Making Meaning: Liz Otero ‘21, ‘22 Creates Innovative AI Architecture

An avid reader, Otero found comfort in books, using them as a coping mechanism as she adjusted to her change in circumstances, which sometimes included being without a home to live in. She had the gift of being able to read about any topic quickly and understand it, and she learned as many skills as possible on her own in the library.  

“That was my formation,” she explains. 

Her upbringing taught her a certain wisdom that she has carried into her professional career. 

“There are things you can’t control, and no matter what life throws at me, I try to see if there is something to make me better,” she explains. “More sensitive to others, more understanding of people’s journeys and respectful of their boundaries.” 

Otero worked hard and prioritized her education. After she earned her MBA from UMGC in 2022, she was selected for the prestigious Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) and earned a promotion at the Food and Drug Administration where she worked.  

She had her eye on something bigger, though. In the fall of 2023, she was inspired to found WEI Robotics LLC, after a unique experience with malfunctioning self-driving technology in her car. This triggered her interest in AI and left her determined to create a better—and safer—solution. Although she had no technical cofounder, no formal engineering education and no start-up funding, she found a way to get it done. 

“Even when doors close, I’ve learned that others always open. And sometimes, you have to build the door yourself,” she says. 

Later that year, Otero attended a virtual lecture where she was inspired by a former classmate’s success story. She considered his path to success a playbook for her own journey, especially learning how he overcame obstacles along the way. 

When she struggled to get the data she needed for her first AI protype, she leaned on that inspiration to find another way to get the job done. She realized that it wasn’t how the language looked but rather what it meant in the moment. 

This challenge reminded her of another one she had faced with her daughter who had been diagnosed with autism and had once been nonverbal. By following the Verbal Behavior Approach by B.F. Skinner, she helped her daughter learn to speak using language shaped by purpose. She decided to apply that same approach to AI.

The result was QKCNet™, a different kind of post-transformer AI architecture. Instead of using symbolic logic, it models emergent meaning and adapts, interprets and grows based on what its purpose and function is. QKCNet™ became the intelligent foundation for her next project.  

In May 2025, Otero wanted to further her understanding of AI agents, so she entered the NVIDIA AI Agent Hackathon. Armed with new knowledge, she developed INKubator™ for creators.  

INKubator™ prioritizes privacy and uses AI to empower users to tell their unique stories without having to share their data. It also helps them earn up to 85% more for their creations when compared to competitors on the market.  

With macroeconomic stewardship principles in mind, this technology connects like-minded people by their shared interests rather than exploiting algorithms. Otero contributes 10% of revenue from INKubator™ to nonprofits that serve veterans and people with disabilities.  

Otero is grateful to her education for providing her with the skills she needs to navigate the future, even when she doesn’t know what’s next. 

“UMGC’s MBA taught me how to lead even when I didn’t know what came next. It gave me the foundation to manage complexity, protect my vision and stay mission-first."

An important part of that mission is altruistic.  

“My plan is not to be a wealthy woman. My plan is to help people make a living wage,” she notes. “I care about helping people get out of homelessness.” 

She’ll never forget those who enabled her and her mom do the same thing. 

“I was lucky to find angels that helped me,” she says, “and I want to be that person [for someone else].” 

Although Otero has expertise in AI, she understands that not everyone is familiar with how to use it. For beginners, Otero has a few pointers. First, she suggests paying for the lowest paid version available instead of using the free version to access more features, paying careful attention to the billing terms. 

Once you’re set up, she says the most important thing to do is to go to the AI platform’s settings and make sure everything is set to private. 

“Turn every single tracker off. Say no to giving your data to the model to be trained.” she says. “Otherwise, your information will become public.” 

Although AI can be a huge timesaver, she cautions against making AI a replacement for doing the actual work.  

“Use it to enhance your skills, not replace them” she insists. “Keep learning and reading. Don’t let AI take that away from you.”  

That advice goes double for children. 

“Keep kids being kids,” she says. “Let them enjoy themselves and discover the world on their own.” 

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