The latest candidate in our series of Q&As with influential women in the technology business is Shelley Vaisberg, Co-founder & Chief Clinical Officer, Brainbot, an AI-powered concussion recovery assistant.
Name: Shelley Vaisberg
Job Title & Company: Co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer, Brainbot
Years in the Industry: 10+ Years
The Quote That Most Inspires You: “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” (- Viktor E. Frankl)
What drew you to a career in the consumer and/or business technology industry?
I started my career on a very traditional path as an Occupational Therapist (OT) but dabbled in innovation projects with my entrepreneur friends. For 10+ years, I supported patients with brain injuries and conditions as an OT. Through my experience, I found a gap in easy-to-access tools for patients and clinicians to help track and manage symptoms triggers during the patient’s recovery journey. I then experienced this challenge first-hand when I had a concussion a few years ago, which further motivated me to create a solution to fill this gap for patients.
Have you encountered any roadblocks along the way that were related to your gender?
As an occupational therapist, I feel fortunate to be a woman in a predominantly female-dominated field and, on the tech founder side, I have benefited from initiatives supporting women founders in Toronto. However, I’ve faced challenges in investment and business development scenarios where my input was initially overlooked until I involved my male CEO, highlighting subtle biases in the tech industry.
Additionally, I have experienced internal challenges like maintaining confidence, making decisions outside of my realm of expertise, and balancing the demanding roles of motherhood with my significant professional responsibilities. These factors often create internal conflicts for me, reflecting the complex realities many women face in the tech industry.
What unique characteristics or perspectives do you feel you bring to your organization as a woman?
On the customer side, the majority of Brainbot’s users are female. It’s important to have strategies and resources that resonate with them, which comes naturally when they are crafted under the direction of a female business owner.
In terms of my approach to leadership and company culture, I am equally influenced by my experiences as a mother and a co-founder in the tech industry. I am deeply invested in the growth and development of our team, which includes mentoring students, interns, and junior members. Drawing on my role as a mother, I strive to create a nurturing and safe work environment, applying the same dedication to fostering our team’s growth. My leadership style emphasizes open and transparent communication, where empathy is at the core of our operations. I focus on providing constructive feedback and equally value learning from diverse experiences and perspectives within our team.
This mutual exchange of ideas is crucial for enhancing each team member’s skills and bolstering their contributions to our company. By instilling a culture of communication, continuous learning and improvement, we ensure that everyone feels valued, supported, and prepared to meet their potential, building a strong team dynamic essential for a thriving startup environment.
Technology is historically a male-dominated industry, yet the use of tech is fully embraced by women, and many studies even suggest that females are the primary buyers of tech in the home. What do you feel the technology industry needs to attract more women, particularly into high-level positions?
As the technology industry has historically been male-dominated, there is a critical need for systemic change to attract and retain women, particularly in high-level positions. To inspire and set standards for inclusivity, the industry needs to see more women in leadership positions. Even if a company has an equal split of men and women, if you don’t have women at the senior leadership level, you have a problem. To address this recurring issue, I’d like to see more investment in developing mentorship and sponsorship programs specifically tailored for women to provide guidance and career advancement opportunities.
Another important factor is that tech companies must embrace flexible and inclusive work environments that support different life stages, especially motherhood. Additionally, supporting STEM education for young girls and women through access to programs in the school system, scholarships, and internships can help cultivate a pipeline of talented female professionals ready to enter the tech field.
While these changes are necessary, it’s encouraging to see some movement within the industry as more companies begin to implement these supportive measures, reflecting a growing awareness of the benefits that diversity brings to technology and innovation.
If you had to sum up what it is like being a woman in this male-dominated technology industry in just a few words, what would you say?
Challenging, yet deeply empowering. It’s a source of pride that my daughters witness me pushing boundaries in this field.
Are there women in the tech industry who inspire you?
Claire Vo, Chief Product Officer of LaunchDarkly and founder of ChatPRD, stands out as a source of inspiration not only due to her significant professional achievements but also because of her unique approach to career growth. As a leader, Claire has an unbelievable passion for tech and a continuous drive to build and grow, all while balancing the responsibilities of being a mother of two. As a mother of two myself, I find this especially inspiring!
I also learned an important strategy from Claire to set yourself apart and propel your career. One of the best ways to show your value is by proactively identifying opportunities and demonstrating or using your skills to meet these needs. She sets a great example for women in tech, showing how passion, ambition, and personal life can coexist.
What are some of the misconceptions/myths about women working in the technology space that you’d like to dispel?
A common misconception is that women must sacrifice family and personal relationships to succeed in technology. However, I believe it’s entirely possible to maintain a balance, though it certainly requires careful management and support. It’s not about being able to do it all; it’s about making daily choices that align best with your personal and professional priorities.
With a supportive network—what I like to call ‘my village’—and effective planning, managing both a career and a family becomes feasible. This network, coupled with a clear understanding of one’s priorities, allows us to navigate the complexities of career advancement in tech alongside personal life commitments.
What’s one thing you wish was done differently in the industry, and why?
There are crucial areas where both the tech and healthcare industries could improve. First, healthcare education should include business development and financial management training. Often, professionals in healthcare lack these critical skills because they aren’t a part of the standard curriculum. Introducing this training would better equip healthcare professionals to lead more effectively and manage resources wisely.
In the realm of tech, particularly AI development, a significant concern is the reliance on research that predominantly uses white male participants, leading to biased datasets. We must diversify the datasets used in AI to avoid perpetuating these biases. This shift would help create technologies that are fair and representational of all users.
Additionally, teaching basic coding from a young age should become a standard practice. It would enable future health professionals to innovate and collaborate effectively with tech teams. If I had this training, I know my technical literacy would facilitate easier and more effective communication with my technical team.
Are you optimistic for the future in general and for the industry?
I’m optimistic about the future of AI, particularly in healthcare, where it can augment rather than replace jobs by automating routine tasks. This allows healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care. I’m also encouraged by the growing support within the industry to empower women and the solidarity among women helping each other thrive in tech. This collective effort fosters diversity and ensures that AI development is guided by a broad range of perspectives, leading to more ethical and effective outcomes.