Made for Us

So your name’s been mistreated by autocorrect. What harm does that cause? And what would it take to fix it? In this episode of What's in a Name, Northeastern University law professor Rashmi Dyal-Chand discusses her research into autocorrect's bias and shares her blueprint for change - from what consumers can do to where the law might need to step in. Plus: journalist Dhruti Shah on her viral 2018 BBC article that first brought the issue to light. This is Part 3 of our mini-series about autocorrect and inclusive technology. -- New to the series? Start with Part 1 and Part 2 Enjoying the show? Leave a rating to help others discover it, or share your autocorrect story at madeforuspod@gmail.com -- About Rashmi Dyal-Chand Rashmi Dyal-Chand is a law professor at Northeastern University. Her research and teaching focus on property law, poverty, economic development and consumer law. She is the author of the article, “Autocorrecting for Whiteness”, published in the Boston University Law Review in 2021. Learn more about Rashmi Dyal-Chand: https://law.northeastern.edu/faculty/dyal-chand/ Read the “Autocorrecting for Whiteness” article: https://www.bu.edu/bulawreview/files/2021/03/DYAL-CHAND.pdf About Dhruti Shah Dhruti Shah is a creative practitioner, storyteller and journalist who focuses extensively on belonging. She is a collaborator with I Am Not A Typo. Read Dhruti’s article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46362259 Follow Dhruti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhrutishahstoryteller/ Follow Dhruti on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhruti_journo/ -- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram

The I Am Not a Typo campaign managed to get tech companies' attention. So what happened next? We hear from one of the campaign organisers about the conversations with tech giants - and whether anything actually changed. -- New to the series? Start with Part 1 . Listen to the trailer. Enjoying the show? Leave a rating to help others discover it, or share your autocorrect story at madeforuspod@gmail.com -- About Cathal Wogan Cathal Wogan is a lead collaborator with I Am Not A Typo, a collective aiming to create social change so no one feels like an oversight. I Am Not A Typo looks at the link between identity and technology, and its flagship UK-based campaign asks tech giants to update their name dictionaries to better reflect the modern multi-cultural United Kingdom. Cathal is a Senior Consulting Director at communications consultancy Blurred, the agency that convenes I Am Not A Typo and its many cross-industry collaborators. Learn more about I Am Not A Typo: https://www.iamnotatypo.org/ Follow Cathal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-wogan/ -- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

For years, people added their "unusual" names to their phone's dictionary, treating it as a minor inconvenience. Then some decided to fight back. In this episode, we meet the people whose names are constantly "corrected" by their devices and hear how I Am Not A Typo, a grassroots campaign to fix autocorrect, got the attention of tech giants. This is Part 1 of “What’s in a name?”, a new mini-series about autocorrect and inclusive technology. -- If someone came to mind while you were listening, send this episode their way. And if you have an autocorrect story of your own, we'd love to hear it. Email us at madeforuspod@gmail.com. -- Guests Cathal Wogan, Xaymaca Awoyungbo, Vedrana Koren, Wanyu Zhang and Angharad Planells Learn more about I Am Not A Typo Website: https://www.iamnotatypo.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamnotatypo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-not-a-typo/ Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn and Instagram

Across the world, millions of people's names are treated as errors by our devices. In the UK alone, 41% of baby names are flagged as "incorrect." In a new mini-series, we'll meet the people pushing tech companies to do better and explore what autocorrect reveals about how - and for whom - technology gets built. Subscribe now so you don't miss new episodes. --- Connect with  Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/  Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 

If some of the conversations you've heard in this season of Made For Us have felt like a glimpse into the future, then you're not alone.  Our final guest of season 2, Marcus Engel, feels like he's already living in the future, thanks to AI, apps like Be My Eyes and other assistive devices. Marcus is a speaker, author and compassion consultant. He's also an advisor to Haptic, whose founder, Kevin Yoo, was our guest last week. Haptic is the company behind one of the world's first touch-based navigation apps and it was a meeting with Marcus that inspired Kevin to start the company. Today, we'll hear Marcus' story, how surviving massive trauma led him to become a compassion consultant and how he thinks haptic technology could impact mobility for people who are blind or visually impaired.  You’ll learn: Haptic technology's potential to guide people living with sight loss Marcus’s four-part definition of compassion and how it’s different to empathy  Which products Marcus considers to be ‘compassionate' Enjoyed the episode? Text it to a friend. Loved the episode? Tell the world with a 5-star review. You might also like: Navigation you can feel: the startup making the world accessible through touch How to design a fairer healthcare system --- About Marcus Engel Marcus Engel is an adjunct professor at the University of Notre Dame teaching compassion science to pre-meds. He's also a survivor of massive trauma, a keynote speaker, author and hospital/system consultant. He's written two books that have been adopted by scores of nursing and health profession programs across the country.  Learn more about Marcus Engel: www.MarcusEngel.com Compassion & Courage podcast Compassion in Action training video Follow Marcus Engel on LinkedIn --- Connect with  Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/  Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 

Help shape the next season of this podcast! Please answer a few quick questions and tell us how we can make this show better for you: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod --- What if navigating the world didn't rely on sight at all? In this episode, Kevin Yoo, the CEO and founder of Haptic, joins us to tell the story of one of the world’s first haptic navigation apps.  Kevin shares how he was motivated by his friend’s experience of becoming blind, how haptic technology is shaping a more accessible future and the challenges that come with rethinking how we move through the world. This episode dives into:    - Why the sense of touch has been underutilized in tech and how Haptic is trying to change that - What guiding a blind runner at the New York City Marathon revealed about the potential of haptic technology for blind and visually impaired runners - Kevin’s experience of putting himself in the shoes of a blind person for a few weeks and the lessons that came from it ⭐️Enjoyed the episode? Leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and help more listeners discover the show! You might also like: Be My Eyes: the app powering a global volunteer movement for accessibility | Hans Jørgen Wiberg 'I don't need fixing - the world does.' Lucy Edwards on redefining disability --- About Kevin Yoo Kevin is the CEO and Founder of Haptic, a technology company creating a universal language of touch. Haptic is developing products and experiences that communicate information through vibrations. Kevin’s mission is to redefine the way we intake information through technology, especially for people with disabilities. Haptic's flagship product, HapticNav, made history by guiding the first blind runner in the NYC Marathon without sighted or audio assistance. Learn more about Haptic: https://haptic.works/ Download HapticNav on IOS and Android Follow Haptic on Instagram and LinkedIn Follow Kevin Yoo on Instagram --- Connect with  Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/  Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 

Help us make this podcast better for you! Our quick listener survey is your chance to shape the next season: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod --- When science journalist Layal Liverpool was finally diagnosed with eczema as a teenager, it came as a shock. Not because of the condition itself, but because only one doctor had recognized it on her skin tone. Pediatrician Tessa Davis had a similar wake-up call: she noticed that a Google search for common skin conditions only returned images of white patients. So she started collecting images of conditions on diverse skin tones, and launched a movement in the process. In this episode, Layal Liverpool, author of Systemic: How Racism is Making Us Ill, and Tessa Davis, a consultant at the Royal London Hospital, shed light on how racial inequities show up in diagnosis, treatment and outcomes — and how more inclusive care can lead to better health for all. We discuss: How racial health inequities harm not just marginalised communities, but all of us The alarming disparities in maternal health in the UK and US that can’t be explained by income alone The lack of diversity in medical textbooks and efforts to diversify the medical curriculum If you found this episode as eye-opening as we did, share it with a friend and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to spread the word! --- About Layal Liverpool: Layal Liverpool is a science journalist and author of SYSTEMIC: How Racism is Making Us Ill,’ a book exploring the health harms of racism. She was a reporter for Nature and New Scientist and worked as a biomedical researcher at University College London and the University of Oxford. She holds a PhD in virology and immunology from the University of Oxford. Learn more about Layal Liverpool: https://layalliverpool.com/ Follow Layal Liverpool on Instagram About Tessa Davis: Tessa is a Paediatric Emergency Medicine Consultant at the Royal London Hospital, and an Honorary Clinical Reader at Queen Mary University of London. She is also an interview coach helping doctors in the UK prep for their NHS Consultant Interviews. Learn more about Skin Deep: www.DFTBSkinDeep.com Follow Tessa on Instagram --- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/  Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 

