Breaking Barriers in Beauty: A Conversation with Robin Shum of Estée Lauder

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March 8, 2024 • 17 mins

Episode title and number: Breaking Barriers in Beauty: A Conversation with Robin Shum of Estée Lauder 4-#3

Summary of the show:
This episode of Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R. celebrates International Women's Day by featuring Robin Shum from Estée Lauder who discusses the groundbreaking voice-enabled makeup assistant. Aimed at breaking barriers and fostering inclusivity in the beauty industry, this tool is designed for individuals on the blindness spectrum, enabling them to apply makeup confidently and independently. The show delves into the development process, challenges faced, and the impact of the tool on accessibility and inclusion. Furthermore, it highlights Estée Lauder's commitment to inclusivity and advice for other companies on enhancing accessibility in their products or services.

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Robin Shum's Bio:
Robin Shum is an Inclusive Technology product manager on the Innovation and Emerging Technologies team at the Estée Lauder Companies. With a background in Linguistics and Technological Systems Management, she sits at the intersection of technology and inclusive design. Currently, as the Product Owner of the Voice-enabled Makeup Assistant, ELC’s first app that makes beauty more accessible for the Blind and low-vision community, Robin merges thoughtful co-creation with championing digital accessibility. She is passionate about the future of inclusive design and accessibility in the beauty industry.

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:
00:00 | Introduction to Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R.
00:42 | Celebrating International Women's Day with Robin Shum
01:40 | The Inspiration Behind the Voice-enabled Makeup Assistant
05:00 | Challenges and Learnings in Developing the Makeup Assistant
07:19 | Dana's Beauty Byte
08:52 | Collaboration with the Blind Community
12:11 | Advice for Enhancing Inclusivity in Products and Services
14:47 | The Future of Inclusive Technology in the Beauty Industry
15:26 | Availability of the Voice-enabled Makeup Assistant
16:06 | Connecting with Robin Shum
16:22 | Closing Remarks and Thanks