We were lucky to catch up with Tiffany Pichardo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tiffany, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

For the first two years of my career, I worked for free. Yes, you heard that right. Anyone who needed a website, I was there, eager to dive into the project just for the sheer joy of it. At the time, I was a stay-at-home parent with a two-year-old, and designing websites was a fun way to pass the time. Despite my growing portfolio, I never called myself a “web designer.” It felt too techy, too formal, and honestly, I didn’t believe I deserved the title. I barely graduated and couldn’t imagine standing alongside those incredibly talented professionals.

Then 2020 hit. The Covid pandemic brought financial strain and forced me to reevaluate my self-doubt. I had a trail of glowing testimonials, successful project launches, and an expanding skill set. Why didn’t I believe in myself? It was time to nurture the designer within me. That very day, I signed up for UX courses.

Fast forward a year, and I landed my first job as a product designer for a global SAAS company. Since then, I’ve helped establish a design team and collaborated with some of the most brilliant minds in the industry.

Now, I’m returning to my roots and starting my own design agency with my best friend. Our venture, “Odyssey Hause,” is dedicated to fiercely supporting women’s dreams, just as we have fought for our own.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My design journey started when I was a stay-at-home mom, cherishing the quiet moments while my toddler napped to explore design. I dabbled in web, print, and app design—anything that allowed me to express creativity without the mess of paints and pastels. For years, I enjoyed designing casually until financial pressures from COVID-19 forced me to take it seriously.

On that pivotal day, I enrolled in UX courses and set my sights on a professional career. I devoted myself to studying day and night, even while pregnant during lockdown, maximizing the limited time before my second child’s arrival.

Now, as that baby turns three, I find myself deeply engaged in a fulfilling product design career at a global SAAS company. I’ve tackled projects beyond my wildest dreams and collaborated with incredibly talented individuals—all self-taught, without formal education or resources, while raising my children. My gratitude is immense.

This gratitude fuels my next venture: Odyssey Hause. I’m starting a brand and web design business dedicated to empowering women’s dreams, offering support to those who are fighting for their families’ futures, just as I once did.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I could write literal sonnets about my best friend, Michaela (Meeks). I met her when I was 15 at a church youth group and together we have faced navigating life as a young adult with no resources, growing in our relationship with Jesus, broken and abusive relationships, church hurt, meeting our husbands, and having our little ones. We have a little saying, “copy/paste”, because we feel we are nearly the same person but also Meeks is uniquely and extraordinarily amazing.

She is not just your top brand designer- she is someone who leads with compassion and empathy. Her heart for women is truly unmatched. Where I might meet someone and love the interaction, she creates a soul-deep connection with them and will look for ways to help meet their needs, pour into their purpose, and pray for them. That’s why she is so stinking good at what she does- your brand messaging? She’s pegged who you are, your purpose, and company’s vision after sitting down with you for 15 minutes.

I am truly and deeply blessed to call her sister.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely! I firmly believe that honoring your God-given talents enriches not only your life but also the lives of your family and community. It’s just as vital as any professional role, whether you’re an engineer, CPA, or CEO. Many creatives, particularly women, often suppress their creativity and dreams due to societal expectations or a lack of resources, focusing instead on mere survival. I fully understand this struggle. If my story and the resources of Odyssey Hause can help you embrace your true self, then my mission is accomplished, and glory be to God

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thetiffedit.com
• Instagram: @thetiffedit