Megan Cales
Megan Cales is a healthtech founder, commercialization strategist, and career engagement leader dedicated to building dignified, human-centered solutions for neurodivergent individuals.
As Founder & CEO of Sensory Bridges LLC, Megan leads the development and commercialization of The Brooks Band™, a patent-pending wearable designed to help neurodivergent individuals self-regulate voice volume through private, real-time haptic feedback. What began as a solution for one child has evolved into a clinically informed, research-backed innovation shaped by hundreds of customer discovery interviews and partnerships across schools, therapy clinics, universities, and national autism organizations.
Under Megan’s leadership, Sensory Bridges has secured multiple innovation grants, completed two NSF I-Corps programs, filed a provisional patent, built a functioning hardware prototype, and established an emerging pilot pipeline representing over 10,000 potential users. She is actively advancing clinical validation pathways, institutional pilots, and strategic healthtech partnerships while preparing for early-stage investment.
In parallel, Megan serves as the Coordinator of Career Engagement at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Rollins College of Business, where she designs and leads data-driven career readiness initiatives, employer engagement strategy, and post-graduation outcomes tracking. She bridges academia and industry by cultivating meaningful partnerships that expand internship pipelines, mentorship access, and employment opportunities for students.
Megan’s work sits at the intersection of innovation, research translation, and community impact. With a background in biology and a deep commitment to accessibility, she combines scientific thinking with entrepreneurial execution. Her leadership is defined by courage, clarity of mission, and an unwavering belief that every voice deserves to feel understood.
• Social and Behavioral Research Investigators
• Covenant College - BA
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
What do you attribute your success to?
Megan attributes her success to resilience, relentless curiosity, and a deep commitment to mission over ego. Her professional foundation in higher education, event planning, and health and wellness equipped her with strong organizational leadership, relationship-building, and systems-thinking skills — tools that later became critical in launching Sensory Bridges.
Rather than waiting for the “perfect time,” Megan built while learning. She immersed herself in customer discovery, patent strategy, engineering collaboration, and investor education — translating lived experience into a technology company serving neurodivergent children. Her ability to move from idea to funded prototype, while simultaneously navigating research pathways and commercialization strategy, reflects both discipline and courage.
She continues her role at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as a Career Coordinator, where she leads employer engagement and career readiness initiatives. Balancing institutional leadership with startup execution has strengthened her strategic focus, operational stamina, and long-term vision.
Megan also invests in community and mentorship, serving as an advisor to the Women in Business Club at UTC and actively surrounding herself with leaders who challenge her to think bigger. She credits her progress not to shortcuts, but to persistence, humility, and an unwavering belief that meaningful innovation requires both heart and rigor.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to view challenges as opportunities for growth, redirection, and learning. Every obstacle offers valuable lessons that can shape your skills, perspective, and resilience. Perseverance is key—keep moving forward, even when the path feels uncertain. Trust your instincts, embrace continuous learning, and remember that your unique perspective is a strength that can drive innovation and meaningful impact.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is determining the ideal initial market segment for our technology, especially because it has the potential to serve such a broad range of people—from ages 5 to 95. While this wide applicability is an incredible opportunity, it also requires careful research and strategic planning to focus efforts where impact and adoption will be strongest. My goal is to grow the business sustainably while expanding access to this technology so it can help as many people as possible. Ultimately, I aspire to evolve Sensory Bridges into a nonprofit organization, ensuring that these solutions are accessible to all who need them, regardless of their resources.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are balance, dedication, and passion. As a single mother, I strive to harmonize my professional ambitions with the responsibilities of raising my family, ensuring that both receive the attention and care they deserve. I am deeply committed to my work because it allows me to make a meaningful impact, but I also value the time I spend nurturing personal relationships and creating memorable moments with my child. I find joy and renewal in football and outdoor activities, which keep me grounded and energized. These experiences reinforce my belief that true success comes from aligning professional achievement with personal fulfillment, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose.