Meet Kibrett Facey: Where empathy meets interface

Every morning, Kibrett Facey felt a pull. An unmistakable sense that it was time for a new chapter in her career. “I have always been drawn to understanding people, the psychology behind how they think and how they make decisions,” she says. “But over time, I realized I wanted to do more than shape messaging. I wanted to build something that truly supported them.”

That realization marked the start of a journey that took her from Florida to Upstate New York, from housing advocacy to UX Design, and ultimately, Collibra. Along the way, Kibrett reconnected with what she once downplayed: her empathy.

Growing up as the youngest in a Jamaican-American family of six, Kibrett learned how to speak up, stand out, and support others. “I watched my parents and siblings push through every challenge with determination and grace,” she says. “That taught me the value of being different and to advocate for others who might not fit the mold.”

That lesson took root in her early career, where she broke down complex legal jargon into plain language, enabling people to take action and have their needs met. “That’s when I got the feel for making the complex simple,” she says, “And it made me realize that good communication is about clarity and connection.”

When she discovered UX Design, everything clicked. “A friend of mine was a UX Designer, and the way she described it–I realized I had been doing some of that all along, I just didn’t have the title,” she says. With no budget for formal education, Kibrett taught herself through YouTube, affordable courses, and online communities. “I was piecing it all together, finding connections between what I’d done before and what I wanted to do,” she explains.

One turning point for her came when she designed a mobile app to help Black women find culturally competent therapists.

“Listening to people’s stories, then designing something that could actually ease their search for care was powerful,” she says. “It showed me that empathy wasn’t a weakness, it was my greatest strength.”

That mindset, alongside her resilience and determination, is what led her to Collibra. “From my first conversations, I felt I’d found a place where empathy was built into the culture, not just in how we work together, but in how we design.

At Collibra, Kibrett focuses on making complex tools accessible and intuitive. “You can’t repurchase time,” she explains. “Every word, every flow–we think about how it lands for someone who’s busy, under pressure, and just trying to get their job done.”

That kind of impact is why the Collibra values ‘We show up to win’ and ‘We are respectfully direct’ resonate with her. “It’s not about being loud. It’s about showing up with intention, advocating for our users, and doing the work that gets us closer to the right solution.”

This work is backed by a collaborative team and leadership that champions inclusivity at every step. Kibrett credits her manager with establishing a UX writing style guide focused on accessibility for all users, serving as a foundation for creating intuitive and inclusive designs.

"It’s about understanding the user’s pain points and making their experience seamless,” she explains. “Good design isn’t just about looking pretty—it’s about being helpful, intuitive, and inclusive.”

From breaking down housing laws in Buffalo to breaking down technical language at Collibra, Kibrett’s goal has always been the same: to make information more human. “Design is about listening. And when you lead with empathy, you create space for people to do what matters most.”

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  Collibra

  Collibra

  Unified governance for data and AI