Interviews

In this interview transcript, Alka Elizabeth of The DropTimes speaks with Shanice Ortiz and Theresa Jacobs ahead of their DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 panel, Using Your Superpowers to Lead in a Male-Dominated Industry. The discussion covers barriers women face in tech leadership, the role of allyship, and how Four Kitchens fosters an inclusive, collaborative work environment. Through personal experiences and practical insights, they reflect on what needs to change to make leadership more equitable in the Drupal community and beyond. ...more

In this in-depth video interview, JD Leonard sits down with Alka Elizabeth to discuss his nearly two-decade journey in the Drupal ecosystem and his latest initiative, Member Platform. He shares how his experience with community organizing and consulting shaped the project, which aims to provide small membership organizations with a scalable, Drupal-based solution. Leonard also reflects on the challenges of sustaining open-source projects, the importance of collaboration in Drupal product development, and the role of local meetups in growing the community. From his early days as a student webmaster to leading Drupal events and initiatives, Leonard offers valuable insights on the evolution of Drupal and what’s next for Member Platform. ...more

In a candid video interview with Alka Elizabeth, sub-editor at The DropTimes, Karoly "Charlie" Negyesi reflects on his 20-year journey with Drupal—from his early contributions to his evolving role in the community. He shares insights on open-source culture, mentorship, AI scepticism, job market challenges, and the future of Drupal. A deep dive into the life and thoughts of a developer whose identity is inseparable from the code he writes. ...more

Owen Lansbury, Chair of the Drupal Association Board and Founder of PreviousNext, discusses the challenges and opportunities shaping Drupal’s future. In this interview with Alka Elizabeth from The DropTimes, he highlights the importance of contribution, the role of the Drupal Certified Partner program, and the financial sustainability of open source. He also shares insights on community-driven initiatives like DrupalSouth and the need for businesses to invest in Drupal’s long-term success. ...more

James Abrahams, Director at FreelyGive Ltd, discusses the evolution of AI in Drupal, the development of the Drupal AI module, and the challenges of scaling open-source innovations. He shares insights on his collaboration with Marcus Johansson and Kevin Quillen, the impact of AI abstraction layers, and how AI is transforming site-building for non-developers. Abrahams also reflects on productivity, leadership, and the future of AI-driven automation in content management. ...more

In an insightful interview, Luke McCormick speaks with Randy Fay, the project maintainer of DDEV, about its evolution and impact on the Drupal ecosystem. Fay shares his journey from manual web environment setups to leading DDEV’s development, highlighting the tool’s role in streamlining local workflows. The discussion also covers DDEV's future, community contributions, and funding challenges. ...more

In a virtual conversation with The DropTimes sub-editor Alka Elizabeth, Gareth Alexander, Senior Drupal Developer at Zoocha and Accessibility Tools Track Lead for Drupal Starshot, discusses the pivotal role of accessibility in the upcoming DrupalCMS version 1, set for release on January 15, 2025. The interview delves into the challenges and strategies behind integrating accessibility tools like EditoriA11y, the community’s contributions, and the evolving priorities of inclusive web development. Gareth shares his vision for how DrupalCMS can empower developers and content creators to build accessible and user-friendly websites. ...more

In this interview, Chris Yates and Roland Benedetti of Pantheon discuss the innovative Content Publisher tool. Designed to integrate Google Docs with platforms like Drupal and WordPress, it streamlines workflows, supports multi-language content, and uses AI to optimize publishing processes. Explore how this tool transforms content operations for modern teams. ...more

The DropTimes interviews Tony Barker, a leading Drupal Frontend Specialist at Annertech and Media Management Track Lead for Drupal Starshot. Discover his journey, insights on media management, and how Drupal CMS is set to transform user experience with advanced features, accessibility, and AI-driven innovation. ...more

