A couple of years ago, I left the nonprofit and UN world to join an early stage startup. It was exhilarating to see how quickly things got built. But one small moment changed how I think about tech.
When new users created an account, the default avatar was a male icon. I suggested making it gender-neutral. What seemed like a tiny change sparked a heated debate: Why spend time on something so small?
My manager backed me, and we changed it. But the reaction stuck with me. No one had set out to exclude anyone. It was simply a blind spot. That’s when I realized: tech teams aren’t always taught to see the deeper messages in design choices.
Over time, I started reading more. The books and work by people like Ruha Benjamin, Meredith Broussard, Safiya Umoja Noble, Mike Monteiro, Caroline Criado Perez, the markup team and others helped me connect the dots. Their work helped me see that these “small” issues weren’t isolated. They were systemic.
And now, with tools like ChatGPT-5 and no-code platforms launching every week, it feels like we’re in a fast fashion moment for tech. Products ship faster than our values can catch up.
That’s why I’m working on kindware. Even though I am not quite sure what kind of shape this project will take, I am certain that this is not a watchdog, not a takedown site. I want it to be a simple toolkit to help users and builders understand the ethical, equity, and privacy choices behind everyday apps. A compass, not a hammer.
Technology isn’t going away. But it can be more thoughtful, inclusive, and human. I belielve sometimes the most important design question isn’t “How fast can we ship?” but “Should we build this at all?”
My hope is that someday, such tools won’t be needed, because designers and developers will already carry this awareness with them. Until then, I’ll keep interviewing people, writing sample specs, reviewing platforms, and working on kindware, in community.
If this resonates with you, whether you’re a parent, a founder, or just someone who cares, I’d love to connect.
-Indra