On September 10th, the Austin community came together for an inspiring Friends of Figma event hosted at the Realtor.com Tech Center. The evening featured a packed room of designers, creatives, and technologists eager to share stories, learn, and connect.
Why These Topics?
The theme for the night was Impostor Syndrome and Beyond—a subject that resonates across industries and career levels. Many of us have faced moments of self-doubt, so we wanted to create an open space to normalize those experiences and learn from each other. To build on this foundation, our discussion expanded into related areas:
Building Confidence and Owning Your Voice
Navigating Career Growth and Transitions
Mental Health & Burnout
Inclusivity and Belonging
These topics were chosen to highlight the ways our community can support each other in both professional growth and personal well-being.
Our Panelists
We were thrilled to host a fantastic panel of speakers who shared their insights and personal experiences:
Lisa Geubtner Towns, Senior Manager, UX Operations @Target
Raquel Breternitz, Senior Designer @ Iterable
Brad Zabroski, Sr. Director of Design, Trips & Agentic AI Experiences @ Expedia
Community Turnout
The turnout was incredible, with a full house and plenty of energy in the room. Attendees not only engaged in thoughtful conversation during the panel but also continued connecting during the mixer that followed. It was a true reflection of the creativity, collaboration, and support that makes Austin such a special place for design and tech talent.
Looking Ahead
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and to those who helped bring the event to life. We can’t wait to continue growing this community and are already looking forward to our next Friends of Figma Austin event this winter. Stay tuned for details—we’d love to see you there!
