January 23, 2019 — The final panel will be a mix of prepared questions and moderated (to control length tone and moderate quality) audience questions to turn some of the aspirational and motivational points back into tactical practical takeaways.

Attendees will be guided through how the pieces fit together while inspiring and highlighting practical takeaways where attendees gain long-term motivation, and are able to implement immediate tactical changes when they get back to their desk.

July 8, 2018 — It’s hard to make the change from being a solopreneur to taking the first steps in partnering or hiring and broadening your team. In this talk, we will walk you through the self preparation and tactical best practices to take the first baby steps, walking and then running for both partnering with other freelancers and hiring your first team. We’ll cover how to prepare yourself and your business for an expansion and how to architect the type of team you need. We’ll emphasize the practical “how tos” you’ll need for each step.

Presentation Slides »

August 5, 2017 — As WordPress enters its teenage years, our community is no longer just thinking about startup mode. Entrepreneurs are trying to figure out longevity, and how to build a long lasting business. Karim brings the perspective of 23 years of building and leading digital teams from 30 to 300. Immersed in the WordPress ecosystem the last 5 years, Karim has seen some trends that worked against the traditional silicon valley idea’s of success. Are we a special snowflake, does Open Source make a difference in Start-up longevity?

In leading this discussion, Karim will build on the topics of the morning talks by Scott Mann and Sherry Walling. We have invited Rebecca Gill and Jon Brown, who both have many years in business before joining our community, to create a panel that collectively brings hundreds of years of business experience to the WordPress ecosystem and our community.

June 19, 2017 — WordCamp Orange County 2017 – Business Track
HOST: Jeff Turner

July 4, 2016 — Whether it’s differences between European and American business cultures, or the age-old battle for budget allocation between marketing and IT departments, how do you optimize your interaction with clients that have different personalities and business practices than your own?

April 20, 2016 — Panelists on this panel, who are deeply involved in the WordPress ecosystem in various ways, will have an honest conversation on how they feel about WordPress’s growth, and their thoughts about the changes that are coming over the horizon. They will share their feeling about the WordPress theme and plugin market in addition to providing insight as members of WordPress agencies. Do they have plans on expanding outside of WordPress in the future? Is there a right time to do this, and what are the right conditions for anyone to give this consideration?

April 14, 2016 — The panelists offer practical suggestions from their own experiences (less story telling, and more “this is how this applied to me and can apply to others also”). Suggestions and talk doesn’t have to be WordPress specific but feel free to note how a WordPress business is unique is any aspects. Suggestions can also cover recurring revenues or client strategies.

April 7, 2016 — We all want to keep our clients having the best possible experience, that starts with project management basics. In this session, whether you’re a freelancer, a small agency, or an established enterprise grade agency, we will cover the 10 best practices I have seen and learned through 20 years of mistakes while learning from Some of the best professional service companies in the world. We will cover tactical examples and best-of-breed tools available today.

Presentation Slides »

July 9, 2015 — Three stories of the many acquisitions Karim has made over the last two decades. He will share what was learned from those experiences, and the impact the WordPress community has made on how we can all grow together.

July 8, 2015 — Invoicing and dealing with legal contracts can be a scary task when you’re first starting out. However, as you stay longer in business, you learn how to best deal with them. We have invited well-known experts in the industry to share their tips on scoping, contracts, invoicing, and legal.