Tech Talent Spotlight: Nic Rogers

For this edition of our Tech Talent Spotlight series, we’re thrilled to introduce Nic Rogers, the founder and CEO of The Inclusive AI. Nic is on a mission to transform the tech industry by championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in artificial intelligence.  

In our conversation, Nic shares her inspiring journey, her passion for empowering underrepresented communities in tech, and how she’s building a future where tech innovation is accessible to everyone. From launching impactful initiatives to driving ethical AI practices, Nic is proving that technology can – and should – be a force for good.  

My name is Nic Rogers, and I’m the CEO and Chief AI Inclusion Officer at The Inclusive AI (TIA). We’re doing big things at TIA, but I’ll get to that later. First, to make this story make sense, I should start with a little about myself. 
 
I launched my first business at 25 with a team of five. At first, I chalked up the struggles to my age and inexperience, but over time, I began to hate it, deeply. I didn’t understand why, but I couldn’t stand it. One day, I simply walked away. I didn’t care. Nothing could have kept me there. I felt trapped. 

For years, fear paralyzed me from starting another business. I never wanted to feel that miserable and stuck again. It took me 15 years to even consider another venture, and even then, I approached it slowly and cautiously. 
 
Fast-forward another five years, and now, I’m a committed serial entrepreneur. I love everything about it. The shift? A mindset change that transformed my life: 
1) Don’t overthink it—just go for it. 
2) If you fail, so what? 
3) Live to learn. 

In my first business, I lacked the right mindset. I learned that failure is crucial,  especially for women. So, I created an accountability group to normalize and discuss failures openly. Self-awareness became my superpower, leading to the birth of The Inclusive AI.

Surprisingly, my background isn't in tech but psychology. Yet, everything I've learned has proven useful. My journey through tech support, teaching, and organizational psychology converged perfectly for this role. 

My non-traditional path initially held me back in tech, but now I'm leading The Inclusive AI. It feels like I've been preparing for this my whole life. What really energizes me is helping others start their AI journeys. I love being the one to tell their stories and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit. 

The inspiration for founding The Inclusive AI (TIA) came from frustration with the way AI conversations were unfolding around the world. Everywhere I looked, the discussions were dominated by "tech bros." I think there is a certain image that pops into everyone's head when you say that term. It is a cycle of the same people reinforcing each other’s perspectives without addressing ethics, equity, accessibility, inclusion, accountability, or privacy. It was as if the industry woke up one day, decided to build AI-driven businesses that would be available to the masses, and completely overlooked the people and customers AI would actually serve. 
 
At industry events and product launches, I kept seeing the same big-tech-backed voices, more focused on impressing each other than creating real-world impact. The end-user was often an afterthought. It was absurd! How can you develop products without truly involving customers? 

I knew brilliant people in AI whose voices weren't shaping the narrative. They lacked big tech backing and weren't invited to panels. It became clear that without elevating these voices, AI would mirror traditional tech - a notoriously exclusive boys' club. This prospect was alarming, considering AI's potential to impact more people globally than any previous technology. 

That's why I created TIA. We elevate voices without corporate backing - small startups, researchers, and enthusiasts doing meaningful work in AI. Our goal is to ensure AI isn't just shaped by the loudest voices, but by those committed to making it ethical, inclusive, and accessible. Crucially, we break down complex tech conversations through workshops, articles, and discussions. Making these topics understandable to everyone is the only path to true inclusivity in AI development 

The first step I took to incorporate diverse perspectives into AI discourse was building a global team of writers. I intentionally sought out individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and disciplines to ensure a wide range of perspectives on AI. Avoiding groupthink was a priority, so I looked for writers who had unique ideas, theories, and approaches to AI discussions. 
 
From the beginning, I was deliberate about the stories we covered. I didn’t want AI to be framed as something ominous or dystopian. Instead, our goal was to make AI accessible and understandable to everyday people. TIA is for those outside the tech industry who are often left out of the conversation. I have no idea how the actual customer gets left out of the conversation, but I digress.  
 
Now that we’ve been rolling out stories for about a year, we are shifting our focus to amplifying these diverse voices even further. We are also leveraging the unique insights of our writers to tap into businesses and leaders in their respective regions. Since I am based in the USA, I recognize that I may not have firsthand knowledge of the key influencers and decision-makers in places like Peru, India, or the Philippines. By utilizing our writers’ local expertise and connections, we can engage with the right people and build meaningful relationships that drive impactful conversations about AI on a global scale. It’s not just about reporting on AI; it’s about making sure the perspectives of those who have historically been excluded from tech spaces are heard and valued in shaping the future of AI. 

The Inclusive AI (TIA) approaches AI ethics by making complex topics like data privacy and algorithmic bias accessible and understandable to everyone. Our stories are written with the goal of bringing the conversation to the people who are most affected, everyday people. They don’t need to be AI engineers or data scientists to be part of this dialogue. They simply need to understand how AI systems impact their lives and have the confidence to express their concerns or ideas. We believe that creating transparency and inclusivity in conversations about AI ethics ensures that no one is left behind. 
 
The Inclusive AI Foundation (TIAF) approaches AI ethics through strategic support for researchers and professionals working at the forefront of this field. We collaborate with and uplift experts who are actively addressing the real-world challenges surrounding AI ethics, data privacy, and bias. For instance, Berkeley AI Innovator Scholar Hind Arroub is conducting outstanding research on the intersection of AI ethics, policy impact, and culture. Professionals like her are often behind the scenes doing critical work, and TIAF is dedicated to making sure their voices and work are heard and elevated. 
 
