Founders Who Understand the Journey
We're not theorizing about neurodivergence or mental health—we've lived it. Our team combines deep personal experience with technical and clinical expertise.
Jon Mick
Founder & Lead Guide
Round Rock, TX
After 40 years of feeling different, Jon got his ADHD diagnosis at 38 and later discovered his autism at 41. He spent 3 years developing the Life Model framework through personal AI experimentation—building what he wished had existed.
Expertise
- •15+ years in AI/ML and product development
- •3 years developing Life Model methodology
- •Systems thinking and design
- •Prompt engineering specialist
- •Late-diagnosed neurodivergent (ADHD + autism)
"Jon guides Layer 1 sessions in Neurodivergent Life Design and Career Clarity. He specializes in helping people understand their unique wiring and build systems that actually work for their brain—because he's been there."
Walter Calvo, DBA, MSW
Chief Clinical Officer & Co-founder
San Antonio, TX
Dr. Walter brings 25+ years of clinical psychology expertise, organizational consulting, and leadership development. He ensures the Life Model framework is clinically sound, ethically responsible, and genuinely helpful.
Expertise
- •Clinical psychology and mental health
- •Attachment theory and relationship patterns
- •Organizational consulting & leadership
- •20 years USAF veteran
- •Trauma-informed care specialist
"Walter guides Layer 1 sessions in Relationship Intelligence and Emotional Wellness. He combines clinical expertise with practical wisdom to help people understand their patterns and build healthier ways of relating—to themselves and others."
Chris Carter
Chief Experience Officer & Co-founder
Leander, TX
Chris is an AI strategist and design leader who believes technology should adapt to humans, not the other way around. He ensures the entire AIs & Shine experience—from discovery sessions to AI tools—is intuitive, human-centered, and respectful of how people actually learn and grow.
Expertise
- •AI strategy and implementation
- •Human-centered design
- •Product development and experience design
- •Technology leadership
- •Making complex systems accessible
"Chris shapes how we communicate the Life Model framework and how custom AI tools integrate into daily life. He's driven by the belief that powerful technology should feel natural and empowering, never overwhelming or intimidating."
The Perfect Collaboration
Jon brings the lived experience of neurodivergence and the technical framework he spent 3 years developing. Walter brings clinical psychology expertise to ensure our approach is ethically sound and genuinely helpful. Chris brings the design thinking to make complex personal growth accessible and intuitive.
Together, we guide people through Layer 1 entry points based on what they need most right now:
Jon Specializes In:
- • Neurodivergent Life Design
- • Career Clarity
Walter Specializes In:
- • Relationship Intelligence
- • Emotional Wellness
We're building what we each wish had existed: guided coaching that becomes personalized AI support— clinically informed, technically sophisticated, beautifully designed, and deeply personal.
What makes our team unique:
- We combine lived experience with professional expertise
- We're building tools we personally use every day
- We prioritize ethics and responsibility over growth at all costs
- We believe in transparency and building in public
We're not a faceless corporation. We're three people who care deeply about helping others feel understood, supported, and empowered to be themselves.
Our Commitment to You
Human-First
AI is a tool to amplify human potential, never replace human connection.
Clinically Informed
Every tool is designed with mental health best practices and ethical guidelines.
Inclusive Access
Scholarships and payment plans ensure cost never blocks access to understanding yourself.
We're building AIs & Shine as the tool we wish we'd had. Join us in creating a world where everyone gets to feel truly understood.