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Women's History Month
In Conversation with
BRENDA CHRISTENSEN
A Techronicler interview with Brenda Christensen
In today’s edition of the Women’s History Month interview series on Techronicler, we are speaking with a true pioneer whose career stretches across four decades of technological evolution.
Our guest is Brenda Christensen, the CEO of Stellar PR and a distinguished Inc. 500 and Fast 500 founder. Brenda began her career in tech 40 years ago as a daily newspaper reporter in Detroit before launching the first AI robotic programming language for General Motors at just 23 years old. She then transitioned into public relations with a mission to bridge the gap between complex technology companies and the journalists covering them.
Throughout her career, Brenda has consistently championed user-centered innovation—most notably pushing engineering teams in the late 80s and early 90s to implement the “vibrate” mode on cell phones, a feature that fundamentally transformed mobile etiquette. Today, she continues to advise F50 companies and unicorn startups, focusing on technologies that drive social good.
Techronicler: Great to have you here, Brenda! Well, everyone has an origin story! What was the first piece of technology you ever broke, built, or fell in love with?
Brenda Christensen:
I fell in love with a robot! When I started out in tech 40 years ago, I was practically the only female in the industry and faced many challenges,not least of which was extreme bias. I was 23 years old when I launched the first AI robotic programming language for General Motors, handling a press conference with major press in attendance from the New York Times and other prominent journalists. I was successful because my mission then as it remains now is the same: lead with purpose and integrity for the good of others. Much later, I was coordinating a press conference for an audience of 500+ journalists at the world’s biggest tech event. We had booked a large conference room and at the last minute were informed we’d be relegated to a tent out in the parking lot due to a booking error. We had an entire slide deck and demo presentation prepared that required a dark room. This wouldn’t be happening since the white tent was in broad daylight. We had to wing it with no tech demo and no slides. We were successful. Lesson learned was no matter how much you prepare, expect the unexpected. And lead with heart.
Techronicler: A lot of careers look like straight lines on LinkedIn. How was yours different? Was there a pivotal moment or ‘happy accident’ that actually steered you toward your current role or niche?
Brenda Christensen:
I grew up in a tough town, Detroit. It took a lot of grit and determination not to be pigeonholed into any one clique or group in high school. You may be familiar with it if you have ever watched, “Freaks & Geeks” television series written by my high school pal, director Paul Feig (also “Bridesmaids”) who based the entire series on our high school years. I defied stereotypes in a situation that was based entirely on group hierarchy. No small feat. I just never gave up. If one strategy didn’t work, I tried another. I think the key here is your motivation and goals. What really matters to you? If it’s money, you’ll find that is arbitrary and fleeting. My motivation was always serving others with sincerity and honesty. Being a woman, it was especially difficult in the beginning as mindsets were still limited toward what women could achieve in business. I simply ignored them. I drove out to California on my own, not knowing anyone there, and all I had was an inflatable pool float to sleep on and an alarm clock. I had no money for food but bought brownie mix and ate a tray of brownies for a week until my first paycheck. I just refused to fail.
Techronicler: What is the one problem or project that is taking up 80% of your brain space this month?
Brenda Christensen:
When I was a young professional, I couldn’t even get a credit card because I was a woman. The only thing that changed that was women of influence demanding change. Women in power need to take bold action and disrupt the structure. I did everything I could to obtain power. Once I did, I grabbed it with both hands and hired with diversity in mind, promoting an LGBTQ individual and women of color at an Inc. 500 company decades ago. I’m proud to say one of them now is a top executive at a major children’s cable network and is shaping our very youth culture today. The movement should always be progress for humanity. Leveraging and promoting ideas and technology to make this world a better place for all of us. I believe the next movement is for neurodiversity and that is my focus now. Putting into place those technologies that will democratize and level the playing field for everyone. I’m proud to say that many of our technology clients are doing this very thing with their vision for providing tools and solutions that enable collaboration, communication, fair hiring, and secure and safe environments. All while promoting and encouraging diversity in their ranks. We have a very high bar here at Stellar Public Relations and will only work with socially conscious companies that are true visionaries. It is an absolute honor to serve them in their mission.
Techronicler: Many women still find themselves as the ‘Only’ (only woman, only WOC) in the room. When that happens now, how do you use that visibility to your advantage rather than letting it be a weight?
Brenda Christensen:
I was quite shy in high school and was shocked with disbelief when my yearbook adviser tapped me to be editor — the first female to take this position in the high school’s history. At first, I was overwhelmed with the awesome responsibility of managing a team of 20 to produce a product that would be a source of memories for hundreds their entire lifetime. I worked day and night before and after school, determined to honor the trust bestowed upon me. As a result, we produced a national award-winning yearbook that today is a historical record of one of the top directors in Hollywood, Paul Feig, who is a champion for women in film. This experience taught me that you are capable of much, much more than you expect. Never underestimate yourself or others. The possibilities for positive impact are all around you.