This week, we’re rewinding back to one of our most popular episodes from Season 1, with Rayouf Alhumedhi, creator of the headscarf emoji. (The episode was also shortlisted for last year's International Women’s Podcast Awards in the ‘Moment of Insight from a Role Model’ category.)  Rayouf launched the Hijab Emoji Project at the age of 16 to push for digital representation for Muslim women around the world. She was named one of Time magazine’s most influential teens and also featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list.  Rayouf has a Bachelor’s degree in Product Design and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. She currently works as an investor at Bessemer Venture Partners.  In this episode, Rayouf shares: Her motivation for creating the headscarf emoji What it takes to design a brand new emoji and get it approved The praise and backlash she received during her campaign How Gen Z is pushing inclusive design to the forefront Know someone who’d be inspired by this? Why not share it with them - and help even more people discover this show by leaving a 5-star rating or review wherever you listen!  You might also like:  The emoji puzzle: how to fit everyone in --- Learn more about Rayouf Alhumedhi: https://www.rayouf.com/ Follow Rayouf on Instagram --- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

What happens when women aren’t considered in car safety design? For decades, crash test dummies have been modeled on the average male, but studies now show that women are more likely to be injured or killed in certain types of crashes. As the data mounts, so does the urgency to fix the gender gap in car safety. This week, we’re joined by Emily Thomas, PhD, Associate Director of Automotive Safety at Consumer Reports, and Astrid Linder, Professor of Traffic Safety at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, who developed the world’s first crash test dummy representing an average woman. Together, we’ll explore what it will take to design truly inclusive and safe cars. The conversation covers: Why women face higher injury risks in car crashes What’s involved in designing a female crash test dummy How the shift to driverless cars presents a chance to correct past biases --- Resources Astrid Linder’s research University of Virginia study U.S. Government Accountability Office recommendations --- About Professor Astrid Linder Astrid Linder is Professor of Traffic Safety at Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, VTI, and an Adjunct Professor of Injury Prevention at Chalmers University. She received her PhD in traffic safety from Chalmers from where she also has a MSc in Engineering Physics. Prof Linder initiated and led the research resulting in the world’s first physical dummy model based on the average female, the Seat Evaluation Tool (SET 50F) and was named one of the BBC's 100 most inspiring and influential women in 2023. Learn more about Astrid Linder: https://www.vti.se/en/employees/astrid-linder Follow Astrid Linder on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/astrid-linder-2a0b5a53/ About Emily Thomas, PhD Emily Thomas leads the occupant protection and vulnerable road user safety programs at Consumer Report’s Auto Test Center. Her expertise extends to crash safety, vehicular heatstroke prevention, and child passenger safety. Emily has 15 years of automotive safety experience and holds a PhD in pediatric injury biomechanics from Drexel University and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Learn more about Emily Thomas: https://www.consumerreports.org/about-us/our-people/our-experts/emily-thomas/ --- Connect with Made For Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

Welcome to our second crossover episode of season 2! This week, we’re spotlighting Narratives of Purpose podcast, hosted by Claire Murigande - but we’ll be back next week with a new episode of Made For Us. Narratives of Purpose showcases stories of impact-driven founders. Covering diverse topics from youth empowerment to global health equity to sustainable food systems, it’s one to have on your radar if you’re interested in purpose-led innovation. In this conversation from their Women’s Health Series, host Claire delves into the world of FemTech and women’s health with Marija Butkovic, Founder and CEO of Women of Wearables, a global organisation that supports female innovators in wearable tech and health tech. Claire and Marija discuss: Challenges women face in the health industry The role of investment in advancing women’s health The evolution of FemTech and the untapped potential for investment and entrepreneurship in the sector  Learn more about Narratives of Purpose: https://narratives-of-purpose.podcastpage.io/ — Connect with  Made for Us on LinkedIn and Instagram Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/

