ABOUT

Artist, Author, Entrepreneur, Show Host, Speaker

I spent the first 12 years of my career as a UX/Web designer; I went on to become a partner in an interactive + 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!)

I led the 6-person team that built the first mobile apps for Zappos.com, then built the first in-house web design team at Zappos before joining a fully remote, high-end mobile app dev team in 2011 as their Dir of UX (working with clients like Apple and NASA, etc.) when the loss of my dad launched me into a downward spiral of Life Burnout®.

I left design work and became an executive coach, which evolved into an interim COO position for a coaching client’s company/team.

Along the way, I started writing and speaking at conferences around the world with an emphasis on designing digital products for emotional engagement and redesigning your life after loss and/or burnout.

In parallel with coaching, my partner (in business and in life) and I launched a side hustle called “Picture This Clothing.” Picture This got a TechCrunch write-up the same day we announced it. Then, it earned $1.2 million in its first 18 months. It has grown and now runs beautifully without me being a part of the day-to-day, so I get to focus on other things I’m excited about (like helping people design their lives and careers!)

I have shifted back to learning, experimenting out loud, writing, workshopping, and coaching.
Organizations and individuals hire me to:

• Evolve the interpersonal skills and career paths of designers + engineers of all levels.
• Integrate organizational culture-building strategies + programs into L&D programs
• Be an accountability partner to reach aggressive goals.

I can Zoom + travel anywhere in the whole wide world, but I live in Las Vegas, NV, with my husband, two daughters, and a whole 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!

PDF resume of some past roles, 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!)