QUEER TECH HISTORY / ANN MEI CHANG
Ann Mei Chang uses her tech background for radical social good and to transform the nonprofit space.
She began her career in Silicon Valley as an engineer, working for companies like Intuit, Google, and Apple. While at Apple, she led the engineering team through the delivery of Final Cut Pro.
In 2011, she moved into the social sector by becoming a Senior Advisor for Women and Technology with the State Department. Her work was pivotal in advancing advocacy for women in tech. She went on to work with a number of nonprofits, including USAID and Mercy Corps and assisted with leading social and business ventures. Her 2018 book, Lean Impact: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good, outlines principles for applying lean startup methodologies to social impact projects.
In 2019, she became the chief innovations officer in the Pete for America organization. That same year she was named as one of the most powerful LGBTQ+ people in tech by Insider.
Her work has helped shape strategies for addressing complex social challenges more effectively, particularly through technology and data-driven approaches. She strongly advocates for public, private, and nonprofit collaboration to drive positive change. Ann Mei Chang’s career and advocacy inspire individuals and organizations working at the intersection of technology, innovation, and social impact.
References & Resources
Radical Innovation for Greater Social Good | Ann Mei Chang | Talks at Google
Lean impact: How to innovate for radically greater social good