What does it take to thrive as a Black ballerina in an art form that prizes uniformity?   In this episode, renowned Brazilian ballerina Ingrid Silva reflects on the professional breakthroughs and battles behind her rise in the ballet world - from spending 11 years dyeing her pointe shoes by hand to match her skin tone, to persuading the industry to prioritize inclusivity. She shares her journey from Rio de Janeiro to Dance Theatre of Harlem and how becoming a mother has impacted her career. The episode also dives into: Ingrid's childhood in Brazil and how a kind neighbour changed the course of her life The unspoken emotional and financial costs for dancers of colour in ballet How her personal experience drove her to create the 'Blacks in Ballet' movement What ballet still gets wrong about representation, motherhood, and belonging  Enjoyed the episode? Text it to a friend and leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts to help more listeners discover the show! --- About Ingrid Silva Ingird Silva is a celebrated Brazilian ballerina and changemaker with Dance Theatre of Harlem. Born in Rio de Janeiro, she began dancing at age 8 through a social project in the Mangueira favela and later earned a full scholarship to study in New York. She has performed leading roles in works by George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, and others, and collaborated with renowned choreographers worldwide. A dedicated advocate for equity in the arts, she is the founder of podHER and co-founder of Blacks in Ballet. Her accomplishments have been recognized globally –  from having her pointe shoes exhibited at the Smithsonian, to working on global brand campaigns. Learn more about Ingrid Silva: https://www.ingridsilvaballet.com/ Follow Ingrid Silva on Instagram: @ingridsilva   Follow Dancers and Motherhood: @dancersandmotherhood Follow Blacks in Ballet: @blacksinballet Follow PodHer: https://www.podher.org/ --- Connect with  Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

It's been called 'a phenomenal example of inclusive design' and it's spreading across subway stations, museums and supermarkets around the world. NaviLens is a new type of technology designed to help blind and partially sighted people navigate cities and indoor spaces by scanning a QR code with their phone. Unlike traditional QR codes, users don’t need to focus on the code or know its precise location. In this episode, we sit down with Oran McAllister, NaviLens’ Client Engagement Officer, to explore this new frontier in accessibility and how it can help visually impaired people gain more independence. We also cover:   NaviLens’ origins in Spain and how the technology has gained traction in over 100 countries, from the US to Australia  Why major transport systems from London to Tokyo and brands like Kellogg’s and P&G are signing on How NaviLens makes grocery shopping more accessible for everyone, from travellers to people with autism Loved the episode? Leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and help more listeners discover the show! You might also like: 'I don't need fixing - the world does' Lucy Edwards on redefining disability 'No going back': lessons from P&G's product inclusion journey with Sam Latif --- About Oran McAllister Oran McAllister is the Client Engagement Officer at NaviLens. Oran is tasked with developing new relationships and sustaining established partnerships with organisations, associations and users of NaviLens around the world. His passion in the pursuit of accessibility not only comes from his professional background but also stems from his personal experience. Learn more about NaviLens: https://www.navilens.com/en/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NaviLens LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navilens/ Reach out to NaviLens:  info@navilens.com --- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/  Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 

Do people with melanin-rich skin really need less sun protection? With sayings like “Asian don’t raisin” and “Black don’t crack,”  sun care is often overlooked in communities of color. But the science tells a different story. In this episode, we sit down with Dujon Smith, founder of the inclusive sun care brand My Block Skin. We unpack the myths around sunscreen, the marketing gaps and the sobering stats, including why men of color have the lowest survival rates from melanoma. This episode also dives into: Dujon’s founder journey – from ideation and testing formulations to creating a lifestyle brand How My Block Skin became the first black-owned sun care brand stocked at the UK pharmacy chain Boots in its 175-year history How companies can cater to overlooked audiences through social listening If this episode made you think, laugh, or go “hmm,” leave us a 5 star rating - and text it to a friend. You might also like: Rooting for you: the men's grooming brand winning over big retailers --- About Dujon Smith Dujon Smith is the founder and CEO of My Block Skin, a sun care brand redefining the industry with high-performance, melanin-inclusive formulas. Dujon launched My Block Skin in 2023 as a testament to his mission of inclusivity and innovation. Beyond My Block Skin, Dujon is a full-time investor at Accenture Ventures, where he leads the Founders Development Program, helping underrepresented entrepreneurs scale their technology businesses through access to capital, mentorship, and strategic partnerships.  Learn more about My Block Skin: http://www.myblockskin.com Follow Dujon C Smith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dujoncsmith/ Follow Dujon C Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dujoncsmith/ Resources: Accenture Thought Leadership on the Black Founders Venture Capital Gap: https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/a-com-migration/r3-3/pdf/pdf-172/Accenture-Bridging-Black-Founders-VC-Gap.pdf Skin Cancer Study on Men of Color: https://www.aad.org/news/melanoma-study-men-skin-of-color-lowest-survival-rates --- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/  Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 

