Designing for Equity and Responsible AI with Shanae Chapman

In this episode, Christine Perfetti chats with Shanae Chapman, founder of Nerdy Diva, civic tech leader, AI innovator, and advocate for inclusive design and equity in tech.

Shanae shares her journey from growing up in North St. Louis to building an impressive career in public service, UX, and entrepreneurship.

Christine and Shanae discuss the power of role models and mentors, and how Shanae's navigating challenging industry shifts with resilience. Shanae shares why she built Mocha Mama, an AI tool designed to support maternal health for black women and how she’s pushing for equity through human-centered innovation.

Interview Highlights:

• If you're not learning or earning, it's time to move on, and women especially must get comfortable advocating for both
• AI isn't inclusive by default: designing for equity requires intentionality, critical thinking, and diverse lived experience
• Build your safety nets, multiple revenue streams create freedom
• You don’t have to wait to be perfect to start: see the problem, be brave and iterate as you go

Resources and Links:

Nerdy Diva

Mocha Mama on ChatGPT

Shanae on LinkedIn