Member Spotlight: Chris Hinds

Chris Hinds is COO and co-founder of Equalize Digital, creators of the Accessibility Checker plugin and a well-known accessibility solution provider in the WordPress space. Chris and the team at Equalize Digital believe that one day, all people will have access to information and tools on the internet, regardless of ability. In support of that vision, the company focuses on products, services, public advocacy, and education that advance the cause of accessibility and empower others to be agents for positive change in their respective organizations.

What do you enjoy most about working in WordPress?

WordPress has been part of my life since 2010, when my wife and Equalize Digital co-founder Amber Hinds started blogging and doing freelance work on the platform. And in 2015, I officially left my culinary career and a stable multi-unit contract dining management job behind to join her working in WordPress full-time. WordPress has provided me with unprecedented opportunities to expand my skills and do meaningful work. I forget who said this, but one simple phrase sums it up for me: WordPress is people.

It’s so many other things, too. But, at the end of the day, the people in WordPress are why I joined, why I’m still a part of it today, and why I’ll continue to be in this community for the foreseeable future. And I am beyond excited that I get to play a role in helping this entire ecosystem become, and stay accessible.

What do you love most about your Post Status membership?

In short, it’s the quick access to smart, talented people who work at some of the largest and most influential companies in WordPress. There is nothing else like it. Everyone in Post Status has a shared mindset that they’re all there to put in more value than we take out. The natural result is that everyone gets to benefit from the shared knowledge and experience of the entire group. On multiple occasions now, I have exchanged friendly and helpful messages, which turned in to DMs, which in turn became conversations about deeper partnerships between brands. Post Status is a supercharged connection engine.

What business/web/WordPress advice do you have for others in our industry?

Being a founder, executive, manager, or leader can be incredibly lonely. Often you face massive obstacles that feel insurmountable, and a lot of us think we have to do that alone. My advice is simply to spend time finding other people who are like you. Reach out, set up meetings, and talk about successes, failures, and struggles. The fastest way forward in business is to learn from the successes and failures of others, and to learn fast. If you’re struggling with something in business and need to chat, send me a note and I’ll do my best to help you.