You are techY podcast

Ellen (00:00): 

You are listening to the You are techY podcast, episode number 108.

Voiceover (00:09):

Welcome to the You are techY podcast where it’s all about growing in your techy-ness. So you can find the tech job of your dreams. And now your host, technology learning coach, Ellen Twomey.

Ellen (00:26):

So many moms returning to work have asked me how to get hired in a job that pays well but also allows them to be the mom they want to be, and I’ve seen so many make the mistake of taking a job teaching English at 3:00 AM for $15 an hour. And that’s just backward because your skills are highly valuable and so is your time. That’s why I’ve put together this high-value free training to help you jumpstart your tech career by learning about the field of UX design. So you don’t waste time in one more side hustle that isn’t a career and doesn’t give you the flexibility and income your family needs. I only offer this training twice a year and it’s available right now at the release of this podcast episode. So sign up now for this helpful and interactive webinar for free. Three Strategies to Jumpstart Your UX Design Career sign up at youaretechy.com/ux. That’s Y O U A R E T E C H Y.com/ux. I’ll see you there.

Ellen (01:25):

Brittany Kates is an award-winning UX designer. She’s a former elementary school teacher who made the leap from teaching to UX design to devote her days to designing products that truly serve her customers. Brittany also has experience in interior design and sales in her UX work. Britney owns the UX process from research to prototype that supports customer needs by providing comprehensive design plans for development teams. She validates design from end to end product experience through effective communication with product managers and devs and an agile environment and analyzes existing interfaces to detect user pain points, recommend design changes, and iterates on product designs. Brittany graduated from BYU with a 3.7 GPA in elementary school education and teaching. She’s moving this weekend to a beautiful new place just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, with black herringbone tile in her bathroom, where she will enjoy having the place all to herself. Brittany, welcome to the podcast.

Brittany (02:25):

Ellen. I’m so excited to be here.

Ellen (02:26):

I’m so excited to have you here. And I wanna tell us about the apartment first. I, I know that you’ve been living with some people and it’s been a big dream of yours to have some space to yourself. So are you excited? Absolutely.

Brittany (02:39):

I’ve been living with roommates for a really long time and this basement apart is recently built in the basement of a home of a friend of mine. And she invited me to, to come rent it out and it’ll just be me. And I’m just excited to kind of have a space of my own to decorate and, you know, keep the way I want it. <laugh> so,

Ellen (03:03):

And she has, uh, she’s an interior designer, right? So she has great

Brittany (03:06):

Taste and yes, this friend of mine as an interior designer. So it’s beautiful and super

Ellen (03:12):

Stoked. <laugh> and that’s why we’re talking about the black herringbone subway tile, because you and I both love that. <laugh> so

Brittany (03:17):

Adorable. I can’t <laugh>

Ellen (03:20):

I love it. All right. Well, let’s talk some UX recently hired a UX designer full time after spending years as a teacher. And I was talking to you a little bit before, but you know, I get a lot of teachers. I was a teacher, I get a lot of teachers that they, you know, it’s a burnout, it’s a high burnout industry and they want something else that they can do. And so often I think with teaching, they are checking all these boxes and they need these certifications. It’s like really hard to see yourself doing something else, but you have done that. You’ve gone from teaching to UX design. How did you do that? Well,

Brittany (03:50):

The short answer is I decided I need to make a career change and I took action to make it happen. <laugh>

Ellen (03:58):

Yeah, yeah. Yes. I love it. That’s

Brittany (04:01):

Obviously the short and sweet answer. <laugh> not accounting for all of the fears of uncertainty that come with a career change. And I felt like being, I just feel like as a teacher being in it in the middle of it, kinda like you’re talking about like, it’s, well, this is familiar and I know what to expect from this. Right. I don’t know what to expect from venturing out somewhere else. And it’s really been very eye opening entering the tech world. <laugh> because it is such a stark contrast. Mm-hmm <affirmative> in many ways from life of a teacher, the career you’re of a teacher, like you mentioned, there was a lot of, as a teacher scheduling and check boxes and things to do and make sure they’re done by the next day. So you’re ready for the kid. And tech has just been more flexible and more, I don’t know, it’s just been refreshing to be quite honest,

