ABOUT

Artist, Author, Entrepreneur, Show Host, Speaker

After graduating college with an art degree (Drawing and Metal Sculpture/minor in Art History), I spent the first 12 years of my career as a web/digital designer. Along the way, I became a partner in an interactive and animation studio serving agency clients like Chiat Day, Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett, and more (before they had web/interactive teams in-house, we were a massive go-to!)

In 2009-2010, I collaborated with Zappos.com's UX team to lead their first major website redesign then built their very first in-house web design team to support the new design system and brand book that happened as a result of the redesign. I then led a 6-person team to develop Zappos' first mobile apps before joining a remote, high-end mobile app team as Director of UX in 2011, collaborating with clients like Apple, Disney, TimeWarner and more. This career momentum was interrupted when the loss of my dad led to a spell of Life Burnout®, which prompted a new direction of walking away from my career (while also being a single mom) to redesign my life around core values.

I started writing and speaking at conferences around the world with an emphasis on designing digital products for emotional engagement and redesigning your life (as if it were a digital product) after loss, massive change, or burnout. I’ve keynoted, by invitation, at more than 100 events since 2012.

As I rolled out of hands-on digital design work, I rebuilt myself as an executive coach and strategic advisor specifically for the tech industry, which evolved into a COO position for high-end app development shop, MartianCraft working again with clients like Apple, NASA, Sony, and more.

In parallel with coaching/advising, my partner (in business and life) and I put our job/advisory skills into practice and launched an idea-baby called “Picture This Clothing.” We got a surprise TechCrunch write-up the same day we announced it, and it went viral with 40m views on a single video. This project earned a net $1.2 million in our first 18 months with zero marketing dollars spent (100% word of mouth!) Picture This Clothing now runs beautifully without me, so I get to work with people I love, on projects I am excited about (one of my core values).

I have shifted my focus toward daily learning, experimenting out loud, writing, and other interesting things that pop up.
Organizations hire me to coach/advise/inspire on:

Leading through core values: Connecting the soul of the company with the soul of the people who make, and those who use your products.
Developing interpersonal skills in Design & Tech teams.
Offer strategic input/advice on bridging the gap between where you are and where you’re going, from a seasoned design-thinking/devil’s advocate/futurist perspective.

I can Zoom + travel anywhere in the whole wide world, but I live in Las Vegas, NV, with my husband, two daughters, and a big batch of rescue pets.

If you’re Googling, see also: Jaimee Newberry. I got married in 2020 and decided to take my husband’s name, “Finney”– reflective of a whole new life chapter!

Here’s a general resume (PDF), in case you’re interested. ❤️

A few other things I’ve done

I’ve been on stages around the world and interviewed by global media outlets about various chapters of my life story. (see some pics below!)
Contributing writer for tech publications:
(InformIT; Pearson Pub; App Mag; NET Magazine; INFOQ)

Freelance copywriter + evangelist for utility apps by AmicoApps.com
NaNoWriMo participant/completionist
Advocate + speaker for WomenWhoTest (Women in tech, Techwell)
Career mentor for underrepresented women in design
Volunteer + advocate for AppCampForGirls (helped girls aged 12-17 learn iOS programming)
Co-creator + catalyst for @wwdcgirls | wwdcgirls.com | women@wwdc
COO, then Board member for a world-class application development company
International motivational speaker + workshop leader in design, tech, and entrepreneur space
Ongoing personal challenge + YouTube experimentalist, see here and here and here
Started an experimental self-help project + community at TinyChallenges.com (Since 2014)
Trap-Neuter-Release advocate and rescue-pet mom
Retro video game nerd (Check out our Atari wall! Ask about our cabinet collection!)
Co-founder of BESTS.com (Failed startup, but still own the domain w/ Ken!)