How can AI and UX design be leveraged for real-world crisis response? In this episode of the UX Spotlight Series, Nate sits down with Cynthia Leimbach and Dr. Jess Mendoza, the visionaries behind LAHelpNow—a groundbreaking initiative born from the devastating January 2025 LA fires.
“It all started with a spark,” says Cynthia, a CX/CD and AI expert, reflecting on the moment the LA fires began. She asked herself: How can my skills make a real impact?
Cynthia and UX expert Dr. Jess Mendoza went on to found LAHelpNow.org, an organization dedicated to connecting people in crisis with real-time, verified resources—with the help of Lala, their AI-powered digital assistant.
Listen now to discover how AI, UX, and human-centered design are shaping the future of disaster relief and how you can be part of the movement!
Learn More & Get Involved:
- Website: https://lahelpnow.org/
- Help by Donating: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/fundraisi…
Guests:
- Cynthia Leimbach – / cynthialeimbach
- Dr. Jess Mendoza – / jesstheresearcher
Nate Brown
Nate is an accomplished account manager for many large enterprise-level companies in the North American region. With multiple years of experience collaborating with research teams to maximize their research in the Userlytics platform, Nate possesses key insights into why some research projects lack substance and others produce valuable insights. His favorite part about working at Userlytics is building lasting relationships with his clients, even in a remote setting.
Cynthia Leimbach
Cynthia defines global brands using her expertise in CX/CD + AI + VUI to create dynamic end to end digital assistants. A creative force, Cynthia is a natural charmer who is committed to inspire and help others by example, most recently, as President of HelpNow, Inc, leading an incredible group of global volunteers. She is currently lead CX/CD at University of Phoenix, President of HelpNow, Inc. and a mentor at Ai4All & Botrepreneurs.
Dr. Jess Mendoza
Dr. Jess Mendoza is a Cognitive Psychologist turned UX Researcher with a passion for understanding how people interact with technology. By day, she serves as a UX Researcher in fintech, and in the evenings, she champions AI & the Human Experience, collaborating with the SWARM Community to raise awareness of AI literacy. Jess also leverages her expertise in Generative AI, UX Research, and Cognitive Psychology to support the human-centric design of \"Lala,\" LAHelpNow’s AI-powered digital assistant.
