Are you ready for a healthier relationship with technology?
In this episode of the People Teaching People Podcast, I’m joined by Tara Stewart, the innovative founder and CEO of NOBLE Technology, a Canadian based tech company. Through her work, Tara is mindfully reimagining the role of technology to prioritize human connection and well-being.
As a mother of three, Tara faced the same dilemma so many parents do: when, how, and whether to give her kids smartphones. With societal pressures, the need for connectivity, and no healthy alternatives in sight, she decided to build a better option on her own!
Her entrepreneurial determination led to the birth of NOBLE Technology and its first product, BE.connect, Canada's first child-safe, senior-friendly smartphone. Now taking pre-orders, BE.connect is designed to empower families without the pitfalls of addiction, surveillance, or manipulation. Earlier this year, Tara was selected among the Top 30 startups in the prestigious PITCH competition at Web Summit Vancouver, Canada's largest tech conference.
Tara is a sought-after digital wellness lifestyle promoter, educator, and advocate for responsible innovation. She serves as Chair of the NOBLE Alliance for Digital Wellness and Tech for Good, a Canadian advocacy group influencing tech policy, education, and design standards. She is also the Tech Health and Wellness Expert for Digital Wellness Magazine.
Tara’s vision reaches beyond tech products. She’s leading a movement to show that technology can align with the values that truly matter - wellness, trust, and meaningful connection in an increasingly digital world.
Listen in as we talk about:
01:00 Meet Tara Stewart
04:17 From concern to creation
06:24 Simpler times, real connection
09:08 Building tech with integrity
12:36 Mindful tech at home
16:00 Rethinking tech in schools
22:39 Building digital awareness
30:10 A human-centered tech future
32:46 Introducing BE.connect - designed for digital wellbeing
38:59 Lasting lesson from great teachers
41:41 Proudly following a purposeful path
43:35 Learning from Klondike Joe
46:20 Exploring creative outlets
47:27 The importance of human connection
Connect with Tara:
Website: https://www.mynobletechnology.com/
LinkedIn: Tara Stewart
Instagram: @be.techhealthy
Facebook: NOBLE Technology
Connect with Tiana:
Website: https://tianafech.com
LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
Instagram: @tianafech
Facebook: @tianafech
Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course
FROM CONCERN TO CREATION
What started as a simple search for a safer smartphone option for her kids turned into something much bigger for Tara. As a parent frustrated by the lack of healthy tech choices, she took matters into her own hands - literally gathering old phones and heading to a local engineering firm to ask, “How can we make this better?” What began as a personal project quickly grew as friends echoed the same need, revealing a huge opportunity to create something meaningful. Along the way, Tara discovered an unexpected passion for the world of technology and advocacy, diving deep into conversations about digital rights and how tech shapes our lives. Her journey reminds us that sometimes, the spark for innovation comes from simply trying to solve a problem close to home and having the curiosity and courage to follow where it leads.
SIMPLER TIMES, REAL CONNECTION
Tara remembers her first phone while living in Germany - a basic model built just for calls and the occasional text, long before devices became constant companions. It was simple, functional, and never felt like something that controlled her time or attention. Reflecting on that experience, she sees how far we’ve drifted from being in charge of our technology. Her passion now is about preserving choice. She wants to ensure people can decide how much tech they invite into their lives, rather than being pulled into systems designed for constant engagement.