For a decade, I've grown from a designer to a WordPress/Shopify developer and team lead. My journey began in 2014 as a journalist's assistant, inadvertently stepping into the IT world. Learning website management and SEO basics, I discovered the potential of web development. Inspired, I envisioned creating a German learning platform but was deterred by the high costs. This challenge steered me towards becoming a self-taught developer.I dove into frontend development and WordPress. Freelancing broadened my network and skillset, leading to a job offer from a small studio in 2016. Despite initial fears, I thrived, learning about templates, PHP, and JavaScript. However, salary growth limitations at fisrt role prompted me to join DigitalDealerz in 2018. The role involved intense learning, adapting designs for WordPress, and leading plugin and template development. My dedication earned me the responsibility of training a new trainee.Facing salary constraints again, I embraced full-time freelancing, enhancing my skills, particularly in design. Figma's user-friendliness aided my growth. This expertise led to an offer from Bfgltech, where I revolutionized their template-based approach with custom Figma + WordPress (Shopify) development, significantly improving quality and team efficiency.My journey continued as a team lead at Howsimpl, where I expanded my design knowledge, built a team, attracted clients, managed SEO, allocated budgets, and provided technical solutions, embracing the multifaceted role of a manager in a growing company.Today, as the founder of InvestWP, I face new challenges in sales, partnerships, and cooperation while maintaining my focus on team management, workload distribution, and project problem-solving. Leadership has deepened my appreciation for others' experiences, inspiring me to share insights, hoping to help peers navigate their paths more effectively.