Mentorship
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is being able to take the lessons and experiences I’ve gained and to pass them on to others to help ensure their success.
On this page I have collected some of the philosophies I teach and model for those around me, along with some testimonials of those I have impacted.
Values and Skills I try to Pass on to Others
Know your reasons
One of the most valuable lessons I learned in my design career is the importance of being able to know and communicate the reasons for my decisions. It may be tempting to do something just because a PM or engineer or more senior designer thought it should be done, but it doesn't feel good when you're pressed about why you did something and your only answer is "because so and so told me to."
Earlier in my career I really valued having mentors because I felt like they had all the right answers. But after those mentors moved on, I realized that the real thing I needed to take away was not what the right answers were, but how to find them for myself. Working with folks now I try to highlight that they have the ability to make their own decisions and to recognize right and wrong. I share not just my opinion but my thought process.
I encourage those around me to not accept a decision unless they understand the reasoning behind it well enough to communicate about it to others. Asking others to share their reasoning promotes a culture of awareness and accountability, and provides opportunities for those who don't yet understand to be educated.
If you don't have enough information, go get it
Often one feels pressure earlier on in one's career to be able to just know things and do things in order to prove oneself, even if you're not adequately prepared. I spent many hours staring at a blank canvas trying to produce a design for something that I thought I understood but still couldn't picture the solution in my mind. I eventually learned to recognize that if I'm struggling to get started, it's probably because I'm missing a piece of information that would give me the clarity to start with ease.
I teach people that it's not only important to have confidence in what you do know, but to be able to recognize what you don't know so that you can go find it out. I try to destigmatize asking questions in the workplace. Being willing to say that you don't understand something demonstrates honesty, humility, and an eagerness to learn, all of which are important at all levels of one's career. I encourage those I mentor to build connections with colleagues outside our department so that they can get the answers they need directly from the source. These connections and the ability for information to flow easily between them only serves to make for smoother working relationships in the long run.
You already have the power
There are so many situations working in a business where people often find themselves feeling powerless. When confronted with strong opinions and big personalities, it's easy to fall into a pattern of just accepting what you're told. Whenever people feel like their time is being taken advantage of, or that they're just taking orders from people, or that they're not working on projects they find gratifying, I remind them that that have just as much of a right to determine their work experience as anyone else. That if they have reasons that lead them to a dissenting opinion, they have the power to push back. If they feel they are being overburdened they have the power to set boundaries. And if there are projects they feel more passionate about working on, then they have the power to stand up for themselves.
In fact the reason that I became the mentor they look up to is not because anyone told me I could be or should be, but because I decided to be, and I did. I believe that the power to assert yourself is not something that comes when you are granted permission, but rather is made manifest as soon as you decide you have it. This is something that I try to remind people whenever they turn to me. I am happy to be there for advice or encouragement, but if they already know what the right thing to do, they don't need my approval to do it.
We are equals
Even if I find myself in a mentorship role with someone, I do my best to not let myself be put on a pedestal. I emphasize that anything that I've learned is accessible for you to learn, and that you have the ability to pass your wisdom on to others just as I have done with you.
I make a point to reach out to those I mentor whenever I am stuck on a problem. Both to show that I experience sticking points as well, and that they have the ability to help me too. That the relationship of teaching and learning goes both ways. I believe that treating colleagues with respect and valuing their perspectives and input regardless of their level is a crucial part of a healthy and collaborative work environment.
Your UX skills apply in all aspects of life
One of the main reasons I love UX so much is how often I find myself drawing on the same set of skills. Empathizing with others' perspectives, knowing how to formulate questions, exercising humility and curiosity, being able to defend your perspective but know when to compromise, and generally just striving to want to make other people's lives easier - these are skills and traits that once learned in one context can be applied to all kinds of situations in life. From composing a meeting agenda to planning a friend's birthday to navigating relationships with partners and family members.
I try to model my UX skills in all aspects of my job for people, not limited only to coming up with design solutions. I remind people the value of cultivating these skills and growing confident in them. And I do so to spark passion and enthusiasm for this field of work that strives to make the world a more enjoyable place for everyone we encounter.
Testimonials
“Knowledgable, positive, and a good listener are only some of the qualities Jenny has demonstrated during our time working together. She has been a key figure in my professional and personal growth throughout my time at Mitchell International. She not only cares about her teammates, but also empowers others to do their best. Thank you Jenny for being a fantastic mentor and giving me the opportunity to learn and grow as a UX designer.”
“Since my transition from product design for Repair to Cloud Estimating, Jenny has been instrumental in imparting domain knowledge about estimating and design practices onto me. While working under Jenny’s mentorship, I have learned how to evaluate design needs against long term strategic goals, engage with Product Mangers more effectively, and improve my critical assessments of designs. Jenny is a great at communicating expectations, inspiring confidence, and is one of the most encouraging people I have ever worked with. As a mentee, I have always felt encouraged to be exploratory when problem solving, which has time and time again lead to innovative solutions. I am a better Product Designer because of all of her positive attributes as a mentor.”
