Women in Tech: How Creativity, Curiosity and AI Collide - A Conversation with Rachael Childs

This week’s Women in Tech episode is an absolute gem. Holly sits down with Rachael Childs -Creative Technologist, AI Specialist, Founder of Glow Lock Labs and Wallside Studios, and one of the most refreshingly honest voices we have ever had on the podcast.

Her story isn’t the traditional route into tech.
 In fact, it’s the opposite, and that’s what makes it so inspiring.

From Artist to AI: The Creative Journey No One Expects

Rachael openly admits she once believed computers were “magic boxes” that should simply obey, even after spilling coffee on them, they should still work. She never saw herself as technical. In her own words:

“For the first half of my life, I considered myself just an artist. Technology felt like a mysterious world I didn’t belong in.”

But music changed everything.

When she discovered electronic music production, she realised that the computer becomes the instrument, and you can’t avoid learning how it works. Learning tools like Ableton Live forced her into structured thinking, timing and logic.

And once she dipped a toe in, curiosity took over.

When Curiosity Meets AI

Rachael’s first experience with AI came unexpectedly. She was hired to create writing samples for Google Gemini, giving her a glimpse behind the curtain of how models are trained.

“I didn’t want to just write for the model. I wanted to know what was going on behind the scenes.”

That moment sparked her transition into AI. She went from artist, to storyteller, to technologist, to creative AI builder. She later trained in advanced machine learning, Python and LLM development, always through the lens of creativity.

How Art, Data Science and Spotify Charts Connected Everything

A particularly charming part of her journey is how she made tech relatable to herself. When she studied data science, she refused to analyse “boring” datasets.

“I was not going to analyse house prices. I would have quit.”

Instead, she found Spotify charts with BPM, danceability and genre. It was artistic enough to keep her motivated while still forcing her to learn the technical skills she needed.

She always bridged the gap between creativity and logic rather than choosing one side.

The Myth of the Tech Person

Like many women entering the industry, Rachael imagined tech as:

“A group of men in a dark basement speaking another language.”

But she realised something crucial. Nobody starts knowing any of this. Programming languages are exactly that - languages. You learn them step by step.

She references a video she loves:

“Einstein wasn’t born knowing how to count. Shakespeare wasn’t born knowing the alphabet. Everyone starts not knowing.”

This mindset changed everything for her.

Glow Lock Labs, Wallside Studios and A Decade of Creative Thinking

Rachael’s ventures didn’t appear overnight. She has been experimenting, failing, restarting and rebuilding for over a decade. Social media makes overnight success seem normal, but it rarely works like that.

“Life doesn’t happen instantly. Everything I’ve done - even the failures - moved me one step forward.”

Her two ventures reflect her passions:

• Wallside Studios - rooted in storytelling, sound design and film
• Glow Lock Labs - born from wanting AI to empower creativity

Together they explore:

• AI film production
• AI tools for artists
• Empowering creators with no technical background
• Storytelling through machine learning

She is currently producing:

• A fully AI generated horror short
• A children’s animated series
• A reboot of a pre GenAI film that she can now finally bring to life properly

Her mission is clear. Make creativity accessible.

Working with Google and Meta - What It’s Really Like

Rachael didn’t chase big tech. Big tech came to her.

How?

LinkedIn.

“My LinkedIn has been decorated for years. Every skill, every project. It’s a magnet.”

She emphasises positioning rather than chasing:

• Fill your LinkedIn with skills and evidence
• Use clear keywords
• Follow people at your dream companies
• Engage genuinely
• Let opportunities come to you

Her best advice?

“Apply less. Position yourself more.”

Vibe Coding, Prompt Engineering and the New Wave of Tech Careers

Rachael explains vibe coding as guiding LLMs to generate code or creative output based on your intentions.

“I guide the LLM. It writes the code. I customise it. You don’t have to do it alone anymore.”

Key trends she highlights:

• Meta now allows LLMs in engineer interviews
• Microsoft says 80% of its code is written by AI
• The barrier to entry is falling fast

Her recommendation for women entering tech?

Prompt engineering.
 It blends creativity, logic and communication.

The Future of AI: Fast, Exponential and Full of Possibility

Rachael describes how she once stitched together stock footage for a film, calling it “Frankenstein’s monster.” Now she can make a polished pilot in a day.

“You type what you want and it appears. Every day there is a new breakthrough.”

She sees enormous possibilities ahead in:

• Film and TV
• Content creation
• Hyper realistic AI video
• Personalised storytelling
• New creative careers

The pace of change excites her.

Quick Fire Round: Rachael’s Rapid Answers

To wrap up the conversation, Holly put Rachael through the famous Women in Tech quick fire round - and her answers were every bit as interesting as the main interview.

Her favourite female role model in tech?
 She didn’t choose a typical Silicon Valley figure. Instead, she picked someone from the creative world whose work blends art, electronic sound and technology in a way that shaped her own path. You’ll want to hear who she chose.

The best career advice she’s ever received?
 It wasn’t business jargon or corporate wisdom. It was a reminder to reconnect with the things you loved as a child, a message that sparks a surprisingly emotional conversation about curiosity and identity.

One thing she wishes everyone understood about AI?
 She goes deeper than the usual headlines. Rachael talks about fear, change, junior roles and how AI helped her prepare for a life-changing interview. Her take is refreshingly honest.

Her dream AI project?
 She reveals the genre she wants to tackle next and why her introverted nature pairs so well with AI filmmaking. It’s a brilliant insight into her creative mind.

This quick-fire round is packed with personality, honesty and humour, and it is the perfect way to finish the episode.

Advice to Future Women in Tech

Her closing message is powerful:

“Don’t try to become what you think tech wants. Bring what you genuinely care about.”

And equally important:

“Take breaks if you need to. But never stop.”

 Connect with Rachael Childs

If you want to discover more, follow Rachael’s work and upcoming projects here:
🔗https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachaelchilds/