Lacy Goodwyn

I attribute my success to the women who opened doors for me throughout my career. My career would not be where it is if it wasn't for the women at Coinbase who opened all the doors for me there. They guided me, supported me, and helped me grow from an EA to a product manager. That experience taught me the power of women helping women, and it's something I carry with me every day. Now, as a business owner and community builder, I'm focused on paying that forward to the next generation of women in tech and AI. I believe that when women support each other and create opportunities for one another, incredible things happen.

The best career advice I've received is about paying it forward as a woman and always remembering that no matter where you are, especially as a woman, you should think about how you can help the next generation. My career would not be where it is if it wasn't for the women at Coinbase who opened all the doors for me, so I always try to remember that and do the same for others. The other piece of advice that has really shaped my approach is to focus on solving real problems rather than getting caught up in what's trending and exciting. As women, we can all get caught up in the noise, but I think in order for us to really make an impact, especially in the AI space, we need to find real problems to solve. When you do that, no one can turn away from the value you're creating.

My advice to women entering the AI industry is to try not to get caught up in the noise right now about keeping up or getting left behind. We need you in this space. We need you for the future. There are not enough women in AI, particularly those building the tools that we're all using, and when I think about the future and our daughters, we need AI reflecting women's perspectives and experiences. I know we've created an environment where AI seems so unappealing to women, and I want women to know that we aren't all bad. Those of us women who are in this space are here to help get you started. I acknowledge that the concerns are very real - there are issues with job displacement, ethical concerns around the environment, data privacy, and creative consent. The system is currently set up in a way where women get shamed for using AI tools while men are encouraged to, and that's a real problem. But here's the thing: two truths can exist. There are a lot of legitimate concerns, but AI is here to stay. So either we can work together to help eliminate those barriers and get more women into the space, or we risk being left out of shaping this technology entirely. We're at a big risk right now if we don't participate.

As a business owner, I'd say the biggest challenge is always the pipeline and lead generation. It's about getting yourself out there while also building a company at the same time. It's literally building the plane and flying it at the same time, and I think that's the ultimate difficulty when starting a business. You're trying to grow your visibility and bring in new clients while simultaneously developing your services, managing existing projects, and establishing your brand. It's a constant balancing act, but it's also what makes entrepreneurship so dynamic and rewarding.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are transparency and communication. I believe strongly in creating spaces where we can be vulnerable with each other. When I'm spotlighting women in my Badass Women in AI community, I always say I don't really give a damn about your resume - I want to know how you got to where you are. I want to know about the struggle, because all these women have had to work so hard to get to where they are, and that's where the real inspiration lies. It's in the shared experience. Life is tough, and especially as a woman trying to get into tech or AI or navigating any major life transition, hearing other people's stories and struggles makes you feel less alone. That's why I believe so strongly in leading with transparency and communicating openly about both the wins and the challenges.