Yanisah marapao Joined the weddingDates team in 2021 – passionate about history, she dreams about filling some very big shoes
Graduating from Munster Technological University with a Bachelors in Creative Digital Media, Yan brings a keen eye to all the decisions we make for the usability of our software. She supports both the development team and the marketing team with her creative and technical knowledge, making us look good.
WHAT IS YOUR TITLE/POSITION?
Content and UX Researcher
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH WEDDINGDATES?
I joined in 2021 having graduated college so I’m here one year and one month.
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU’VE CARRIED OVER TO YOUR CURRENT ROLE FROM YOUR PREVIOUS JOBS?
The biggest lesson I’ve carried on from my previous job is to be organised. Being organised means, I can handle multiple tasks and priorities well and manage my time accordingly. This is essential within my role as there are often several tasks I am in charge of at any one time.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT WITHIN THIS ROLE TO DATE? (WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?)
I am most proud of the graphic work that’s instrumental in the look of our WedPro product site. I’m really happy with how the illustrations and design worked out, and I think they just add so much character. We’ve carried the look, theme and icons into all of our collateral such as presentations and social media
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF YOUR JOB AND WHY?
My favourite part about my job is that I get to do what I am passionate about. I love designing and creating new and innovative ideas as well as refining existing concepts.
My work involves researching UX trends and analysing and auditing our current software design and usability. It is always a great feeling to see my work appear in the public domain. With research, often one’s work doesn’t get to be published or shown to anyone but it’s a great feeling when the research is implemented and it does make a difference to users of our product. It’s especially cool when it is promoted and shared for whatever reason. Whether it’s video animation, illustrations or written work, it makes a big difference to my purpose as an employee if I get recognition for my work.
Finally, I love how I get to use my skills and knowledge to help WeddingDates thrive.
WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
I loved history. It’s always been a dream of mine to work in a museum or on a historical site. It’s also a dream to go travelling and learn about different cultures and how they lived before. And, ideally get paid to make documentaries, visiting countries and learning about their history, like David Attenborough, but strictly on history lessons.
IF YOU COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM FOR THIS JOB?
I am in awe of journalists who are ever so witty and clever in their writing. If I had a magic wand, I would have written content ready in one wave. I, like many people, underestimate how much work goes into planning, preparing, posting and promoting content. Here at WeddingDates, it’s a team effort – when writing a blog post – there are so many people helping to get the job done – things such as brainstorming, writing, proofing and promoting. I will stick at what I am good at, the visual stuff, before I really do my own head in!
WHAT IS THE COOLEST THING YOU’VE SEEN AT A WEDDING?
The coolest thing I’ve seen at a wedding is a couple who provided a basket of slippers and women’s essentials in the bathroom. They really thought about it and understood exactly what their female guests might need throughout the day. The flip flops were such a smart idea as many of the women wore heels and didn’t bring an extra pair of flat shoes.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WAYS TO SPEND A WEEKEND?
One of my favourite things to do at the weekend is to start it with physical activity. I often take part in yoga or Pilates on Saturday morning. Once that’s done, I do the mundane things – groceries and cleaning. Once I’ve got these two activities done, I feel very accomplished and ready to take on the day and the rest of the weekend. If it’s sunny, I will head for the beach. Being beside the water, on the sand with a book in my hand, that’s truly my happy place. I truly think I was born to live near the beach, it always makes me so happy swimming and looking up at the clear blue skies – there’s something therapeutic about it. If only it were sunny every weekend in Ireland.
On a Sunday, I usually chill with some family or friends. A good movie marathon is also an ideal way to spend a Sunday.
HAVE YOU ANY PARTICULAR HOBBIES/INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF WORK?
My hobbies outside work are pottery, art, life drawing, painting, and the aforementioned yoga. I really enjoy yoga because the people in my class are very encouraging and friendly. It’s such a welcoming environment. We do the same poses in each class, but I’m training my body to get better with time and plenty of practice. This has become my favourite hobby and it has helped me both physically and mentally.
HAVE YOU ANY GUILTY PLEASURES?
My guilty pleasure is having rice with everything. Name any meal, I could probably eat it with rice.
IF MONEY WAS NO OBJECT, WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD BUY?
If money was no object I would buy a house in sunny Italy or Portugal. I definitely need to be near the beach so I can wake up in the morning, go for a walk with my dog and go for a swim.
Yan has recently written and published articles based on important leadership qualities that she has learned through participating in LIFT Leadership roundtables with the WeddingDates Team.
Read the articles here. Get to know the rest of the team here.
