Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

Shaun Tai is the founder and Executive Director of Oakland Digital (ODALC), a volunteer-run California 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, public benefit organization that makes computer education more relevant and provides low-income communities with the tools they need to be effective 21st-century citizens and productive members of the increasingly digital economy.

In 2008, Shaun successfully documented the history of Bay Area hip-hop culture, creating an online campaign that exceeded 14-million video views. The project opened his eyes to a lack of positive role-models and opportunities afforded to young adults in East Bay inner-city communities-a realization that would play a large part in his decision to create Oakland Digital.

Shaun has taught at San Jose State University, where he received a BS in Business Marketing and an MA in Architectural & Urban Design. He received a BA in Digital Graphics at Cal State University Hayward.

Shaun is currently the Principal at ZTY MEDIA, a full-service creative firm with clients including Social Data Lab, Facebook, Accel Partners, and the City & County of San Francisco.

At Oakland Digital, his success in digital entrepreneurship is lent to the task of helping Oakland citizens use technology to succeed in their own ventures.

"I love Oakland and I admire what Oakland stands for: diversity, art, and cultural understanding,” says Shaun. "Oakland Digital educates, inspires, and empowers Oaklanders by helping them understand technology and through digital literacy, positively impact their lives and economic well-being.”

Work History

• Oakland Digital Arts & Literacy Center
• Executive Director
• July 2009 to Present

• Oakland Digital Arts & Literacy Center's mission is to educate, inspire, and empower low-income communities to participate in the digital economy.

• SHAUN TAI Films, a Division of ZTY MEDIA
• Principal
• Febuary 2009 to Present

• SHAUN TAI Films creates high-impact new media. STF is the premiere choice for technology, government, and non-profit online narratives.

  Clients: Social Data Revolution, Facebook / fbFund REV / Facebook Developer Garage, Accel Partners, LinkedIn Tech Talks, Pushin' The Bay TV (PTBTV), Stanford, UC Berkeley, Golden State Warriors, City of Oakland (Google Fiber for Communities), City of San Francisco (San Francisco HSS), and HSM Global.

Education

• San Jose State University
• M.A., Architectural & Urban Design, Green Architecture, Urban Planning
• 2007 - 2005

• 4.0GPA

• San Jose State University
• B.S., Business Marketing, Mass Communication, Advertising
• 2003 - 2005

• 3.8GPA, Magna Cum Laude

• California State University, Hayward
• B.A., Digital Graphics, Art, Photography
• 1998 - 2002

• 3.5GPA, Honors