Podcasts about Women in Tech

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Sangha Penesetti, founder and CEO of goZeal, who didn't just break the glass ceiling—she installed a flexible skylight. Today we'll dive into the economics of equity, why flexible work is not a perk but a performance driver, and how insurers can win by rethinking who gets a seat at the table—and how that table is set. KEY TAKEAWAYS In my early career, every client meeting I walked into was a room full of men. I was the only woman of colour. When I became a mother in 2010 I felt first-hang how unforgiving the industry was, there was no real flexibility, no empathy around new mums (though that may have just been the company I worked for then), and certainly no system that was designed for working mums. During Covid I found my own community: Brilliant, highly educated women, especially Indian and Asian mums, step out of the workforce to raise kids and never return. Not because they lacked ambition, but because the system simply wasn't build for them. That's the moment I realised it wasn't an individual struggle but a systemic design flaw, that's when goZeal was born. We talk about empowerment a lot, but what is empowerment? It‘s the financial empowerment, the capacity for women to have the money to spend on whatever they want be that a Gucci bag or feeding their kids. The data is clear: When women (and especially women of colour) advance, companies become more innovative and perform better financially.  BEST MOMENTS  ‘My experience taught me that being included isn't the same as being empowered.'  ‘Radical inclusion flips the dynamic. It's not about representation, it's about access to meaningful work decision-making authority and economic mobility.' ‘Remote work is not “flexibility.” Flexibility means flexibility of time. I wanted to hire women directly to give them the autonomy of time. Direct impact comes when you are the employer.' ‘True flexibility allows for peak productivity not proximity. When people work at their best insurers benefit from higher quality work, lower burnout, less attrition, stronger retention, all of that good stuff.' ABOUT THE GUEST Sangha Penesetti is the powerhouse founder and CEO of goZeal, a company rewriting the rules of work by directly hiring skilled women, especially women of colour, for high-impact, flexible roles in insurance and tech. With 18 years of experience in finance and insurance, she's lived the challenges of being the only woman at the table—and decided to build her own. Under her leadership, goZeal is more than a talent platform—it's a movement. One that's tackling systemic inequity, modernizing legacy operations, and showing insurers that flexible work is not a perk but a strategic edge. She's here to talk about the real economics of inclusion, why hybrid isn't enough, and how insurers can close talent gaps while building a future-ready workforce. ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. ⁠Twitter⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Email⁠ ⁠Website⁠ This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Meet the lovely Alaina Shearer! Alaina launched a nationwide network for women in tech, founded a marketing agency, somehow raised kids while doing all this, and oh yeah ran for Congress that one time?? Along the way she learned to navigate and push back in male dominated fields — including as a radio host, and working for a Don Draper-level sexist stripped of anything that resembles charming. Officially the most grown-up adult we've ever interviewed, Alaina has wonderful insights to share as someone who gets it. Support her podcast! @citizenrebelpodcastFollow her ig! @alainashearer_ (**Alison decided to record this one underwater. Just for fun. Or maybe the audio settings were jacked, the quality suffered, and we're really sorry. Glub club.)

In today's episode of iGaming Daily, we're bringing you a must-hear conference session straight from SBC Summit Lisbon 2025, taken from the powerful panel “Women in Tech, Gambling and Sports: The Glass Ceiling and Beyond,” where industry leaders unpack what real progress looks like for gender diversity in iGaming and what still stands in the way.Tune in to today's episode to find out:How unconscious bias still shows up in iGaming, tech, and sports and how leaders overcome itWhy the “confidence gap” holds women back in hiring and leadership conversationsThe real business impact of diverse, representative teams in global gamingHow male allies and mentors can help dismantle systemic barriersWhat's truly beyond the glass ceiling and how women can claim their seat at the tableCredits: Petra Zackrisson: Chief Transformation Officer, LeoVegas Group,Viktoria Degtiarova: Co-Founder and CCO, PaySecureCristina Turbatu: Chief Technology Officer, CasumoCatie Di Stefano: Moderator, Marketing Director, Vegas KingsProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldiGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In this episode of 2B Bolder, I sit down with Sandy Carter, Chief Business Officer at Unstoppable Domains, former AWS and IBM executive, Forbes contributor, and author of AI First, Human Always.We talk about what it really means to take smart risks, build influence through visibility, and lead in fast-moving spaces like AI and Web3, even when you don't feel 100 percent “ready.”Sandy shares pivotal career moments, including a $5 billion bet that didn't seem obvious at the time, and the lessons she learned about arriving early, staying late, and taking ownership before permission is granted. We reframe visibility, not as self-promotion, but as credibility, narrative control, and leadership when the stakes are high.We also dig deep into what an AI-first, human-always mindset actually looks like in practice. Sandy explains why AI should start with business outcomes, not tools, and how leaders can redesign workflows, decisions, and customer experiences with AI as the lever, while keeping human judgment firmly in control. From pressure-testing arguments to accelerating research, we talk about where AI adds leverage and where humans must always own voice, values, and accountability.This conversation gets refreshingly real. Sandy shares stories about AI agents quietly changing their own limits, robots learning the wrong behaviors by watching humans, and why simple guardrails, human-in-the-loop oversight, logging, and escalation paths matter more than flashy demos. We also explore why building your own agents, not just relying on ChatGPT, is becoming essential for leaders who want real control and resilience.Finally, Sandy walks through the origin of Unstoppable Women of Web3 and AI and the powerful three-part formula behind it: education, tribe, and recognition, a model that has trained tens of thousands of women and dismantled the tired excuse of “we can't find qualified women.”If you're a senior leader navigating responsible innovation, or a rising builder wondering if now is the moment to step forward, this episode offers a clear message: lead while you learn, act before consensus, and put guardrails in place so innovation compounds instead of derails.If this conversation resonated, share it with someone who needs a nudge to be bolder, and leave a review telling me the bold move you're committing to this week.Resources: Sandy's Profile linkedin.com/in/sandyacarterBooksBySandy.comsocialmediasandy.wordpress.com/ 

