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Creativity, Technology, and Making Geek Chic

In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Julie Lenzer, Chief Innovation Officer at the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI). Julie talks about her early start in computer science and manufacturing and why she recently completed a master’s degree in machine learning alongside working a fulltime job. She discusses her work in the biotech sector at ARMI, where she has joined innovator Dean Kamen to support and scale new processes for tissue regeneration. Julie shares the story of starting and growing her own tech business—while parenting young children—and her commitment to women’s empowerment, including via a longtime leadership role with the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. Together Shana and Julie celebrate summer camp as a special chance for girls to be in nature and build confidence, and Julie tells us about mostly saying yes to opportunity (including a chance to represent the U.S. on the G20 Innovation Task Force) and occasionally saying no (turning down a post-college invite to try out for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders). 

QUOTES

• “Technology for itself? It is what it is. But if you look at its ability to change things and change the world? That’s what kept me going.” – Julie Lenzer [07:02]
• “I had read articles about the bias inherent—and bias, not algorithmic bias, but bias as in data bias—in machine learning and I wanted to understand what that meant. I wanted to understand how to avoid it [. . . ] How do we make sure that we’re not just supercharging our biases and our bad behavior into making faster bad decisions?” – Julie Lenzer [10:09] 
•  “Building a business isn’t rocket science, but a rocket scientist doesn’t know how to do it. I’m helping these brilliant scientists figure out how to raise capital, figure out how to attract a CEO [. . .] helping them figure out what’s their next milestone and how to get there.” – Julie Lenzer [17:29]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:04] Intro
• [01:31] Meet Julie Lenzer
• [04:50] Computer Science and Being the Only Woman in the Room
• [09:57] Mastering Machine Learning and Managing Bias in AI 
• [14:54] When Biofabrication Is Your Day Job
• [18:12] Choosing a Mission When You Can Do Anything You Want
• [19:55] Starting Your Own Company Before Age 30
• [24:38] Building Something Bigger Than Yourself 
• [28:13] Knowing When to Walk Away 
• [31:12] Building Girl Leaders Through Girl Scouts 
• [38:02] Ignoring Old Programming
• [43:19] Taking Pride in Letting Teams Shine
• [46:23] On Failing and Lessons Learned
• [49:03] Writing about ParentPreneurship
• [53:20] Saying Yes to the G20 Innovation Task Force
• [1:00:03] Outro

RELEVANT LINKS 

• Julie Lenzer on LinkedIn
• Nyla Technology Solutions

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Live well, Shana