Featured Career: Project Manager and Senior Designer
First things first, in case you missed it this weekend:
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I’m excited to announce that I’m bringing back the “Career Feature” I had on the blog last year. I will be featuring a new and different career 1-2 times per month. If you are interested in being featured, please email me!
Here is a list of the careers I’ve previously featured.
- Account Executive
- Broadcast Reporter
- Sport Development Officer
- Nurse
- Newspaper Editor
- Social Media Specialist
- Event Planner
- Software Developer
- General Manager in Retail
- Kindergarten Teacher
Today I am super excited to feature a fellow blogger, and good friend, who I really, really admire. Kyla from kylaroma.com!
1. What is your official job title and what exactly does your job entail?
My official job title is “Project Manager and Senior Designer” with Freckled Nest Design. Freckled Nest was started five years ago by my friend Leigh-Ann and started growing exponentially when she hired on blog designers to work with her. After working as an intermediate designer Leigh-Ann asked me to work with her as FND’s Project Manager. I quit my day job and started working with her full time, and shortly after she promoted me to be a senior designer and asked me to become her business partner! I have three main roles that I fill every day:
- As a project manager I support our team of seven designers and four formaters, and our art director who is working on launching an etsy store under the Freckled Nest brand. That includes tracking where designers are in their progress with clients, troubleshooting and making sure we meet deadlines.
- As a senior designer I work one on one with clients, dreaming and launching custom designs for anything from blogs to online shops.
- As a business partner I work on planning, marketing and development for the company, + put out any fires that happen, and do the late nights and early mornings.
It’s a lot of different roles to balance, but I really love it and it’s the only job I’ve ever had where all my passions and interests are engaged. Having a business partner like Leigh-Ann is really amazing, she’s incredibly encouraging and supportive and I feel really honoured to be a part of this with her
2. Describe a typical day in your work life?
6:00 – 9:00 am
I wake up, go for a run and have breakfast with some espresso before getting ready and going to work.
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
I work on e-mail catch up, client replies and supporting our team.
1:00 – 2:00
I try to take a lunch break at noon every day, but it usually happens at least an hour after I planned it!
2:00 – 7:00
I’ll work on my client work, blogging, or any new project ideas that I have
7:00 – 10:00
I leave the studio, have dinner at home and hang out with my husband and puppies until I head to bed!
3. What’s your favourite thing about your career? Least favourite?
I love having so much freedom and support. I’ve always liked working for small companies and working in marketing, but in my job experience I’ve almost always been working in the entertainment industry which is high stress and long hours. I’m an introvert at heart so having a big, sunny quiet studio has been amazing for me.
My least favourite thing is that sometimes I really want a day off, and there’s just not a way for it to happen. On those days I watch realty TV in the background while I work just to remind myself that I can, and that my job is really flexible and amazing on a whole bunch of levels.
4. Having your own business, how do you find a work/life balance so you’re not working all. the. time?
Well most of the time I work at least 9-10 hours a day so I think I’ll be able to comment on that in a year- but the way I look at it is that Leigh-Ann and I have a growing business. It should be our life! I think the most important things are communication, discernment, and a sense of humor. I’m really up front with my family and friends that I’m not too busy for them, but I do have limited time and want to make it count. I try to be realistic about what needs to be done and what can slide, and always keep my priorities in mind. I think it’s important for me to have a wide definition of what I want my life’s work to be- because for me that includes strong family relationships and friendships. I don’t want to have work and family in an arm wrestling match with each other- I think it’s more about proportion.
5. Do you believe it’s true what they say: “find something you love and you’ll never work another day in your life” – why or why not?
I suspect that anyone who says that probably has a finance department who handles some of the less pleasant parts of day to day business! There is always some part of any work that feels like a grind- but I think it’s always the challenges (big or small) that make us really appreciate the good times. I think having work that you really love is like having a good relationship- there are parts about it you love, parts about it that challenge you, and there are probably parts about it that baffle you. But you’re hopelessly in love, and it gives back to you. It might still be work some days, but it’s a wonderful kind of work that makes you better.
