WP Builds

461 – From support to CEO: Jon Penland’s journey at Kinsta

WP Builds

Show Notes

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Jon Penland, CEO of Kinsta, about his career journey from self-education in tech to leading a rapidly growing company. Jon shares insights on the importance of curiosity, hard work, and adaptability in career growth. They discuss Kinsta’s involvement in the WordPress community, their approach to AI and hosting advancements, and the vital role of collaboration and human support in their business. The conversation also touches on Kinsta's broader app platform, the evolving challenges in hosting, and the future of WordPress and web technology.

More from WP Builds

Oct 22, 2026

On the podcast today we have Ken Young.

Oct 15, 2026

So today is like no other podcast episode I've ever aired on WP Builds. There's no intro, and I'm not the host, although I am in it!

Oct 8, 2026

Before we get into the podcast, a few words from me.

Oct 6, 2026

Join Nathan Wrigley, Rhys Wynne, Raquel Manriquez, Steve Burge. The conversation focused on major WordPress updates, including the 7.2 roadmap with new security features and collaborative tools like suggestion mode and the Presence API. Several points were raised about the surge in plugin submissions driven by AI and evolving review processes. The discussion explored upcoming community events such as PressConf in Barcelona and the return of WordCamp Manchester, highlighting their unique formats. A key theme that emerged was the importance of collaboration and innovation in both technology and community engagement. The episode mixed WordPress news, practical insights for professionals, and plenty of humour around British culture and drinks.

See all episodes →