Innovation For All - Diversity in Tech and Business - podcast cover

Innovation For All - Diversity in Tech and Business

Innovation For All, Sheana Ahlqvistinnovationforallcast.com
Innovation for All explores how diversity and inclusion are impacted by innovation and technology. Long form interviews with experts in tech, design, AI, and business. Is Facebook really a monopoly? How can remote work get more diversity in tech? What’s in the terms of service we usually ignore? How can we build inclusive, human-centered AI? Host Sheana Ahlqvist created Innovation For All to help technologists and entrepreneurs make more inclusive products and businesses and think more critically about the societal impact of their work. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/innovation-for-all/support
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Episodes

From homeless to fashion-tech entrepreneur: Cassie Betts

Cassie Betts is the founder of District2.Co , a technology company that connects brands/designers with factories to streamline the manufacturing process, and Made In South LA (MISLA), a DevShop Academy. Hear how Cassie went from being homeless to being called “The Woman Turning South LA into Startup Land” by Forbes. You'll hear How she went from coding her first computer game at 9 to being homeless at 19, and how she turned that all around. How do you help protect the poor from being displaced t...

Apr 06, 202253 minSeason 1Ep. 19

Starting a business at age 66 with Paul Tasner

Paul Tasner, Co-founder and CEO of PulpWorks and more recently, Co-founder of Sort, has more than 40 years of operations experience. He has held leadership positions in ventures ranging from start-up to Fortune 100. For the past decade, his focus has been on sustainability. Paul’s corporate affiliations include The Clorox Company, Clif Bar, Method Products, and Hepagen Vaccines. He has authored numerous papers and presentations on supply chain sustainability and currently lectures on this subjec...

Mar 30, 202253 minSeason 2Ep. 16

Battling poverty with Propel and the Fresh EBT app

Jimmy Chen is the Founder and CEO of Propel, a software company that aims to fight poverty through technology. They are the creators of the Fresh EBT mobile app, which enables EBT cardholders to manage their benefits, save money through grocery coupons, and find jobs. Fresh EBT is used by over 2 million low-income Americans across the country. In this episode of Innovation For All Podcast, Sheana learns why Jimmy decided to start Propel and use the tools of Silicon Valley to address social issue...

Mar 16, 20221 hr 7 minSeason 2Ep. 21

How McDonald's empowered black America (but it's complicated) with Dr. Marcia Chatelain

In this episode you will learn: How the civil rights movement impacted the growth of McDonald’s in black America How McDonald’s utilized black-centered marketing strategies to fuel advertisements The pros and cons to working in a franchise How the fast food industry was seen as a win for low-income communities initially How black-run McDonald’s franchises pooled resources to benefit the community The differences of how white and black America viewed McDonald’s and its impact on advertising How r...

Mar 09, 202259 minSeason 3Ep. 1

Placing the Displaced: Running a Refugee Staffing Company

In this episode you will learn: How the CEO started Amplio Recruiting and why? What were some of the challenges in starting the business? How are companies vetted to ensure that the refugees are protected? What are the assumptions about the refugee community and are they true? What are the challenges with finding opportunities for women refugees? What is Amplio Ventures? What are some of the success stories? How has this work in diversity and inclusion influenced his personal views? Learn more a...

Mar 02, 20221 hr 5 minSeason 3Ep. 6

Revenge Porn Is Really A Tech Problem with Darieth Chisolm

Two years after her revenge porn nightmare began, Darieth Chisolm won the case against her ex-boyfriend. Should tech companies make it harder to weaponize their platforms against women? In this episode you will learn: About Darieth's personal experience with revenge porn Her challenge of taking legal action outside of the U.S. The impact of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Examples of first steps on how victims can take legal action Obstacles to taking down nude content that is publis...

