We had the good fortune of connecting with Kim Carson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kim, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process behind starting my own business was driven by my mission to create opportunities for those excluded from innovation for reasons beyond their control. In my 20 year career that spanned start-ups, academia and big tech, I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to carve out my own unique roles and continuously push boundaries. I’ve known most of my career that I needed to also carve out my own space in industry itself and that meant I had to shift my own perspective from “why me” to “why not me.” Given my background in AI and education and with the proliferation of AI across all industries this year was finally the time. My organization is built to empower historically excluded communities and inspire us all to learn, explore and build communities that leverage emergent technology to uplift our collective humanity.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Getting to build my own business was not a given. In first grade, I was almost held back. When my parents complained and the district tested me, they found out I was gifted instead. My school’s solution to my boredom was to bus me to a predominantly white district 30 minutes away for advanced classes and state of the art resources. This never really sat right with me because of the people I left behind. It was a critical realization that while talent was similar, opportunities varied! Time and again throughout my school years, I was told that I did not get an opportunity. To go to space, to be my own boss or even to be in the room. So I did what worked for me, I created my own roles in small and big companies and kept being the pain in the side that was always wanting to know more and always asking why. I think that taking big risks and taking tours of duty through industries and roles all while doubling down on my love of tech facilitate what I think of as my superpower. I will soak up anything offered like a sponge and want to use what I’ve learned to help others create opportunities too. Sometimes you have to dive into the unknown to imagine what might be possible for you or for the world.
There have been several lessons both small and large but most important I’ve learned that repeatedly asking questions, particularly “why not and what if” are all that is needed to align what is important to you to what you do in the world. I want people to know that they can challenge anything and that we can explore and create better together in community. Diversity of perspectives or multidimensional diversity is the key to uplifting humanity and making a better future.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a “nature girl” although I often challenge what we believe is nature. I’m also a pescatarian-leaning vegetarian, technology junkie and art lover.

Day 1: Downtown & Little Italy, I’d start at Cafe Gratitute and then hit the USS Midway Museum and dinner at Ironside Fish & Oyster,
Day 2: I’d start with paddleboard yoga in Pacific Beach rent bikes and cruise the boardwalk. Casual dinner at Oscar’s Mexican Seafood in Pacific Beach.
Day 3: Off to La Jolla for morning beach time and coffee at the hang glider cliff by Torrey Pines Hit up Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve for hiking and end the day with dinner at George’s,
Day 4/Day 5: would be a choice of the heading off to Coronado Island for the day or hitting up the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Day 6/Day 7: Another beach day or Air & Space Museum or even the Japanese Friendship Garden!

As a researcher by trade and training, I’m always searching for local meetups and community events when I’m in town. One weekend I was in town for the Art walk and managed to get some great pieces by local artists.

 

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out to Family and friends: Bad-ass Uplifters Arlan Hamilton & Aria Finger & Nicole Patrice De Member
Chief Dress me up and parade me around Sarah Jeong
Chief Keeping it Real Subhi Barakat

and the hardworking amazing community of Conceptual technologists past, present and future at Parallax Futures.org

Website: https://parallaxfutures.org

Instagram: @kimicarson2023

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyacarson/

Image Credits
Image 2 curtesy of Ben Tear All other images produced and created by Parallax Futures

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.