Origins of Purpose: The Journey That Sparked Her Mission
In an age where innovation moves at lightning speed, Lavina stands as a powerful reminder that technology must serve people not the other way around. Her journey from the United Nations to Columbia University, and now as the founder of The BoomerEm is driven by one core belief: inclusion begins with empathy.
It was during her time volunteering in New York that this belief took root. Lavina witnessed an elderly woman break down in tears because she couldn’t join a virtual family gathering. The woman felt invisible excluded by technology that was supposed to connect her. That moment became a turning point. It revealed that tech exclusion isn’t just a design flaw—it’s a human issue.
Motivated by that experience, Lavina pursued a Master’s in Applied Analytics at Columbia University and committed herself to building technology that is inclusive, accessible, and meaningful. Her work with The BoomerEm—short for Boomer Empowerment is a direct response to the silent epidemic of digital isolation among older adults. This mission became even more urgent during the early days of the pandemic, when the world went online overnight and left an entire generation behind. Lavina saw firsthand that digital exclusion wasn’t just about missing out on convenience—it was about losing connection, dignity, and access to essential services. For her, the issue wasn’t about better apps—it was about restoring equity in a society where participation increasingly depends on being connected. Through her leadership, Lavina is helping reshape the digital landscape into one where no one is invisible—and where technology becomes a bridge, not a barrier.
Designing Dignity: The BoomerEm Story & Its Social Vision
Technology, for all its promise, has often left behind those who weren’t considered in its design—especially older adults and people with disabilities. Lavina founded The BoomerEm to change that. The initiative was born out of a clear realization: the digital world was not built with every generation in mind. Her academic research at Columbia, focused on cognitive load and memory retention in seniors, revealed a critical insight—learning must be visual, emotionally engaging, and interactive to truly resonate with older adults.
That insight shaped The BoomerEm’s unique learning model—one that uses storytelling, gamified prompts, and inclusive design to empower, not overwhelm. But what sets the initiative apart is its co-creation philosophy. “We co-create with them — not for them,” Lavina shares. From large fonts and hands-on learning tools to bite-sized, relatable lessons, every workshop is built with accessibility, dignity, and emotional safety at its core. The result is a learning environment where participants feel heard, respected, and confident.
Through her work with the 50+ community, Lavina has uncovered powerful truths about aging and adaptability. “They are resilient, wise, and curious,” she says. “Learning doesn’t stop—no matter the age.” One of her most important takeaways is how drastically perceptions of “simple” differ across generations. What feels intuitive to a younger user can be overwhelming to someone who didn’t grow up with digital tools. For Lavina, that gap isn’t a barrier—it’s a responsibility. And The BoomerEm is her way of honouring that responsibility with patience, empathy, and respect.
Innovation with Heart: Data, AI & Designing for Impact
Lavina’s background in applied analytics and AI has powered award-winning innovations—but her approach to data isn’t about scale for scale’s sake. At The BoomerEm, data becomes a tool not to accelerate blindly, but to grow with intention. “We use data not to scale faster, but to scale better,” she says. Every layer of the organization—from curriculum design to feedback loops—is informed by evidence, empathy, and real-world needs.
With digital inclusion at its core, The BoomerEm uses data to illuminate gaps and fine-tune its impact. The team tracks everything from engagement levels and tool adoption to emotional sentiment gathered from participant feedback. This allows them to constantly refine delivery styles, personalize content, and ensure their offerings remain cognitively and culturally inclusive. It’s analytics with a soul—tech that listens, responds, and evolves. Much of this methodology was shaped during Lavina’s time at Columbia, where she developed an MVP (minimum viable product) to study the learning preferences of older adults in digital environments. The research uncovered that seniors preferred hands-on, relatable learning—like sending photos or ordering medication—over abstract tech demos. More importantly, it revealed a core truth: digital readiness isn’t about age—it’s about mindset, exposure, and motivation.
“We have someone aged 90 wanting to explore AI tools,” Lavina shares, “and someone in their 50s who just wants to learn how to call their grandkid or create PDFs.” This spectrum of needs has helped shape The BoomerEm’s model into something uniquely adaptive—meeting people exactly where they are, and helping them move forward with confidence and purpose.