Techronicler: Are women in leadership still penalized for being too direct or ‘sharp-elbowed’? Have you ever had to consciously unlearn the habit of being ‘too nice’ or ‘accommodating’ to get a project across the line?
Brenda Christensen:
Yes, women are still sometimes penalized for being direct—labeled “difficult” where men are seen as “decisive.” My north star has always been my journalism background as a daily newspaper reporter. That role prepared me to become a tech Inc. 500 founder: There was little room for error, the front page didn’t wait for anyone, and you had to fill it with compelling, no-fluff stories that informed and educated for the public good. It taught me to act decisively in the moment, without over-accommodating.I started my career in journalism and was truly perplexed at the lack of professionalism in the public relations field. I jumped careers to provide a better “bridge” between companies and reporters. Out of a true love for my profession, I entered what felt like an entirely awful field to improve it for reporters everywhere. Early on, I had to unlearn any tendency to be “too nice”—journalism demands clarity and firmness under deadline pressure, and I carried that into leadership. Softening edges delayed results; directness (delivered with kindness) built trust faster.I’ve built a successful boutique PR agency on that foundation, focusing on B2B and B2C technology with a back story of real social good. We’ve been in business for 25 years, with this past year our highest grossing billable revenue to date—all from carefully vetted referrals. I’m humbled that through hard work and putting clients first, Stellar Public Relations is recognized as one of the top in our field, representing more than 30 combined years of launching and guiding F50 to unicorn startups like Tinder, Apple, McAfee, NEC, and others.
Techronicler: Tell us about a time you had to make a deeply unpopular technical decision (e.g., killing a feature, swapping a tech stack) that turned out to be the right call. How did you handle the pushback?
Brenda Christensen:
When I was working with NEC on early cell phones in the late ’80s/early ’90s, the devices had no vibrate mode—they just rang loudly. I bought one for my boyfriend (a film director), and he had to silence it completely during shoots, which was disruptive. I saw the clear need for discreet alerts in places like movie theaters, doctors’ offices, libraries, and meetings.I pushed the engineering team hard to add vibration—despite initial resistance. They viewed it as unnecessary complexity (added cost, battery drain, hardware tweaks), and it was unpopular internally. I handled the pushback by providing real-world use cases, persistent examples from everyday scenarios, and emphasizing user experience/market potential. I didn’t back down; I kept advocating until they agreed to implement it.That decision proved right—vibrate mode became a standard feature that transformed mobile etiquette and accessibility. It showed me the value of championing user-centered innovation even when it’s met with skepticism from technical teams.
Techronicler: If you were given $10M to start a company today in a niche outside of your current field, what problem would you solve?
Brenda Christensen:
I’d build technology that unlocks neurodiversity in the workplace—tools for better focus, communication, sensory accommodation, and inclusive collaboration. There’s so much untapped talent waiting to thrive once barriers are removed.
Techronicler: From your seat, how do you see the rise of AI tools changing the trajectory for women entering engineering today?
Brenda Christensen:
Agentic AI is a massive accelerator—many women already lead in AI because of strong data-science foundations (the core of ML). These tools automate rote tasks, letting engineers focus on creative, high-level problem-solving. At the same time, emotional intelligence and human judgment will become even more valuable as agents handle execution. Women often excel here, so I see the rise of AI creating more pathways and leadership opportunities for women in engineering, not fewer.
Techronicler: What is the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received about negotiating—whether for salary, headcount, or project timelines?
Brenda Christensen:
I’m inspired by others. I’m driven to combat the prejudice that most women still face today. That because we are a certain gender that there are pre-determined outcomes. Know your worth and never apologize for asking boldly. I’ve faced disbelief my whole career—driving cross-country alone, barely qualifying for a home loan, neighbors assuming I was the gardener. Those moments taught me: Prejudice exists, but confidence and preparation overcome it. The best “advice” came from living it—channel icons like Muhammad Ali (whom I once represented), who showed unbreakable self-belief against impossible odds. Negotiate from that place: facts + conviction + readiness to walk away.
Techronicler: What is the one book every woman in tech should read this year?
Brenda Christensen:
Carl Jung’s Man and His Symbols. It decodes the unconscious—understanding hidden motivations, symbols, and human behavior is the real key to influence, relationships, and climbing ladders successfully. (I don’t recommend Lean In—corporations should hire and promote women because diverse leadership drives profitability, not because women need to “lean” harder.)
