Shaun Tai | Nonprofit Leader, Designer & Educator – The official home of Shaun Tai: executive director of BRIDGEGOOD, 40 Under 40 honoree, keynote speaker, and advocate for careers in design and tech.

Shaun Tai

Philanthropist

Designer

Social Entrepreneur

Executive Director at BRIDGEGOOD

Shaun Tai, a four-time 40 Under 40 honoree, has spent nearly two decades opening creative careers to Black, Indigenous, and Designers of Color. As a trailblazer in tech, he breaks down barriers and builds lasting opportunity for underrepresented groups, with a steady belief in diversity and inclusion and in the power of good design.

Year Founded 2009
Location Oakland, CA
Students Reached 22K+
Areas of Impact Job Training, Workforce Development, UX/UI, Product Design

Partnerships Launched

Knowledge Shared

Job Training

Building programs that turn curiosity into craft for design students.

Workforce Development

Training job seekers for the roles that tomorrow’s employers need most.

UX/UI

Teaching user-centric design research, wireframing, and prototyping.

Education Innovation

Partnering with schools to share industry insight and design trends.

Communities Impacted

Shaun Tai is a brilliant and inspiring leader who understands how to guide others into fulfilling their career potential.

Anna M.

UX Design Apprentice Graduate @ BRIDGEGOOD

TV & News Featured

Companies Founded

Z. Team Yossi | Culture & Automotive Group

Pushin' The Bay | Music & TV Production

ZTY Media | Digital Product Agency

Oakland Digital Arts & Literacy Center | Nonprofit

Legacy Achieved

Meet Shaun Tai, a digital literacy pioneer who has spent nearly two decades using technology to open doors in Oakland and beyond. He holds a Master’s degree in Architectural & Urban Design and a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising from San Jose State University, and he has always believed technology should lift people from every walk of life. Before that, he graduated with honors from Cal State East Bay with a BA in Graphic Design, where he was named the ‘Distinguished Young Alumnus’ of 2014-15, the highest honor the university awards, and he has been giving back ever since.

"Shaun Tai’s story shows what one clear vision can do for a community. Whether you care about tech, design, or simply the power of showing up for people, his work is a place to start, and a good reason to believe that opportunity can be designed."

Resume | Shaun Tai

WORK Experience

2016 - Present

Executive Director

BRIDGEGOOD

Opening equitable tech access, UX/UI design pathways, and professional resources to job seekers.

900+ careers launched
50+ schools reached
22,000+ students educated

2009 - 2016

Co-Founder & CEO

Oakland Digital Arts and Literacy Center Inc

Closing the digital literacy and opportunity gap for small businesses and local students.

72M artwork showcased
$5.6M services donated
2,500+ entrepreneurs supported

2009 - 2015

Executive Producer

Weigend Associates LLC

Full-service digital media production for Dr. Andreas Weigend, former Chief Scientist at Amazon.com.

100+ videos produced
750 businesses subscribed
75,000+ views garnered

Follow Shaun Tai’s full career on LinkedIn, including work with the City & County of San Francisco and Facebook (Meta).

Education

2005-2007

San Jose State University

Master of Arts - MA

Interdisciplinary Studies (Architectural & Urban Design), Graduate School | 4.0 GPA

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2003 - 2005

San Jose State University

Bachelor of Science - BS

Journalism and Mass Communications | Magna Cum Laude, 3.8 GPA

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2000 - 2003

California State University, East Bay

Bachelor of Arts - BA

Graphic Design / Digital Arts (Department of Art) | Honors, 3.5 GPA

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Verified Qualifications

99+ Ratings

Entrepreneurship
Digital Media
Nonprofits
Strategy

ENDORSED Skills

Program Management
User Experience Design
Brand Development
Social Entrepreneurship

Available For

Keynote Engagements

90%
Advisory Opportunities

82%
Thought Leadership

85%
DEI / CSR Consultation

98%

Areas of Expertise

Design For Social Good
Diversity & Inclusion in Tech
Leading with Empathy
UX / UI / Product Design
New Partnership Development
Educational Innovation
Design Trends for Sustainability
Building Community Ecosystems
Media Creation for Social Impact

Success Realized

Shaun Tai is passionate about making his community vision come to life. I appreciate his relatability; Shaun showed he was just like me. I consider Shaun a mentor and friend.

Devon W.

Product Designer

Shaun Tai is that one person we all need around. He's motivating and inclusive; making sure that everyone is noticed and their opinions are heard.

Maritza M.

UX Design Apprentice Graduate @ BRIDGEGOOD

Never have I seen someone approach design with such intense passion until I met Shaun Tai. The fire of innovation that Shaun carries inside him is infectious to all around him.

Deron G.

UX Designer

Shaun Tai is a radiant and motivating leader who helps you grow and develop into the best version of yourself. Shaun has been (and is) such a strong light in our lives.