredible the community around it is and made me want to get involved! And so, when I got back home to Lisbon, I searched and found the Portuguese WordPress Community, got in touch with the people running it and met Zé Fontainhas – a fellow Automattician – who not only became a work partner but also a beloved friend.
The following years I got more and more involved. In 2010 I returned to San Francisco (and this time exclusively to attend WordCamp) and got the chance to hang out with the Automattic crew – even ended up crashing a party at Matt Mullenweg’s apartment!! That was the moment I decided that I wanted to be a part of this!
My insecurities, about my work and personal worth (I’m pouring my heart and soul here, stick with me), made me postpone the application for Automattic some time. But then the Happiness Engineers team had their meetup in Lisbon – and once again there I was, but this time I was greeted by people that remembered me, and warmly welcomed me amongst them.
I waited no more and sent my application for Design Wrangler at Automattic that week!
And now that I’m here, what’s next? Well, the sky is the limit – I’m working along side an incredible group of people that I admire, in a place where your opinions matter and where you have the tools to actually change the world. I’m enjoying every minute of it!
ps.: To top it all, I get to blog again – damn, I missed this! 😉
Just Hugo 
You deserve to be part of Automattic, it’s great to have you as my colleague 😀
See, it’s because people like you that this is soooo AWESOME! 😀
Wohoo! Thrilled to call you colleague!
It’s amazing to be working along side highly talented people like you 😉 It’s an honor!
Why thanks, and right back at you!
Welcome Hugo! It’s funny how I didn’t realize we actually met in SF until you mentioned the party at Matt’s 🙂 Looking forward to meeting you again.
hehehe! I met you all at Matt’s – It was the best party I’ve ever crashed! When will we see each other again? SF in August?
Congrats boy :).
I’m so glad your path led you to Automattic, Hugo. Love having the opportunity to work (and hang out!) with you!
You are a sweetheart! Can’t wait for the next time we get to hang out! 🙂