At Character.AI, we believe that the best products are built by people with diverse perspectives and a shared passion for the future of AI.  Today, we’re celebrating the incredible women driving innovation across our team. As a lean startup, our female leaders have a massive hand in shaping everything you see - from building the technical infrastructure that brings the Character.AI experience to life to growing our global community.

Building AI that can entertain people and inspire their creativity requires teams that reflect the diversity of users. The women at Character.AI are central to that mission — leading research, engineering product experiences, and championing the voices of millions of users worldwide. Not only are these women accomplished professionals, but they are active storytellers, athletes, and artists who know that building a great product requires a real connection to human creativity. 

You’ll find Lanyin, our Engineering Lead for Multimodal, balancing the rigors of AI infrastructure with the discipline of classical piano while having fun playing pickleball. Claire, a Technical Program Manager, blends her work on product launches with a love for themed dinner parties and coding to explore new interactive ideas. And Summer, our Head of Community, uses her background as a content creator and a Romantasy reader to better advocate for our users and build genuine connections across our platforms. 

That same spirit of curiosity defines our entire team. Eliza, a User Experience Researcher, draws inspiration from exploring the unique corners of her neighborhood to better understand how people relate to new technology. Tamar, our Product Monetization Manager, navigates the complex intersection of AI and creativity while staying active outdoors and planning her next travel adventure. Nicole, a Recruiter, focuses on identifying the talent that will drive our mission forward while finding her own balance through cooking and beach days with her family. Meanwhile, Amanda, a Data Scientist, applies her analytical eye to our creator and character ecosystems while looking for the perfect new restaurant or working on home DIY projects. Whether these women are navigating the intersection of AI research or planning their next creative project, they are building a future as dynamic as their own lives.

We asked these women to share the advice they'd give to the next generation of women in tech — and anyone just starting their career. Check out their insights below!

Summer – Head of Community

“Build genuine relationships with people at every level, not just the people above you. Some of my biggest opportunities early on came from someone knowing someone, who knew someone else they'd met somewhere completely unexpected. You never know who's going to open a door for you, so show up authentically everywhere and invest in people without an agenda.

Find your people early, specifically other women you can lean on for real support and guidance. Not just to celebrate the wins, but some you can have hard, honest conversations with. And don't underestimate the power of those relationships over time. Community isn't just my job, it's something I've genuinely relied on throughout my own career, and I wouldn't be where I am without it.” 

Claire – Technical Program Manager, Core Product

“Think about the kind of life you want to lead, not just the career. It's easy to get swept up in the momentum, and before you know it, you're running on fumes. Protect your peace, and learn the difference between work that fuels you and work that just burns you out.

One thing I'm proud of at Character is the community we've built among the women here, starting with a Paint & Sip Boba night when I first joined. I'm in awe of the creativity these women bring.

Remember the stories you grew up with and the women who inspired you. You've probably already become that for someone else without realizing it. I've always been a character, and I hope you'll be one, too.”

Lanyin –  Multimodal Engineering Lead

“Start by asking yourself: what is my strength, and how can it create impact across my work, my team, and my company? Lean into that. Learn from others while you work on it. Then build a simple loop for yourself — think, execute, ask for feedback, repeat. It sounds straightforward, but staying consistent with it is genuinely powerful.

Always remind yourself: you are more capable than you think or than others may think of you. The only way to find out how far you can go is to go for it. The path ahead may be unclear, but when you finally reach the other side and look back, you'll see the rainbow.”

Eliza – User Researcher

“Stay curious and follow questions that genuinely fascinate you. Some of the most interesting careers emerge from pursuing ideas that other people might initially overlook. Many opportunities come from simply starting things, reaching out to people, and putting your ideas into the world rather than waiting until everything feels perfectly approved.

Another mantra I like to remind myself of is that “FOMO is a privilege.” By that I mean that many of the most interesting opportunities come from being out in the world and showing up. Go to the talk, the party, the strange event you almost skipped. You never know who you might meet or what conversation might change the direction of your work.” 

Amanda – Data Scientist  

“Take it one day at a time. A career isn't built in a single decision. It's shaped by hundreds of small ones made over years. Worrying about where you'll be in ten years is less useful than asking what you can do well today. Show up, do good work, and let the path reveal itself.

Keep an open mind, and you might be surprised where it takes you. The roles that didn't exist five years ago are often the most exciting ones today. The industry you never considered might be the one that fits you best. Some of the most fulfilled people in their careers took paths that looked illogical from the outside. Rigidity about "what I'm supposed to do" is one of the biggest limiters people put on themselves.”

Tamar – Product Monetization Manager

“Don’t underestimate how valuable your perspective is. Technology is shaping culture, creativity, and everyday life, so we need people from many different backgrounds helping build it. Stay curious, ask lots of questions, and don’t be afraid to step into roles that feel a little bigger than you’re ready for. While it can feel intimidating, that's often where the most growth happens.” 

Nicole – Recruiter

“Be open and say yes to opportunities, even if they feel a little outside your comfort zone. You don’t always know where something will lead, and some of the best experiences come from taking chances early on. At the same time, invest in building genuine relationships. Whether that’s with peers, mentors, or people you meet along the way. Those connections can shape your career in ways you don’t expect, whether it’s opening a door to a new role, offering guidance when you need it, or just being a support system as you grow.”

To the women building the future of AI — whether at Character.AI or anywhere else — we see you. We're proud of the team we've built and the culture these women have shaped, and we're just getting started. If you've always been a bit of a character yourself and are excited by the work we’re doing, we'd love to meet you. Come build with us!