Techronicler: What is a piece of ‘common wisdom’ in the tech industry that you completely disagree with?
Brenda Christensen:
That technology will make us smarter. Tech is a powerful tool, but it can’t replicate the human brain’s depth, creativity, or intuition. The brain remains science’s last true frontier—AI augments, it doesn’t replace.
Techronicler: If you could change one thing about how we interview and hire in tech to make the process more equitable, what would it be?
Brenda Christensen:
Hire people based on their passion and enthusiasm to learn and grow. My goal was never to create a “million dollar” business, and I think most “millionaires” will tell you that their objective was never to accumulate wealth. My goal was to be independent and self-supporting while delivering the best public relations strategies and results to our clients to change the world. Being a technology pioneer and creating some of the most important tools that still impact us today — such as silent vibrating cell phones and automated marketing — resulted in my building an Inc. 500 company and one that is attributed to electing a US President. It’s important to remember that your struggles are unimportant — we all have them and someone is most likely silently struggling more than you. My mindset has always been to step outside of myself and ask how I can do better, help others and make everyone’s road a bit smoother.
Techronicler: The ‘broken rung’ (the first step up to manager) is a bigger obstacle than the glass ceiling. How are you personally helping junior women make that specific leap from individual contributor to lead?
Brenda Christensen:
I mentor by example and direct action: Speak up when something’s wrong, take bold risks, and confront barriers head-on—no matter the cost. I’ve quit toxic jobs on principle (once after challenging racist remarks), called out workplace harassment until abusers were removed, and built teams with diversity at every level decades ago. I tell junior women: Don’t fear conflict—use it to grow. Seek allies, build supportive networks, and remember that standing on the right side of history eventually wins. I’ve seen it work: One person I promoted early is now a top executive shaping culture at a major network. Progress compounds when we lift each other fearlessly.
If you see something that’s wrong, speak up. Take bold action. Things won’t change unless you do. I stand on the shoulders of women before me who took great, great risks and to honor them I did so and continue to do so, as well, no matter the consequences. I challenged an employer who I caught making racist statements. I quit before I was fired, having no other job. I ended up working for the #1 PR firm as a result. Things always work out. Have no fear.
Resistance to challenges can be a career killer. Challenge ideas. Present alternatives and dig deeper. For every time I’ve been told something couldn’t be done, they were proved wrong. Don’t shy away from conflict. Turn it around as a positive growing experience for everyone.
I have been broke three times in my life. Never once did I let it color my opinion of myself or my capabilities. I just figured that the world had not yet caught up yet to new ways of thinking and would eventually evolve. We have seen much progress in the current economic structure that inherently disables women and people of color, and we have so much more work to do.
There are hidden agendas and motives everywhere. If everyone was transparent, trustworthy and honest, it’d be a perfect business world. It is not. At the risk of sounding cynical, you have to remember that if your North Star is serving others, there will be people who are disingenuous and will do their best to stop you. Don’t be afraid to call them out and confront them. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. Once, there was a very abusive man in my workplace who was harassing women. I screamed bloody murder to his supervisors until he was removed. There is no room for those who stand in the way of progress.
At times, it can feel overwhelming facing obstacles, especially those that are part of our archaic culture and economic structure. I never let anyone discourage me when I know I am on the right side of history and on solid ground. Seek out others like yourself who share your mission and shore each other up. There is not only strength in numbers but also positivity.
“The movement should always be progress for humanity.”
That statement from Brenda Christensen is the throughline of a remarkable career. Her journey is a testament to the power of grit and an unwavering commitment to serving others.
Her advice to negotiate based on “facts + conviction + readiness to walk away,” and her insistence that leaders must have the courage to call out toxic behavior, are lessons that transcend any single industry.
As we look toward the future, Brenda’s focus on using technology—including Agentic AI—to unlock neurodiversity and create more inclusive workplaces reminds us that innovation is only as valuable as the people it empowers.
Brenda Christensen, CEO of Stellar PR, holds the distinguished titles of Inc. 500, Fast 500 and Entrepreneur of the Year company executive. In 2025 she was named “CEO of the Year,” “Top PR CEO” and in 2024, “Top 50 Women in Startups & Tech.” With global recognition for her exceptional skills in strategic corporate leadership, public relations, investor relations, branding and funding, her leadership has catalyzed significant growth, markedly enhancing value by millions of dollars. She advises private boards in North America, leveraging her vast experience as a corporate officer in a multinational technology company. Frequently quoted in Fortune, Yahoo Finance and Forbes, her strategic insights continue to influence the tech and PR landscapes significantly.