Welcome to our first crossover episode of Season 2! This week, we’re sharing an interview from the climate design podcast Climify, hosted by Eric Benson - but we’ll be back next week with a new episode of Made For Us! Climify is one of our favourite podcast discoveries this year, and we highly recommend it if you’re curious about design and social impact. We hope you enjoy discovering the show through this special episode from Season 4: “Creating Cradle-to-Cradle Clothing with Heike Petersen”.  In the conversation, Heike Petersen shares with Eric her multicultural global journey in creating her cradle-to-cradle sustainable, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic yoga fitness brand, Wellicious. Eric and Heike discuss:  Challenges of building a sustainable clothing brand How to make sense of sustainable certifications  The crucial shift we all need to make towards slow fashion  Learn more about Climify: www.climatedesigners.org/edu/climify  --- Connect with  Made for Us on LinkedIn and Instagram Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked disability data gap in AI, and why it matters for equitable hiring. Ariana Aboulafia, who leads the Disability Rights in Technology Policy Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), joins us to share insights on designing more inclusive algorithmic systems and creating datasets that are more representative of disability. Whether you’re building AI, hiring talent, or advocating for accessibility, this episode is a great starting point for understanding how to reduce disability bias in technology. In the conversation, we explore: How effective AI hiring tools are at reducing human bias The importance of including people with disabilities at every stage of AI development The challenges of getting accurate disability data How understanding the different definitions of disability can improve data collection Missed last week's episode? Would Stephen Hawking get hired today? The hiden bias in AI recruiting tools --- About Ariana Aboulafia Learn more about Ariana Aboulafia: https://cdt.org/staff/ariana-aboulafia/ Follow Ariana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arianaaboulafia/   Follow Ariana on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArianaAboulafia Read the disability data report: https://cdt.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-07-23-Data-Disability-report-final.pdf --- Connect with  Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/  Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

Could AI hiring create more barriers for people with disabilities instead of levelling the playing field? In this episode, Susan Scott-Parker, founder of business disability international, says standardised and inflexible AI hiring systems risk shutting many people with disabilities out of the workforce. She makes the case for more inclusive HR technologies that are designed for the full range of human experience.  Tune in to learn more about: The unsettling truth about how AI hiring tools are screening out candidates with disabilities - and how to make them fairer How HR leaders can challenge biases in AI hiring tools and demand more from the technology they invest in Why Susan coined the term “disability confidence” and why it’s not just about “being nice” to disabled people Missed last week's episode? REPLAY: Cliff Weitzman on building the 'voice of the internet' --- About Susan Scott-Parker Susan Scott-Parker OBE is a creative thought leader internationally recognised for her work on how to mobilise business leadership behind disability equality. She founded the world’s first business disability network, now the Business Disability Forum (UK). In 2016, she established business disability international and advises a growing global community on how to work productively with businesses as valued allies. Follow Susan Scott-Parker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanscottparker1/ Learn more about business disability international: https://www.businessdisabilityinternational.org/ Learn more about Project Nemo: https://projectnemo.co.uk/ Follow Amit Ghose: https://www.tiktok.com/@amitghosenf1 --- Connect with  Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/  Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

This week, we're taking you back to the first ever episode of Made For Us (and the most downloaded in Season 1). It’s an interview with Cliff Weitzman, the founder and CEO of Speechify, a text to speech app that has made reading more accessible for people with dyslexia, ADHD, low vision and other conditions that make reading difficult.  Speechify now has 50 million users who can listen to the internet, emails and other documents with over 200 AI voices, including those of celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow. We also have a special announcement about a big milestone that Made For Us reached this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen! And be sure to subscribe to the free Made For Us newsletter to get bonus content. Also from the archives: Ade Hassan on moving beyond 'one-nude-fits-all' --- Learn more about Speechify Website / Instagram Follow Cliff Weitzman Instagram / Youtube / Medium --- Connect with  Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/  Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 

