60 Seconds with WITS Northeast Speaker — Shyanne Ruiz
Shyanne Ruiz is the Vice Chair of PhillyCHI. Her session at WITS Northeast is the panel discussion — Volunteer Leadership Roles in Tech: Grow Your Skill Set & Get Involved!
- Why is speaking at WITS important to you?
WITS played a major role in my transition to the tech and design field. It was the first event I went to when I was still hesitantly calling myself a Designer. Speaking at WITS this year is important to me because personally, it’s a marker of my growth and shows me that there is value in my perspective and journey. There are many people, women specifically, with similar paths, backgrounds and barriers as me, whose voices are not heard, so I’m grateful to have this opportunity.
- What inspires you?
I’m inspired by people’s resiliency and willingness to be vulnerable.
- Most useful article you’ve read in the last month
I recently read AIGA’s Emerging Voices which featured a Senior UX Designer, Elle Elliot. She dropped so many nuggets of advice and wisdom that inspired me as a WoC entering the ux field trying to figure out where I fit. One of my favorite things she said was: “When you know on a very deep level what it feels like to be marginalized or left out, ignored or unheard, you don’t want to see others feel that way because you know how debasing and dehumanizing it feels. As a designer, my job is to advocate for people who will use the products that I am designing.”
I felt that.
- When you were a kid what was your dream job?
I will never forget in kindergarten we were asked to draw what we wanted to be when we grow up and I drew myself in a hard hat and safety vest laying cement and building a house. My teachers thought it was funny, but I was so serious. Being a construction worker seemed so fun to me as a kid, you got to be outside all day and build things with your hands! I still think it’s a cool job.
- Tell us something about your session
Get ready to hear from some dope women doing dope things for and with the Philly tech scene.