Feb 23, 202251 minSeason 3Ep. 3

When bad data leads to social injustice, featuring David Robinson

Can AI really change the world? Or are its developing algorithms formalizing social injustice? When these highly-technical systems derive patterns from existing datasets, their models can perpetuate past mistakes. In this episode of the Innovation For All Podcast, Sheana Ahlqvist discusses with David Robinson the threats of social bias and discrimination becoming embedded in Artificial Intelligence. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: What is the role of technological advances in shaping society? What...

Feb 23, 20221 hr 5 minSeason 2Ep. 19

It's illegal for Uber workers to strike. Marshall Steinbaum explains why. (Really though, WHY?)

"Set the market and work when and how you like. You have complete control." At least that is what gig economy companies like Uber would have you believe. In this episode of the Innovation For All podcast, Sheana speaks with Marshall Steinbaum, Assistant Professor of Economics at University of Utah, to talk about the pitfalls of the gig economy. Find out how employers can have control over the workforce without being a monopoly and how gig workers may be getting the short end of the stick. You’ll...

Feb 16, 20221 hr 4 min

The Ghost Workers Behind the Tech Industry, feat. Mary Gray

You'll learn How contract workers are essential in aiding AIs and search engines Examples of a ghost work in everyday technology How the tech industry often devalues contract employees What data labeling is What a ghost worker's daily schedule looks like How the growing telehealth industry is a prime example of under-appreciated, yet essential contract work The three elements that undermine job happiness How business are benefiting from contract workers The growing challenges of moving towards m...

Feb 10, 202258 minSeason 3Ep. 2

Be My Eyes: Mobile micro-volunteering for the blind with Hans Wiberg

Host Sheana Ahlqvist speaks with Hans Jørgen Wiberg, founder of Be My Eyes, a free mobile app that connects blind and visually impaired individuals with sighted volunteers through live video calls. Wiberg explains how Be My Eyes works, how he monetized an app while keeping it free for both sides of the marketplace, and how important it is to consider how blind people interact with the world around them when designing products and services. You’ll learn: What is microvolunteering? What is Be My E...

Aug 26, 202042 minSeason 3Ep. 8

Google and Facebook are monopolies. Does it matter? feat. Sally Hubbard

Sally Hubbard is Director of Enforcement Strategy at Open Markets Institute. Learn whether giant tech companies are building monopolies (spoiler alert: they are) and why that unfair advantage matters. In this episode, you’ll learn: What is Antitrust law? Is fake news an antitrust problem? How monopolies amplify inequality What would it look like to unmonopolize big tech companies? Get shownotes for this and every episode at innovationforallcast.com or find us on Twitter @inforallpodcast. Send in...

Aug 12, 20201 hr 3 minSeason 3Ep. 7

Placing the Displaced: Running a Refugee Staffing Company

In this episode you will learn: How the CEO started Amplio Recruiting and why? What were some of the challenges in starting the business? How are companies vetted to ensure that the refugees are protected? What are the assumptions about the refugee community and are they true? What are the challenges with finding opportunities for women refugees? What is Amplio Ventures? What are some of the success stories? How has this work in diversity and inclusion influenced his personal views? Learn more a...

Aug 06, 20201 hr 5 minSeason 3Ep. 6

Disability Advocacy for Self-Driving Cars with Henry Claypool

In this episode you will learn: About the immense diversity of need within the disability community How ride share services can either be beneficial or challenging depending on different disabilities Examples of both simple and highly extensive modifications to vehicles that accommodate physical disabilities How certain populations with disabilities could benefit from autonomous vehicles What types of mechanical challenges for people with disabilities could be the same even in an autonomous vehi...

Jul 15, 202054 minSeason 3Ep. 5

Revenge Porn Is Really A Tech Problem with Darieth Chisolm

Two years after her revenge porn nightmare began, Darieth Chisolm won the case against her ex-boyfriend. Should tech companies make it harder to weaponize their platforms against women? In this episode you will learn: About Darieth's personal experience with revenge porn Her challenge of taking legal action outside of the U.S. The impact of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Examples of first steps on how victims can take legal action Obstacles to taking down nude content that is publis...

