Name: Laurian
Job role: User experience (UX) design lead
Work location: Annapolis Junction, MD
Years/months at Booz Allen: 8 months
What’s it like to empower your own career? We spoke with Laurian about her unique path and how she’s empowering change.
How did you get started in your field?
Many moons ago, when I was 14, I decided to rewrite a common text editing application to be more usable in the programming language, Visual Basic. Since then I’ve been on the path to create better and more engaging software to help people. I studied psychology and computer science at Virginia Tech and stayed on to merge the two areas of study into Human-Computer Interaction (which is academic speak for UX) in the school’s Department of Computer Science.
When did you know you made the right decision joining Booz Allen?
There were two things that I loved about Booz Allen when I was interviewing. First was the people. It is unusual to find people so energized about the powerful work they do at a large company. I wanted to work with people with that energy. The second was the opportunities. I loved that I could work among multiple accounts across the lifetime of my career at Booz Allen. Booz Allen is at the cutting edge of technology and has repeatedly demonstrated they will invest to be there in the future. I want to be there too, helping users by ensuring the technology they’re using is the best tool possible. By working at Booz Allen, I know I will always help invent the future.
What's the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn't learn from your resume?
Whenever I hear someone say they can’t do something (or hear myself saying it in my head), I always add the word ‘yet’ to the end. I believe in leaving things better than you’ve found it.
What impact are you and your team making?
The work I do helps keep our nation safe and protect warfighters.
How has Booz Allen empowered you and your career?
Booz Allen helped me apply my skills and abilities to a much larger audience. My leadership and team also believe in my abilities and provide the structure and support to enable me to be my best. For example, when I’m looking to push myself into another area of growth, they come up with goals and methods for me to gain the skills and experience I need.