Ellen (04:59):

Total change. Yeah. And it’s, and it changing what I’m always teaching too is like, do the work, you know, just get out there and do the work and teaching. It’s almost like you, you, not that you need permission, but the, the course is set for you. I mean, even, I always make the joke, even the bathroom when you can go to the bathroom, right? Yeah. I mean, I taught high school so I could like leave work for a few minutes, but I remember like, I just need a bathroom. I need to go. So that was always, you know, a thing, but it’s, you know, your days are structured and how you get into you structured and, and tech, like you said, it’s kind of the opposite. Yeah. Do it a little show us then, you know, what do you think? Uh,

Brittany (05:35):

Yeah. It’s, I mean, for lack of better term, it’s little loosey goosey, you know, it’s like, right. You’ve gotta to do it however you get it done.

Ellen (05:44):

That’s great. But not easy. It’s a challenging career, right? Definitely.

Brittany (05:47):

For sure. For sure. Yeah. I mean, one thing that you have taught me <laugh> to remind myself of is that as a person in tech, as a tech professional, I don’t know what you wanna call it. I’m paid to think. Right. I’m paid to think about processes. I’m paid to think about what’s best for the user. And whereas as a teacher, it was a lot due. Not that there wasn’t thinking involved, but it’s just kind of been a mind shift for me. So yeah.

Ellen (06:17):

I love that. I think that’s so important because that is, I have had students come to me and they’re like, J just gimme the list, give me the list of everything I need to learn and I will do it. I will do that list. And I’m like, yeah, yeah. There’s not the list. There’s no list. There’s the project. There’s the process. You go through the process, but you have to be willing to think. And at the beginning you have to be willing to think and be wrong because you aren’t exactly sure. Yeah. And then when you get more experienced, then you’re still wrong and you have to be willing to <laugh> take that feedback. Right.

Brittany (06:48):

Exactly. Which is, you know, one of the benefits I’ve found from working with the team of UX designers is to be able to get that feedback. So you, or even just in the program, working with the group of women in our cohort or whatnot, you know, like getting the feedback to help guide you and make sure

Ellen (07:09):

You’re on the right track. Right. Yeah. And they are taking a program when you do mentor feedback. Right. Because it’s part of the process that’s, what’s happens when you get into work and you, it’s not a straight line. Like you don’t magically say, here are the designs and then now go put them in. Right. There’s a whole, there’s a whole process of peer feedback and, and user feedback too.

Brittany (07:28):

Right? Correct. Yeah. I was gonna mention that too. Yeah. It’s not just the designer. Right. It’s always thinking about the user and getting that information from them as well,

Ellen (07:38):

So. Right. That’s great. Okay. So tell us a little bit about your career journey. How did it start off and how did you end up where you are now? I know it, it wasn’t as, as smooth as I maybe made it in the intro, but tell us a little bit about

Brittany (07:50):

That. Okay. So I grew up as an artist. I love to draw, I took all the art classes possible and grade school, and that led me to want to pursue a career in graphic design. So that’s where I started. My university education was in graphic design. I got my associate’s degree at a community college and then transferred to university BYU <laugh>. And, and in the process, like in the middle of that program, I had imposter syndrome. <laugh> like seeing all these designers around me that were in my mind, so good and so much better and creative than I was mm-hmm <affirmative>. And so I decided to change my major and I chose elementary education because I’ve always loved learning, being in school. And I had really fond memories of my elementary school days, you know, and, and I love kids. So I thought this would be great.

Brittany (08:46):

And, and this would be right up my alley, you know, <laugh>. And as soon as I got into the thick of things, as a teacher, I realized I was missing something and I just knew I had to do something with art and design. And, and so there was that searching, you know, like mm-hmm, <affirmative>, I’m, I’m working full time, I’m doing the teaching thing and I’m trying to figure out, you know, what is it that I really want to do? Cause I just knew that teaching wasn’t my forever career. So my first attempt that was going back to school for interior design. I got another associate’s degree and I, I worked at a furniture store and did interior design for about three years. That was a really great positive experience. And it was one of the first times where being outside of teaching, I was like, oh my gosh, look what I can do. You know, like it’s different. It’s not, you know what I’m used to, and this is kind of like cool. But unfortunately things just didn’t pan out the way that I had hoped and going back to teaching. So again, in the thick of it, <laugh> realizing Nope, still not my forever career, you know, mm-hmm <affirmative> so luckily, which sounds kinda weird to say, but luckily with the pandemic, I’m not saying the pandemic was, luckily

Ellen (09:57):

We had a global pandemic <laugh> well, but there’s a reevaluation period.

