About Us
We're a trio of perfectionist, hyper-achievers who have experienced and recovered from burnout more than once. We're on a mission to change the world of work to support better well-being, inclusion, engagement, and creativity.
Learn more about our individual story below.
ANGELA
SMITH
Co-Founder
Hi. I’m Angela, and I want to change the way we work so that it brings out the best in people and allows space for all the other non-work aspects of life.
The initial idea for GigifyWork came from my up close and personal experience with burnout. I found myself in my dream job at an organization I truly believed in – yet I found myself reaching a place where I felt exhausted, defeated and lost. I battled with myself over what to do, eventually deciding to walk away from that role and do things differently.
That began my journey towards building a career that wrapped around my life, rather than the other way around. With time, I created a career that allows me to work on a variety of projects in a flexible way while also being a parent, a partner and a friend – it allows me to be me and do fulfilling work.
I am so proud of what we’ve created through GigifyWork. I love seeing people go from a place of uncertainty to confidence, from unhappiness to joy. I also am inspired by organizations who prioritize the wellness of their people; who are willing to explore creative solutions that will bring out the best in their staff and make well-being in the workplace a regular and committed practice.
Interested in starting a journey with us? We’d love to meet you!
HUONG
BUI
Co-Founder
Hi, I’m Huong, and I’d like to help you find your sweet spot - where you have a fulfilling career, and still have gas left in the tank for life, love, and play.
GigifyWork wasn’t born out of a single “Aha!” moment. It was the culmination of many frustrating and dark moments as a career-driven working parent. It’s the panic when I realized I had forgotten my son’s 2nd birthday and my day had been solidly booked with back-to-back meetings. It’s the vague but overwhelming sense of anxiety that I felt at times when I thought about life and work. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what I was anxious about, but it was real and debilitating at times. It’s the frustration and desperation that I felt when my best effort to keep up with everything, waking up at 5 am and staying up late, sacrificing sleep to fit everything else in, still left me feeling like I was behind and couldn’t get ahead.
Each of these moments solidified my determination to find an alternative. There HAS GOT TO BE a better way. This cannot be the only choice that is available to me if I want to experience career success and have a family.
With lots of work and reflection, I’ve found my alternative. I’ve found my place of growth and change, a fulfilling, challenging career and ample of space for my family, my well-being, and my relationship. And it’s magical.
Through GigifyWork, I want to help others find their alternatives. I’m a certified solution-focused coach and a trained career development professional. Most importantly, I’ve been through multiple career changes myself and I’m excited to share the insights that I’ve gained to help you on your journey. Ready to build the life and career that you deserve? Let’s talk!
NICOLE
BLOMME
Social Media Coordinator
Hi. I’m Nicole, GigifyWork’s Social Media Coordinator.
I love social media because it’s an opportunity to share meaningful content that resonates with others. I particularly enjoy doing social media marketing for GigifyWork as burnout management, work-life balance, and career happiness are all areas I’m passionate about.
Here’s why: I first experienced burnout at 25. I felt shame and denial during that time. I felt shame because I wondered how I could possibly be burnt out so early in my career, and I felt as if I was incompetent and not cut out for the career I had envisioned myself having.
This shame is ultimately what kept me in denial for the months leading up to my burnout; I knew I wasn’t okay, but I thought that if I ‘kept pushing through’ I’d be alright. I kept going at a pace that wasn’t sustainable, taking on more and more in an effort to prove myself. I had zero work-life balance, and eventually, this led to me burning out and having to take time off work.
Having to take time off at 25 was the wake-up call that I needed. I loved my job and knew that I wanted to continue working in the industry I was in, but also knew that in order to do this I needed to make changes. This experience ultimately helped me realize how passionate I am about supporting other young professionals with their boundary setting, burnout management, and overall professional journeys. Burnout is more common than we realize, and I want to normalize that it can happen to anyone, at any point in their career, and that it’s nothing to be ashamed of.