Missy Yarbrough

Founding mentor

Senior Product Designer @ Procore

Austin, TX 10 yrs in design

About

I’m a Senior Product Designer and Career Coach who built a career at the intersection of complex enterprise software, community organizing, and creative culture. My path hasn't been a straight, predictable line—it's been shaped by a wide range of real-world experiences, which gives me deep empathy for anyone taking an unconventional route or trying to translate non-traditional skills into design. As a coach, my vibe is warm and direct. I believe you don't need to fit into a cookie-cutter corporate mold to succeed—you just need to learn how to own your story with confidence. I show up for my mentees with heart, practical clarity, and an authentic, peer-to-peer style, helping you drop the performative "pitch" so you can build real industry connections and step into your power as a designer.

How I can help

I help early-career designers, career changers, and non-traditional creatives own their unique backgrounds, unlock their confidence, and navigate the job search with clarity and purpose. My Approach: No rigid templates or one-size-fits-all advice. Just honest feedback, practical strategy, and a roadmap tailored to turn your unique journey into your biggest competitive advantage.

Ask me about

Pivot into design

Freelance to full-time

Returning from a break

Layoffs

First or only designer

Getting passed over

A reorg

Influence without authority

Stakeholder standoffs

Presenting to execs

Negotiating comp

Imposter syndrome

First design hires

Growing into leadership

Craft to strategy

A hard problem I've navigated

My path in design hasn't been a straight line—it’s been built through unexpected turns, including navigating three layoffs in five years. But I’ve learned that strife only yields clarity when you meet it with intention and action. Every setback became an opportunity to refine my craft, rebuild with purpose, and sharpen my design profile. Coming from a background where my identity didn't always fit the standard mold taught me early on how subtle dynamics shape our ability to influence, advocate, and lead. It’s why I view human engagement as an ongoing cycle of listening and learning how different people experience their worlds. Today, I bring that same heart, resilience, and curiosity to enterprise product design and mentoring—helping others turn their own complex stories into their greatest design superpowers.

Expertise

UX Designer

Product Designer

Visual/Brand

Design Lead

AR/VR

Gaming

B2B SaaS

Consumer/Social

Negotiation

Interviewing

Graphic Design

AI tools

Enterprise

Experience

Visual Designer · IBM
2014 to 2016
UX Designer · IBM
2016 to 2020
Product Designer · RapidDeploy
2020 to 2021
Product Design Mentor · Pathrise
2020 to 2022
Senior UI/UX Designer · Virtuix
2022 to 2024
Logistics Manager (Exhibit Hall) · Dream Con
2022 to Present
Senior Product Designer · Procore
2024 to Present