In this episode, I talk with Neelam Patel, who left a 22-year tech executive career to follow her passions for poetry, dance, and performance. We dive into the risks and rewards of creative self-advocacy, how joy and anger can guide personal transformation, and what it really means to rebuild a life around authenticity. If you've ever felt the pull between convention and creativity, this conversation will inspire you to reclaim your own voice.Featured in this episode:  Neelam's Instagram account @dancewithneelamNeelam's website: tailoredpoetry.comNeelam's book: Burning It Down: Dancing Through the RubbleJamie's 1:1 executive coaching practice: https://www.jamieleecoach.com/applyTimestamps:[00:00] — Introduction and Neelam's background: Jamie Lee opens the episode, introduces Neelam Patel, and they discuss Neelam's journey from tech executive to poet and artist.[04:21] — Tech career and personal transformation: Neelam describes how improv and creative pursuits influenced her growth (and promotions) in the tech world.[10:47] — Risky conversations and work-life negotiation: Neelam shares stories of honest, risky conversations at work, including advocating for her creative needs.[34:36] — Anger as an ally: Neelam and Jamie discuss the power of anger, addressing repression, shame, and channeling anger into advocacy.[48:04] — Life after “burning it down” and current work: Neelam gives an update on her creative career, including her dance residency and ways listeners can connect with her (Instagram, website).Text me your thoughts on this episode!Enjoy the show? Don't miss an episode, listen and subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Leave me a review in Apple Podcasts. Connect with me Book a free hour-long consultation with me. You'll leave with your custom blueprint to confidence, and we'll ensure it's a slam-dunk fit for you before you commit to working with me 1:1. Connect with me on LinkedIn Email me at jamie@jamieleecoach.com

What if the real trap is not working hard, it is spending your best years building someone else's empire with money you do not even trust?Mike Peterson sits down with Efrat Fenigson (@efenigson) during Bitcoin Historico for a blunt conversation about the fiat system, corporate life, and why “growth for growth's sake” eventually stops making sense. Efrat explains how years of being great at driving revenue for other people pushed her toward a bigger question: who is this all really for?Before Bitcoin, Efrat Fenigson was deep in the tech world, first as a developer in Australia, then rising to executive roles in Israel. She talks about being a woman in tech on male-dominated teams, the early career reality behind the kinds of paths people imagine when they search video game designer job opportunities, and the moment she realized the work was not the same as purpose.Then things get personal. Efrat shares what happened when she spoke out during Covid, how backlash followed, and why free speech became a line she would not cross, even if it cost her socially and professionally. This is the part of the story where “play it safe” stops being advice and starts being a warning.Bitcoin enters through one sharp question that changed everything, “can they touch it?” Efrat Fenigson describes why self-custody, sound money, and censorship resistance felt like freedom tech, not just finance. It is also where her drive for financial independence turns into something broader, a freedom movement mindset built around sovereignty and personal responsibility.Finally, they zoom out to Bitcoin adoption in El Salvador, including Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte and what a real circular economy looks like when it is not just theory. Efrat and Mike Peterson talk about merchants accepting Bitcoin, why even small savings windows can change how people plan their lives, and why on-the-ground reality matters more than headlines.-Bitcoin Beach TeamConnect and Learn more about X: https://x.com/efenigson YT: https://www.youtube.com/@EfratFenigson Support and follow Bitcoin Beach:X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode:00:00:00 - Intro: Observing the reality of Bitcoin in El Salvador 00:08:13 - How do you become a global CMO in Israel? 00:09:43 - How can single motherhood and divorce debt push someone to pursue financial independence and retire early? 00:13:58 - Why do high earners quit corporate jobs? 00:17:51 - What happens when you speak out during Covid? 00:21:11 - How did Efrat Fenigson get into Bitcoin?  00:21:47 - Can the government seize Bitcoin? What does ‘can they touch it' mean for self-custody and censorship resistance?  00:34:52 - Is Bitcoin still being used in El Salvador? What is Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte really like for visitors?  00:41:20 - Why do merchants accept Bitcoin in El Salvador? Does Bitcoin adoption actually help small businesses save money?  00:42:13 - Why is Bitcoin called freedom tech? How does sound money connect to a freedom movement and personal sovereignty? Live From Bitcoin Beach

If you've ever felt mentally exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed, or physically unwell despite doing everything “right,” this conversation will change how you understand burnout, productivity, and the signals your body is sending. In this episode, we explore the moment when high performance turns into self-abandonment—and why burnout isn't about weakness or laziness, but long-term misalignment. Burnout isn't just about working too much. It's about the beliefs underneath the work. My guest, Haley Scruggs, shares her breaking point—from severe burnout and panic to questioning her own sanity—and how her body ultimately forced her to listen. What looked like dysfunction was actually a signal calling her back into alignment. We talk about how ADHD, chronic stress, and the pressure to prove worth through productivity quietly rewire the nervous system—until the body speaks through anxiety, insomnia, migraines, digestive issues, and shutdown. This isn't a conversation about hacks or routines. It's about asking the question most people avoid: What do I actually need?

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Marinela Profi, Global Market Strategy Lead for AI, GenAI and Agentic AI at SAS, about the rise of agentic AI and how we will move from hype to real, reliable AI. In today's episode, we'll discuss: Why LLMs alone don't solve business problems – and what does, how governance is becoming the new frontier of AI trust, and what leaders should expect by 2026, as enterprises shift from experiments to autonomous, explainable intelligence. KEY TAKEAWAYS A generative AI chatbot is really good and answering questions, generating text, or summarising content. But, it typically stops when it comes to conversation. On the other hand, an AI agent goes beyond that, it can take action, it has goals, memory, reasoning capabilities and can orchestrate multi-set workflows using a combination of not just large-language models but also rules, data and analytics. Generative AI talks, and agentic AI does. The 5-step lifecycle of an agent is a framework I put together to help me and my customers understand what an agent actually does step-by-step in practice. 1. Perception 2. Cognition 3. Decisioning 4. Action, and 5. Learning. Governance boards in 2026 will act more like digital oversight committees, they will ensure that agents aren't just smart, but they are safe, explainable and accountable.  BEST MOMENTS  ‘Post action the agent learns from feedback from a human operative. It's important to monitor the learning loops, you cannot allow the agent to “self-update” in ways that are uncontrolled.'  ‘How autonomous should an agent be? 90% of the time it depends on the risk and impact of the task.' ‘Autonomy without accountability is a risk multiplier.' ‘Governance doesn't stop at deployment, performance must be continuously monitored.' ABOUT THE GUEST Marinela Profi helps organizations move from AI hype to trusted impact. As Global Market Strategy Lead for AI, GenAI and Agentic AI at SAS, she works with enterprises in financial services, healthcare, and government to build AI systems that don't just act fast—but act responsibly. With an MBA and a Master's in Statistics and AI, Marinela bridges two worlds: translating complex data science into clear business strategy. Her work focuses on how agentic AI—intelligent systems that perceive, reason, and act autonomously—can deliver governed, explainable decisions instead of black-box predictions. A frequent keynote speaker at international AI and analytics events, she shares insights on the evolution from generative to agentic AI and the new frontier of AI governance, trust, and human-AI collaboration. Marinela is also an Advisory Board Member for Wake Technical Community College's Data Science Program, helping shape future-ready curricula that connect classroom learning with real-world AI innovation. ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook  TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Elena Verna is the head of growth at Lovable, the leading AI-powered app builder that hit $200 million in annual recurring revenue in under a year with just 100 employees. In this record fourth appearance on the podcast, Elena shares how the traditional growth playbook has been completely rewritten for AI companies. She explains why Lovable focuses on innovation over optimization, how they've shifted from activation to building new features, and why giving away their product for free has become their most powerful growth strategy.We discuss:1. Why 60% to 70% of traditional growth tactics no longer apply in AI2. Why you have to re-find product-market fit every 3 months3. The specific growth tactics driving Lovable's unprecedented growth4. Why giving away product is a growth strategy that beats paid ads5. “Minimum lovable product” as the new standard (not minimum viable product)6. Why activation now belongs to product teams, not growth teams7. Whether you should join an AI startup (honest tradeoffs)—Brought to you by:WorkOS—Modern identity platform for B2B SaaS, free up to 1 million MAUsVercel—Your collaborative AI assistant to design, iterate, and scale full-stack applications for the webPersona—A global leader in digital identity verification—Transcript: ⁠https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-new-ai-growth-playbook-for-2026-elena-verna⁠—My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers): ⁠https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/181207556/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation⁠—Where to find Elena Verna:• X: https://x.com/elenaverna• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaverna• Newsletter: https://www.elenaverna.com—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Elena Verna(05:19) The scale and growth of Lovable(08:55) Confidence in Lovable as a business(12:17) Retention at Lovable(15:02) Lovable's unique growth levers(28:13) The role of marketing in Lovable's success(38:09) Launching new features(40:59) Hiring and team dynamics(43:17) The value of vibe coding(49:46) The importance of community(51:47) Giving away your product for free(56:26) Tripling their company size(01:00:23) Product-market-fit challenges(01:08:50) Advice for joining AI companies(01:12:00) Work-life balance(01:15:20) What it's like to work at Lovable(01:19:45) Women in tech(01:25:29) Final thoughts and lightning round—Referenced:• Elena Verna on how B2B growth is changing, product-led growth, product-led sales, why you should go freemium not trial, what features to make free, and much more: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/elena-verna-on-why-every-company• The ultimate guide to product-led sales | Elena Verna: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-ultimate-guide-to-product-led• 10 growth tactics that never work | Elena Verna (Amplitude, Miro, Dropbox, SurveyMonkey): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/10-growth-tactics-that-never-work-elena-verna• Lovable: https://lovable.dev• Building Lovable: $10M ARR in 60 days with 15 people | Anton Osika (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-lovable-anton-osika• Stripe: https://stripe.com• What differentiates the highest-performing product teams | John Cutler (Amplitude, The Beautiful Mess): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/what-differentiates-the-highest-performing• How to win in the AI era: Ship a feature every week, embrace technical debt, ruthlessly cut scope, and create magic your competitors can't copy | Gaurav Misra (CEO and co-founder of Captions): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-win-in-the-ai-era-gaurav-misra• “Dumbest idea I've heard” to $100M ARR: Inside the rise of Gamma | Grant Lee (CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-50-people-built-a-profitable-ai-unicorn• Eric Ries on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eries• Elena's post on LinkedIn about Lovable Missions: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/elenaverna_everythingispossible-lovableway-activity-7401627519646474242-hn6e• SheBuilds: https://shebuilds.lovable.app• Shopify + Lovable: https://lovable.dev/shopify• The Product-Market Fit Treadmill: Why every AI company is sprinting just to stay in place: https://www.elenaverna.com/p/the-product-market-fit-treadmill• Cursor: https://cursor.com• The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can't stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rise-of-cursor-michael-truell• Unorthodox frameworks for growing your product, career, and impact | Bangaly Kaba (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Instacart): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/frameworks-for-growing-your-career-bangaly-kaba• The adjacent user: https://brianbalfour.com/quick-takes/the-adjacent-user• Granola: https://www.granola.ai• Wispr Flow: https://wisprflow.ai• I'm worried about women in tech: https://www.elenaverna.com/p/im-worried-about-women-in-tech• Slack founder: Mental models for building products people love ft. Stewart Butterfield: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/slack-founder-stewart-butterfield—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer" podcast, host Gary interviews Valentina Flores, CEO of Red Sentry. Valentina shares her journey from law enforcement to leading a proactive cybersecurity company, emphasizing the importance of ethical hacking and prevention for law firms. She offers practical tips—like