AI is only as good as the data it learns from and the people who build it. Women’s health has historically been overlooked in medical research, and the same risk applies to AI development. Nina, for instance, is designed to capture biodata that could accelerate drug development for conditions like endometriosis — an area where research has lagged. If AI tools are built by teams that reflect the diverse populations they serve, we can prevent bias and drive innovation in areas that have long been neglected.
Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries at a breakneck pace, and the entrepreneurs driving this innovation are at the forefront of this revolution. From groundbreaking applications to ethical considerations, these visionaries are shaping the future of AI. What does it take to innovate in such a rapidly evolving field, and how are these entrepreneurs using AI to solve real-world problems? As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Adonica Shaw.
Adonica Shaw is a visionary leader in the Femtech space and the founder of Wingwomen, a platform dedicated to empowering women through innovative health and wellness solutions. With a background in healthcare, technology, and a deep passion for maternal health, Adonica has made it her mission to address the gaps in care that women, particularly those in underserved communities, face during critical life stages such as pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory and how you grew up?
I was born and raised in Southern California, but my childhood was far from conventional. In Southern California, I was surrounded by diversity, innovation, and a spirit of possibility, but I also witnessed firsthand the gaps in resources and support for women’s health, even in a place as progressive as LA. My curiosity about how systems worked — and how they could be improved — was sparked early on. I remember being fascinated by the stories of women in my community, particularly those who struggled to access reproductive health education and care. These experiences planted the seeds for my passion for women’s health and my eventual journey into the Femtech space.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
One of the most surreal moments in my career was attempting to patent an AI-powered vaginal speculum in 2023. Historically, the vaginal speculum has remained largely unchanged for over a century, yet it remains one of the most uncomfortable and intimidating tools in gynecology. I envisioned Nina, an AI-driven speculum that would provide real-time diagnostic support while improving comfort for patients. Although the patent process was challenging, it solidified my belief that AI can revolutionize women’s health and inspired my continued work in the field.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Absolutely. Dr. Linda Bradley, a renowned fibroids expert at the Cleveland Clinic, has been a significant inspiration and mentor to me. Early in my career, I came across her groundbreaking work in advancing women’s health, particularly in the areas of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and patient-centered care.
Dr. Bradley’s work continues to inspire me, and her dedication to empowering women through education, innovation, and advocacy has shaped my approach to Femtech. She is a true pioneer in the field, and I am deeply grateful for her contributions and the path she has paved for leaders like me to follow.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
One of my favorite life lesson quotes is by Dr. Brené Brown: “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.” This quote has been profoundly relevant in both my personal and professional journey.
When I founded Wingwomen, I had to embrace vulnerability in ways I never imagined.
Launching a Femtech platform meant stepping into the unknown, facing skepticism, and risking failure — all while being transparent about my own experiences and the gaps I saw in women’s health care. There were moments when I felt exposed, especially when advocating for solutions that challenged the status quo. But Dr. Brown’s words reminded me that showing up, even when the outcome was uncertain, was an act of courage in itself.
This quote also resonates deeply in my work as a doula and advocate for maternal health. Supporting families during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum requires showing up fully, even when the path is unpredictable. It’s about being present, honest, and open, even when you can’t guarantee the perfect result. This mindset has not only shaped my approach to leadership but has also helped me build trust and connection with the communities I serve.
Dr. Brown’s wisdom has taught me that vulnerability is not a weakness — it’s the foundation of innovation, empathy, and meaningful change. It’s what allows us to create solutions that truly resonate and make a difference in the lives of others.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Resilience: The journey of building Wingwomen Technologies and pushing for innovation in reproductive health has been filled with obstacles, from regulatory challenges to fundraising hurdles. But resilience has kept me going, especially when advocating for advancements like Nina and AI-driven maternal healthcare solutions.
- Vision: When I founded Wingwomen, I saw a future where maternal and neonatal care could be revolutionized through technology. That vision has kept me grounded and committed to expanding access to care.
- Adaptability: The tech landscape is constantly shifting, especially in AI. My ability to pivot and embrace change has allowed me to stay ahead in the field and bring real innovation to maternal health.
Ok super. Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. Share the story of what inspired you to start working with AI. Was there a particular problem or opportunity that motivated you?
The biggest motivator for me was the gap in personalized, accessible reproductive healthcare. Women’s health tools have largely been stagnant, with little innovation in diagnostic and examination technologies. AI presents an opportunity to change that by improving diagnostic accuracy, reducing discomfort, and providing real-time insights.
Nina evolved from my attempt at redesigning the vaginal speculum in 2023. Frustrated by the lack of modern, patient-centered gynecological tools, I set out to create a more comfortable and effective alternative. That journey led me to explore AI-driven solutions that could not only improve the physical design of examination tools but also enhance the overall diagnostic process. My work on Nina was born from this belief, and it remains central to what I do at Wingwomen Technologies today.
Describe a moment when AI achieved something you once thought impossible. What was the breakthrough, and how did it impact your approach going forward?
One moment that truly stands out to me as a breakthrough in AI achieving what I once thought impossible is the development of AI-powered climate models. As a former weather forecaster, I spent years analyzing complex data sets, interpreting atmospheric patterns, and delivering forecasts to the public. Back then, creating accurate, long-term climate predictions required the expertise of highly skilled scientists, analysts, and meteorologists, and even then, there were limitations due to the sheer complexity of the data and the unpredictability of climate systems.