Jun 17, 202051 minSeason 3Ep. 3

The Ghost Workers Behind the Tech Industry, feat. Mary Gray

You'll learn How contract workers are essential in aiding AIs and search engines Examples of a ghost work in everyday technology How the tech industry often devalues contract employees What data labeling is What a ghost worker's daily schedule looks like How the growing telehealth industry is a prime example of under-appreciated, yet essential contract work The three elements that undermine job happiness How business are benefiting from contract workers The growing challenges of moving towards m...

Jun 03, 202058 minSeason 3Ep. 2

How McDonald's empowered black America (but it's complicated) with Dr. Marcia Chatelain

In this episode you will learn: How the civil rights movement impacted the growth of McDonald’s in black America How McDonald’s utilized black-centered marketing strategies to fuel advertisements The pros and cons to working in a franchise How the fast food industry was seen as a win for low-income communities initially How black-run McDonald’s franchises pooled resources to benefit the community The differences of how white and black America viewed McDonald’s and its impact on advertising How r...

May 13, 202059 minSeason 3Ep. 1

Invisible women: data bias in a world designed for men with Caroline Criado Perez

Caroline Criado Perez is a writer, journalist and feminist campaigner. She has written two books: Do It Like A Woman and Invisible Women. In her most recent book Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men she describes how very old data bias can affect women today. In this episode, Sheana learns about the different ways data bias is affecting women today, from trivial things such as phone size to not so trivial things such as seat belt safety. Caroline tells all this and mor...

Apr 15, 20201 hr 2 min

It's illegal for Uber workers to strike. Marshall Steinbaum explains why. (Really though, WHY?)

"Set the market and work when and how you like. You have complete control." At least that is what gig economy companies like Uber would have you believe. In this episode of the Innovation For All podcast, Sheana speaks with Marshall Steinbaum, Assistant Professor of Economics at University of Utah, to talk about the pitfalls of the gig economy. Find out how employers can have control over the workforce without being a monopoly and how gig workers may be getting the short end of the stick. You’ll...

Apr 01, 20201 hr 4 min

Be My Eyes: Mobile micro-volunteering for the blind with Hans Wiberg

Host Sheana Ahlqvist speaks with Hans Jørgen Wiberg, founder of Be My Eyes, a free mobile app that connects blind and visually impaired individuals with sighted volunteers through live video calls. Wiberg explains how Be My Eyes works, how he monetized an app while keeping it free for both sides of the marketplace, and how important it is to consider how blind people interact with the world around them when designing products and services. You’ll learn: What is microvolunteering? What is Be My E...

Mar 18, 202042 min

Google and Facebook are monopolies. Does it matter? feat. Sally Hubbard

Sally Hubbard is Director of Enforcement Strategy at Open Markets Institute. Learn whether giant tech companies are building monopolies (spoiler alert: they are) and why that unfair advantage matters. In this episode, you’ll learn: What is Antitrust law? Is fake news an antitrust problem? How monopolies amplify inequality What would it look like to unmonopolize big tech companies? Get shownotes for this and every episode at innovationforallcast.com or find us on Twitter @inforallpodcast. Send in...

Mar 04, 20201 hr 3 min

Placing the Displaced: Running a Refugee Staffing Company with Chris Chancey

Chris Chancey is the founder of Amplio Recruiting , a company that helps companies hire people from the refugee and immigrant communities. How does Chris help refute and calm the fears potential employers? How does he ensure that vulnerable people aren’t being taken advantage of? And what has made his business so successful? Find out with Sheana in this episode of Innovation for All Podcast. In this episode you will learn: How Chris started Amplio Recruiting and why? What were some of the challe...

