Mirrors: Mikka Cruz, Graphic Design Aficionado
The AdaMarie Mirrors reflect back to us the many roads (often winding, never smooth) to success! Real stories of real women to see yourself reflected in. At first, you’ll see Mikka in this mirror, but eventually, we hope you’ll see yourself.
Welcome, Mikka Cruz!
AdaMarie’s resident graphic design aficionado Mikka Cruz discusses discovering that being self-taught is not a liability, but a strength.
Getting to Know You:
Field of Work: Website Design and Development; Graphic Design
Your STEM letter: T
Expertise In: Websites: Squarespace and Webflow; Coding: HTML, CSS and JavaScript; Design: Figma, Photoshop
Current Company: AdaMarie (!!), To Be Magnetic, and Studio Elias (My company!)
Job Title: Graphic Designer; Website Designer and Developer
One-liner about what you’re working on: Supporting brands with design and coding.
Currently geeking out over: Essential oils and board games!
STEM hero (alive or dead!): Anne Wojcicki of 23andMe
Tell us about your professional journey – how did you get where you are now?
My professional journey began during my college days when I was studying Geodetic Engineering. Simultaneously, I started doing freelance graphic design jobs. Upon graduation, despite my deeper passion for computers and design, I decided to take the board exam and earned my license as an engineer.
For two years, I attempted to balance a full-time job with my freelance work. It soon became apparent that my traditional 8-5 office job was holding me back from realizing my full potential. I could have been working on more projects, connecting with more clients, and earning more income. Back then, before the pandemic, going full-time into freelancing wasn't as widely accepted as it is now. The income was inconsistent and there were no additional benefits such as healthcare or travel allowances.
Regardless, in 2016, I took a leap of faith and quit my full-time job. It was a liberating experience. No more having a boss constantly monitoring me, no more lengthy meetings, no more corporate politics. Looking back, it was the best decision I made for my career.
I was fortunate that my initial clients referred me to their colleagues and friends, which led to more projects. One memorable moment was when a friend asked me to create a website for their organization. Thinking I'm a fast learner, I accepted the challenge. I spent a few days exploring Squarespace, and that's when I discovered my love for website design and development. It reignited my love for coding and problem-solving.
From that experimental project, I've since built over 200 websites and now serve clients globally from my small home office in Manila. It's been an exciting journey, and I'm looking forward to where it leads me next.
We’re also curious to know your personal story and upbringing. What has made you “you”?
I was in second grade when my family got our first computer. As my parents weren't tech-savvy, I became the go-to "computer person". While other girls my age were playing with Barbies, I was busy exploring the digital world. This early exposure sparked a fascination with computers, and I found myself excelling in every computer-related subject at school.
One of my prouder moments was being the only girl chosen to compete in a high school Robotics contest. Being surrounded by boys in this environment fostered a competitive spirit in me.
When it came time for college, I was certain that I wanted to pursue something related to computers, so I enrolled in a Computer Engineering program. However, after three years, a discouraging experience with a particularly intimidating professor led me to switch courses. Not wanting to waste my engineering credits, I opted for Geodetic Engineering, thinking it would be a relatively easy course to complete (spoiler alert: it wasn't). Geodetic Engineering, which I'm sure isn't familiar to most, involves studying and understanding the Earth's shape and size to create accurate maps and determine the exact placement of structures on our planet. Despite having no real interest in this field, I persevered simply to graduate.
Thankfully, my true passion resurfaced, leading me back to the world of technology and design, which brings us to where I am now. My upbringing, marked by an early fascination with computers, my competitive nature honed by school and competitions, and the resilience I developed during my college years, have all played significant roles in shaping me into who I am today.
We know that real life isn’t a smooth and linear journey. What was your initiating moment that led you to your calling - can you tell us about that moment, what helped you move forward, what you learned/discovered?
The turning point for me was when I chose to leave the security of my regular job and ventured into full-time freelancing. Suddenly, I had all the time I needed, and it gave me the opportunity to pursue my passion - learning new things. I became a self-taught expert in a variety of areas that I now offer as services.
There was a phase where the lack of formal education in these areas made me feel insecure. But as time went on, I started seeing this self-learning journey not as a liability, but as a strength. It showed me that if I could teach myself so much already, there's no limit to what I can learn. This mindset has been key in helping me move forward.
You’re a working woman in a performance-driven industry. Where do you find balance?
Honestly, finding that balance can be a real struggle, especially when you love what you do as much as I love being glued to the computer. When I first jumped into freelancing, I'd find myself working a whopping 16 hours a day. It didn't really feel like work, though. I used to grumble about why days only have 24 hours when there's so much more I wanted to do! I even remember wrapping up a project just the day before my first kiddo came into the world.
Life's changed quite a bit now, though.
With a husband, two kids, a couple of cats and a whole household to look after, I've had to learn to draw the line somewhere. I've realized that no matter how engrossing a project might be, family always comes first.
So, I try to squeeze in as much work as I can when the kids are at school, busying themselves with play or fast asleep. And when my husband steps through that door after work, that's my cue to step away from the screen. Sure, finding this "balance" is still a work in progress, but it's pretty important. After all, our little ones aren't little for long, and you definitely can't take your money with you when you go, right?
If you were a part of the human body, what would you be?
Hair. I like that you can do anything you want with it (color it, shave it, perm it) and it will just grow back. No (permanent) regrets.
We’d love to feature your work! How can we spread the word about what you’re doing? Some examples you might want to share:
My company Studio Elias — www.studioelias.com