When I first learned about AI-powered climate models, I was amazed at how this technology could process vast amounts of data — from satellite imagery to ocean temperature readings — and generate precise, actionable predictions. These models not only improve the accuracy of climate forecasts but also make this critical information accessible to a broader range of stakeholders, including meteorologists, governmental agencies, researchers, and policymakers. This democratization of data allows for better planning and decision-making to address the impacts of climate change on humanity and the environment.
For me, this breakthrough was a game-changer. It reinforced my belief in the power of technology to solve complex, global challenges.
Talk about a challenge you faced when working with AI. How did you overcome it, and what was the outcome?
One major challenge was integrating AI into sensitive medical procedures while ensuring patient safety, ethical compliance, and regulatory approval. Developing Nina has required extensive collaboration with medical consultants, regulatory experts, and legal professionals to navigate the complex landscape of bringing an AI-driven medical device to market. This ongoing process involves meeting stringent clinical and ethical standards while ensuring the technology remains accessible and effective. Overcoming these challenges has reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary partnerships in advancing women’s healthcare innovation.
Can you share an example of how your work with AI has had a meaningful impact?
Nina evolved from my 2023 attempt to patent a redesigned vaginal speculum — a device with a deeply controversial history. Despite being a critical tool for gynecological exams, the traditional speculum’s antiquated design causes pain for many patients, even deterring them from essential screenings like Pap smears and cervical cancer checks. This is an adverse outcome, as the device should facilitate preventive care, not discourage it.
Nina is a complete reimagination of the speculum, optimized for comfort with a fundamentally different design. It also integrates AI to capture and analyze vast amounts of biodata, which could revolutionize research and drug development in women’s health. While the device and its software have yet to receive FDA approval, the ability to collect and process this biodata could be a game-changer. By making this information available to pharmaceutical companies, we could accelerate the development of therapeutics for conditions like Endometriosis or innovate new treatments, such as suppositories designed to help women efface at home in late pregnancy. This could reduce the need for hospital-based inductions and potentially lead to safer, more effective medications for pregnant people — transforming labor and delivery management on a global scale.
Five Things You Need to Know to Help Shape the Future of AI
1. AI in healthcare must be patient-centered.
When I began working on Nina, my goal was not just to innovate but to solve a real patient pain point — literally. The traditional vaginal speculum, despite being widely used, causes discomfort that discourages many women from participating in critical screenings like Pap smears and cervical cancer checks. Nina was designed to prioritize patient comfort while integrating AI to enhance diagnostic capabilities. This approach exemplifies how AI should serve the patient first, improving both experiences and outcomes.
2. Regulatory frameworks need to evolve with AI.
Innovation in AI-driven medical devices often outpaces the policies governing them. While developing Nina, I quickly realized that regulatory pathways weren’t necessarily built to accommodate AI-enhanced diagnostics in reproductive health. Navigating the FDA approval process has required extensive collaboration with legal and medical experts. It’s clear that if we want to see AI transform healthcare meaningfully, we need regulatory bodies that can adapt as quickly as the technology itself.
3. AI will not replace healthcare professionals but will enhance their abilities.
One of the most exciting possibilities for AI in healthcare is its ability to support, rather than replace, human expertise. For example, Nina’s AI-driven biodata collection isn’t designed to take the place of gynecologists or midwives but to provide them with better diagnostic insights. By leveraging AI to analyze large datasets, we can help healthcare providers detect patterns, make more informed decisions, and ultimately offer better care. This kind of augmentation ensures that medical professionals have the tools they need to work more efficiently and effectively, rather than being sidelined by automation.
4. Diversity in AI development is critical.
AI is only as good as the data it learns from and the people who build it. Women’s health has historically been overlooked in medical research, and the same risk applies to AI development. Nina, for instance, is designed to capture biodata that could accelerate drug development for conditions like endometriosis — an area where research has lagged. If AI tools are built by teams that reflect the diverse populations they serve, we can prevent bias and drive innovation in areas that have long been neglected.
5. Public trust in AI is essential.
AI can only make a meaningful impact if people trust it. This is particularly important in healthcare, where concerns about data privacy, bias, and ethical use are prevalent. For example, when developing Nina, we had to be transparent about how biodata would be collected, stored, and used. If patients don’t feel secure using AI-powered medical devices, adoption will be slow, no matter how advanced the technology is. Clear communication and ethical AI deployment are key to earning and maintaining public trust.
When you think about the future of AI, what excites you the most?
The potential for AI to create personalized, predictive healthcare excites me the most. Imagine a future where maternal health complications can be predicted and prevented before they become life-threatening. My work is focused on building this reality through AI-driven diagnostics and training tools.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who want to innovate in AI?
Start with a real problem. AI for the sake of AI isn’t useful — find a gap that technology can genuinely fill. For me, that was the lack of innovation in gynecological tools and maternal healthcare education.
Is there a person with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why?
Dr. Fei-Fei Li, one of the leading experts in AI and healthcare applications. Her insights on AI’s ethical implementation in medicine would be invaluable as I continue my work in reproductive health innovation.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can check out Wingwomen Technologies at www.mywingwomen.com to stay updated on our latest innovations.
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational, and we wish you continued success in your important work.
Adonica Shaw Of Wingwomen Technologies On Pushing the Boundaries of AI was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.