Inclusive Product and Service Design

Inclusive Product and Service Design

Nothing about us without us. What does that mean? Well, in the case of product and service design, it means that designers shouldn’t be designing “for” the most marginalized but instead “with” them. Why do toy designers design “toys for girls” and “toys for boys”? Why are products that address the needs of people with disabilities an exception rather than the rule? Why are the most marginalized people not at the decision-making table when products and services are conceptualized and launched? In this episode, we ask product designers Reginé Gilbert, Jahan Mantin and Vanessa Raponi about what inclusive product, service and program design looks like.

Responsible AI and Machine Learning

One of the hottest topics out there is the rise of artificial intelligence and in particular of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Suddenly machines can pass MBA exams, write memos for you, create computer codes, and much much more. At the same time, the conversation around the potential harms, and in particular the inequities, that can be created by such technologies is also accelerating. How can we take advantage of all of the incredible things it can do without suffering from its potential harms?  And, is that even possible?  In this episode, we talk to Annie Veillet and Allison Cohen to answer these questions.

Using a Gender Lens in Sports Analytics

Why do we call the Men’s World Cup in soccer just “The World Cup” and for women, it is the “Women’s World Cup”? Why is the NBA —the National Basketball League—just for men, and the one for women is the “WNBA.”? People think they are an add on…a niche market…But, they would be wrong. What would happen if we thought about women’s sports and women in sports as equally valuable as men?  In this episode, we are going to hear from two accomplished entrepreneurs, Meghan Chayka and Jacie De Hoop, on what using a gender lens in sports analytics might do.

Creating Inclusive Contracts: Insights about the Law

The topic of this conversation is about creating inclusive contracts. You might be thinking that this is a bit obscure. Why should we be talking about the law and contracting in a set of discussions on designing for everyone? In this episode, we are going to hear from Joy Anderson, Charlene Theodore and Sara Wolfe about how we can explore the potentially biased impacts of the legal infrastructure in our economy and how to make it better.

Gender Analytics in Financial Services

Financial services is one of the most important sectors in our economy. This is an industry that touches everyone—whether it is saving for retirement, getting a housing loan, financing a new business, or using a credit card—and with that comes the potential to exacerbate or remediate inequalities. And, we probably all know that still so little investment goes to women-owned businesses relative to their male counterparts. And, what about the fact that women are more likely to live in poverty after retirement in part because of the gendered nature of savings and investment?     In this episode, we are going to hear from Kelly Baldoni, Stephanie Kelly, Sylvia Kwan and Myan Marcen-Gaudaur about how a gender lens, an Indigenous lens, and more broadly an equity lens on financial services, can create new business ideas, identify new opportunities for improved returns, and achieve a more inclusive economy.