The following blog post is courtesy of the wonderful folks and powerhouse babes at Beacon HR. The original post can be read here.
We feel so humbled and honoured to have had the pleasure of getting to know entrepreneur, community builder, and all around prairie-powerhouse, Miranda Young. An impressive career as a young designer in a small Saskatchewan city, a local radio show host and huge advocate for the LGBTQ+ community - there isn't much we don't love about Miranda. Get ready to fall head over heels, Beaconites. Miranda's story is one of drive, passion and plain old spunk.

So, Miranda, what’s your career story?

I started in the design industry when I was very young. My mom was a decorator and owned a furniture store and I would spend hours growing up helping her in her store and being her little assistant. It always fascinated me. After high school, I studied at the University of Saskatchewan hoping to pursue a career in the arts, but soon realized I didn't really want to work at an art gallery or be a painter full-time. From there I followed in my mother’s footsteps and attended design school in Vermillion, Alberta and received my diploma in Interior Design. Once completed, I moved to Calgary and did my internship at the DADE art and design lab. I moved to Saskatoon, SK where I began my design career at an architecture firm, working mostly on schools, community centres and large commercial projects. There, I was very involved in finish selections and contract administration. 

I really wanted to get more into the planning side of design, so I left architecture and got a job at an interior design firm. It was here where I worked on a variety of projects, including offices, retail, residential, clinics, all sorts of stuff. It was an amazing opportunity to work for a small firm where I could get my hands on everything.

Whilst working, I completed my Interior design registration. This required 2 years of school, 4 years of experience, and then 3 (intense) examinations. It’s a similar process to getting an architectural license. Once I became registered, I quickly realized that I was outgrowing my current position at the design firm. The opportunities I was looking for didn’t exist - so I decided to create my own.

In January 2019, I started my own company. After completing a course in entrepreneurship, Alt Haus was born. I’m not shy to admit there have been huge learning curves, but it has been such a positive change for me that it's been totally worth it.

What are your thoughts on the current socio-political climate we are now living in?

Without getting too into it, we have a long way to go to become the country and world I would love to see for future generations. Respecting each-other and respecting the earth should be number one priorities in my eyes. We all need to work towards the better good, give back to the community and do whatever we can to make our voices heard in order to make change. We can not leave it up to our leaders to do this, we need to be the change.

When and how did you get into radio hosting?

I have been involved in a million things since I graduated from college. I used to volunteer a lot for the local radio station, posting flyers, volunteer appreciation nights, etc. I was asked constantly why I wasn’t hosting, so, I decided to do it! I completed my training and begun filling in for other hosts. Shortly after, I was given my own slot - I host the Thursday Buzz from 5 to 6 pm, on CFCR 90.5FM - The Saskatoon Community Radio Station. I am lucky enough to pick all of the music, interview touring musicians and do all of my own sound-board.

Two of my favourite interviews so far have been The Pack AD and Dan Mangan. I’ve loved them since forever and it was truly amazing to meet and get to know them a little better.

Rapid Fire Q’s

What gets you up in the morning? The urge to design really cool spaces and see people getting really excited about these spaces.

What are you most grateful for in this moment? The fact that I get to do what I love every day and be surrounded by such amazing, wonderful and inspirational people.

What is the best way women can support one another? Help each others voices be heard and truly listen to each other. Have empathy for one another and bring each-other up, not down. Collaboration is always greater than competition. It's also so important to be there for the non-binary and gender-queer folks in your life too! And everyone else too, of course!

What 3 things do you always pack when you travel? Swimsuit, sketchbook, laptop.

What’s the last new thing you learned? Just to be more conscious of my time and how valuable it is.