Shaun Tai

About Shaun Tai

Shaun Tai is a designer, philanthropist, and social entrepreneur with two decades of transformative work across creative industries, community development, and tech education. In the 1990s, Shaun co-founded the first import car club on the Internet with his brother Wilson Tai, whose pioneering work helped influence the $7B franchise “The Fast and the Furious,” as documented by The Guardian.Shaun earned degrees in Design (B.A. Honors) from Cal State East Bay, and in Comm. Studies (B.S. Magna Cum Laude) and Architectural Design (M.A.) from SJSU. Early in his career, he applied creative thinking to green architecture, collaborating with McCall Design Group on award-winning sustainable housing.In 2008, Shaun shifted to digital media and culture, launching a cultural movement that captured 32 million views and chronicled Bay Area hip-hop history through Pushin\' the Bay TV. The following year, he founded Oakland Digital Arts and Literacy Center Inc.(now BRIDGEGOOD), establishing a public benefit corporation focused on bridging the digital divide for underserved communities.Shaun’s leadership at BRIDGEGOOD advances social and racial justice by creating access to tuition-free design education, fostering belonging, and opening tech opportunities for all. Over the past decade, he has educated 16,500+ students, built pipelines for creatives of color, and activated millions. His work has earned national recognition, including being a 5-time 40-Under-40 award recipient, CNN Headline News “Hometown Hero,” keynote speaker at SJSU’s EOP graduation, and CSUEB’s Distinguished Young Alumnus.From 2016 to 2021, Shaun served as Chief Product Officer of BRIDGEGOOD\'s Portfolio web app backed by Google.org and Golden State Warriors to provide creatives with free portfolios and direct access to real-world industry opportunities. In 2022, he activated BRIDGEGOOD’s creative hub in Jack London Square. In 2024, Shaun was honored with KPIX 5’s Jefferson Awards Silver Medal for public service and innovation in education.Today, Shaun leads BRIDGEGOOD as Executive Director, driving vision and execution behind programs like the UX Design Apprenticeship and the Cybersecurity + AI for Social Good pilot, while forging partnerships with Adobe, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Google, and others.Shaun’s impact is measured not only in accolades but in outcomes: over 900 graduates have launched design careers under his leadership, collectively earning more than $69.5 million. Shaun Tai remains a driving force in digital equity, creative leadership, belonging, and #DesignForSocialGood.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Bridgegood

   Jan 2016 — Present

   Led the second major iteration of the organization, evolving Oakland Digital into BRIDGEGOOD with a sharper focus on scale, sustainability, and long-term impact.Shifted from early experimentation to organizational maturity by refining programs, strengthening infrastructure, and establishing repeatable models for growth.Expanded BRIDGEGOOD’s mission to focus explicitly on creating economic opportunities in tech for women and students of color, with an emphasis on first-generation college students ages 18 to 34.Refined core programs in UX, UI, visual, and product design to align more closely with real-world hiring needs and workforce outcomes.Built and scaled structured offerings that combine professional tools, 1-on-1 and small group coaching, mentorship, and real-world design experience.Launched new partnerships with leading institutions and funders including Google.org, the Golden State Warriors Community Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Adobe, and the Walter and Elise Haas Fund.Introduced new products, pilots, and learning formats to respond to emerging fields such as AI, cybersecurity, and digital literacy.Strengthened pathways from education to employment, helping students secure meaningful design roles and advance economic mobility.Scaled organizational impact to more than Northern California students, entrepreneurs, organizations, and schools served.Contributed over $72.5 million in job creation and workforce development outcomes, demonstrating measurable return on mission.Positioned BRIDGEGOOD as a trusted, community-rooted leader in design for social good while maintaining tuition-free access and equity-centered values.Focused on long-term sustainability, systems thinking, and partnership-driven growth to prepare the organization for its next decade of impact.Support the movement at

Education

• California State University - East Bay

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Graphic Design (Department of Art)

  2000 — 2003

• San José State University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Advertising (Journalism and Mass Communications)

  2003 — 2005

• San José State University

  Master of Arts - MA, Interdisciplinary Studies (Architectural & Urban Design), Graduate School

  2005 — 2007

Skills

• Thought Leadership
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Brand Development
• Social Networking
• Multimedia
• Social Design
• Program Management
• Training & Development
• Creative Strategy
• Leadership
• User Experience
• Content Strategy
• Fundraising
• Community Engagement
• Videography
• Indesign
• Employee Training
• Social Media Marketing
• Entertainment
• Public Speaking
• Nonprofits
• Marketing Communications
• Facebook
• Online Marketing
• Television
• Web 2.0
• Online Advertising
• Email Marketing
• Event Planning
• Small Business
• Marketing
• Video
• Graphic Design
• Strategic Partnerships
• Strategy
• Grants
• New Business Development
• Management
• Film
• Digital Media