Introducing Emma Gregory, Experience Designer at Tribal Worldwide
What is your role and current job?
I’m Emma, an Experience Designer at a digital agency called Tribal Worldwide who are part of Adam&EveDDB.
How did you get into tech?
I have a slightly unusual journey into tech however, it’s definitely helped provide a more holistic approach to my design thinking. I studied Psychology at University and not really knowing how I could use my knowledge, fell immediately into Client Services because I knew I wanted to work at an agency. Shortly after this, I got into Data Strategy but it wasn’t until working closely with the UX team on various projects did I realise my Psychology degree could come into use. I completed the General Assembly 10-week part time course about 3 years ago which enabled me to career change and I haven’t looked back since. I’ve since gone on to teach the same course twice to help others try make the leap into the world of tech.
What have the biggest challenges been as a woman or non-binary person in tech?
As with a lot of women, earlier in my career I suffered a lot from imposter syndrome. In certain scenarios I would shy away from speaking up in meetings or second guess myself of fear of saying the wrong thing. It makes me sad to think this is still largely a female trait and not as common in men. Very rarely have I been to an all women conference where a session on ‘overcoming imposter syndrome’ hasn’t been on the agenda. I do think we need to stop telling women they have imposter syndrome as it just reinforces these doubts. Feeling unsure shouldn’t make us an imposter. In fact, some degree of imposter syndrome is a good thing as you’re more likely to work harder, be more curious and open-minded when given new information. Embrace it!
Have you overcome any of these issues? If so, how?
Building a community of women in my workplace changed everything for me. A colleague and I started ‘Tribal Women’ which is an inclusive group of change-makers and creative thinkers, lead by women. We provide a space for women to come together to share ideas, speak up and shape a bold future from within the digital industry. We hosted our first event for International Women’s Day which was a lot of fun to organise. We got a guest speaker and chose a few women within the agency to give inspiring talks. Having been remote working for the last 2 years, it was a great way to re-connect with the women in the company, validate each other’s experiences, support and encourage each other. We’ve set up a slack channel & hoping to organise more events to come together again soon. I’d encourage anyone to either join a group of like-minded people at work or if one doesn’t exist, start your own!
What advice would you give others in a similar position?
Be the first to speak in a meeting, even if it’s mentioning the weather. You’ll be surprised with how much confidence that gives you to feel valued in conversations. Start challenging your inner critic by using evidence from colleagues who have sung your praises. Allow yourself to follow through with ideas and take risks as that’s the only way you will grow. I’d also recommend attending some in person events now things are going back to normal. Yes, there have been some great virtual events over the last 2 years but they aren’t the same as meeting & connecting with people in person. These events are so important to get you inspired & meet like minded people who you never know, could be a future colleague or mentor.
Are there any resources you recommend sharing?
I’m a big podcast fan and two of my favourites I religiously listen to are ‘Design better’ & ‘Design life’. If you’re relatively new in your career, ‘Design life’ is a great one to listen to as it’s really easy listening & the two hosts (Charli & Femke) are Youtubers who also have some great content on their channel for designers just starting out.
When did you first hear about Triangirls?
I saw a post on a friend’s Linkedin who was talking at the Triangirls International Women’s Day event which sparked my interest to explore further. I’m yet to go to a Triangirls event but hoping to come to the next one!
What have you learnt about yourself in the past year?
You’ve got to embrace and adapt to change to succeed in your career. I got a new job last year having worked at my previous agency for 4 years. It’s only natural to get comfortable when you’ve been at a company for a long time which is certainly what happened to me. Naturally, the self-doubt kicks in when applying to new jobs but if you’ve been feeling a bit complacent recently but equally daunted by the prospect of finding a new role and having to dust off your portfolio and apply, seriously — I encourage you to take control & go for it. You’ve got nothing to loose but so much to gain. Even if you don’t decide to leave, it’s all a great learning experience and who knows it might even give you the confidence to ask for that raise.