Brittany (10:01):

I think. Yeah. It, it gave me the time that I needed to really sit down and try and figure out what my next step was, because I felt like I was in a place as a teacher where it was like, okay, I need to progress. What do I do next? Yes. Do I do it in teaching? Or do I do it somewhere else? Right. And, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it in teaching. It just wasn’t. Yeah. It wasn’t in my heart, you know, like it just, wasn’t my passion advancing on that path. And so I actually have a friend who is a teacher turned developer. <laugh>, she’s been a developer for about six years now. And she threw some discussion, you know, she was like, why don’t you check out UI design? I think that would be right up your alley.

Brittany (10:45):

You know? And so within my research, I learned about UX UI and was really excited about it because I felt like a lot of my strengths, like the there’s like two sides of it. Right? Like the UX is like thinking through processes and being analytical about it and like trying to figure out the best way to do something mm-hmm <affirmative> and the UI side is like making it look good, like making it aesthetically pleasing and getting people to wanna use it. And I was like, this is kinda like me <laugh>, you know, like, this is what I like to do. And so I, after much research, I stumbled upon on a You are techY webinar <laugh> you

Ellen (11:26):

Selected the best program that is available anywhere. Yes. Yeah.

Brittany (11:30):

<laugh> and when Ellen said that I, when you Ellen said that I didn’t have to go back to school to change my career. Cause I’d already done that, you know, I was like, OK, let’s do it. <laugh> I love it. Let’s just give it a try now. Let’s see what happens. I love it. That

Ellen (11:47):

Is great. And then you joined the program and then it was just a piece of cake and you

Brittany (11:51):

Just made to get, it was so easy within like two weeks I got hired <laugh>

Ellen (11:57):

It was just boom. Yeah. No, but I will fill in the, the holes in that piece that you like you did on the podcast, you put your whole heart into it when it was hard, you showed up. And when it was successful, you showed up and you know, you gave feedback and, and you were our portfolio award winner. I mean, you’re like, even now I’m like peeling off the onion. I’ve known you for a while. And I’m like, oh my gosh. Oh, she had that, oh, I didn’t even know your graphic design, but your portfolio, you were able to like tie all of those experiences in that. The beautiful thing is a lot of people come and, and they think that their past is erased. And like you were able to take your interior design and graphic design work and put it into your portfolio and do your UX work and not make it look cluttered. And I think that is like a Testament to the fact that, yeah, it feels like a winding road, but it kind of all makes sense, you know, when you put it together like that.

Brittany (12:49):

Yeah. And it’s just really interesting to

Ellen (12:53):

Reflect on the journey. Yeah. Yeah. What do you wanna tell us about the journey? What do you think from committing and, and being a part of it? You know, what do you wanna share that it took to get to this place that you are

Brittany (13:03):

Now? You know, one thing about, I mean, I think it, it’s not just about, gosh, I prepared and I didn’t think I was gonna cry <laugh> that is wishful thinking, you know me <laugh>

Ellen (13:15):

But what do I always say? So if you guys haven’t been coached by me, I’m like, oh, it’s the criers that get hired first it’s the criers who make more money. Right. Because we are, we, because we’re criers because we’re willing to like go there, which I think is pretty much what you’re about to talk about, which is why you’re, but it’s not just about UX the process, right?