enabling multi-factor authentication, limiting data access, and preparing response plans—to help lawyers protect sensitive information. Valentina also discusses the collaborative nature of cybersecurity, the human element in defense, and aligning security practices with core values, making cybersecurity accessible and actionable for legal professionals.Valentina Flores is the CEO and Co-Founder of Red Sentry, a proactive cybersecurity company that breaks into your network, so hackers never get the chance. Before protecting companies, she served as a detective on joint federal task forces, tracking cybercriminals through digital back-alleys. Now a public speaker on hacker psychology, a two-time award-winning cybersecurity leader, and a fierce advocate for women in tech, Valentina is redefining what leadership looks like in the industry, championing smarter and more accessible security for all.Transition from Detective to Cybersecurity (00:01:33) What is Penetration Testing? (00:02:56) Success Rate and Client Vulnerabilities (00:03:35)Understanding Hacker Psychology (00:05:30) Why Law Firms Are Targets (00:06:38) Triggers for Law Firms to Seek Help (00:07:46) Compliance vs. Proactive Security (00:09:09) Human Element in Cybersecurity (00:10:16) Making Clients Comfortable with Ethical Hacking (00:11:55) Emerging Threats and the Future of Cybersecurity (00:13:25) Cybersecurity for Small and Medium Businesses (00:14:43) Diversity in Tech and Cognitive Diversity (00:16:37) Awards and People-First Leadership (00:17:27) Leadership in Cybersecurity vs. Traditional Business (00:18:20) Role of Coaching and Mentorship (00:19:28) Annual Testing and Follow-Up (00:20:21) Prioritizing Cybersecurity in Law Firms (00:21:13) Collaboration vs. Competition in Cybersecurity (00:22:17) Top Three Cybersecurity Actions for Lawyers (00:23:29) First Steps for the Unprepared (00:25:39) What is Penetration Testing? (Clarification) (00:26:39) Freedom and Work-Life Balance (00:27:06) Aligning Practice with Values (00:27:51) You can find The Free Lawyer Assessment here- https://www.garymiles.net/the-free-lawyer-assessmentWould you like to learn what it looks like to become a truly Free Lawyer? You can schedule a complimentary call here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-callWould you like to learn more about Breaking Free or order your copy? https://www.garymiles.net/break-free

On the final #TurntoTech episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia is joined by Vanessa Vallely, OBE - CEO & Founder of WeAreTheCity and WeAreTechWomen, for a powerful conversation on the role of connection, community, and confidence in helping more women pivot into digital careers.From building networks that accelerate opportunity to creating safe spaces for women in tech, Vanessa shares deeply practical, inspiring advice for anyone looking to make the leap into digital, or support those who are.'Turn to Tech' is a special 12-part podcast series powered by FinTech's DEI Discussions podcast, in partnership with the City of London Corporation and Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce.FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

Uma Welingkar is a globally recognized product and strategy leader named one of the Top 50 Women in Tech in 2021. Uma has led global SaaS organizations through transformation by building high-performing teams, streamlining operations, and driving meaningful growth. After navigating her own health journey, she's become a passionate advocate for using technology with empathy creating products that truly serve people. She now mentors product leaders and advises mission-driven startups on how to scale through product-led and AI-powered growth.Linked in https://www.linkedin.com/in/umawelingkar/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rnrgrlsf.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/uwelingkar/ ***********Susanne Mueller / www.susannemueller.biz TEDX Talk, May 2022: Running and Life: 5KM Formula for YOUR Successhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT_5Er1cLvY Join Substack: https://substack.com/@susannemuellernyc?Enjoy one coaching session for free if you are a yearly subscriber. 700+ weekly blogs / 500+ podcasts / 1 Ironman Triathlon / 5 half ironman races / 26 marathon races / 4 books / 1 Mt. Kilimanjaro / 1 TEDx Talk

Ireland's ambitions to strengthen female leadership across its technology sector have taken a leap forward with the launch of NOVA - Women in Tech Leadership Programme, designed specifically for the top tier of emerging female tech leaders. Created by Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet in partnership with Connecting Women in Tech (CWIT), NOVA will focus on combining human-centred leadership with the advanced strategic technology and AI-enabled capabilities expected of senior tech leaders in the years ahead. For the Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet, the NOVA programme builds on a decade of impact on women in the technology sector, through its multi award winning women tech returner programmes, bringing over 900 women back to the tech sector, and impacting on gender balance across the sector. The initiative will see over 20 professionals from 25 CWIT member companies advance their leadership journey when the first cohort commences in January. Máire Hunt, Director of Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet, said: "As a sector we must continually find new ways to attract, retain and promote women. Particularly in the age of AI, women can be disproportionately affected. The NOVA programme is a high-performance accelerator specifically designed for women leaders who can shape the future of technology in an AI driven world. It equips participants not just to take a seat at the table, but to shape it." Women are often underrepresented in tech and AI leadership roles, which can influence how AI systems are developed and implemented. If AI systems are developed without diverse perspectives, they may perpetuate biases that disproportionately affect women. Una Fitzpatrick Director of Technology Ireland, said: "Women in Technology already excel in their technical domain. However, they are under-represented at more senior management positions. Companies across the sector are looking for a sector driven, development pathway that prepares female leaders to make an impact in an AI driven world." Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet partnered with CWIT for the pilot NOVA programme, which was formally launched on Friday last. Maire Hunt added: "CWIT exists to help women thrive in the tech industry, so they were a natural partner for the first NOVA programme." The inaugural intake in January includes 25 female leaders across domains such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, fintech, AI services, semiconductors, and enterprise technology. Companies such as Ergo, ADM, HPE, Workday, Kerry Group, ESB, Mastercard, Salesforce, BT, Accenture and Microsoft are represented. Commenting, Sabrina Staunton of Mastercard and CWIT, said: "CWIT exists due to the power of the network to attract, retain and promote females to thrive in the technology space in Ireland. We are excited to launch the first-of-its-kind development program to address the challenge of female talent retention across the Irish technology industry, through the power of partnerships built on our collective power to empower." NOVA includes modules on strategic thinking, future technologies, emotional intelligence, AI-enabled decision making, high-impact communication and personal leadership identity. Combining live workshops, one on one coaching and a leadership impact project, the NOVA programme blends in-person and virtual sessions, one on one coaching and practical insights. Held over a six-month period it is designed to build skills progressively and embed new leadership habits. Individual companies can also deliver the programme in-house for groups of female leaders. Version 1 is one example where the programme is contextualised for a fast-growing AI driven organisation. Ireland's technology sector employs more than 170,000 people across global multinationals, high-growth Irish companies and a vibrant start-up ecosystem. As businesses continue to adapt to AI-driven transformation, programmes such as NOVA that develop strategic awareness, adaptability and leadership presence will be in de...

What if the most powerful leadership lessons start long before your first title? We sit down with Sumi Shukla, VP of Global Marketing at Riverbed, to explore how immigrant roots, blended cultures, and early responsibility shape a career built on resilience, fairness, and authenticity. Sumi's story moves from a childhood balancing identity in a predominantly white town to leading global teams across field marketing, ABM, partners, and digital. Along the way, she learned to trade control for trust, to define outcomes clearly, and to give people the space to deliver in their own way.We get into the big tension leaders face: courage versus perfection. Sumi argues that fearless presence beats “flawless” execution when it carries substance—evidence, iteration, and accountability. She shares concrete examples from marketing, including how her team launched ambitious account‑based marketing programmes, read the data honestly, then made the tough call to scale back and reinvest where results were strongest. You'll hear how to normalise experimentation without recklessness, drop sunk costs without leaving gaps, and build a culture where learning is a habit, not a post‑mortem.Mentors and representation play a central role here. Sumi highlights the impact of formidable female leaders early in her career and the insights from her Global Voices of Leadership: Women Who Inspire series—stories of resilience, unconventional paths, and sponsors who opened doors. Together we map a practical leadership playbook: be clear on the outcome, be consistent and fair, lead from the front or the back as needed, and stay humble because you might be wrong. We close with a simple, moving question about legacy - what remains when titles fade - and why the answer should guide how we show up at work and at home.If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague who's growing a team, and leave a quick review to help others find these leadership stories. Your feedback shapes what we explore next.Don't miss the "Virtually Anything Goes" question at the end, where Lev faces Sumi's unscripted question for the first time!Subscribe for more inspiring leadership conversations and share this episode with someone who needs to hear this message today.Sumi Shukla is the VP of Global Marketing, at Riverbed Technology, where she leads all field marketing teams, ABM, Partner and Alliances, and Digital marketing. Sumi has 25 years of experience working in Tech Marketing, having spent over 10 years working at Cisco and having now been with Riverbed Technology since 2016. If that wasn't enough, Sumi is also a strong advocate for Women in Tech and has established the “Women at Riverbed EMEA” initiative.Connect with Sumi Shukla on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumi-shukla/Lev Cribb is the Founder and Managing Director of Made To See, a UK-based Video and Livestreaming Agency, specialising in the strategic and tactical use of video across B2B organisations. Lev is also the host of the Virtually Anything Goes podcast.Connect with Lev Cribb on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levcribb/For more information, content, and podcast episodes go to https://www.madetosee.com or our YouTube channel  @madetoseemedia ​

What if success was less about status and more about gratitude, service, and love? In this Unstoppable Mindset conversation, I talk with strategist and social media influencer Cynthia Washington about climbing and then stepping away from the corporate ladder, choosing a “socio economic experiment” that stripped life back to the basics, and discovering what really matters. You'll hear how growing up in Pasadena, studying at Cal Poly Pomona and Columbia Business School, and working with brands like Enterprise and Zions Bank all led Cynthia to a life centered on emotional intelligence, mentoring young women in tech, and leading with heart. I believe you'll come away seeing gratitude, leadership, and your own potential to be unstoppable in a very different light. Highlights: 00:09 – Explore how early life experiences influence the values that guide personal and professional growth.02:59 – Learn how changing direction can uncover the strengths that shape long-term leadership.05:29 – See how pivotal transitions help define a clearer sense of purpose.10:07 – Discover what stepping away from convention reveals about identity and success.20:05 – Reflect on how redefining success can shift your entire approach to work and life.22:13 – Learn how a grounded mindset practice strengthens resilience and clarity.34:25 – Explore how personal evolution can grow into a mission to empower the next generation.59:11 – Gain a new perspective on how we perceive ability, inclusion, and human potential. About the Guest: Cynthia Washington: Bridging Societal Gaps Through Leadership, Influence, and Love Cynthia Washington is an accomplished business professional, an award-winning leader, and international influencer whose life and career embodies resilience, vision, and compassion.  While studying at Columbia University, she embarked on a socio-economic experiment, which became her reality, highlighting her journey across her social media platforms in hope of sharing her deep commitment to bridge societal gaps and create a better world—one love style, one courageous step at a time.  A proud Park City local of more than twenty years, Cynthia's story begins in Southern California, where she grew up between the San Gabriel Mountains and the beaches of Malibu.  Her cousins called her “Malibu Barbie,” and her stepbrother called her “Love.”  Rooted in her values and guided by her heart, Cynthia's story is not only one of success but of transformation—a legacy driven by her belief that we deserve better. Cynthia leads with integrity and authenticity. She continues to expand her global network of leadership, uniting hearts and minds to inspire lasting, positive change on the right side of history with a framework of faith, family and fun that is built on a foundation of love, kindness, compassion and a hope for peace. One Love, Bob Marley style. Professionally, Cynthia Washington stands at the intersection of strategy, leadership, and emotional intelligence. An agile and results-driven leader, she has distinguished herself through her ability to combine quantitative intuition with deep empathy—qualities that make her both a visionary and a unifier. Known for her collaborative leadership style, she excels in developing teams, leading organizational change, and driving sales performance across diverse industries. Her strategic mindset and exceptional communication skills have made her a trusted partner to executives and innovators alike. Cynthia's work fosters meaningful engagement between employees and senior leaders, helping organizations align vision with values. Through her global portfolio of projects, she has sharpened her expertise in marketing, leadership development, and brand transformation, helping companies from Park City to Silicon Slopes and across international markets thrive. Her career is a testament to excellence, purpose, and adaptability—qualities that have earned her numerous accolades and the respect of peers worldwide. Among her many achievements, Cynthia was honored as a SheTech Champion Impact Award Recipient at the Women Tech Awards, celebrating her leadership, mentorship, and dedication to empowering young women in technology. For more than five years, she has stood alongside thousands of high school students—mentoring, volunteering, and serving as a role model for the next generation of innovators. Motivated by her desire to create a better world for her daughter, she embarked on what she lovingly calls her “mom mission”—a service journey dedicated to making her community and the world around her better. During her sabbatical from Silicon Valley into this transformative period, Cynthia launched LVL UP with CW, her brand, leveraging her expertise to help local and global businesses grow, evolve, and thrive. As an international social media influencer, she has used her platform not for fame or recognition, but for global impact, sharing messages of resilience, hope, and empowerment. This work is a lesson of intersectionality and bridges the worlds of fashion, sports, philanthropy, business, money, technology, spirituality, global preservation, health and wellness in hopes of leveling up and shifting the societal norms. She has partnered with brands across industries to elevate visibility, deepen engagement, and build authentic customer connections. Through brand ambassador relationships, social media management, and content creation, Cynthia has amplified voices, strengthened communities, and showcased how influence, when rooted in integrity, is a force for good. That same belief shines through in Cynthia Washington's powerful memoir, Mind Matters: The Story of My Life. Written during her sabbatical, the respectfully honest memoir captures her life's “grind with grit” story. The cover, graced by her daughter's original artwork, wraps her book with a big thank you hug, encapsulating the power of love that anchors Cynthia's bold voyage.  Mind Matters explores her corporate climb and fall, her studies at Columbia University, her travels across the United States with her daughter, the Aloha spirit of Hawaii, and her experiences in Hollywood and the music industry. Interwoven through these chapters are stories of friendship, including her personal connections with cultural icons like Eminem and Kobe Bryant, whose wisdom and creativity shaped what Cynthia calls The Trifecta - a guiding philosophy built on Kobe's Mamba Mentality, the music of Eminem, and her own life's work. Three forces that together drive her vision and her ability to live her socio-economic experiment proving money is a tool and the real power is in the mind. “You can do anything you set your mind to, man” - Eminem Mind Matters: The Story of My Life is available on Amazon and other major online retailers and can also be ordered through local bookstores. The memoir has been nominated for The Eric Hoffer Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing, a recognition of both its literary merit and its heartfelt message of perseverance. Yet, true to her character, Cynthia did not embark on this journey for fame or recognition—she wrote it to give back, to inspire, and to remind readers everywhere that no matter where you come from, with a healthy positive mindset you too can change the trajectory of your life. Beyond her work as an author and international leader, Cynthia lives a simple life.  She is a mom, a trailblazer, and an advocate, representing many initiatives that level up society and bridge societal gaps. She turned her pain into her strength and used that as fuel to ignite a movement.  Her heart is full of gratitude for all the bands and their aid, as they played a meaningful role in inspiring the Band Aid, a global movement for unity and peace that emerged during a time when the world needed hope most. A true Band Aid. Ways to connect with Cynthia**:** Instagram https://www.instagram.com/misscdub Linkedin  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-washington-1b13a265 Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Matters-Story-My-Life/dp/B0DJRPQTY2 About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Hi everyone. Welcome to another episode of unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're with us today, wherever you happen to be, hope you're having a good day, and hope that we can inspire you and make this a fun time for you as well. Our guest today is Cynthia Washington. Cynthia describes herself as standing at the intersection of strategy, leadership and an emotional intelligence, and I know that she's going to talk more about that and what what brought her to come to that conclusion, but I've been looking at her information. I think she's got a lot of interesting stuff to talk to us about, and we'll get to it. But for now, Cynthia, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here. Cynthia Washington  02:05 Oh, thank you, Michael. I appreciate being here and spending this time with you today, and I'm looking forward to our conversation. Michael Hingson  02:13 Well, I am as well. Well, why don't we start? I love to start this way with the the early Cynthia, if you will. Cynthia Washington  02:20 Of course, yes, the early Cynthia. I grew up in Pasadena, California, that Southern California, near the Rose Bowl in the San Gabriel Mountains. I attended an all girls private Catholic school for my seventh to 12th grades. I attended also Cal Poly Pomona, where I studied international business and marketing. And I love everything Southern California. I've always had this dream of living in Park City, and I ended up coming here in when was it 2004 so I've been here almost 21 years. Michael Hingson  03:04 So when you were at Cal Poly, did you help build the Rose Parade Float? Cynthia Washington  03:09 I did not build the Rose Parade Float, even though both Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly Pomona do a collaborative effort to build one every year since I grew up with the Rose Parade in my backyard, I had my own special moments with that. I always wanted to be on the Rose Parade court, and so my mom put me into a many different pageants, which helped prepare me and built my confidence so that I could be the person I am today. And I'm forever grateful for that experience like sports, it teaches you about competition, failure and set you up for success. Michael Hingson  04:05 Yes. And again, what did you study at Cal Poly, Cynthia Washington  04:10 international business and marketing? Okay, I originally started in microbiology. I had finished with the intention to become a doctor, and realized I could not stomach blood or needles, and so I quickly changed my major once I made that realization, and I changed my major to English, because I love reading Shakespeare Books. Everything is just so fascinating, fascinating about the English language and its literature. So I studied that for a little while, my father told me that I needed to do something different, and therefore I changed my major to international business and marketing. Michael Hingson  05:00 Hmm, that was different than English by any standard. Yeah. Cynthia Washington  05:06 So it was definitely different. Well, he is a businessman, a banker, and I think you know, for him, it was important for me to kind of follow in those footsteps, which I have, ironically, and I'm forever grateful for him for pushing me in a different direction, I use all three though, the science, the technology, the English and the international business skills in my current role, so, or roles, Michael Hingson  05:37 well, so you graduated. Did you go on and get any advanced degrees or just a bachelor's? Cynthia Washington  05:43 Oh, well, I did. It took me a while, too, though. I recently, in 2022 applied to Columbia University, actually Columbia Business School, and I completed their chief marketing officer executive education program with a Certificate in Business Excellence from Columbia Business School. So yes, I did eventually go back to school. However, I had a few careers in and amongst that along my path and my journey, which helped me have a more well rounded knowledge, yeah, to enter into that up advanced learning. Michael Hingson  06:35 So what did you do after you graduated from Cal Poly? Cynthia Washington  06:40 After I graduated from Cal Poly, I took a gap year, to be honest, and in that gap year, I learned so much about myself. I intersected with Hollywood for a brief moment in time, developed some really great, lasting friendships that have surpassed time. In addition to that, I skied, I snowboard, I learned to surf, and did all the things that I just needed to do as a California girl, yes, it was quite fun and bolted me into the person I am today. With that being said, I once again, had my father reminding me that it was time to get a job, and so I ventured into the management trainee program with enterprise run a car, climbed that corporate ladder, eventually having a territory from Santa Barbara to San Diego that I managed and oversaw a team inside one of our insurance partners headquarters, Which was really amazing opportunity. Then that took me, with a relocation package to Utah with my husband and our newborn baby to come and plant roots. Here he they enterprise was ahead of times in the fact that they wanted to harvest talent from different parts of the United States to strengthen the team they were building in Utah. My husband and I at the time, were part of that strategy, which was really an amazing opportunity, because I was one of a handful women managers that were brought on to the Utah team, and we were able to establish ourselves as influencers and leaders to help grow the women leadership network within Utah and Idaho for enterprise. Michael Hingson  09:14 You said, early I'm sorry. Go ahead. Go ahead. You said early on that you always wanted to go to Park City. Why was that? Sounds like, you know, you got to live your dream. But why was that? Yes. Cynthia Washington  09:26 Well, my father worked a lot, and for him to disconnect from work, we would come and visit Park City or travel to Hawaii. Well, we summer it every summer in Kauai for the month of July. So to contrast that we had time in Park City, Utah before it was what it has become, which was really fascinating. And I loved having the exposure to the Four Seasons and just the. Um, simple life that park city offered was really refreshing, coming from the hustle and bustle of Downtown LA and being in the city, it was just something I dreamt of, and I'm so grateful to have lived that dream, to be here and have to and to have raised my daughter here as well Michael Hingson  10:27 makes sense. And as I said, you now get to live your dream. You're living where you wanted to, and you've been there now for, like, 21 years, and you sound like you haven't changed your mind, you're very happy with it. Cynthia Washington  10:43 Yes, you know, my daughter's graduating college soon, and perhaps maybe I'll think of another location to move to. But for now, this is what I call home. This is where I've planted my my seeds and my roots for our little single mom family. So yeah, it's been great. Michael Hingson  11:06 Well, so you you say that you lived a social, socio economic experiment. Tell me more about what that means. Yes. Cynthia Washington  11:19 So while at Columbia University, I opted to live a socio economic experience to contrast the life that I grew up with. So as I mentioned, I attended Cal Poly, worked with enterprise, had a great career with them. When I came to Utah, I kept that career. After my divorce, I began another career at America first credit union. I saw, I saw that I needed to take a step back from the career world, and so I took a 20 hour teller position as I was figuring out my relationship with my husband and determining our next steps. And so once that was dissolved, I had this great team who saw my leadership skills and helped me climb another corporate ladder. After a few years one of my previous colleagues came to me and asked me to venture into Silicon Valley, doing business in Utah with a team, a Medicare sales team that I managed, and that was quite fascinating, talk about baptism by fire. I learned all things Medicare on the fly, and had a really amazing opportunity with that. And so I have steadily over time, climbed three different corporate ladders, made excellent income, six figures, generously raising my daughter here in Utah, and it has always been in the back of my mind to understand life from a different lens, to understand it with a different perspective. And so as a result, when I was in the Columbia application process, I had become really, really, really sick, deathly sick, I like to say I was on my death bed when I applied to Colombia because I was surviving on water and pressed juices for a little over a month, because I was having some difficulties internally. And so while I had that downtime, I had a lot of time to think, and it was important to me to apply at Columbia. Well, I originally applied to Northwestern and they recommended me to Columbia. And so when I did my Columbia application, it was important for me not to just take the northwestern recommendation, but to also set myself apart. And I thought, well, the socio economic experiment would be great at something I've been thinking about, you know, living life through a different lens. I had the savings built up so that I could do so. And I thought, Yes, I can do this. I can You can do anything you set your mind to. Quote. Eminem, I did. I did that. I lived it. I abandoned my ego, I abandoned all the luxurious items that I had, and lived this truly simple life. And it was quite fascinating, because the more I trusted that process, the more I grew and became still and trusted God's guidance in this journey that I was creating. Fast forward through the social media aspect of everything, I was reminded of some Hollywood friends that I had forgotten about, to be honest. And I don't know how you forget about them, but I did, because I never really spoke about those tender moments I had, and cherish them within my heart and my soul. But I was overcoming this really traumatic experience, a bad, bad relationship that put me into hiding, yet with being at Columbia, living the socio economic experiment and sharing my life through my social media influencer role, my Hollywood friends found me in a time of need, and through this reintroduction, I was reminded of a night I like to coin as dream night, and I call it dream night because that's the night I met Marshall Mathers, who the world knows as Eminem, and he and I were from completely different aspects of life, with completely different perspectives on life, and yet, when we met, we intersected. I was leaving Hollywood, he was coming into it, and we spent together, as silly as it sounds, playing beer pong, thinking through all of the world's problems. And in that conversation, I had mentioned that one day I was going to go to Columbia, and one day I was going to live the socio economic experiment so that I could help the world. And you know, he envisioned his dream of becoming this rap star, and together, we would reunite our forces for good to help elevate the world. And I forgot about this moment in time, to be quite honest, I just continued on a path that I naturally was creating when I was younger, because before meeting Marshall, I had met Kobe Bryant while I was a student graduating Cal Poly, and he was new, upcoming rising superstar into basketball. He had his eye on Vanessa. Her group of friends were very smart, and he knew he needed to knowledge up to get his girl. And so here I was this book smart girl, kind of hanging out in Hollywood. I had worked a job at Staples Center, because I love the Lakers, and it was really cool. I, you know, had me more court side than it did have me working because I gave away more of my tables, and I did actually work to spend time building these relationships with Kobe and the Lakers, which I'm so forever grateful for, and because Kobe recognized my book smart, his spotlight and together, we would have these Kobe talks, which ultimately built the framework for Mama mentality and my only ask of him as I exited Hollywood and that era of my life was that he named mob and mentality, mob and mentality, which he did. And so I, you know, I had. Had Mamba mentality. This up and comer rap star Eminem, who, honestly, I didn't even know was Eminem. For me, he was this guy from Detroit that I met through my friend Travis Barker, who happened to be the drummer blink, 182 but I was so unaware of all these people and who they were. They were, to me, were just people I knew and friends that I had. And, you know, fast forward to where we're at now. It's like we're all living our dreams, and it's really super cool. But the socio economic experiment came from that dream night with Marshall and this whole concept of who and how we wanted to be in this future version of ourselves and I wanted to be this socio economic experiment to understand life through a different lens, especially after meeting him that One night and hearing his life experience, my life experience that you know, it was fascinating to me, like I want, I I want to help people, but to truly help people and bridge those societal gaps that exist, Cynthia Washington  21:16 one has To have a full scope of life through all perspectives, and this opportunity through Columbia, with this