Feb 19, 20201 hr 5 min

The dangers of period-tracking apps feat. Maggie Delano

In the season finale of Innovation for All, Maggie Delano tells us how period-tracking apps exclude people who are not straight, cis-gendered women without medical conditions. She explains how user design could be more inclusive and introduces us to the benefits of Quantified Self. You'll learn: The issues surrounding period-tracking apps How period-tracking apps can be more inclusive of people with medical conditions How user research can think about cases that fall outside of the set target au...

Feb 05, 202053 minSeason 2Ep. 20

How to battle racism with Janet Stovall

Imagine a workplace where people of all colors and races are able to climb every rung of the corporate ladder -- and where the lessons we learn about diversity at work actually transform the things we do, think, and say outside the office. How do we get there? Janet Stovall, head speechwriter for the CEO of UPS, tells us about her history fighting for inclusion since she was a student at Davidson College through present day. She discusses the complexities of being a woman of color in the workfor...

Jan 22, 20201 hr 7 minSeason 2Ep. 19

What should change in 2020? My favorite guests return.

In this special episode, our favorite experts on AI, product designers and more return to answer two key questions: What’s the biggest news in your field in 2019, since we recorded the podcast? What's something that's been missing from the conversation that you'd like to see gain more interest in 2020? You'll hear from Reena Jana (@rjmac), Google's Head of Product and Business Inclusion. Hear more in her full episode: Making Products Inclusive, the Google Way Josh Lovejoy (@jdlovejoy) , Principa...

Jan 08, 202019 min

Start fresh. How Propel and the Fresh EBT app is battling poverty.

Jimmy Chen is the Founder and CEO of Propel, a software company that aims to fight poverty through technology. They are the creators of the Fresh EBT mobile app, which enables EBT cardholders to manage their benefits, save money through grocery coupons, and find jobs. Fresh EBT is used by over 2 million low-income Americans across the country. In this episode of Innovation For All Podcast, Sheana learns why Jimmy decided to start Propel and use the tools of Silicon Valley to address social issue...

Jan 01, 20201 hr 7 minSeason 2Ep. 21

What Tech Gets Wrong about Appalachia feat. Dr. Sherry Hamby

In this episode of the Innovation For All Podcast, Sheana Ahlqvist talks to Dr. Sherry Hamby, a Research Professor of Psychology at the University of the South and a Director of the Life Paths Research Center (LPRC). They talk about the role of technology in peoples daily lives. They discuss Appalachian attitudes and values, ResilienceCon and how different societies operate in a technology-centric environment. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR: The culture of values and skepticism that makes Appalachi...

Dec 25, 20191 hr 13 minSeason 2Ep. 20

When bad data leads to social injustice, featuring David Robinson

Can AI really change the world? Or are its developing algorithms formalizing social injustice? When these highly-technical systems derive patterns from existing datasets, their models can perpetuate past mistakes. In this episode of the Innovation For All Podcast, Sheana Ahlqvist discusses with David Robinson the threats of social bias and discrimination becoming embedded in Artificial Intelligence. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: What is the role of technological advances in shaping society? What...

Dec 19, 20191 hr 5 minSeason 2Ep. 19

Teenage Sexting Behaviors with Jeff Temple

Overview: In this episode of Innovation for All, Jeff Temple, professor and licensed psychologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch will discuss his research that studies teenage sexting behaviors. Jeff explains the gender breakdown of teenage sexting, the factors that may lead to psychological consequences, and how it may be a safe way for LGBTQ youth to explore sexuality. In this episode you will learn: How psychologists define what sexting is What sexting looks like in adults How sext...

Dec 11, 201956 minSeason 2Ep. 18

Open access for academic research with Erica Stone

Erica Stone works at the intersection of writing, teaching, and community organizing. Through collaborative projects, she creates opportunities for scholars, students, and community members to engage in conversations and civic problem-solving with the hope of building a more equitable and participatory democracy. As a researcher, Erica is passionate about making academic scholarship free and accessible. In her 2016 TED talk, she critiques the academic publishing industry, urging academics to eng...

Nov 27, 201944 minSeason 2Ep. 17
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