This is a bit of a bitter-sweet questionnaire as you are our first EY Alum to be featured on the EY Mixes page.
When did you first join EY and what was your role when you first started? Has it changed over the period of time you have been with EY?
I joined EY in September of 2016 as a Senior UX Designer. I’ll leave with the same title, but a different set of experience having learned more about building consensus and entrepreneurship that is required in consulting. The biggest change has been taking on non-financial clients in the switch to CGP.
You have been a driving force for accessibility design here at EY and are always advocating for all user types. Can you go on a bit, as to why accessibility design matters and should always be an important part of the design process?
Calling home I not only hear stories about my aging relatives growing challenges with physical disabilities and technology, I hear the general frustration across ages (from teens to mid-60s) with so many mobile and web products being too complicated – especially when these are products that are used for everyday tasks like paying bills, checking a bank account, making a doctor’s appointment, or even getting a coffee at McDonald’s (ordering is now automated at a kiosk). No one should need perfect vision, excellent manual dexterity, or be an able-bodied power user to have access to basic products and services. Accessibility of disabled persons is a large component of universal design, followed by equal economic access (we push people who lack financial means out of experiences). Making our designs accessible challenges us to be ACTUALLY innovative and to move beyond our own egos and make things real people can use to make their lives run more smoothly. Accessible, or in this case, universal design is good citizenship. It’ll also keep you from getting sued or damaging your brand’s reputation. But why not stop at good citizenship?
This playlist is a bit of a swan song as you move on from EY. Can you give some tips of success for those new or existing to EY?
We talk a lot about imposter syndrome. Everyone feels that way at some point or another, but you’ve got to let that go. You’re worth so much more than you probably even know and you’ve got to advocate for yourself whether it’s getting more visibility, taking credit for your own effort, or just setting limits on your time. You are worthy of your role, and probably of the next role and the one after that! You are valuable. Your work is valuable. Knowing that will guide you towards what will serve you in your career whether it’s staying or moving on. And it wouldn’t kill you to get a mentor. They may be your biggest advocate or sponsor you later on in your career.
Now that you may not be in the USQ area as much, where can we find you? More specifically, where can we take you to lunch if we are in your area of the city?
I’ll be splitting my time in Midtown East and Financial District. So I’ll be all along the East Side of Manhattan.
As you move on from our team and join another, what song should be playing upon your arrival to let them know you are there?
“Fancy Footwork”
LATEST MIX
Au Revoir to All That
A CoCo TanTan mix