How Alexa Shoen Did It | #TechNation Visa

Since receiving my UK TechNation Exceptional Talent visa, I have met such amazing and exceptionally talented people working in digital technology from around the world. Brenda Della Casa, writer, digital media strategist and author from New York, Jônatas Vieira a UX designer from Brazil and more recently, it’s Alexa Shoen, a multi-talented and creative woman in digital tech from San Diego USA.

Alexa is originally from San Diego who lived in Berlin for 2.5 years where she headed up Berlin Geekettes, is a UX consultant and teaches digital career empowerment through her own start up #entrylevelboss. #entrylevelboss is a curriculum that narrows that disconnect by empowering job seekers with the communication tools and strategic information needed to get hired successfully in 2017 and beyond.  

With her visa that she calls her Golden ticket, Alexa is now splitting her time between London and Manchester. It is very important to Alexa that she doesn’t become a Default Londoner because she believes, and I completely agree, that too much cool stuff is happening elsewhere in the UK. She considers Leeds her forever home after completing her Masters there.

Tech North was instrumental in helping her secure her endorsement from Tech City UK. Alexa is grateful they provided the advice, guidance and support she needed to be successful in her application for the Exceptional Talent Visa.

When asked if living in the UK previously helped in applying for the visa, Alexa says being in Europe and based in Berlin meant that she was close enough to the UK.

“The Berlin tech community, where I've been since early 2014, is really interconnected with what's happening in the UK, so it's been easier to make connections and make a case for myself."

I sincerely hope this doesn’t change as a result of Brexit.

In the meantime, as with all entrepreneurs in the UK, the show must go on. Alexa is now primarily focused on her mission to build #entrylevelboss.

What really struck me about Alexa is her multi-talented skills not only in tech but in the creative sector. She completed her Masters in Performance (Jazz Vocals) at Leeds College of Music and her jazz album, the Human Jukebox is available on Spotify and iTunes.

Alexa’s response to being multi-talented is that “the "multi-tasking" career is a thing that's not going away anytime soon.

She says, "In the past, I think there was a mentality that said:

"If you're doing everything, you're probably not doing any of it well. And it's just not the case anymore. I do three things--I'm building a business, I'm a UX consultant, I'm a professional vocalist--and I do them all in my own way. I don't feel obligated to stick with all three forever, but I also don't feel like I have to cap it at just one. This is the joy of the new world order.”

Great advice for the new millennials finding their way in this world or anyone wanting to change career paths. And for those who have a multitude of talents and skills, it’s a reassuring piece of advice.

When asked how she came about finding out about the UK TechNation Exceptional Talent visa, Alexa says,

"I discovered the door, and I decided to ring the buzzer. And by ring the buzzer, I mean complete 60-70 hours worth of paperwork on the off chance that it would swing my way.

And it did. And now, the next thing begins".

I’m really looking forward to hearing about the next thing with Alexa when she is in Manchester next. She exudes passion, creativity and a breath of fresh air to the UK digital, tech and creative community. 


I believe with her open outlook on life and diversity of skills, she will achieve her goals for #entrylevelboss, make an impact to the UK digital and tech community while continuing to do some awesome UX work.

Alexa is only a couple hundred specialists across the world who focuses on incorporating copy and content into UX, design, development, and A/B testing processes.

Hopefully she will also grace us on stage singing jazz and blues in London, Manchester Leeds or somewhere else in the UK!

If you are ambitious, want to get hired faster, get into a career in digital tech with less overwhelm, join Alexa’s crew at alexashoen.com/join-now/ to see what she means.



I’d be happy to help anyone seeking this route to enter the UK and share my story and journey on receiving my TechNation Exceptional Talent endorsement and visa. Email me at hello@madewithglove.co.uk.

Jon Vieira

Product Design Lead @ Meta Reality Labs (AR/VR)

7y

Great post as usual. Congrats Alexa!

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