Alaina Hornibrook

I think the biggest thing for me has been to just keep going, as silly as that sounds. With COVID and the tech layoffs that have happened, I've unfortunately been without a job more times than I ever thought I would be. But I've always landed on my feet, and better things are ahead if you get in a tricky spot. You're always going to find something that is positive, even if you have to transition a little bit. I've gotten to the company I'm at today because of the experience I've had and the network that I've built, but none of that would have happened if I didn't get a little uncomfortable at times and just keep working towards finding the next best and right thing. I also think it's really important to have that work-life balance. I actually learned that really early on in my career from my first full-time boss, Jeff Keiser. He really wanted us to do very high-level work but also have that work-life balance, and he led by example. Seeing that from early in my career was a really important thing, so I take my breaks when I need to, and I make sure that I work out and take care of me physically and mentally.

The best career advice I've received came from my first full-time manager in design, Jeff Keiser. He taught me how to produce high-quality work while still prioritizing personal well-being. He led by example, demonstrating that success and balance can coexist through consistent boundaries, fitness, and time outside of work. I continue to carry that lesson with me today, making it a priority to take breaks when needed and to maintain my physical and mental health through regular exercise. I still have a really good relationship with him and was just texting him the other day. My boyfriend Brian Ward has also been unbelievably supportive throughout the last 8-plus years. We've both hit bumps in the roads with our careers, and to have somebody as solid as him throughout the entire time has been incredible. I probably don't tell him that enough, but he's done amazing and I hope I return the favor. My family has also been so supportive my entire life. My parents, Claudia and Jamie, are both in healthcare, while my sister Kenna and I are more in the creative fields. Whatever I want to do, whenever I want to do it, even if they can't help, they do what they can to help. My mom's saying during finals was, 'I can't help you study because I don't know what you're doing, but I can make brownies.' My first semester in college, she sent me a package with homemade brownies. Having my sister in a creative field too has been helpful to be able to bounce ideas off of somebody. And truly every single person I work with at Perficient has been incredible. It's consultant-based, so all of our projects have different people on it, and I've gotten to work on many projects with many other designers. I've had a couple of different bosses with some different reorgs, and truly every last one of them is incredible people and incredible designers.

I think the biggest thing for me, because with COVID and tech layoffs that have happened, I've unfortunately been without a job more times than I ever thought I would be. And I think the biggest thing was just keep going, as silly as that sounds. I've always landed on my feet. Better things are ahead if you get in a tricky spot. You're always going to find something that is positive, even if you have to transition a little bit. I've gotten to the company I'm at today because of the experience I've had and the network that I've built, but none of that would have happened if I didn't get a little uncomfortable at times and just keep working towards finding the next best and right thing. It wasn't because I wasn't good at my job - it was because of the nature of what was happening in the industry at the time, like COVID when there weren't any activities going on, or the whole tech layoff that I was a part of, which was outside of anyone's control. So now being at Perficient and feeling very comfortable with my job and very secure in it feels really good.

I've been in sports, which is male-dominated, and I've been in tech, which is usually male-dominated. Now I'm at an agency, so there's a lot more females, which has been kind of a nice change. But supporting women in more male-dominated fields is something I am passionate about. A lot of the time, we don't get too much of a say of what's going on in the room, even when we have something to say. I think networking with like-minded women is probably the most important thing. As my network grows, hopefully my brand can grow with it.

Work-life balance is incredibly important to me. I learned that early on from my first full-time boss, Jeff Keiser, who showed me how to do high-level work while still prioritizing personal well-being. I take my breaks when I need to and make sure I work out and take care of myself physically and mentally. I've also moved around a lot in recent years, largely due to my boyfriend's career as a tennis coach, and we've lived in several different states. While many people view moving as stressful or disruptive, I see it as an opportunity for renewal and growth. Because I work remotely, I have the flexibility to continue my career seamlessly while relocating. I believe that even small moves can be beneficial, offering a fresh perspective and a chance to reset in meaningful ways. Outside of work, I lead an active lifestyle. I love to work out, I love to run, and I've run a lot of races with several more signed up for this fall and winter. I have a dog, so I love playing and walking with her. I'm also a passionate sports fan - I've worked in sports and I've always loved that, so if I'm not at the gym or out for a run, I'm probably watching some kind of sporting event. As a family, we always have a great time together. We're always laughing and keeping things positive no matter what's happening.