Global Fellowships, Big Data & Building for Marginalized Communities
For Lavina, leadership in tech has never been about chasing titles—it’s about centering people. Her time as a Watson Institute Fellow was a pivotal chapter in shaping that vision. Immersed in a global cohort of changemakers tackling systemic issues across continents, Lavina found not only community, but clarity. “It reminded me that impact isn’t about working harder—it’s about working together,” she reflects. The experience broadened her lens beyond digital exclusion and ageism to a deeper focus on intersectionality, equity, and the design of systems that center dignity across all lines of identity.
This values-driven approach to innovation was also recognized when Lavina received the 40 Under 40 Digital Technology Innovator Award—a moment she describes as “deeply humbling.” To her, it wasn’t just a personal milestone—it was a cultural signal. “It validated that innovation with empathy matters,” she says. For Lavina, the future of technology belongs to those who build not just for speed or scale, but for inclusion. “We need builders who listen—not just to metrics, but to marginalized voices.” In an industry often dominated by noise and numbers, Lavina continues to lead with quiet conviction: that true innovation is measured not just by outputs, but by the lives it touches—and the dignity it restores.
Systems Leadership: Balancing Strategy, Scale & Soul
Across every level of Lavina’s work—from grassroots training to high-level innovation proposals at the UN—one value remains constant: empathy. Whether it’s designing tech for seniors or managing change at a global scale, her focus is on understanding who’s being left behind and why. Inclusion is the thread that ties it all together. “Sometimes, it’s not the most complex tool that changes lives—it’s the one someone actually uses,” she says. A simple app that helped a grandmother connect with others became a symbol of something larger: trust. Balancing systems thinking with heart-led leadership is a practice Lavina approaches with humility. “A model may look perfect on paper,” she explains, “but it only matters if it works for the people it’s built for.” Listening—truly listening—has become her most important tool in designing impact that lasts.
Founding a mission-led organization comes with its share of challenges. “You’re constantly fundraising while doing the work,” Lavina notes. But the joy? It’s found in moments of connection—like seeing someone in their 70s send their first email or laugh through a learning session. “That joy is unmatched,” she says. “It reminds you why the mission matters.”
A Vision for Tomorrow: Scaling Impact with Empathy
Lavina’s long-term vision for The BoomerEm goes far beyond workshops—it’s about building a global digital empowerment ecosystem. From multilingual curricula to locally led programs, she envisions communities around the world owning and leading their own digital inclusion journeys. “The BoomerEm should be a backbone, not a bottleneck,” she says. For her, scale means shared ownership, not centralized control.
She imagines a future where digital inclusion transforms not just access, but agency. “A digitally inclusive world is a more connected, compassionate, and capable one,” Lavina notes. She sees older adults hosting virtual wellness clubs, people with disabilities building apps, and digital fluency becoming a basic right. As for legacy, Lavina hopes to be remembered for practicing compassionate innovation—using every tool, from AI to advocacy, to make others feel seen, heard, and empowered. “Stay curious, stay humble,” she says. “And always ask—how can this help someone today?”
Final Reflections: Words of Wisdom for Future Change-Makers
Lavina’s advice to young women and emerging entrepreneurs is both practical and powerful: “Start small—and stay bold.” In a space driven by headlines and hype, she urges future leaders to let values—not trends—lead the way. “You don’t need a million-dollar idea to make a million-dollar impact,” she says. Her call to action is clear: build for those no one else is building for, and surround yourself with people who share your purpose.
What keeps her going, especially on the hard days, is simple: the people. Their stories, their laughter, and their small-but-transformative breakthroughs. Whether it’s someone joining a Zoom call with their grandkids or discovering online recipes for the first time, these moments are her fuel. “I keep asking myself, if not me, then who?” Lavina says. “For them, I must create—because this work is more than innovation; it’s a promise to those too often overlooked.”
Final Note
If there’s one lesson that echoes through Lavina’s journey, it’s this: technology alone doesn’t empower people—people empower people. Innovation, no matter how advanced, is only as impactful as the intention behind it. For Lavina, tech is a tool. The true mission is making it inclusive, ethical, and deeply human. And in doing so, she’s not just closing digital divides—she’s opening doors to dignity, connection, and possibility