When Danish furniture craftsman Hans Jørgen Wiberg launched Be My Eyes, an app connecting blind and low-vision users with sighted volunteers, he had no idea it would grow into a global movement. But 10 years after its launch, the app now boasts 800,000 blind users and over 8.5 million volunteers, more than the population of his country. In this episode, Hans, who is visually impaired himself, tells the origin story of the app, how it “spread like wildfire” and Be My Eyes’ partnerships with companies like Microsoft and OpenAI. The conversation covers: The diverse and innovative ways people use the Be My Eyes app Why microvolunteering - helping out for just a few minutes - has become such a powerful force for good The rapid growth of Be My AI, a new AI-powered feature providing users with quick visual assistance for everyday tasks The challenges Be My Eyes faces in reaching underserved communities Missed last week's episode? Inside Adobe’s mission to build more inclusive tech --- About Hans Jørgen Wiberg Hans Jørgen Wiberg is the founder of Be My Eyes, a groundbreaking app that connects blind and visually impaired individuals with sighted volunteers for real-time assistance via video calls. Born in Denmark and visually impaired himself, Hans created Be My Eyes in to address everyday challenges faced by blind and low-vision people. Under his leadership, the app has grown into a global community with 800,000 users and over 8 million volunteers in 150+ countries. --- Learn more about Be My Eyes : https://www.bemyeyes.com/  Follow Be My Eyes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bemyeyesapp/?hl=en  Follow Hans Jørgen Wiberg on LinkedIn: https://dk.linkedin.com/in/hans-j%C3%B8rgen-wiberg-8a16b915  --- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/  Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

TB Bardlavens, Director of Product Equity at Adobe, joins us for this special edition featuring questions from Made For Us listeners.  We discuss what it really means to build technology that works for everyone and how the Product Equity team tackles this challenge across all 137 of Adobe’s products. TB also shares how his team shaped Firefly, Adobe’s suite of generative AI tools, ensuring that its outputs truly reflect human diversity.  Along the way, TB answers listener questions on the impact of DEI rollbacks in the US and Adobe’s approach to building inclusive global products that respect cultural nuances. Other topics we explore: Why traditional product development often fails to meet human needs How Adobe is embedding equity and accessibility across its entire product ecosystem The human case and the business case for product equity The role of AI in creativity and Adobe’s mission to empower, not replace, creatives Want more like this? Get the free Made For Us newsletter for exclusive content and the chance to pose your questions to upcoming guests. Missed last week’s episode? AI vs the gender feedback gap --- About TB Bardlavens TB Bardlavens is chaotic good in its purest form. He is a Gay, Black man from the Carolinas, a highly regarded social intrapreneur, and an advocate for equity in technology and design. He is a Product Executive, Cultural Strategist, Diversity, Equity, and Justice expert, Co-Founder, Writer, and International Speaker and Facilitator. For more than a decade, TB has dedicated his career to dismantling systemic barriers, building and scaling teams, and launching innovative digital products for companies like Microsoft, Meta and Adobe. Learn more about TB Bardlavens: https://www.bardlavens.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/bardlavens  Instagram: https://instagram.com/bardlavens  ---  Connect with Made for Us on LinkedIn and Instagram. Show notes and transcripts: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/  Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

How does bias show up in workplace feedback, and can AI help fix it? In this episode, we speak with Mykel Rangel, VP of Engineering at Textio, a company that has built AI-driven tools that are reshaping the way managers give feedback and how recruiters craft job ads. We explore the hidden biases in performance reviews, how feedback impacts employee retention and pay, and what leaders can do to create more equitable workplaces. We also cover: Textio’s research on workplace feedback and what language can reveal about a company’s culture Why women tend to get more personality-based feedback than men How AI can help managers close the feedback gap Strategies for evaluating AI tools for bias mitigation Enjoyed what you heard? Pass it on to a friend - or tell the world with a 5-star review. Missed last week's episode? Listen here: https://pod.fo/e/2b31a7 --- About Mykel Rangel  Mykel Rangel is the Vice President of Engineering at Textio, a company using artificial intelligence to help organisations create more inclusive, effective, and engaging written communication. Starting off as a tech writer, Mykel transitioned into software before joining Textio.  Learn more about Textio: https://textio.com Follow Mykel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykel-rangel-18963322/ Read the report on bias in performance feedback: https://textio.com/feedback-bias-2024  --- Connect with  Made for Us Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/  Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/