About me
It’s great to meet you!
I’m Jenny Shirey (she/her). I've been designing digital products and services since 2005, starting in graphic design, then moving into UX and product design after getting my Master of Design from Carnegie Mellon University.
Since then, I've led product design teams in tech companies including Trustpilot, Citrix, and Splunk, and built teams in San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Germany. I also taught UX design part-time at UC Berkeley and California College of the Arts for 5 years.
In 2020 I started coaching to do what I love most: help UX professionals grow and build meaningful, sustainable careers. I’ve coached individuals and product teams at Kaiser Permanente Digital, Amazon, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and numerous SF startups. My clients have created amazing products, gotten promoted, and found jobs while we’ve worked together.
When I'm not coaching, you'll find me splitting my time between San Francisco and Mexico, or going for walks with my husband and our retired racing greyhound Brus.
A few fun facts about me:
My last name Shirey is pronounced “shy-ree” (rhymes with “smiley”)
I am a Certified Sommelier and teach wine classes
I speak German fluently and Spanish at an A2 level
I’m a Meyers Briggs INFJ, an Enneagram type 4, and a highly-sensitive person (and I’d love to know your type too if you want to share it!)
My unique strengths as a UX career coach
Hands on UX expertise
My clients come to me because I have 15+ years of experience doing design and user research with a focus on B2B products, information architecture, human-centered design, and product discovery. If you want to learn new tools, I can point you toward resources and give feedback.
Deep understanding of Bay Area tech
I’ve been in your shoes and understand the constraints and culture you’re working within! Because of this, I’ll help you gain perspective and provide concrete ideas for communicating persuasively and building a sustainable career in tech.
Experience in teaching and facilitation
Because of my background teaching UX Design university courses and facilitating company workshops, I know how to break down complex concepts for many different types of learners.
Knowledge of how people actually change
I wrote my master's thesis at Carnegie Mellon on design for behavior change, so I have a deep understanding of how people make decisions, shift habits, and overcome biases. I know that making big career moves isn't just an intellectual problem. It requires a growth mindset, a willingness to experiment, and psychological safety.
A commitment to improvement
I am committed to working on my skills to become a better coach, whether that’s exploring AI tools for user research, learning from design recruiters, or studying how people change careers.
Coaching is a partnership. I will ask you to give me feedback, and I welcome the chance to continue to grow!