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

Release Date: 17 March, 2024

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. 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.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bec-nguyen-92990198/
Instagram: @upbeatdigital.com.au

Listen to the Podcast

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, Goodpods, Overcast, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Blubrry, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, JioSaavn, RSS , and other podcast platforms.

Watch on YouTube

[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?

Highlights

How to cite: Ong, M. (Host), & Nguyen, B. (Guest). (2024, March 17). Building compassionate tech, and advocating for diverse voices with Bec Nguyen [Audio podcast episode]. In STEAM Powered. Michele Ong. https://www.steampoweredshow.com/shows/bec-nguyen.html

Connect with Us

Support STEAM Powered

Review Us

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, GoodPods, Podchaser, or your preferred podcatcher.

Become a Patron

Patreon Logo Become a patron

Affiliate Programs

Start your own podcast or YouTube channel, or run panels and seminars with Riverside.fm. Record up to 8 people in a session with up to 1000 audience members. You can record in advance as I do, or you can livestream with the option to send it straight to Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, or Twitch. There’s even a green-room for guests and live call in for audience members. Afterwards, get separate video (up to 4K) and audio (up to 48kHz) tracks per recorded participant for editing, none of that “active speaker only” limitation. You know you’re in good hands with a service whose client-base includes some heavy-hitters. Check out Riverside.fm to see who else is on board. Use promo code STEAM25 to get 25% off the first three months of your subscription.

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