Women in AI: The Inspirational Journey of Let's Get Real
Tue Jan 13 2026
In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Alison Barman welcomes co-host Shannon Seaver alongside Jenna Zangs, the Chief Data and AI Officer at the University of St. Thomas.
Jenna shares her unique journey into the AI field, emphasizing the importance of female representation in technology.
The episode goes deep into the duo's recent success in the 'She Builds' 48-hour Build-On competition by Lovable, where they won with their innovative educational app, Let's Get Real.
Designed to tailor lesson plans to individual student needs, the app showcases their commitment to enhancing education with AI.
The story underscores their preparation, teamwork, and the challenges they overcame during the build. Winning the competition has provided them with mentorship from industry leaders and the drive to expand their impactful project.
The episode concludes with reflections on their journey and advice for women entering the tech field.
Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:29 Jenna Zangs' Journey into AI03:39 Shannon Seaver's Introduction and Collaboration04:56 The 48-Hour BuildOn Challenge08:22 Live Streaming the BuildOn Experience09:49 Building the Personalized Learning App15:28 Challenges and Team Dynamics17:59 Overcoming Obstacles and Community Support19:15 The Struggle and Pivot20:22 Security Concerns and User Testing22:04 Finalizing and Submitting the Project23:08 Introducing the Product28:02 Winning the Competition31:16 Future Plans and Reflections34:05 Rapid Fire Questions
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In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Alison Barman welcomes co-host Shannon Seaver alongside Jenna Zangs, the Chief Data and AI Officer at the University of St. Thomas. Jenna shares her unique journey into the AI field, emphasizing the importance of female representation in technology. The episode goes deep into the duo's recent success in the 'She Builds' 48-hour Build-On competition by Lovable, where they won with their innovative educational app, Let's Get Real. Designed to tailor lesson plans to individual student needs, the app showcases their commitment to enhancing education with AI. The story underscores their preparation, teamwork, and the challenges they overcame during the build. Winning the competition has provided them with mentorship from industry leaders and the drive to expand their impactful project. The episode concludes with reflections on their journey and advice for women entering the tech field. Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:29 Jenna Zangs' Journey into AI03:39 Shannon Seaver's Introduction and Collaboration04:56 The 48-Hour BuildOn Challenge08:22 Live Streaming the BuildOn Experience09:49 Building the Personalized Learning App15:28 Challenges and Team Dynamics17:59 Overcoming Obstacles and Community Support19:15 The Struggle and Pivot20:22 Security Concerns and User Testing22:04 Finalizing and Submitting the Project23:08 Introducing the Product28:02 Winning the Competition31:16 Future Plans and Reflections34:05 Rapid Fire Questions