Brittany (13:33):

Yes. Yes. It’s, it’s about self improvement. It’s about like, figuring out who you are, you know? And not that I hadn’t started that journey even before this program, but this program definitely helped. I mean, here was my career coach and mentor helping me through the whole process. And then the girls, the women, <laugh> the friendships that I’ve made support me. That’s been there along the way because there’s, you know, nothing’s a straight path, but there’s ups and downs and there’s, this process can get frustrating. Right. Because you are showing up, you are doing the work. Yeah. You’re networking and, and reaching out to people and it feels like nothing’s happening. And you’re like, but I did everything. I checked off the box as all <laugh>,

Ellen (14:18):

You know, say you’re doing all the right things. You’re doing all the right things. You know, that was definitely, I remember, like there was this one week, like you took a week off or something and you went to a hotel and you were like, got after it and yeah. And you, I was like, yes. You know, and you from a distance, it’s so obvious to see, like, you’re gonna get your result a hundred percent. You’re getting your result, but you don’t get to decide when that happens. It’s like you, the chips just, you don’t know what chips will fall. Yeah,

Brittany (14:44):

Exactly.

Ellen (14:45):

And so, yeah, but I love the personal development aspect too, because like you were saying, it’s not like you weren’t doing that before, but when you’re going through something hard, when you’re trying to get hired and you, you know, you’d never gotten hired as a UX designer. You’ve never done this before. So it’s an identity shift. You’re shifting your identity. Like, no I’m doing this, you know, all sorts of things get thrown at you along the way. And I think that it does help you grow as a person. If you can get through that and navigated in a way that’s loving to yourself and not beating yourself up along the way when boulders are being thrown at you. Right. Well, let me ask you this. What role do you see yourself as a woman in tech? And, you know, we talked about this a little bit, so like Brittany’s not a mom. I always have, at least like 30% of my program are non moms. I know that we talk about moms a lot because we focus on returning to the workforce. But you know, you, a lot of times we’ll talk about parenthood and, but you’re a woman in tech. And how do you view your role as a woman in tech?

Brittany (15:39):

I think that being a woman in tech is valuable because you’re coming into a predominantly male field with a male perspective and not only perspective from being a woman. Right. But also from having such a varied background now, you know, as a mom that would include motherhood, right. Can only imagine being an outside viewer of mothers, right. That there’s so much that you learn in the process of being a mom, that nobody else would understand <laugh> unless they were what you know. And so I think that it’s super important to bring that to the table and recognize the value that you bring, whatever your background is. Right. I mean, women think differently than men do. It’s just the fact that’s not good or bad. And I think that it’s super important to speak up about your ideas and like your perspective on things, because you’re gonna see it in a different way than they ever would. And I think that adds value, not only to the people that you work with, but also to your user. Right. Because if you think about all the people out there using tech products, like

Ellen (16:52):

Half of, for women,

Brittany (16:54):

Like, yeah. Let’s think about this here. I

Ellen (16:56):

Love it. So do you feel like your opinions are heard and listened to as a woman in your workforce, in your position?

Brittany (17:02):

I do. I like I’ve had moments where I’ve spoken up and I can see like some people in the room they’re like, yeah. Oh, okay. You know, like yeah.

Ellen (17:13):

Think about it like that.

Brittany (17:15):

Yeah. And so it’s, uh, kind of, it’s just kind of cool <laugh> to be like, I love it. Okay. I’m her, you know, and people value that and they see where I’m coming, you know, where I’m coming from or where I’m wanting to go with this. And they are like, yeah, let’s explore that. You know, or let’s take that action or let’s think about it, you know?

Ellen (17:36):

Right. So, and I do wanna, you know, I think it’s important to bring that perspective. I love the way you talked about, you know, being a woman, having different, a view, different viewpoint, but sometimes men are the best advocates of women. I mean, you were brought in by a male mentor and somebody who, you know, you built a relationship with and that’s how you brought in and were brought in. And I think that is a great indication that you’re going to be in a place that values your opinion. You know? So I just wanted to put that out there because I know in my experience in this work, men are equally as likely to, to be an advocate of a woman in, in technology. I think that they do wanna hear that perspective and that it’s up to us to be available, to provide it. Yeah.

Brittany (18:16):

Yeah. So don’t, you know, shy away from doing it is because you’re worried about something along those lines. Yeah. We’re needed, you know, and wanted.

Ellen (18:26):

Totally. Yeah. Yeah. I think that’s a great, I think that’s a perspective because sometimes if you’re sitting at home and you’re working on your stuff and you’re like, who’s even gonna listen to me who, you know, it’s good to have someone like you coming from this over perspective to say, yeah, actually your voice is wanted. Actually people do wanna hear what you have to say. Yeah. All right. Question about your process. Did you ever doubt yourself?

