Her Story
About Ellen
Ellen McCartney is a designer with 16 years of experience spanning healthcare data and technology and financial tech. She currently leads design efforts at Trio Health as the company's only in-house designer, handling everything from brand building and marketing to product and platform design. Her work involves transforming large amounts of healthcare data from electronic medical records into accessible, curated information for pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and other organizations. Before transitioning in January, she spent 15 years at a financial services company through four mergers, where she redesigned platforms and brand systems for clients including Merrill Edge. A graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, she specializes in making complex systems understandable and is a strong visual designer who takes pride in overhauling large systems.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ellen
01What do you attribute your success to?
My mom always tells me I've just always been so tenacious. There's always just been something in me where it's like, I want to do the thing, and it's like this inner driving force of the grind. No matter what I've ever done, whether it's academics, or sports, or now in my career, it's just something in me that I guess is just part of me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I had a boss at my old company who was a great mentor. She knew how to pull greatness out of people. She would say I know what you're capable of, and you have to have the confidence to just be able to execute and do it. You're a badass, and go get it. Especially as a young woman in male-dominated industries, show up with confidence.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Believe in yourself, be confident, and don't let any of your insecurities hold you back. Know that you can own the room. Speak up, use your voice, be confident. Take all the chances, don't be afraid to keep learning and growing. Don't hold back, and don't let yourself be siloed into an area.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The emergence of AI is going to be huge in how it's impacting the industry and opportunities. People need to be really willing to evolve and relearn programs constantly. It's an opportunity to utilize these things but still maintain true to our own thoughts and systems, keeping things humanistic and intelligent in our own way.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and integrity are really important to me. I want to be true to what I'm creating, not plagiarizing or ripping off others' work, but make our own work amazing. Understanding and kindness go a long way. The most influential people in my life have been the most human, down-to-earth, good people.
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