Executive Q&A: Dr. Shmona Simpson on Building Paritii and the Urgent Need for Tech-Driven Equity

When Dr. Shmona Simpson founded Paritii in 2020, the world was in upheaval. The murder of George Floyd had reignited critical conversations about racial and economic inequality, and the COVID-19 pandemic was exposing—and exacerbating—gaps in access to healthcare, technology, and resources.

Out of that convergence of crises came Paritii, a mission-driven company using technology to tackle systemic under-resourcing and create pathways for historically underserved communities.

In this conversation, Dr. Simpson reflects on the personal and professional journey behind Paritii, the challenges of being a Black woman founder in tech, and what she hopes her legacy will be as she builds a platform for impact—and for change.

Dr. Shmona Simpson.

Q: Dr. Simpson, can you take us back to the moment or experience that first sparked the idea for Paritii? What was happening in your life that made you feel this company needed to exist?

Paritii was founded in 2020, a time of intense social and technological disruption.

We were in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, which reignited critical conversations about racial and economic disparities and unequal treatment under the law.

At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic had hit hard. We saw disproportionate death rates among Black, brown, and low-income communities in the U.S., and that same pattern repeated globally. It exposed stark differences in access to healthcare, to medicine, to technology. And those gaps translated directly into lives lost, lives changed, and futures stolen.

That context is what drove me to start Paritii. I wanted to use technology as a lever to address deep systemic under-resourcing and meet the complex needs of underserved communities.

So yes, it was that convergence of forces—social unrest, the pandemic, technological acceleration—that made the timing right and the mission urgent.

With in-person activity shut down, we had to find new ways to connect, to learn, to deliver healthcare. That digital shift sparked a wave of innovation, and it helped power the early momentum we had at Paritii.

Q: You’ve built a company grounded in purpose. What does the name Paritii mean to you, and how does it reflect the values behind your work?

Paritii is exactly what it sounds like—a nod to parity. The name reflects our goal of using technology as a lever to help close gaps and create more equitable outcomes, especially for communities that have historically been under-resourced.

We want to use tech to enable low-income communities to leapfrog some of the structural barriers that have held them back for generations.

That’s the core of why we chose the name. It captures our mission, and it grounds the work we hope to keep doing—work that’s meaningful and impactful.

Q: Entrepreneurship is often a personal journey as much as a professional one. What were some of the most pivotal personal challenges you faced while building Paritii, and how did they shape your leadership?

Three personal moments stand out.

The first was an identity shift—moving from established institutions and high-profile roles into building a tiny startup that no one had heard of. I’ve had the privilege and put in the hard work to study at some of the best institutions in the world and work in influential spaces. I left a fruitful position at the Gates Foundation to begin this work. So, stepping away from all that to back something small and unproven forced me to really confront what success and impact actually mean.

I had to ask myself: Does meaningful work only happen in these enclaves of power and privilege? Or can we achieve even greater impact by operating with fewer resources but more agility and connection to the grassroots? That was—and still is—a deeply personal reckoning.

The second challenge was stepping into the role of a young CEO. I lead a team that’s diverse across experience, age, and geography. That’s been both a stretch and a gift. I’ve found myself in leadership situations I might have had to wait decades for in a more traditional corporate structure. It’s accelerated my growth in ways I never imagined.

And the third big challenge has been funding. We know that Black women entrepreneurs are the least funded group globally. So I’ve had to be incredibly resourceful and creative to keep the company going and growing. I’m proud to have made it work for the past five years—and I’m committed to continuing that path.

Q: Paritii sits at the intersection of innovation, equity, and human connection. How do you keep those elements in balance as the company scales?

That’s a tough one. We’ve always been purpose over profit. Our success isn’t measured by annual revenue or profit margins—it’s measured by the kind of impact we create.

We look at the students we’re able to support, the shifts we’re seeing in the market, and the opportunities we help unlock. That focus naturally fosters a culture of collaboration. We don’t operate in a way that pits people against one another or encourages cutthroat competition. Instead, we’ve built a culture rooted in shared purpose and mutual support.

But that kind of culture has to be actively cultivated. It means constantly reinforcing the vision, both within our team and with the communities we serve. And it also means walking the talk: recognizing and rewarding values-driven work and prioritizing impact at every level of the company.

Q: As a founder and CEO, how have your experiences as a woman, and particularly as a woman of color, influenced how you build teams, culture, and community within Paritii?

That’s such a great question. I often come back to the idea of servant leadership. I’ve seen so many women lead this way—less focused on being directive or performative, and more focused on being present, supportive, and willing to step into the trenches with their team when things get tough.

It’s about being an ally—someone who deeply empathizes with the needs of both the staff and the community, and who leads through service rather than authority.

I think my experience as a woman, and specifically as a Black woman, really informs that. In many Black communities, there’s a strong sense of collective care—of thinking beyond yourself and considering the needs of others. That mindset is woven into how I lead. It’s reflected in the culture we’ve built at Paritii—one that centers empathy, solidarity, and shared responsibility.

Q: Every founder has moments of doubt. Was there ever a point where you questioned your path with Paritii? If so, what helped you push through?

Absolutely. I think doubt is inevitable, especially when you're presented with a flood of other opportunities. Not long after I started Paritii, I began receiving offers for what many would consider global dream jobs—roles with higher compensation, more resources, and greater visibility.

That’s when you really test your commitment. It’s easy to be swayed, but I kept coming back to the belief that the impact I’m working toward with Paritii is bigger than any individual opportunity. It’s about building something that creates real change, not just for me, but for the communities we serve.

So when doubt creeps in, I return to that. It becomes a question of purpose over privilege. And staying anchored in that purpose is what keeps me moving forward.

