[Nielsen] I am a web and graphics designer. For nearly 10 years I’ve been helping professional service firms leverage web technology and transform their website into a successful component of their business.

[NAPW] Tell us a little bit about your career journey:

[Nielsen]   It’s quite an interesting story actually, to make it short – I worked for a real estate office and was in charge of helping them get their website updated. I found that the web designer they had was not very friendly, or very quick, so I told my broker we needed to find someone new. She told me I was either to deal with him, or do it myself. Mind you, I could barely check my own email at the time, but I went out and bought web design software and found that I thoroughly enjoyed building sites, so here I am a decade later.

[NAPW] When did you know this is what you wanted to do? Did you have an ‘ah ha’ moment?

[Nielsen]   After I built the new website for the real-estate company that employed me, a few of the agents in the office asked for my services. At that same time I was actually enrolled in real estate school with plans of becoming a realtor myself. I graduated top of the class at my school, and the day before I went to take the state test, two of the agents in my office said I had to choose, be a realtor or be a web designer. So I chose to see where web design would take me.

[NAPW]  What are some of your greatest accomplishments and/or accolades?

[Nielsen]  On the business side I have won over 30 design awards for my work including U.S. Webmaster of the Year in 2004. I have also been featured in many online and print magazines, and I’m frequently interviewed, most recently on the in-flight radio programs for American Airlines and US Airways. More importantly, outside of business I am married to the man of my dreams, with four beautiful children ages 6, 4, 2 and 1.

[NAPW]  Do you have a mantra?

[Nielsen] “The satisfaction of every client is what matters most.”

[NAPW]  What inspires you on a day-to- day basis?

[Nielsen] First and foremost this would be my family. I’m really blessed to have such a wonderful life with my husband and children, and each day I think of them as I’m working. I also have many great clients-turned-friends. Hearing their stories, listening to their amazing journeys of success just gives me even more momentum to get out there and make a difference for people.

[NAPW]  What is on your ipod?

[Nielsen]  As a mother, it should be no surprise that I have a lot of children’s songs on my iPhone, to keep the little ones entertained while we wait for doctor’s appointments or in the checkout line at the grocery store. Oh, you should see them dance!!

[NAPW]  Tell us a funny story about you.

[Nielsen]  Three months after having my third (and presumably last) child, my doctor finally cleared me for minor foot surgery. So there I was, in the hospital, looking fabulous in my cap and gown ready to be rolled into the surgical suite when the anesthesiologist says he has a problem. He informs me that he’s going to advise my doctor to postpone the surgery. Now, at this point I’ve been very patient waiting to finally end some ongoing foot pain, so I was not happy in the least. “Well, get some equipment that works,” I suggested. He looked at me and smiled, saying “No the equipment is fine, we just need to delay this procedure by at least 9 months.” So now we have 4 children and my foot surgery has been rescheduled. And my tubes are tied!