Mirrors: Sopuruchi Ndubuisi, UX Design Engineer
The AdaMarie Mirrors reflect back to us the many roads (often winding, never smooth) to success! Real stories to see yourself reflected. At first, you’ll see Sopuruchi in this mirror, but eventually, we hope you’ll see yourself.
Welcome, Sopuruchi Ndubuisi!
Sopuruchi Ndubuisi’s journey is a powerful reminder that creativity and technical rigor are not opposing forces, they are often strongest when they evolve together.
In this AdaMarie Mirror, Sopuruchi reflects on moving from art and design into technology, learning to trust curiosity even when the path wasn’t clearly defined, and discovering design engineering as a way to bring ideas fully to life. Now a UX Design Engineer at Apple working on internal AI and development tools, her story traces how experimentation, evidence-based confidence, and a willingness to explore unfamiliar territory can open doors you didn’t know existed.
If you’re navigating the space between what you love and what you’re still learning how to pursue, keep reading.
Major & Minor – If you went to college!: Art & Design
Field of Work: Technology
Expertise In: Design
Current Company: Apple
Job Title: UX Design Engineer
One-liner about what you’re working on: Internal AI and Development tools
Currently geeking out over: Anthropology and Philosophy
Tell us about your professional journey – how did you get where you are now?
I started college as an art major, focusing solely on art, learning painting techniques and art fundamentals. Despite always having an interest in technology from a young age, I felt scared to pursue it and had always been boxed in as the "creative child", so my major seemed right. It was only in my sophomore year, after much prodding from my elder brother, a software engineer, that I signed up for the highly acclaimed Google UX design course. There, I learned that I could leverage both my creative passions and love for technology. I fell in love with using design as a problem-solving tool, and I started signing up for hackathons, design sprints, and group projects to put it into practice. I won a few, landed my first internship at Tableau, Salesforce, and then my next internship in my junior year at Slack.
In my senior year, I started building my portfolio for job applications for after graduation, and I didn't want a conventional portfolio website. I wanted something unique and interactive, so I learned to adjust code blocks in Squarespace and kept delving into coding. It unlocked a whole new world where I could not only come up with ideas but also visualize them with design and then execute them in code. I saw that there was a combined discipline that let me do both, called Design Engineering. I applied to multiple roles after college and eventually landed my role at Apple as a UX Design Engineer.
I love the saying, "The dots only connect when looking backwards,” because I couldn't have predicted or planned where I'd be today. I am grateful to God and thankful I took up every opportunity, even when I didn't feel ready.
We’re also curious to know your personal story and upbringing. What has made you “you”?
In Lagos, Nigeria, by two academics. Prof. F. Ndubuisi (PhD), my dad, who lectures in Philosophy at the University of Lagos, and Prof. C. Ndubuisi (PhD), my mom, who lectures in Art at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. Being raised by two academics in the liberal and visual arts definitely instilled the habit of pursuing knowledge and the desire for creative exploration.
By as early as age 8, I was fluent in the language of art appreciation. My parents invested a lot in us pursuing interests beyond academia. I got my first laptop at age 13 and was creating graphic posters on Adobe Photoshop. I was also a very curious child, SO many devices destroyed in my hands, because I just needed to see what was inside and how they worked! Lol! I was given a playground to explore the arts and also technology, so looking back, it is no surprise that I am here today. I am grateful for my parents.
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 moved forward, what you learned/discovered?
To be honest, I can't think of one defining moment; for me, it was a ripple effect, a cascade of events that led me to where I am. Those pivotal moments did involve a struggle of some sort, navigating the struggle, and realizing my strengths.
Now, when I encounter struggles, I tap into the knowledge that I have overcome past challenges. I love the saying "confidence is built on evidence." For me, past struggles have served as evidence for future victories.
You’re a working person in a performance-driven industry. Where do you find balance?
Surprisingly, I find balance by choosing to do more and not leaving my goals (including rest) to chance. When I started my role at Apple, it was all I did; I woke up thinking about work and hardly slept because I was working. Entering my second year, I chose to do things differently, choosing to allot time for my hobbies like reading, running, painting, side projects, and time with friends, and I found that I have always had time.
Let your geek flag fly! If you were something in Outerspace, what would you be?
I'll be a star...obviously. Haha
We’d love to feature your work! How can we spread the word about what you’re doing?
You can connect with me on Linkedin and Instagram to stay in touch and see what’s to come. :)
Do you have a favorite motivational quote or song?
"There's no passion to be found in playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." - Nelson Mandela
Any final advice for early-career STEM professionals?:
Hone your skills, but do not get siloed in STEM; consume and engage in a wide range of content in other fields, and it'll set you apart.
