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

She was told she wasn't tall enough, thin enough, pretty enough.
Now she’s rewriting the rules of beauty for everyone else.

In this episode 183 of the Disruption Now Podcast, Sian Bitner-Kearney, founder of Rock Your Beauty, reveals how perfectionism, filters, and social media lies damage self-worth—and what it takes to break free. Her nonprofit is helping women embrace their authentic selves, one fashion show and workshop at a time.

🎙 Learn how Rock Your Beauty evolved from a charity event into a bold movement helping women and girls reclaim confidence, self-love, and sanity in the algorithm age.

💬 If you've ever doubted your worth, this conversation is for you.

🔗 Follow Sian & Rock Your Beauty:

Website: https://www.rockyourbeauty.org
Instagram (Sian): https://www.instagram.com/sianbk
Instagram (Rock Your Beauty): https://www.instagram.com/rockyourbeauty_cincinnati
Podcast: https://www.rockyourbeauty.org (see "Podcast" tab)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Rock-Your-Beauty/61559182740239
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sianbitner
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/sianbk

👁️‍🗨️ If you're building confidence, battling self-doubt, or raising strong girls, watch this.
#realbeauty #womensconfidence #mentalhealth

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

Laid off or lost in the noise? You’re not alone.

Episode 182: Nicole Dunbar—Cornell-trained strategist and viral LinkedIn voice—joins Disruption Now to dissect the “white collar recession.” From AI displacement to hiring freezes, she breaks down how even top-tier pros are invisible in today’s job market. Learn:

6 proven job search strategies (only 1 involves job boards)

-Why resumes alone fail—and what recruiters actually trust
-The mindset shift every mid-career pro must make now
-How to “network” without small talk or selling out
-The emotional trap that sabotages high performers
-The hiring game changed. Here’s how to stay in it.

🎧 Listen, subscribe, and rewire your search.

#jobsearchstrategy #futureofwork #whitecollarrecession

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

In this episode of the Disruption Now Podcast, host Rob Richardson sits down with Jacob D. Frankel (Kobi), the visionary Founder and CEO of Beyond Alpha Ventures. Jacob shares his journey from managing over $355 million in assets on Wall Street to leading a multi-strategy family office and hedge fund that invests in transformative technologies like AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. He discusses the importance of investing with purpose, the future of venture capital, and how Beyond Alpha Ventures is shaping the infrastructure of an AI-driven future. Tune in for an insightful conversation on strategic investing, innovation, and building a legacy.

Top 3 Things You’ll Learn from This Episode:

Investing with Purpose – Jacob emphasizes the significance of deploying capital in ways that make a tangible difference, focusing on ventures that combine financial opportunity with real-world impact.

Navigating Market Volatility – Learn how Beyond Alpha Ventures capitalizes on market dislocations and geopolitical shifts to identify high-conviction investment opportunities.

The Future of Venture Capital – Discover Jacob's insights on the evolving landscape of venture capital, including the rise of AI, quantum computing, and the importance of ethical foresight in investment strategies.

Jacob's Social Media Pages:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobfrankelprivateequity
Website: https://www.beyondalphaventures.com/

Disruption Now: Building a Fair Share for Culture and Media. Join us and disrupt.

Website https://bit.ly/2VUO9sf
Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com
Facebook https://bit.ly/303IU8j
Instagram https://bit.ly/2YOLl26
Twitter https://bit.ly/2KfLaTf
Website https://bit.ly/2VUO9sf

Eric Brown Jr. is the founder of ELVTE Coaching and Consulting and a Generative AI innovation lead at Microsoft. In this powerful conversation with Rob Richardson, he unpacks how early adversity became fuel for legacy. From mentoring underserved youth to helping enterprise teams align tech with purpose, Eric proves that impact isn’t just about innovation — it’s about elevation.

Disruption Now Episode 180

Inside This Episode:

-Life Hacker Mindset: How reframing pain unlocks potential
-AI with Empathy: Why tech that doesn’t center people fails
-The Power of Context: Making technology relatable and actionable for all

Connect with Eric Brown Jr.:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ericbrownjr
Forbes Council: councils.forbes.com/profile/Eric-Brown-Jr-Founder-%7C-Chief-Transformation-Officer-ELVTE-Coaching-and-Consulting/440ec31a-0e0d-4650-ae7c-a2b401148572
Thought Leadership: linkedin.com/pulse/empowering-dreams-lessons-learned-from-any-fellow-eric-brown-jr

Disruption Now
Apply to be a guest: form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr
Watch more episodes: podcast.disruptionnow.com

Disruption Now: Building a fair share for the Culture and Media. Join us and disrupt.

Apply to get on the Podcast: https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robrichardsonjr/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robforohio/
Website: https://podcast.disruptionnow.com/

"I went from door-to-door sales to closing million-dollar tech deals — but the real secret? Asking boldly. Watch [12:33] to hear how Jarrett Albritton turned Clubhouse conversations into 80,000 followers and landed 40+ recruiters on stage. Spoiler: His AI platform is changing how careers are built!"

-Why are tech sales misunderstood (and why are they not what you think)?
-The biggest misconception about tech sales that’s costing you $$$.
-3 secrets to breaking into tech sales and dominating AI-driven careers.

⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 – "Why Tech Sales Isn’t Just for Geeks (Misconceptions)"
12:33 – "How Jarrett Albritton Leveraged Clubhouse to Empower 80K People"
25:47 – "The AI Tool Helping You Land a Job Faster (Why Right C is Different)"
38:55 – "Mastering Interviews with AI: The Future of Job Search"
45:00 – "3 P’s to Succeed in Tech Sales (Persistence, Patience, Pivot)"

✅ Try Job Search Genius FREE for 7 days: jobsearchgenius.ai
💬 Comment below: What's your biggest struggle in breaking into tech?

Disruption Now: building a fair share for the Culture and Media. Join us and disrupt.