6. What is something about your job that surprises people?
My etsy shop is currently being re-vamped, but that jewelry-making, knitting and crochet is part of my job is something that really surprises people! I love spending all day on design work, but having a counterpoint where I make real physical things is incredibly fun for me too. I’m excited to re-open it soon and get back to it.
7. If you could describe your career in one word, what would that word be and why?
That’s an easy one: dreamy! 
Yay, Kyla! I love your view on working and having your own business. While I never had my own business, I did work from home. But I was still working for a huge company and most of my day was spent being yelled at by customers who weren’t happy about having to pay a repair fee for their Xbox or teenagers calling in and pranking me. I dream of the day I can sell my art and do general artwork and designing for myself and with Jen. You make that seem so realistic, yet also so EASY.
Thank you for being so amazing!
Love that you’re bringing this series back Amber! And LOVE this interview with Kyla! What a balancing act – you’re such a rockstar!
i LOVE this and as some one that has a business that’s just in it’s infancy as well, so many of the points that Kyla mentioned are so true, especially the part about free time. I try so hard to let friends and family know that my time is limited but i’m not too busy for them. Thankfully, they have been nothing but understanding.
LOVE this feature and Kyla is amazing!!
So fun to read about what Kyla’s day and job looks like =) I can’t imagine fully owning my own business… so much dedication and blood/sweat/tears!
yay! I love these.
I dont think I would ever have the work ethic to own my own business. Its a lot of work!
I love this series Amber! What a cool job. It must be SO awesome to work with your friends and be able to incorporate your passions and interests in with your day job. I’m working on getting there myself!
Great piece on Kyla! She is such a sweet gal and it’s amazing that she has her dream job.
What s great series! I look forward to more inspiring ladies.
love that girl
So fun! I love this series, and I’m looking forward to reading more!
I loved this series – I’m glad it’s coming back
I can’t wait to have a job that I’m as passionate about as Kyla seems to be about hers. Someday ….
So glad this feature is back and this is a really interesting post to read. It’s funny how people can have different ideas about ideal job- obviously I could not watch reality tv at work but I do get days off and I like that
It’s great that there are so many different people in the world so all the jobs can get done!
What a good way to start off your career feature! I am so inspired by Kyla – she is totally chasing after her dreams and I love that her careers utilizes all of her talents and natural abilities!! That’s the way it should be, but sadly that is not always the case!
I’m happy to see this series back, and to see a familiar face!
Aww, Kyla! I love this and I’m so excited to see this series back.
She really does have such an awesome job. I could never do it because I am nowhere near as creative as her, but I love that she’s doing what SHE loves! So inspiring!
It is so much fun to get a taste of other interesting careers out in the world. I often don’t even realize that those jobs exist, though I guess someone is out there doing it!
I have an unusual job working in a theatrical costume shop, designing costumes, and (after deciding that I was not busy enough) starting a small business. I often get questions about what I do because it is such a different world than most and I’d love to share more about the job I love!
Kyla is so cute! I am jealous of how creative she is!
What a great interview! You seek balance everyday, noticing when it’s not working to your liking, and being aware of the subtle and not-so-subtle adjustments that are required. And also, I suspect, noticing the days when it really runs off the rails (and we all have those!) and not beating yourself up; there is always another chance. Hurrah!! I cheer you on, Kyla!
lol Aw, thanks mum!
Very cool job, and I am totally inspired by the 3 hours she spends exercising/eating/getting ready in the morning. I really need to start getting up earlier so that I am not rushed in the morning.
Kyla is so great at what she does and is such an incredible person to work with. As a business partner, she’s exceptional. As a friend, she’s golden. And as a person, she’s the best kind
Great interview, I’m gonna check out the other ones too
xo, LA
Kyla is so pretty! Plus, her job sounds magnificent
Great feature! I’m stuck in a corporate environment for the time being, but articles like this can definitely get a guy’s wheels turning and make him start thinking about what else is out there.
I can’t wait to check out your other career features!
I love this feature… and am a big fan of Kyla (and Freckeld Nest)’s work! Check out my website in another month or 2 for a brand new design courtesy of her amazing talents.
If you ever want to feature a marriage and family therapist… give me a shout!
It’s not exactly what it looks like in the movies but I love it!
[...] Project Manager and Senior Designer [...]
[...] Project Manager and Senior Designer [...]