Q: How do you define success, not just for Paritii as a company, but for yourself as a founder and as a person?

For me, success—whether for Paritii, as a founder, or as a person—comes down to two things: impact and sustainability.

I want our company, and my own journey as a leader and human being, to stay rooted in purpose and service. It’s about creating meaningful change in the world, and doing it in a way that’s intentional and lasting.

But that kind of impact can’t come at the cost of burnout. So I think a lot about pacing—about giving ourselves permission to pause, to reflect, to regroup. This work—justice work—isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. And if we want to build something that endures, we have to take care of ourselves and our people along the way.

Success, for me, means building to last—without losing the heart of why we started.

Q: Can you share a story of someone whose life was directly impacted by Paritii's work? And what did that moment mean to you?

I think the work that’s stayed with me the most was in our very first year, when we were on the ground during the height of the pandemic. We partnered with several community groups and consortiums to deliver impact at the level of the individual. That hands-on work, being physically present and connected to the people we were serving, was incredibly meaningful.

I still remember the individuals whose lives were directly impacted. That closeness to the work—that immediacy—is something I really loved.

As the company has grown, my role has shifted. I’m further removed from that front-line experience. My days now are filled with paperwork, strategy, and operations. It’s less face-to-face, and that can be hard.

But I remind myself that every chart, every metric I review, still represents someone’s life—someone who’s been touched by the work we do. That connection to real people is what keeps me grounded in the mission, even from a distance.

Q: What is something you believe deeply about the future of your industry that others still seem to underestimate or overlook?

One thing I believe deeply—and that I think continues to be overlooked, especially in the U.S.—is the accelerated harm that artificial intelligence is already causing to historically underserved and underprotected communities.

The pace at which AI tools are being developed far exceeds the pace of our public conversations, policy responses, or regulatory frameworks. We’re still debating ethics and regulation on the back end—after the systems are already in play, after the damage is already being done.

And while many of us are sounding the alarm, those warnings often go unheard in an era dominated by big tech and profit-driven agendas. It feels like another global arms race—this time not to the moon, but toward unchecked technological dominance—without real consideration of who gets left behind, exploited, or harmed along the way.

That’s what we continue to underestimate. And we’re not talking about it nearly enough.

Q: How do you stay grounded as a leader in a world that often glorifies hustle and overwork?

Honestly, I don’t have a perfect answer, because I still hustle and overwork. It’s something I’m actively working on. I know it’s not sustainable, and I recognize that staying grounded requires boundaries, rest, and balance. But like many founders, especially those driven by mission, it’s a constant area of growth for me.

Q: What role has mentorship played in your journey, and are there specific people whose influence continues to guide you?

It’s funny you ask that, because I have a nontraditional concept regarding mentorship.

I observe and am often inspired by the poor women, living on the margins, who make a way out of no way.

I have often said that nobody works harder on this planet than a woman without any privilege. Some women remain leaders in their communities without holding formal power.

Somehow, they find nutrition when it's hard to find, and raise their children to be amazingly successful despite not having access to the resources needed. These women (much like the women of my own family in generations past) work ten jobs and do what it takes to create a future for themselves and their descendants. If they can have this generational vision, work so hard, and create new opportunities—how much more can I do? How much more can I inspire others to do?

While it is an indirect concept to see mentorship in these spaces, it is a valuable one, and perhaps one that more of us can adopt.

Q: Building a mission-driven company takes resilience. Where do you draw your strength from when you need to recharge or realign with your purpose?

I’m a deeply spiritual person. I realign regularly—daily and weekly—through that spiritual grounding. It helps me stay connected to something larger than myself, something I can lean on when the work feels heavy.

That connection allows me to both reimagine what’s possible and recharge when I need to. It’s what keeps me rooted in purpose, even in the most challenging moments.

Q: Many founders speak about building something they wish they had growing up. Does Paritii fill a gap you personally felt in your own life or career?

Absolutely.

I would have loved to see more Paritiis when I was growing up. For most of my early career, I didn’t know women—especially not Black women—in technology doing the kind of work I do now. In fact, up through my PhD and even into my first postdoc, I had never been taught by a Black woman with a doctorate. That absence stayed with me.

Now, having the chance to step into communities and be that presence—be that light—for others who’ve never seen someone doing this work before, is incredibly meaningful. It’s a full-circle moment.

Another gap Paritii fills for me is access to technology and innovation. I grew up in an environment where your career path was often shaped by whatever opportunities happened to be around you. I didn’t meet innovators. I didn’t see tech being used to solve problems in ways that felt relevant to my world.

With Paritii, I get to help shift that narrative—even in small ways. And that’s powerful.

Q: What advice would you give to a young entrepreneur—particularly someone from an underrepresented background—who wants to build something meaningful but isn’t sure where to start?

I’d say—just start. Even if you don’t have everything in place. Even if it feels imperfect. That’s OK.

It’s also OK to fail and start again. What matters most is believing in your own resourcefulness—your ability to figure it out along the way. You don’t need to have all the answers from the beginning. What you do need is the courage to begin and the resilience to keep going.

Q: Looking ahead, what's the legacy you hope to leave through Paritii?

What would be meaningful to me is simply being able to keep doing this work successfully for a long time. I’d love to grow old still building, still believing, and still proving that it’s possible to take an idea, invest in it, and turn it into real change.

I want others—especially those who’ve been historically excluded—to see that we don’t always need large systems or institutions to create impact. We can build it ourselves. We can start small, stay grounded in purpose, and grow something powerful.

In a time where support systems are shrinking and regulation is fading, I think it's more important than ever for people to realize: no one’s coming to save us. So the question becomes, what can I do? What can we do, together, to reimagine the world we want to see?

That’s the legacy I hope to leave—through Paritii, and my own life’s work.