Brittany (18:49):

Oh, it’s yes. In case you could tell from the crying <laugh>, there’s lots of crying involved in the process because it was a journey. I mean, I’m trying to think of a different word to use because we’ve used that one already, but yeah. I doubted myself and even after all that, I’ve accomplished up to this point. I still have moments where I’m like, am I doing this? Like, am I doing this right? Is this like, cause it’s just new, it’s just new territory. So anything that’s new is bound to bring up your insecurities and your doubts. And also kinda like we talked about, I was in teaching long enough that it was almost like, what, how do I do something else? Like mm-hmm <affirmative> I don’t, I don’t know. I just feel like when you’re inundated in a specific environment for a period of time, it’s hard to sometimes imagine other options. Right. So then when you’re actually pursuing another option, is this real like can really do this, you

Ellen (19:52):

Know? Yeah. It’s a little bit like, pretending I say I’m like, yeah. Little about like, pretending you just have to kind of pretend that you’re doing okay. So you doubted yourself. And I mean, I was a witness to that and because you’re human, I know that’s true as well. Let’s go back and pretend that you are your you right now. And you’re going back to former Brittany and you’re going to, she’s having a doubtful moment. What do you say to

Brittany (20:12):

Her that you can do it and that it is possible? I don’t know. I’m just, I’m thinking of, you know, I talked to a recent teacher, who’s feeling the burnout <laugh>, you know, bad burnout. She’s like, I just don’t know what else I would do. I just don’t know. Oh,

Ellen (20:29):

I hear that one all the time. I dunno what else I would do.

Brittany (20:30):

Yeah. In my mind, I’m just like, you could do anything you want. So you do like, you like miserable. I’m not trying to knock teaching. I just it’s a lot mm-hmm <affirmative> of work and it is a lot of stress. And especially with the pandemic and all the things that have changed over the past few years, I mean, the struggle is real, you know, mm-hmm <affirmative> for a teacher. And so I wanna like shake her, you know, be like, no, it is possible. You can do other things, you know? And I’m confident that you could figure out what your path is because there’s just so many options out there. I don’t know. And that is one thing that I realized in this process too. I was like, oh my gosh, I didn’t know. This was possible. You know? And so in those moments of self-doubt just like reminding my, I don’t know of that. And then also how you always say like, just keep showing up, you know, just keep going and just keep swimming, like said, you know, do and do the next right thing. Cause you’re going to get there. Yeah. Just keep going and taking one more step and another step and

Ellen (21:51):

Another step mm-hmm <affirmative> I love it. I think that is such great advice because when you’re in your doubting moments, your brain can be like, well, what’s this even worth what I mean? That happens all the time with fear where there your brain will throw at you. What? It’s not even worth it. I should just stop right now. But if like, okay, just be quiet and let’s just do the next right thing. Keep going. Then you can have all those doubts that come up and you can still get the result that you want. Right. Yeah. That’s good. Okay. So you’ve been interviewed, I mean, this was, it was really fun to kinda watch the process cuz you had a lot of interviews and then you ended up, you know, nailing this job, which was awesome. But you have been interviewed, you had a lot of interviews in that one, especially that one time frame, but over the course of it, you’ve been interviewed, by employers and clients cuz you had freelance clients too. So what were your two favorite interview questions that you were asked that might be helpful to other people too?

Brittany (22:46):

Well <laugh> that one was kind of kind of hard for me because honestly like isn’t really any question you really enjoy when you’re in an interview. I dunno. But that’s really a

Ellen (22:57):

Great point actually. So I mean, interviewing was not fun for you. You’re not one of those people. Who’s like, oh I love interviewing no <laugh> you’re like, how fast

Brittany (23:05):

Can I get this over? So it was easier to think of all the questions that I feel like always like,

Ellen (23:10):

Okay, whatever. However you wanna deliver your advice to the future generation, do

Brittany (23:14):

It <laugh> but I would say, well, one of the questions that I, I remember that I kind of liked and made me reflect a lot was what app do you think is, has really great UX design and why? And I was kind of put on this bottom with it and uh, and my answer, I wasn’t like, wasn’t great, but <laugh>, you know, I’ve thought about it since. And I think that it’s probably for the listeners out there, like probably a good thing to kind of think about, right? Like what is an app that’s out there that you think is just really great and why, what is it about it that makes it so great. And how can you, because I think that’s also, it’s also like a reflection of you as a designer, right? Mm-hmm <affirmative> like your opinion on other, the way other things work and function is a reflection of who you are as a designer. So if you can, you know, think about that and come up with something with the why. Right? Why do you think it’s like that like a really good app then? I think that’s an exercise.

