In this episode of Tech It to the Limit, Sarah Harper and Elliott Wilson chat with Elizabeth Boudreau, ex-AWS exec and co-founder of Practical Acceleration. They kick off with a satirical “SnoreSense” pitch, then dive into real talk on building meaningful healthcare tech, covering equity, trust, and designing for life’s seasons. Honest, smart, and full of heart—don’t miss it.

Key Takeaways

• Tech equity starts at the margins. Building inclusive digital health solutions means designing first for the communities most often left out. Not only is it ethical, it's a smart strategy.

• Startups need soul and structure. Elizabeth encourages founders to reject burnout culture and instead design businesses that align with their energy, values, and the season they’re in.

• AI needs boundaries and trust. Success in health tech is about more than algorithms; it’s about solving real problems, with real people, in ways that build confidence and connection.

• Talk to the people you're building for. Your user knows what’s broken. You just have to ask. Assume less. Ask more. Build better.

In this episode:

• [00:00:00] Introduction: July birthdays, post-Pride recovery, and co-host reunion in NYC
• [00:02:37] Startup satire: “Snore Sense” pitch parody AI pillows, shame graphs, and FDA awareness
• [00:08:18] Interview with Elizabeth Boudreaux, Co-Founder of Practical Acceleration
• [00:11:30] What is tech equity? Designing with, not just for, underserved communities
• [00:16:50] AI hype cycle: The danger of black box solutions in healthcare
• [00:18:00] The future of tech that disappears—ambient voice and reconnection at the bedside
• [00:19:55] Women in tech: Navigating leadership, equity at home, and saying yes to the unknown
• [00:26:07] A day in the life of a founder: Lists, calendars, and no such thing as “typical”
• [00:30:04] Redefining success: Building companies that match your life stage
• [00:35:35] Behind the scenes: Putting HIPAA data in the public cloud for the first time
• [00:40:50] Founder advice: Talk to your user, challenge your assumptions, solve real problems
• [00:45:12] Wise Nuggets: Career truths, growth seasons, and the ROI of building slow

Guest

Elizabeth Boudreau is co-founder of Practical Acceleration, a firm that helps health tech companies scale with purpose. A digital transformation leader, she previously drove U.S. healthcare strategy at AWS, launching its first consumer diagnostics product during COVID-19.

With a career built on innovation and inclusion, Elizabeth has led HIPAA-compliant cloud projects, championed techquity, and advised both startups and governments. Her mantra: success isn’t about the grind, it’s about building a life that works.

Resources

Elizabeth Phillips Boudreau

• Practical Acceleration
• Elizabeth Boudreau

Sarah Harper

• Sarah Harper

Elliott Wilson

• Elliott Wilson
• Flying Pig Consulting

In this special Pride Month episode of Tech It to the Limit, co-hosts Sarah Harper and Elliott Wilson dive into LGBTQ+ health equity, inclusive tech, and leading authentically in healthcare. They’re joined by Jason Bellett, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Eko Health, whose intelligent stethoscope is transforming how providers detect heart disease. Jason opens up about his journey as an openly gay founder, the intersection of innovation and equity, and the urgent need for inclusive leadership.

Key Takeaways

• LGBTQ+ healthcare has come a long way—but the fight for equity and access continues.
• Eko Health’s AI-powered stethoscope enables early heart disease detection through FDA-cleared algorithms and inclusive design.
• Algorithmic equity matters: representative datasets and diverse health partners are key to reducing bias.
• Authentic leadership in healthcare requires visibility and courage, especially in today’s climate.
• In the face of policy rollbacks, private sector leaders must step up to build inclusive tech and equitable systems.

In this episode:

• [00:00:00] Pride Month kickoff + queer health visibility
• [00:01:25] “Holz Check” LGBTQ+ healthcare rights timeline
• [00:08:27] 10+ health tech companies advancing queer care
• [00:12:28] Interview with Jason Bellett
• [00:15:30] What is an intelligent stethoscope?
• [00:20:15] Equity in AI + reducing algorithmic bias
• [00:25:35] Eko’s role in smart hospitals and virtual care
• [00:27:46] What Jason wishes he knew 10 years ago
• [00:31:05] Leading authentically as a gay founder
• [00:34:14] Advice for LGBTQ+ health tech professionals
• [00:38:45] Call to action for DEI in healthcare
• [00:42:22] Spicy Nuggets: Buzzwords, pride, and cooties

Resources and Links

Jason Bellett

• LinkedIn
• Eko Health

Pride Month Spotlights

• Folks Health
• Plume Health
• QueerDoc
• OutCare Health
• Howard Brown Health
• Mazzoni Center
• Fenway Health
• Euphoria Apps
• MyLabBox
• For Them
• Equality MD

In this Nurses’ Month special episode, Tech It to the Limit co-hosts Sarah Harper and Elliott Wilson honor nurses for their dedication and pivotal role in healthcare innovation. This episode explores the ongoing challenges in digital healthcare technology, the mistakes made by overlooking nurses in tech design, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at how we can create nurse-centered designs to improve healthcare systems. They also interview Dr. Katie Boston-Leary, Senior VP of Equity and Engagement at the American Nurses Association, who brings over 30 years of leadership experience to discuss how health tech can better serve nurses and patients alike.

Key Takeaways

• The importance of nurse-centered design in healthcare tech and why it’s essential for designers to involve nurses throughout the entire product lifecycle
• How AI and automation in healthcare tools are often ineffective without input from nurses, leading to errors and inefficiencies
• The impact of gender bias and misogyny in technology development, contributing to the underrepresentation of nurses in health tech decision-making
• The need for empathy in leadership, where healthcare leaders must engage with their teams, understand their challenges, and adapt technology to support—not replace—human connection
• Dr. Katie Boston Leary’s insights into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in healthcare, and how healthcare leaders should be responsible for both the intent and impact of their decisions

In this episode:

• [00:00:00] Introduction to Nurses Month & Why It’s Important to Highlight Nurses in Tech
• [00:02:05] New Segment: Tech That Didn’t Ask a Nurse, Highlighting Tech Blunders
• [00:17:00] Why nurse-centered design matters and how it benefits patient outcomes
• [00:20:00] Interview with Dr. Katie Boston Leary: Nurses Leading the Charge for Change in Health Tech
• [00:23:30] The Role of DEI in healthcare leadership and tech development
• [00:27:00] How to approach repairing trust in technology and healthcare
• [00:30:30] Empathy, collaboration, and leadership: Building a better tech ecosystem for healthcare
• [00:38:00] Wrapping up Nurses Month & Honoring Healthcare Workers
• [00:40:30] Closing Remarks: Stay Tuned for Next Month’s Episode

Notable Quotes:

[03:40 - 03:59] “If you’re building healthcare technology without involving nurses, you’re doing it wrong. You can’t create something that works for them if you don’t ask them what they need.” – Elliott Wilson

[12:14 - 12:30] “Technology is meant to support nurses, not to make their jobs harder. We’ve got to get it right from the start.” – Sarah Harper

[34:01 - 34:15] “You can’t fix healthcare with just a product. You need the right people at the table, and that includes the nurses who are on the front lines every day.” – Dr. Katie Boston-Leary

Resources and Links

Dr. Katie Boston-Leary

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebostonleary

Sarah Harper

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbethharper/

Elliott Wilson

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewelliottwilson/