WoW Woman in SexTech I Natasha Marie Narkiewicz, Head of Communications at MysteryVibe

Natasha Marie Narkiewicz is the Head of Communications at MysteryVibe.

As a head of communications at sexual health and technology company MysteryVibe, Natasha is making technology less nebulous and sexual health more accessible by dismantling taboos one word at a time. She challenges traditional paradigms around erotic intelligence, sexuality, and inclusivity. Her sex-positive writing was born out of a desire to help others navigate their personal journeys and empower those who might be struggling with education, awareness, and hope. Motivated by the belief that pleasure is a fundamental human right, Natasha aspires to help build a truly equitable world. You may find some of her opinions or sexpert advice penned in various publications, including Sexual Health Magazine, Vogue, Mashable, Shape Magazine, and Future of Sex.  

MysteryVibe creates award-winning medical intimacy devices that help address significant issues in sexual health, such as pain, erectile dysfunction, and arousal disorder. The devices are equally valuable in elevating pleasure for all genders and orientations. MysteryVibe is a world leader in sexual health technology with multi-award-winning devices that have improved the lives of more than 50,000 people in 65 countries. 

Natasha, tell us a bit about your background and your projects so far. 

In my previous life, I was a juggernaut in the entertainment industry. Currently classified as a recovering chaos manager, I pivoted towards more fulfilling ventures – writing and advancing the mission of sextech companies. I am an alumnus of Sex Tech School and Head of Communications and sexual wellness expert at MysteryVibe, an award-winning sexual devices company. I coordinated media and public relations for SxTech Eu, the world’s only tech conference focused on sex tech, and I am a member of Women of SexTech, an inclusive community of sex-positive women and non-binary individuals changing the sex tech landscape. I’m also (of course!) a member of Women of Wearables. I try to get involved in all things sex tech and femtech and offer support anywhere I can.  

How did you get into this industry? Has it been an easy industry to get into or have you had many challenges? 

Working in sex is a statement, but not as bold as what I’m about to say: sex toys saved my life. My journey into becoming a sexual wellness expert and vice clause wordsmith needs context, and it begins where every personal mythology begins – in childhood. I am a sexual abuse survivor, but I was a victim for many, many years. My first sexual experience was a shame, and shame robbed me of my sexual autonomy, and that trauma laid the foundation for my future career in sex tech. 

My path to healing took some fascinating turns, the first into the wondrous world of kink and alternative lifestyles. Sex and intimacy were significant problems for me, but power was the biggest. Trauma rendered me powerless, and kink gave me control over my narrative. Kink was the exposure therapy that allowed me to transcend trauma. Inspired by what I discovered, I began a blog about my journey with kink as therapy and continue to be a proponent of the therapeutic capacity of kink and BDSM.  

Sex toys were my gateway to reclaiming my sexual identity and subsequently into the sexual technology industry. Sex toys empowered me with a safe space and permission to explore my body and understand the nuances of female pleasure, of my pleasure. I was inspired by this industry, united by the common goal of elevating the human sexual experience, but beyond that - of human happiness. The final stage of my healing has been helping others navigate their journeys through sharing my experience and expertise. I want to empower those who might be struggling with education and awareness, but more significantly – hope. 

How long did it take you to be where you are now? What was the biggest obstacle? What are the challenges of being in the industry you are in?  

While it feels like I’ve been working my entire life to arrive at this point, I officially started working in sextech shortly after the pandemic began in March of 2020. My biggest obstacle is an obstacle shared among anyone working in the sextech industry or any vertical – stigma.  

Sex is a universal experience, but we have yet to publicly acknowledge that sex happens and that our experiences are different. In many ways, it feels like we are in the dark ages concerning sex with such a massive gap in education and accessible information. Layering upon stigma is censorship. The last decade has seen a massive polarization in attitudes and legislation regarding sex and sexual rights. We are witnessing a globally orchestrated attempt to censor information and visibility regarding sex tech innovations and sexual health. These combined elements make funding hard to secure, and without funding, it’s exceedingly difficult to grow as a company and as a society.  

What are your biggest achievements to date? 

Working as a writer in the niche industry of sex tech was my pipe dream. I am honored to have become head of communications at such a respected company in such a short period.  

What are the projects you are currently working on? 

I am currently Head of Communications at the sexual technology company, MysteryVibe, where I get to creatively navigate how to champion the mission of elevating the human condition through sexual technology. Sexual technologies give us permission to explore and the means to experience a pleasure. For some people, these technologies allow them to feel pleasure for the first time due to disability or circumstance. And that’s a gift.  

I am also co-writing several papers with other sextech community leaders towards the common goal of educating people about sexual wellness and health on multiple platforms.  

Is the #WomenInTech movement important to you and if yes, why?  

I think we are at a boiling point where social unrest is rampant. As more awareness and attention is brought to the historical lack of inclusive technology, research, and attention on diverse experiences, from women to non-binary to the trans community, the interest and need for diverse perspectives in all tech sectors are essential.  

The real significance behind embracing women in tech is empathy. Diversity of ideas and innovations is necessary to progress on multiple levels. Many pioneering innovations are being spearheaded by those who have been marginalized. Refusing to acknowledge and address differences in people’s lived experiences creates a deeper rift in human empathy, and our society is steadily splintering.  

Giving people tools and technology that represent and reflect their lived experiences is a public service. If you are fortunate enough to witness what representation and innovation provide to people who are in pain, and people who feel broken and forgotten, it’s a life-changing and uniting experience, one from which we can all benefit.  

What will be the key trends in your industry in the next five years and where do you see them heading? 

Sexual technology as assistive technology is the latest iteration of an overall trend in mainstream acceptance of health and wellness being more than luxury or ancillary. The applications and opportunities of sextech as assistive tech to improve the overall quality of life are endless, specifically for those with disabilities, suffering from terminal illness, older populations, and the transgender community. We are already seeing massive shifts in product design from traditionally exclusive designs to more adaptable, inclusive designs, and this trajectory will continue.  

What is the most important piece of advice you could give to anyone who wants to start a career in this industry? 

Working in sex tech is much more than talking about sex and selling sex toys. Every sex tech company and professional is united by a common interest in elevating human happiness. It’s the only industry that puts the mission at the forefront of everything, and because of that, the industry experiences unprecedented camaraderie instead of cutthroat competition. However, due to prevailing stigma, censorship, and financial limitations, prepare for profit to come secondary, with a lot of red tapes.  

Who are three inspirational women in your respective industry you admire? 

Ola Miedzynska, the founder and CEO of SxTech Eu, the only global conference for sexual technology. Ola has taken on the gargantuan task of uniting all sexual technology under one forum.  

Bobbi Bidochka, the friendly feminist, author of Sexual Intelligence in Business, founder of Imagine Ideation, co-chair of the academic congress on Love and Sex with Robots, and resident superwoman. It takes courage to dedicate your life to advancing such a stigmatized industry and putting your opinion in words that will remain immortalized.  

Shakun Sethi, the CEO and founder of Tickle.Life, the first custom pleasure tech stack for the sexual well-being industry to overcome the technological gap. Shakun is boldly attempting to unify across borders and, despite her success, remains one of the most humble and compassionate human beings I have ever met.  

Find out more about MysteryVibe on their website.

Follow MysteryVibe on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Connect with Natasha on LinkedIn.

This interview was conducted by Marija Butkovic, Digital Marketing and PR strategist, founder, and CEO of Women of Wearables. She regularly writes and speaks on topics of wearable tech, fashion tech, IoT, entrepreneurship, and diversity. Follow Marija on Twitter @MarijaButkovic and read her stories for Forbes here.