Building compassionate tech, and advocating for diverse voices with Bec Nguyen

STEAM Powered

For many of my guests, the careers and fields that we're in now didn't exist or were just newly conceived when we were at university. So those indirect paths I often speak about were just a matter of course for us. Bec Nguyen is the director of Upbeat Digital and a specialist in UX in digital health.

Join us as we speak about her winding path to User Experience Design and design thinking as it grew as a space, building compassionate tech, and advocating for diverse voices no matter what industry you're in.

About Bec Nguyen

Bec Nguyen is the Founder and Director of Upbeat Digital, a Perth, Western Australian-based consultancy business specialising in digital project and product management; UX/UX design and community engagement in social impact issues using an innovative, human-centred approach. As an advocate for women of colour, Bec leads an inclusive work approach to ensure community members who are under-represented, including disadvantaged and ethnic minorities, have a voice in the process.

Upbeat Digital has collaborated with state and national organisations within Australia to support the translation of evidence-based resources to the wider community through digital solutions, such The Wilderness Society, Nature Play WA, CSIRO and Telethon Kids Institute.

In recent years, Bec has been a recipient of a number awards, recognising and acknowledging her contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of the community, and impact in the technology and innovation for which she is honoured and continues to strive at an exceptional level to work and volunteer her time to give back to the community and help improve the health and well-being of the community.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:59] The path from commerce and information systems and falling out, then in, of like with tech.

[00:04:03] Entering the health space and building apps with Telethon Kids Institute.

[00:05:47] Being introduced to UX design thinking and building Image Up.

[00:11:09] Formalising that experience-based learning.

[00:11:48] Discovering that there really is a place in tech for everyone.

[00:12:30] Taking the your user research to prototype.

[00:13:42] Striking out on her own and expanding into the social impact space.

[00:14:13] The evolution of systems analysis and requirements gathering as a human-centred process.

[00:15:39] The evolving landscape of our roles and responsibilities.

[00:18:29] Integrating UX and healthcare.

[00:19:11] Working with kids with cystic fibrosis.

[00:27:27] Being able to demonstrate the scientific method behind your work.

[00:29:37] Putting more focus on social impact with Upbeat Digital.

[00:30:31] Representation in tech and supporting less heard voices.

[00:34:12] Encouraging diversity in your organisations.

[00:38:20] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

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