Sam Dorison

A FOUNDATION OF GENEROSITY. Sam Dorison’s journey as an entrepreneur and leader is rooted in a strong ethos of giving back, a value instilled in him by his family. This deeply ingrained generosity of spirit is evident in both his personal and professional life, shaping his approach as CEO and Co-founder of ReflexAI, a pioneering technology company he founded alongside John Callery-Coyne.

ReflexAI provides AI-powered tools to emergency dispatch, crisis response, education, and healthcare organizations. ReflexAI emerged from Sam and John’s unique and varied careers, which consistently emphasized the importance of focusing on the human element. Sam’s journey includes volunteering with a Guantanamo defense attorney while a student at Princeton, assisting in detainee interviews. “You’re defending people, not ideas,” he learned, understanding the individuals behind complex political situations. This experience carried through his career, influencing his roles at McKinsey & Company, Harvard Kennedy School, and especially at The Trevor Project.

FROM INEFFICIENCIES TO INNOVATION. At The Trevor Project, Sam served as Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, overseeing multiple teams and publishing peer-reviewed articles on mental health. Experiencing the operational challenges firsthand as a trainee and then as a roleplay leader, Sam co-founded ReflexAI in 2022 to address these challenges using generative AI technology.

Under Sam’s leadership, ReflexAI has developed cutting-edge AI tools that are not only innovative but also practical for their users. The company’s initial products, dynamic and realistic AI training simulations within an intuitive training platform, first launched in 2020 at The Trevor Project and quickly became a game-changer for crisis response training. Leveraging generative AI technology, the simulator provides realistic and consistent practice scenarios for trainees, significantly improving their preparedness and performance. This innovative approach earned a spot on the TIME’s 100 Best Inventions of the Year list in 2021—the first generative AI tool to be featured on the TIME 100. This year, ReflexAI’s tools were recognized on Fast Company’s “World Changing Ideas” as the winner in Data & AI.

One of the most profound learnings in Sam’s journey with ReflexAI has been the broad applicability of their tools across various industries. “We’ve seen interest from hospitality, higher education, and different segments of mental and physical health,” Sam notes. The consistent feedback, “I’ve never seen anything like this before. I want it,” underscores the uniqueness and value of ReflexAI’s solutions. This demand has driven the company to continuously innovate, ensuring their tools not only meet but exceed the expectations of their diverse customer base.

As an openly gay founder, Sam’s identity has influenced his leadership style and the culture at ReflexAI. “You are faced with the choice every day of authenticity or not,” Sam reflects. He chooses authenticity, openly discussing his husband and his past work with The Trevor Project. This transparency has helped attract a team, investors, and partners who share similar values and appreciate the genuine ethos that Sam brings to his work. It has also fostered a supportive and inclusive environment at ReflexAI, where everyone feels empowered to be their true selves.

HARNESSING INNER STRENGTH. Sam’s advice for LGBTQIA+ individuals considering starting their own companies is rooted in resilience and execution. “Both are critical for startup success,” he says. “These are qualities that the LGBTQIA+ community inherently understands and can leverage to their advantage.”

He also encourages aspiring founders to embrace the myriad choices and challenges that come with the role. “Being a startup founder means making a series of big and small choices over and over again. For many LGBTQIA+ founders, this kind of flexibility can be both new and empowering