In this episode 187 of the Disruption Now Podcast, we sit down with Benjamin Ko, the CEO of Kaleidoscope Innovation, a firm leading the way in human-centered design and engineering — especially in healthcare. From developing wearable technologies for spinal cord injury patients to crafting surgical tools built around human ergonomics, Ben and his team are proving that empathy is a competitive advantage in the age of AI.

We dive into the central question: If AI can optimize everything, where do we still matter? Ben argues that empathy isn’t just a soft skill — it’s a design superpower. He discusses how Kaleidoscope’s cross-functional teams of designers, engineers, and researchers bridge the gap between physical and digital worlds, why 95% of AI projects fail due to lack of human context, and how clarity of thought and ethical design can shape a better, more responsible tech future.

If you’re a founder, product designer, healthcare innovator, engineer, or policymaker interested in building smarter systems with deeper purpose — this episode is for you.

🎧 Watch, Listen & Subscribe:
👉 YouTube: @DisruptionNow
👉 Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Amazon

📍 Recorded live at MidwestCon, hosted by the University of Cincinnati (UC) and the 1819 Innovation Hub.

Special thanks to Ben Ko, UC, and the 1819 Innovation Hub for supporting innovation and human-centric AI.

🔗 Connect with Benjamin Ko & Kaleidoscope Innovation:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminleeko/

Credit music:
Cookie Fox - AlexGuz

What does it take to lead digital transformation when fear, culture, and AI disruption collide? 🎓

In this deep-dive, Bharath Prabhakaran — award-winning VP & Chief Digital Officer at the University of Cincinnati — shares how he’s driving innovation with empathy, influence, and UC’s groundbreaking Bearcat GPT.

👉 You’ll learn:

-Why every AI solution must be 10x better to overcome resistance
-How empathy & influence drive true leadership
-What “AI literacy” means for the future workforce
-UC's blueprint for balancing security, ethics, and speed in adoption

Bharath’s journey from Oracle to higher ed shows why education must evolve fast — and how leaders can design organizations to thrive in the AI era.

🔗 Connect with Bharath:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bharathprab

🙏 Special thanks to Bharath Prabhakaran, the University of Cincinnati, and the 1819 Innovation Hub at UC for hosting MidwestCon, where this episode was recorded.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on technology, leadership & disruption.
Music credit: Funky Day - Aleksandr Krivtsun

#AI #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork

She’s not waiting for permission.

Flavilla Fongang went from the ghettos of Paris to building Black Rise—one of the UK’s boldest tech tribes. She’s mixing identity, data, and storytelling to scale Black power through business.

In this episode:

-Why storytelling beats pitching in tech
-How she turned oil & gas into a launchpad
-Her strategy for building community-first platforms
-Why AI is non-negotiable for Black excellence
-The real ROI of diverse ecosystems

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro — Paris to Power
01:42 Childhood in the Paris ghettos
03:55 Moving to London & early struggles
06:18 From oil & gas to fashion to tech
09:44 Founding 3 Colours Rule
12:30 How storytelling became her weapon
15:02 Why she built GTA Black Women in Tech
17:50 Launching Black Rise — the AI-powered tribe
21:33 Scaling community and credibility
25:01 Diversity with data, not feelings
28:40 What leadership looks like in 2025
31:09 Her advice to future founders
34:00 Closing thoughts + how to connect

About Flavilla Fongang:
Multi-award-winning entrepreneur. Founder of 3 Colours Rule, GTA Black Women in Tech, and now Black Rise. Former oil & gas exec turned tech community builder. UN Brand Partner. Named UK’s Most Influential Woman in Tech (Computer Weekly), Global Top 100 MIPAD Innovator, and Entrepreneur of the Year (BTA 2023). She also serves as an entrepreneurship expert at Oxford University Saïd Business School.

Watch this if you lead with identity and build with vision.

—

Follow Flavilla Fongang:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flavillafongang
Twitter (X): https://x.com/FlavillaFongang
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flavillafongang
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flavillaf
Website: https://www.flavillafongang.com
Black Rise: https://www.theblackrise.com
GTA Black Women in Tech: https://theblackwomenintech.com
3 Colours Rule: https://www.3coloursrule.com

#blackfounder #techstorytelling #communitytech

Disruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all.

Website https://disruptionnow.com/
Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com

Music: Powerful Beat - Oleksandr Stepanov