Ellen (24:18):

Yeah. I think, I, I think that’s obviously a good question because you’ve thought about it afterward. Yeah. Yeah. So like that’s a really good, good. If it’s a question that you’re still thinking about. Yeah. I like that one. I like that one and I have a, I have an answer for that, but I think for a while it would’ve been a hard thing for me to answer cuz I’m like, <laugh> really critical most apps, but I do have a few now that I like, so that’s a good question. Okay. Is there one more that you think someone should be prepared for?

Brittany (24:44):

Well, to be paired for, I just feel like the salary question comes up so often, which is one of my, which was one of my drag questions, which we have talked about Ellen and you’re like, well tell people what

Ellen (24:57):

We do. Yeah. Tell people what we do so they can do it too.

Brittany (25:01):

Well, what do we do if there’s a question that you’re, you struggle with, it’s all about the journaling <laugh> journal about it. Figure out what it is that makes you uncomfortable. Right. And, and then how can you work through that? <laugh> so I, I, I don’t know. I just feel like maybe I got to a point where I was just like, all right, they’re just gonna go with it. Like you’re gonna ask me I’m I’m prepared with an answer and coming in with a confident answer because there was a while there where I was like, well, I’m thinking this, you

Ellen (25:46):

Know, lot drama, like, boom, this is what it’s. Yeah. And we would practice that question too. That was the other thing we journal about it. And we would practice. I probably asked you, I don’t know, a dozen times. Yeah. What are you gonna make? Yes. How much do you want? How much you gonna, right. And that’s a good, that’s a good thing to practice because if you’re saying it out loud for the first time, and I like to tell this story, I tell this story in coaching a lot. I DON’T know if I did anything, a total, I guess, but when I had to ask for more money than I was uncomfortable, and this is back when I was teaching, but I was teaching in technology directorship at a, a high school. And I had to ask for more money, really more money than I wanted to ask for.

Ellen (26:22):

But we were moving it would’ve required to move. It did require move to Washington, DC, a significantly more expensive area. And I remember feeling so I remember the sick feeling in my stomach when I had to ask. And then I asked and do you know what happened? She said, yes. Yeah. Like she didn’t like it. And she said hi, but she said yes, but I remember that sick feeling. And now I can think back and think, well, yeah, I never practiced saying it out loud. So that first time I said it, it just felt like awful. Yeah. Where the more times you say it out loud, then it’s like, okay, okay. Then it’s just like what you say, you know? Yeah.

Brittany (26:57):

And it also makes me think of the idea of okay. It of, of knowing your value and that’s part the journaling too, right? Like the, so my first freelance client, I got paid $25 an hour.

Ellen (27:08):

Oh you did? Okay. <laugh>

Brittany (27:10):

Great. And when he reached out to me again for a project later on, I said, I’ve upped my rate. <laugh> yeah. And it was like, I didn’t even think about it. And then after, and then I went to the coaching session with you and I told you, and you were like, oh my gosh. That’s like really hard to do <laugh>. Yeah. Just like, you’re like, no, to tell somebody that you’ve already been established, you know, you’ve already established a rate like, oh, I raised my rate. Yeah.

Ellen (27:35):

It’s much harder to raise a rate than to just say a rate initially. Yes. For sure. Yeah.

Brittany (27:39):

And I was like, oh, I did something like big and not even think about it. You, you know, cause I’d already decided that, well, I’m making 35 now. Right. Like, and it’s not an option to go back to 25. Right.

Ellen (27:53):

You know? Right. So, and that’s a real, I think that’s a very good path too. Like we talk about the freelance project. Okay. You can do one project for free. You can do one project for 25, but don’t stay there. Right. Right. Maybe 5 45. Those are more realistic rates for, even if you’re newer in the UX field now depends on the field. Depends on what you’re doing. Depends on your experience with it. But you knew your value was there. So that’s yeah. That’s important. That’s important piece. I love that. You said that your value talking about your value and I love that your it, when it, your interview questions with, what do you wanna make, because that is for you to be asked, that is like 100% gonna be free time. <laugh> OK. So tell us a little bit about what your day to day looks like and maybe throw in there. What is still a challenge for you in your, in your work?

Brittany (28:39):

Well, my day to day is not as structured <laugh> I can, but, but there’s meetings until 10 with my product managers, my devs, whether it’s just me and my PM or like our, our lead dev PM UX designer meeting or our standups. So I have, I attend the engineers standups throughout the week so that I’m, you know, up to speed on what’s going on and what they’re working on and give my input where there’s, you know, some UI design that’s being implemented. I also meet with my UX team in person once a week. And so we have like these days where we’re, there’s lots of discussion around all of these, you know, different parts of the product. And we’re currently working on a design system or establishing a design system within the company. So, you know, components and whatnot are, are streamlined. And so there’s a lot of discussion around that and what’s gonna be what worked best for different personas, our different parts or sites of the product. And real

Ellen (29:43):

Quick, that’s not though like a brand standard, is it a brand standard or is it like a no, not necessarily.

Brittany (29:48):

I’m not sure. Just because they just call it

Ellen (29:51):

Design system, but it’s about using the same components in the right. In the same place across

Brittany (29:56):

The board. Yeah. And as far as challenges go, some things that I’m still trying to figure out. Oh, well also part of my day is like designing stuff <laugh> right.

Ellen (30:09):

Like, and then I’m

Brittany (30:10):

Designing. And then when I have a day, are you in figma by the way, yes. Figma. One of the things I’m working on struggling with working on is first of all, user research, that’s something that as like a team we’ve been trying to implement more of, and there’s not like a set process that’s been established yet. So which in my experience, very common,

Ellen (30:33):

I may have mentioned that. Yeah. I may have mentioned that before. Yeah.

Brittany (30:36):

And then also I ideating on like future projects while I working on current ones. Yeah. That’s kind of like a conundrum for me at this point, but I’m, I’m hoping that like I’m transitioning to a team where I’m gonna be the sole UX designer over that part of the product. And I’m hoping that’s gonna spark some more. Yeah. As I dig in, you know, that’s going to get me a better feel for how to do that.

Ellen (31:03):

That’s great. I love it. That was, those are interesting challenges. I love those challenges. They seem very like, you know, like good to tackle and, and just exciting. All right. You won’t believe it, but we’re wrapping up last question. What advice would you give to a woman who’s considering a career tech and specifically UX

Brittany (31:19):

Design? I would say that if it’s something that you’re interested in and you want to figure it out, like just go for it, like jump in and do it because that’s where you learn is in the doing. And the one thing that I really appreciate with Ellen’s program is that she’s like, you can change your mind. <laugh> like, just get started. Mm-hmm <affirmative> and follow through at the, you know, the project. And if along the way you figure out, wait, this isn’t quite it, you know, that’s fine. That’s great. Like, it’s this mentality, like this growth mindset mentality, right. Of being, being okay with failing or, you know, whatever that, that is in your mind. Right. Cause it’s not a, a failure to change your mind, but you might feel like, oh, but I’m not like finishing this program or whatever, but that’s not what the point is.

Brittany (32:15):

Right. The point is like we’ve discussed earlier, figuring out who you are and what you want for your life and, and what you, your desires are. And in the process, you’re like able to recognize these capabilities that you have that maybe you didn’t realize until you actually jumped in and went for it and did the, and did the work. So I would encourage anybody who’s considering it. Just do it, man. <laugh> I love it on that note, Brittany, thank you so much for being here on the podcast today. Thank you. It was a pleasure, Ellen.

Ellen (32:51):

Hey if you enjoyed listening to this podcast you have to sign up for the You are techY email list. Imagine being in the tech job of your dreams. Join me to get the strategies training and never ending support to get hired. Sign up at youaretechy.com. That’s Y O U A R E T E C H Y.com. I’ll see you next time.