Eric Erway | ShipperHQ | Opening Keynote | Creating your own Story with Community

Summary

In this heartfelt keynote at Meet Magento UK, the speaker reflects on the Magento community's journey, from its inception to its current state, emphasizing the importance of community in driving innovation and support. With anecdotes and insights, the talk highlights the community's resilience and contributions, urging attendees to get involved, share their stories, and continue shaping the future of Magento together.

Takeaways

• 🎉 The speaker emphasizes the importance of community in Magento's history and its role in shaping the platform's future.
• 🏃‍♂️ Personal stories, like running a 10K in the desert, highlight the community's ability to empower individuals to achieve the unexpected.
• 🔧 Magento's open-source approach and design thinking workshops exemplify the community's collaborative spirit in developing the platform.
• 🌏 The community's global nature is evident in stories of lost wallets and job losses, where support from the Magento community made a significant impact.
• 🛍️ The Magento community has been instrumental in driving innovation, including the development of mobile experiences and headless solutions.
• 💼 The speaker's experience with job loss and the support received from the community underscores the value of having a strong professional network.
• 🌟 The Magento community is described as a product in itself, with its stories and collaborative efforts being central to its identity.
• 📈 The script discusses the evolution of Magento, from its beginnings to the acquisition by Adobe, and the ongoing innovation within the community.
• 🔍 The importance of data and third-party research is highlighted to understand market needs and opportunities for the Magento community.
• 🌐 The Magento community is encouraged to continue contributing to the platform's development, with a focus on security, extensibility, and new services.
• 📚 The speaker calls for active participation in the community, including submitting pull requests, joining the Magento Association, and sharing personal stories.

Q & A

What is the significance of the applause for Eric O at the beginning of the transcript?

The applause signifies the warm welcome and recognition for Eric O as he takes the stage, indicating his importance and the anticipation of the audience for his speech.

How does the speaker describe the community aspect of Magento?

The speaker describes the Magento community as being integral to its history and identity, emphasizing that it is part of their DNA and plays a significant role in their journey, including pushing members to do things they've never done before.

What is the significance of the speaker's first 10K run at the Dam Run in 2016?

The first 10K run is significant as it represents a personal challenge and achievement for the speaker, who is not a runner and has faced health issues like asthma and injuries. It symbolizes the community's influence in empowering individuals to overcome personal limitations.

Why did the speaker and their team release and open source their process for designing Magento 2?

They released and open-sourced their process to give back to the community, develop design, and incorporate feedback into their process. It was a community decision rather than a business one, aimed at benefiting merchants, partners, and developers who may not have access to designers, researchers, or data.

What was the impact of Adobe's acquisition of Magento in 2018 on the community?

The acquisition led to questions and uncertainty within the community about the future of Magento, including concerns about integrations and the direction of the platform. However, it also led to growth and the development of new APIs and headless solutions, with the community playing a significant role in shaping these innovations.

How did the speaker feel during their brief hiatus from the community?

The speaker felt supported and not alone during their hiatus, receiving numerous emails and calls of support from the community. They also experienced a moment of community support when the CEO of Shopify made a joke about their situation, showing that the community had their back.

What does the speaker mean when they say 'Community is the product'?

The speaker means that the essence of Magento is not just its technology or platform, but the community itself. The community's interactions, contributions, and support are the core value and the driving force behind the platform's success and evolution.

What is the significance of the three-act structure mentioned in the script?

The three-act structure is used as a narrative tool to analyze the evolution of Magento. Act one represents the beginning and the inciting incident, act two is the midpoint with growth and challenges, and act three is the climax where the community is currently, experiencing innovation and new opportunities.

What role do events play in the Magento community?

Events play a crucial role in the Magento community by bringing people together, fostering collaboration, and serving as a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences. They are considered the lifeblood of the community and contribute to its growth and vitality.

What is the importance of getting involved in the community according to the speaker?

Getting involved in the community is important as it allows individuals to contribute to the core development, participate in decision-making through voting, and join the Magento Association. It also provides a way to share personal stories that can inspire and connect others in the community.

How does the speaker summarize the current state of the Magento community?

The speaker summarizes the current state of the Magento community as being in an exciting chapter of its history, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and a strong sense of unity. They encourage continued involvement and participation to keep making history together.