Remarkable women are actively changing the world of apps, and Dr Lynae Brayboy is one of them. The reproductive scientist and chief medical officer for period-tracking app Clue creates content that helps people make informed decisions about their health.

Name: Lynae Brayboy (she/her/Dr)
Role: Chief medical officer
App: Clue from Berlin, Germany
Favourite empowerment emoji: 👩🏾‍🔬

Brayboy always wanted to work in health and was particularly inspired by her grandmother, who was a nurse. Yet it wasn’t until she had to deliver the baby of a 12-year-old girl that she understood the exact direction she wanted to take in her career. “It was so traumatic for me, for her, for just everybody,” Brayboy recalls. Although it was an uncomplicated delivery, one of the critical issues was that the girl didn’t understand her anatomy; Brayboy knew she had to do something.

She set out to create an app to teach girls, specifically girls of colour, about their bodies. It was far from easy. “The pushback that I got and the difficulty getting funding was tremendous,” Brayboy says. Despite lots of interest from users, the lack of funding meant she had to stop the project.

It was her 15-year-old daughter who first told her about Clue. “She goes ‘Oh, it’s like what you wanted to do. They are cool, feminist and evidence-based...’.” After learning about the company’s mission, Brayboy realised she could make a difference by joining them.

Today, Brayboy’s favourite part of her work is conveying complicated health information to Clue’s community in an accessible way. By democratising information about people’s bodies and reproductive journeys, she aims to fill the information gaps that exist when someone is going through puberty, pregnancy or menopause.

“The reproductive lifespan is a series of transitions,” she explains. “There’s a need to make sure that all those transitions are covered with evidence-based information.”

Brayboy’s articles appear on Clue’s Content tab and focus on topics such as data privacy for period-tracking apps, sexual education and trans health.

She also produces content for Clue’s website, social media channels and Hormonal podcast, as well as advising Clue’s in-house science team on their research into women’s health.

“I think almost anyone can contribute to this type of app experience,” Brayboy says. Wherever your interests lie – design or editorial, translations or data – there are lots of potential career options. “I always like to say that science is a community event,” Brayboy continues, “everybody has to contribute.”

And the effort is worth the result: apps such as Clue are making it easier for people to get accurate information whenever they need it. As Brayboy puts it, “How many more people do we reach through technology than through paper pamphlets that you might find in a doctor’s office?”

The best way to get started is to consider your current skill set and to explore the needs of the community you’re in. “Look at the gaps – all people can say is no,” says Brayboy. “But they might say yes if you put yourself out there.”

Are you a woman or non-binary person who’s working for an app or a game and would like us to share your story? Get in touch.