Ken Richard

About Ken

Ken Richard is the Head of Engineering at Okaya, a startup using AI to help high-stakes professionals—like pilots, firefighters, and healthcare workers—monitor and improve mental readiness. With over a decade of experience leading software and product teams, Ken has guided organizations through digital transformations, from EdTech to live streaming to AI-driven wellness platforms. He's passionate about bridging the gap between technical innovation and human trust, and about building products that are both responsible and impactful.

Presentation Topic

AI to Improve Mental Readiness for High-Impact Careers

AI can help professionals in high-stakes roles—like pilots, firefighters, and healthcare workers—better understand and manage their mental readiness. In this talk, Ken Richard shares how his team at Okaya built and validated a custom model for mental-health insights, balancing technical design with trust, guardrails, and human oversight. The session highlights what it takes to move AI from concept to real-world use in sensitive, high-impact environments.