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CEO of Public Benefits Corporation Brings Mission-Driven Aid to Communities in Response to Public Health Emergencies, Natural Disasters, and Financial Hardship

Host Julie Berman talks with Brittany Christenson, CEO of AidKit, about how her public benefit corporation is transforming the way government agencies and nonprofits deliver aid by streamlining complex application processes and centering dignity in service delivery. Brittany explains that you can create meaningful community impact without working for a nonprofit by using mission-driven tech and partnerships, and she discusses her own journey — from math and data to organic farming and food justice work — to leading AidKit’s growth. Under her leadership, AidKit has helped hundreds of agencies process hundreds of thousands of applications and distribute hundreds of millions of dollars in disaster relief, public benefits, and cash assistance, all while maintaining a clear mission focus and strategic approach to innovation and impact.
Written By
Katrina Van Gasse
Posted
February 4, 2026
Category
Podcast
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Featuring

Julie Berman
Podcast Host and Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs"
Brittany Christenson
CEO at AidKit

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YouTube

Major Themes & Timestamps:

(0:00 – 1:56) Intro & Personal Background

  • Host introduces Brittany Christenson and the episode’s focus.
  • Brittany talks about her background — from math studies and organic farming to social impact tech.  

(1:56 – 2:55) AidKit Origin Story

  • How AidKit was born during the pandemic to address emergency aid distribution challenges.
  • Evolved from nonprofit roots to a Public Benefit Corporation.  

(2:55 – 5:02) Political & Systemic Context

  • ‍‍Discussion of political shifts, federal cuts to major programs, and AidKit’s role helping state/local governments and nonprofits.  

(5:02 – 6:00) Crisis as Opportunity for Innovation

  • How crises create space to rethink traditional public benefits delivery and infrastructure.  

(6:00 – 7:40) Brand & Storytelling

  • Putting recipients and partners front and center.
  • Involving community advisory councils in product development and narrative.  

(7:40 – 10:00) GovTech Incentives & Industry Critique

  • Problems with traditional consulting models and misaligned incentives in government tech.
  • Real-world administrative inefficiencies Brittany has seen.  

(10:00 – 11:37) Procurement & Systems Change

  • Need for procurement reform and broader system modernization.
  • Rethinking how “deservedness” is defined in public aid.  

(11:37 – 13:36) Fraud Prevention vs. Accessibility

  • Arguing that modern tools (like AI + data) remove the old trade-off between security and access.  

(13:36 – 14:22) Metrics & Impact Alignment

  • Key success metrics: number of people served and dollars distributed.
  • Connecting financial growth to social impact goals.