Jay Callicot, Senior Drupal Architect at Promet Source, speaks with Alka Elizabeth from The DropTimes about his journey with Drupal, the development of DrupalX, and the future of enterprise web development. From decoupled architectures to AI-driven workflows, Callicot outlines how modern tools like Next.js, Storybook, and Tailwind CSS are shaping Drupal's evolution. ...more

The Splash Awards 2024 marks a decade of celebrating innovation and excellence in Drupal, putting the spotlight on agencies and users who push boundaries in the field. Bert Boerland, Chairman of the Drupal Netherlands Foundation, reflects on the journey from a bold idea in 2014 to a prestigious event that now inspires entries from around the globe. From overcoming challenges in jury selection to dreaming of a pan-European “Euro Splash Awards,” Bert shares insights and memorable moments from the awards’ evolution. Interview by Esmeralda Braad-Tijhoff. ...more

In an engaging interview with The DropTimes’ Alka Elizabeth, Seth Hill, Senior Developer at Aten Design Group, discusses the unique advantages of Backdrop CMS, Aten’s contributions to the higher-ed sector, and the future potential of Mercury Editor to simplify content management. Seth shares insights into the evolving landscape of open-source CMS and highlights the importance of fostering community through innovative tools and inclusive events. ...more

In an interview with The DropTimes, Drupal developer and Solutions Architect Vladimir Roudakov shares his goals for the 2024 DrupalSouth Steering Committee. With over a decade in open-source community building, Vladimir discusses his strategies for expanding Drupal’s reach in academia, improving event management tools, and strengthening documentation to support developers, students, and educators alike. ...more

As Drupal 7 nears the end of official support, Pantheon and Tag1 Consulting have partnered to extend security patches and updates for core and contributed modules, providing crucial long-term support for Drupal 7 sites. In this exclusive interview, Pantheon’s Co-Founder, Josh Koenig, discusses the details of the two-year extension, the value it offers to customers, and why migrating to newer versions isn't always a simple choice. Learn how this collaboration offers much-needed time for Drupal 7 site owners to plan their future. ...more

Discover how QED42 is shaping the future of digital experiences! In this exclusive interview, Piyuesh Kumar, Director of Technology at QED42, shares insights on their journey with Drupal, their groundbreaking contributions, and the role of AI in transforming content management systems. Get a sneak peek into the upcoming advancements in Drupal and what to expect at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024. Don't miss this deep dive into QED42's vision and impact! ...more

Noah’s Page Builder offers Drupal users an intuitive way to create front-end pages quickly, without needing extra modules like Paragraphs. Developed by Julian Chabrillon, this tool provides real-time design changes, a variety of widgets, and CSS configuration options. In this interview, Julian discusses the inspiration, challenges, and future plans for Noah’s, including its impact on the Drupal community with both free and paid versions available for flexible usage. ...more

In an exclusive interview with The DropTimes, Vincenzo Gambino, a Drupal Architect and Senior React Developer, shares his journey from Palermo to London, exploring how Drupal shaped his career. From working on high-traffic projects for Cambridge University to co-authoring "Jumpstart Jamstack Development", Vincenzo discusses Drupal's evolution, its role in headless architectures, and the future of open-source technologies. With over 12 years of experience, he offers insights into Drupal's flexibility, security, and performance, as well as its adaptability to modern web development trends. ...more

In an insightful interview with Elma John, Iztok Smolic, CEO and Managing Director of Agiledrop, reveals how his journey from freelance designer to tech leader has shaped his unique approach to company culture. Discover how Iztok's emphasis on tranquility, respect, and continuous learning has helped Agiledrop thrive in a fast-paced industry while maintaining strong ties to the Drupal community. ...more

Explore how Selwyn Polit, an experienced Drupal developer, created "Drupal at Your Fingertips" to serve as a quick reference guide for seasoned developers. Learn about the book's focus on providing concise, actionable information and how it continues to evolve with the Drupal ecosystem. ...more

In the final instalment of The DropTimes' "Meet the Candidate" campaign for the Drupal Association's 2024 Board Election, we sit down with Alejandro Moreno Lopez, Partner Manager and Developer Relations at Pantheon. Alejandro discusses his journey within the Drupal community, his vision for reducing the Association's dependency on DrupalCon, and his commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation. With voting open until September 5th, this interview offers key insights into how Alejandro plans to contribute to the future of Drupal. ...more

As part of The DropTimes' "Meet the Candidate" campaign for the Drupal Association's 2024 Board Election, Albert Hughes, Product Owner at Stanford University, discusses his candidacy and vision for expanding Drupal’s reach. With the election running until 5 September, Albert shares how his diverse experiences and commitment to innovation can shape the future of the Drupal community. ...more

As part of The DropTimes' "Meet the Candidate" campaign for the ongoing Drupal Association Board Elections, Kevin Quillen, Practice Lead at Velir, shares his vision for making Drupal more accessible and appealing worldwide. With over 16 years of experience in the community, Kevin discusses his plans to modernize Drupal.org, attract new developers, and enhance the platform's global impact. Voting runs until 5 September. ...more

As part of The DropTimes' "Meet the Candidate" campaign, Will Huggins shares his vision for driving strategic change within the Drupal community. In this exclusive interview, the CEO of Zoocha discusses his plans to enhance the Drupal Certified Partner community, improve non-code contributions, and position Drupal to compete effectively with major commercial software solutions. Discover how Will aims to help Drupal reach its full potential in the 2024 Board Election. ...more

As part of The DropTimes' "Meet the Candidate" campaign, Janna Malikova, a candidate for the Drupal Association Board, shares her vision for enhancing Drupal's role in academia. Learn how she plans to leverage her experience in software engineering and community leadership to integrate Drupal into academic curriculums, improve documentation, and cultivate the next generation of Drupal users and contributors. ...more

As part of The DropTimes' "Meet the Candidate" campaign, Matthew Saunders shares his vision for the Drupal Association Board. In this interview, he discusses his focus on improving governance, fostering inclusivity, and supporting neurodiverse individuals within the Drupal community. With the election ongoing, get to know his motivations and qualifications before casting your vote. ...more

Dominique De Cooman shares his plans to position Drupal as a leader in the open Digital Experience Platform (DXP) ecosystem as the Drupal Association's board election approaches. In this interview, he outlines his strategy for expanding Drupal’s influence in the midmarket and fostering innovation through stronger connections with other open-source platforms. Read on to discover how Dominique aims to help shape Drupal's future. ...more

In an exclusive interview with Elma John from The DropTimes, Dallas Ramsden, CEO and Solutions Architect at Xequals and Drupal Services Specialist at Sparks Interactive, shares his incredible 16-year journey with Drupal. From surviving a life-threatening accident to becoming a beacon of resilience and a dedicated Drupal veteran, Dallas discusses his passion for the platform, his transition to teaching, and his vision for the future of Drupal and technology. Join us to learn from this inspiring story of determination, community building, and lifelong learning. ...more

In an insightful interview with Alka Elizabeth, Jürgen Haas, Co-Founder of LakeDrops, delves into the development and impact of the ECA module, a tool for workflow automation in Drupal. Jürgen, an expert in technical solution architectures, discusses how the ECA module simplifies complex tasks through a no-code approach, making it accessible to developers and non-technical users. He also explores the module's potential future integration with Drupal core and its role in promoting sustainable, open-source practices within the digital community. This interview provides a comprehensive look at how the ECA module reshapes user experiences and sets new standards in the Drupal ecosystem. ...more

"I will turn every stone, and I will turn them on time," notes a very confident Janne Kalliola. Over a decade ago, Janne's idea to host a dinner for Drupal business leaders at DrupalCon Prague 2013 sparked the Drupal Business Survey, now in its ninth year. In an interview with Alka Elizabeth, Janne discusses the survey's origins, its evolution, and the key players involved. He shares the benefits for the Drupal community, significant changes, and expectations for this year's survey, highlighting its role in gathering vital insights for Drupal businesses and agencies worldwide. ...more