We had the good fortune of connecting with Noelle Denkers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Noelle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was really quite simple. I wanted to keep creating outside of the constraints of my corporate job so I took my free time and created crazefordesign. I love getting to be creative with clients and interacting with my followers and the graphic design community.Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a woman in IT it is always an interesting environment. I got to where I am today by not being afraid to ask for raises, speaking up during conversations and meetings, and continuing my education with my masters degree. It is not easy and takes practice and planning. Three pieces of advice I have for career women from lessons I have learned are: 1. Discuss compensation with your manager at least once a year if not once a quarter. To ask for a raise you need to track your impact and accomplishments, tell them why you deserve a raise, don’t ask. Cost of living changes and inflation rises and so should our pay. Speak up and advocate for yourself. 2. Network with others! I would have never gotten my job straight out of college if I hadn’t been attending an after school club, talking to the other girls there, and learning about the college career fair. LinkedIn is an amazing tool where you can learn and connect with likeminded professionals. 3. This goes along with #2, make friends with your coworkers. They know you and your skills and can be great advocates for you. Whether it’s a letter of recommendation or a referral to a new job, that community will last as long as you continue it.Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Asian food so I would take them out for sushi, Thai, and Ramen. I am a Yelp Elite and love finding new spots all the time to try. With COVID there aren’t a lot of interesting things going on but the weather is amazing. I would long board or bike ride around Tempe Town Lake. I also love thrifting along with most of my friends so we would go to all the stores looking for treasures and wardrobe updates.Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I don’t have one person who sticks out to me as my driving factor, but a lot of little people along the way. My grandma is an artist so I attribute my creativity to her, my dad is an IT guy so I get that from him, and my college professors were always supportive and encouraging of my talents. I love social media because I would follow other girls in IT and other graphic designers that would inspire me. I remember doing a lady’s hair and her telling me about her daughter who just graduated in computer science and feeling so excited to hear that another girl made it and it was possible for me to graduate and get a good job too. Lots of little people along the way.

Website: Www.crazeforpink.com

Instagram: Www.Instagram.com/crazefordesign

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/noelle-denkers-060881b6

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=SjX5uDgtOPWcIA-YCvBqqw&utm_source=ishare

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