Through the research we support, workshops, and collaboration opportunities, we want to make sure we create pathways for people to connect with broader communities, decision-makers, and industry leaders. Our goal is to bring their work to the forefront and drive meaningful change in the way AI systems are designed and implemented. By supporting voices that challenge conventional approaches to ethics and advocate for inclusive, fair technology, we ensure that ethical considerations are embedded at every stage of AI development and deployment. 

I believe you are categorizing us as AI developers, but that is not what we do. We are so far beyond that. In terms of service, we have positioned ourselves to be the backbone of up-and-coming businesses and emerging leaders in diverse fields, including technology, research, and entrepreneurship. What we are doing is groundbreaking (TIA and TIAF). Not only are we supporting up comers, but we are actively taking a position that everyone needs to be involved on all levels and in all regions around the world. It is our mission to leave no one behind.  
 
To answer your question, we approach inclusivity in AI with varying levels of support for researchers, professionals, and communities working to challenge traditional, often exclusionary, methods. Unlike AI developers focused solely on building products, we are working to create opportunities for innovation by supporting those who are reshaping AI to better reflect diverse human experiences. 
 
A fantastic example of this can be seen in how we support researchers addressing bias in AI systems that rely on perception-based data, such as facial recognition, voice analysis, and behavioral prediction. These technologies often reinforce social inequalities when designed without diverse representation. 
 
There is a wonderful lady named Christelle Mombo-Zigah who is working hard to bring digital colorism to the forefront. Digital colorism refers to biases in digital representations, where darker skin tones are often underrepresented or altered to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards. We are working to support her work with companies to identify and address biases in their avatars. In other words, getting companies to recognize that they are whitewashing everyone. I hope that we can push her work to the top because it deserves to be recognized.  

Changing AI development from the ground up requires more than building products; it demands fostering a movement where ethical, inclusive innovation becomes the standard. And that’s exactly what we’re doing by elevating the voices, research, and expertise that traditional methods often overlook. 

TIA addresses this challenge by creating media and stories designed to engage a broad audience without requiring a technical background. We avoid overly complex explanations and instead focus on how AI impacts people's daily lives, ensuring that our content resonates with anyone. For example, when covering topics such as algorithmic bias or data privacy, we prioritize relatable examples and clear, concise language. This approach ensures that everyone, from policymakers and educators to local community members, can understand the implications of AI and participate in discussions about its development and use. 
 
TIAF complements this work by providing targeted support for initiatives that break down technical barriers. It is important that we have workshops, training sessions, and mentorship programs that help people and communities gain the foundational knowledge they need to navigate AI-related opportunities. 

When I think about the future of AI leadership, my vision is clear: it should reflect the world around us. On a basic level, I need the first thought someone has about an AI leader not to be "tech bros." Instead, I want it to be an inclusive group of individuals who bring different perspectives, diverse thoughts and theories, expertise, and lived experiences to the table. Shake it up!  
 
On a more visionary (magic wand) level, AI leadership MUST be inclusive in every sense. I want to see representation from people across all levels of expertise, from technical specialists and policy advocates to social scientists and creative thinkers. Leadership should reflect a wide range of perspectives and theories that challenge the status quo. That is the only way we can ensure AI systems are built for everyone. We need people with great ideas to have the opportunity to develop them, bring their products or services to market, and thrive without being drowned out by big tech. 
 
To prepare the next generation of diverse AI leaders, we focus on creating pathways that uplift and support. It's important that we have programs that address the barriers many face in entering the AI space, such as mentorship opportunities, financial assistance, and training designed to provide practical skills. 
 
Our goal is to build worldwide partnerships with educational institutions, community organizations, and industry leaders to ensure that diverse talent has multiple avenues to succeed. This collaborative approach means that individuals aren’t navigating their journeys alone, they have the support, resources, and guidance needed to thrive. On an international level, we still have a long way to go, but we are making progress. 
 
Dr. Aurea Soriano-Vargas is a research professor in Peru with whom I have recently connected. We hope to collaborate on initiatives that expand AI training and resources in her region, bringing us one step closer to fostering more international relationships in traditionally hard to reach regions.  
 
The future of AI leadership isn’t about gatekeeping or maintaining the current power structure. It’s about cultivating an environment where innovation can come from anyone, and where the next groundbreaking idea isn’t limited by access or privilege. That’s the future I/we are committed to building. 

What excites me about AI isn’t just the technology itself; it’s the transformative potential it holds and the unique opportunity it presents to those willing to step in and make their mark. 
 
If you’re thinking about pursuing anything having to do with AI, the first thing I need you to do is figure out how and where you want to make your mark. AI is a vast field. Whether your passion lies in research, ethics, sustainability, policy, product development, or community engagement, there is space for you. Once you identify that space, start moving toward it. And keep moving. 
 
The reality is that movements like this don’t come along often. AI is still evolving, and that evolution means opportunity. Don’t wait for the perfect time because there isn’t one. Don’t wait to be fully ready because you never will be. Forget failure; it’s part of the process. Forget perfection, no one and no product ever is. Instead, focus on figuring out how to make it happen, one step at a time. Make your mark now. And if that little voice in your head says wait a year...recognize that as self-sabotage and work to remove that type of "stinking thinking." 
 
Every successful person you see in AI has faced obstacles, experienced failures, and encountered doubt. The difference is they didn’t let those moments define them. They kept going. The future of AI needs diverse voices, perspectives, and ideas. The opportunity to be part of something groundbreaking is here, don’t miss it. 
 
Take every opportunity to be interviewed. Take every opportunity to showcase your product or service. What I am saying is this, take and respect every opportunity. You don’t know which door that one opportunity will open for you. This is how you mind shift from surviving to thriving. 

We want to thank Nic once again for taking the time to share her incredible journey and insights. Her passion for forward-thinking in the AI space is inspiring. 

If you would like to hear more from Nic, follow her on LinkedIn