238: Become More Organized and Spend Time with Others to Learn Fast with Mandy Michael

<p>Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Mandy Michael. She is a community organizer, speaker, writer, and developer.  Mandy is currently working as a Development Manager at Seven West Media in Western Australia.  Her passion is front end technology and she’s a strong advocate for women in technology, volunteering at events such as She Codes and Muse JS.</p> <p> </p> <p>She is also Founder and Organiser of Fenders, a local meetup for Front End Developers, co-organizer and director of MixinConf and was named as one of the Top 20 Women in Tech in Western Australia in its inaugural year.</p> <p> </p> <p> In this episode, Phil and Mandy Michael discuss why it is worth taking the time to learn how to use organizational tools effectively. They talk about the best way to challenge decisions others make that affect you.</p> <p> </p> <p>Mandy also talks a little about variable fonts, how they can be created and what you can achieve by using them. She explains how public speaking and becoming more empathetic have both helped her career.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>KEY TAKEAWAYS:</strong></p> <p><strong>(4.12) TOP CAREER TIP</strong></p> <p>Be organized. Mandy is not a naturally organized person, but she has found that making extensive use of tools like Asana has made a huge difference to how much she can get done. This has made it easier for her to take full advantage of the opportunities that have come her way.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>(6.47) WORST CAREER MOMENT</strong></p> <p>A while ago Mandy switched from working exclusively on development and moved to also working on the front end. But a new boss insisted that she choose between the two. Mandy now regrets not challenging their decision, instead of just going along with things.</p> <p> </p> <p>If you feel strongly about something, it is wise to trust your instincts and speak up. In the podcast, Mandy explains why this is good for your team as well as for you personally.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>(11.03) CAREER HIGHLIGHT</strong></p> <p>The amazin