Elissa Shevinsky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elissa Shevinsky
Born	Elissa Beth Shevinsky New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Williams College, CUNY Baruch College School of Business,
Occupation	Author, entrepreneur, cybersecurity expert
Years active	1999–present

Elissa Shevinsky is an American expert in technology and online safety. She is also a business owner, a public speaker, and an author. She helps create new tech companies and writes about important topics.

Her Education and Learning

Elissa Shevinsky went to Benjamin Cardozo High School. After that, she studied Political Theory at Williams College. She also took classes in Computer Science. She finished her studies in 2001.

Starting Her Career in Tech

Protecting a Company's Name

In 2010, Elissa Shevinsky had to defend her company, Neighborhoodies. They were using an old newspaper logo on T-shirts. The New York Times said they couldn't use it. Elissa argued that the logo's owner had stopped using it. This meant others could use it.

Creating Dating Websites

In 2012, she started two dating websites focused on New York City. These were called MakeOut Labs and JoinJspot.

Building a Secure Photo App

Shevinsky co-founded Glimpse in 2013. This app helped people share photos and videos safely. It used special coding to keep them private. She was the chief executive of Glimpse.

New Projects and a Book

In 2015, Elissa Shevinsky got funding for her company, Jekudo Privacy Company. She also helped organize a conference about online security called SecretCon. That same year, she edited a book titled Lean Out: The Struggle for Gender Equality in Tech and Start-up Culture.

Working at Brave Browser

In 2016, Shevinsky joined Brave. Brave is a web browser that focuses on privacy. She became the Head of Product there.

Her Work Today

Speaking About Online Safety

Elissa Shevinsky often talks and writes about how companies can keep their information safe. She spoke at a conference called HOPE XI. There, she discussed how social media might affect elections. She still helps organize the SecretCon conference.

Smart Contracts and Teaching

In 2018, Shevinsky gave talks about online security at universities. She also worked as the chief operating officer at SoHo Token Labs. This company creates tools for "smart contracts." Smart contracts are like digital agreements that run automatically.

In 2019, Shevinsky became the CEO of Faster Than Light. She also taught a class at Williams College. The class was called "Introduction to Tech Entrepreneurship."

Awards and Recognition

A Top Business Book

Her book, Lean Out: The Struggle for Gender Equality in Tech and Start-up Culture, was recognized. Inc. Magazine named it one of the 100 best business books of 2015.

Woman of the Decade

In 2018, Williams College honored Elissa Shevinsky. They named her "Woman of the Decade." In her speech, she shared her goal. She wanted to help develop and protect online privacy for the next ten years.

Her Beliefs and Advocacy

Elissa Shevinsky believes in being kind and welcoming in the workplace. This is especially true in the technology and security industries.

Speaking Out Against Harassment

In 2015, she wrote about online harassment. She said, "I'd like to see less harassment. That's my position. Less harassment, for everyone." She believes this should not be a difficult idea to agree with.

Supporting Fair Workplaces

When a Google employee was fired, Shevinsky spoke about it. She said that questioning someone's skills based on their background might be against the law. This law helps stop unfair treatment at work. It protects people based on their race, gender, and other things. She also asked for stronger rules to be followed at the 2018 HOPE conference.

Appearing in Documentaries

Elissa Shevinsky has appeared in two documentaries. She is in CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap. She is also a cast member in the documentary Silenced.