Womenize! – Inspiring Stories is our weekly series featuring inspirational individuals from games and tech. For this edition we talked Céleste Kleinjans, Co-Founder & CEO of MINDZEIT. She speaks about how her personal experience with mindfulness inspired her to create MINDZEIT, combining wellbeing with technology, and discusses the ethical challenges of AI, the importance of diversity, and her efforts to support underrepresented groups in tech. Read more about Céleste here:
Hi Céleste! You founded MINDZEIT with a strong focus on integrating mindfulness and technology to enhance mental health. What inspired you to create this intersection of wellbeing and tech, and how do you see its impact evolving in the next five years?

My journey with mindfulness began at a young age due to personal circumstances. When I was nine years old, I had to care for my mother who was seriously ill. During this challenging time, a close family friend introduced me to mindfulness techniques and gifted me a CD with mindfulness exercises. These practices became a lifeline for me, helping me navigate the difficult emotions I was experiencing. This experience inspired me to find ways to make mindfulness more accessible and impactful, especially through digital solutions. With MINDZEIT, I wanted to use technology to help people reconnect with themselves in a world that can often feel fast-paced and overwhelming. Mindfulness is also becoming increasingly important for maintaining a healthy relationship with technology. It encourages users to be more present and intentional in how they interact with digital tools, ensuring that technology remains a source of support rather than a source of stress. Over the next five years, I believe the integration of AI and mindfulness will play a crucial role in how we approach mental health. We’ll see more personalized and adaptive tools that respond to individual needs, making support available to a wider audience and ultimately reducing the stigma around mental health care. It’s about creating a space where technology serves, rather than overwhelms, human well-being.

As an advocate for digital ethics and AI, and with your recent studies at LSE in Ethics of AI, what are the most pressing ethical challenges you foresee in the tech industry, and how can mindfulness practices help address these issues?

One of the most pressing challenges in the tech industry is the balance between innovation and ethical responsibility. Issues such as bias in AI algorithms, data privacy, and the power dynamics between tech companies and users are at the forefront. These challenges demand a deeper reflection on the impact that technology has on individuals and society as a whole. Mindfulness practices can help foster this kind of reflection. They encourage a more conscious and deliberate approach to the design and use of technology, and promote awareness of how we develop and deploy AI. By cultivating self-awareness and empathy, mindfulness can help decision-makers in tech prioritize human well-being and make choices that align with ethical values, ultimately creating a more compassionate and fair digital landscape.

You’ve been recognized as Female Founder of the Year 2023 and featured on the Business Punk Watchlist 2023. How do you leverage your platform to promote diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, and what advice do you have for other women looking to make their mark in this field?

Receiving these recognitions has given me a platform to amplify my voice, and I see it as a responsibility to advocate for more diversity and inclusion in the tech space. I am actively involved in mentorship programmes and initiatives, such as Startup Teens, to support aspiring entrepreneurs. I believe that representation matters, and seeing someone who looks like you in a leadership role can be incredibly empowering. My advice to other women looking to make their mark is to embrace your uniqueness and not be afraid to challenge the status quo. The tech industry needs diverse perspectives to truly innovate and make a difference. Building a strong network, continuously learning and staying true to your values are key to thriving in this field. And most importantly, believe in your potential – your voice and contributions matter.

Thanks for this interview, Céleste!

Céleste’s links: LinkedIn
Portrait: Wendy Stephan

Womenize! – Inspiring Stories Feature by Madeleine Egger