experiment, positioned me to really embrace that, and now I am very happy because I think it has helped me appreciate the quality, true quality of life. You know, it's not about the money, it's not about the fame, it's not about the recognition. It's about love and family and caring and nurturing one another Michael Hingson  21:59 with and I would presume that you would say that that's what you learned from the experiment, Cynthia Washington  22:05 yes, yes, absolutely. That's what I learned. You know, here, as I was climbing all these different corporate ladders, I always thought it was about having more you know, having more money, having more things, having a bigger house, a nicer car and all this stuff, but truly abandoning all that stuff allowed me to live more because I appreciated the true moment as A gift, especially from being on my deathbed, you know, to being able to live each day to its fullest, that in and amongst itself, was a gift to me, and learning to be present for my daughter was a present for Me. And so these were all things that socio economic experiment taught me about appreciating life. Michael Hingson  23:07 So where do concepts like gratitude come into all of that? And how is gratitude help keep you centered and kind of moving forward? Cynthia Washington  23:18 Great question through this journey I've been on, I've learned to live each day with a grateful heart. I wake up daily appreciative of the moment, to be alive, regardless of what I have or what accomplishments I've achieved. I truly am thankful for the gift of life. And with that being said, I live in a spirit of Thanksgiving, not because Thanksgiving is on the horizon and the holidays grow near, but because having that gratitude rooted in my soul has helped me Stay focused on my Why stay firm in my beliefs and trust the process every step of the way, living with gratitude has just opened my Heart to the possibilities, and it's been a phenomenal growth experience. The more I give thanks, the more I give, the more I serve, the better I lead, the stronger I am, and the more abundant the blessings are. Are, and it's just truly remarkable to be this vessel for good living life with the spirit of Thanksgiving. Michael Hingson  25:12 If somebody were to ask you, how can you teach me how to really have gratitude and make it a part of my life, what? What kind of advice or what kind of guidance can you give someone to help them learn to be a person who's more grateful or have more gratitude? Wow, um, Cynthia Washington  25:33 if someone is looking to have more gratitude and develops a process in establishing more gratitude. I think it would just be to reframe your focus instead of, oh, I don't have these things, right? That's when I let go of my Louis vuittons my fancy car, and, you know, sold all my really nice clothes that you know, just to have some extra cash to accomplish more of my goals, I let go of all Those materialistic things. And instead of having the mindset of like, Oh, I'm getting rid of these things, I was I saw it as an opportunity. So I guess what I'm saying is to reframe, instead of it being like, I don't have these things, or the woe is me attitude reframe that too. I am blessed with a family, I am blessed with food, I am blessed with shelter, I am blessed with a job that provides me with stability. I am blessed with the person in the mirror who has awoken for this moment in time, awoken, awaked it has. How do you say that? Awakened, that's fine. Awakened, yeah, has awakened in this moment, you know, for another beautiful day, and then after that, reframing of the mindset, focus on the positives and count your blessings. I know that sounds so cliche, but be grateful for this. Yes, be grateful for the things that you do have, the people who love you love is the most durable power that there is, you know, and having that focus on those good things with a positive mindset reframed from the negative, you can easily shape yourself into a person who lives with gratitude and then reciprocate it. You know, as you, as you go about your day, give that gratitude to someone else with a nice smile or a thank you. And people can feel a thank you. People can feel a smile. People can feel that authentic, genuine sense of gratitude in any capacity of life. And that is far more reaching than that negative I don't have I don't have enough. I don't I'm not qualified for this type of negative mindset that weighs people down. Instead, when you live with gratitude, you feel lighter, you feel more alive, and you feel unstoppable. Michael Hingson  29:09 Have you ever read a book by a gentleman named Henry Drummond called Love the greatest thing in the world? Cynthia Washington  29:18 No, but it sounds like something I would enjoy reading. It's Michael Hingson  29:21 more, it's very short, but he he talks all about the fact that love is, in fact, the greatest thing in the most powerful thing in the world, and that that it is something that we all ought to express and deal with a whole lot more than than we do. Was written in, in, I think, the late 1800s I believe. But it is, it is well worth reading. As I said, it's very short. I've read the audio version, and it only takes an hour, so it's not very long book. But it doesn't need Cynthia Washington  29:59 to be well. I will definitely add that to my reading list, because my step brother called me love and it's my nickname, and all the work I have done while on my mom mission after Columbia and over the past few years to help bridge societal gaps, to make the world better for my daughter, her friends and our children and the world ultimately stems from love and gratitude and love are to my focuses. There you go. Michael Hingson  30:46 And as makes a lot of sense, as they should be well. So what have you been doing? Well, so you worked for enterprise, and then you went on, I guess, to do some other things. But what have you been doing since Columbia? Cynthia Washington  31:02 Well, since Columbia, my last class at Columbia was in finance. I studied finance, macro economics. And one more thing I forgot, that's okay. So anyway, well, my last class at Columbia was in finance and Oh, corporate governance, yes. So at Columbia, I studied corporate governance, macroeconomics and finance, while also completing my chief marketing officer executive education requirements and my last class being in finance aligned with Zions Bank, 150 year anniversary of being in business. I thought, wow, this is quite timely. Zions Bank is highly reputable, very respected organization in Utah. And I wanted to work with them while I finished Columbia, and initially I took a role to just kind of understand money real time, working on the front lines across a variety of different branches, and now I still work with them. I am in their retail banking administration department. I work with a great team. I am close to the SVPs, EBPs, and with the branches, our clients. I work on multiple different projects, doing different things, which is so fascinating because I'm in the heartbeat of the business, and it satisfies my my desire to stay relevant and use all my skill sets for good, because I have that ability to touch so many different people and projects in the work that I do at science bank, it allows me the flexibility to maintain my social media influencer status, and both give me the stability to be a good single mom for my daughter who's finishing Up in college. So I'm very grateful for that opportunity, and Colombia opens so many doors. As far as the social media marketing piece of the work I've done since Columbia, I sit on a handful of boards, Big Brothers, Big Sisters. I am on the boulder way forward legislative committee as a chair, and I continue to just do a bunch of philanthropic work, which I. I'm able to promote and highlight within the social media work that I do, so the two work beautifully together, and I am happy just to give back in the capacity I can using my skill sets at a maximized level, Michael Hingson  35:24 okay, well, you also formed your own company, didn't you? Cynthia Washington  35:29 Yes, I did form my own company. It's called level up with C dub, and that business has allowed me to work with amazing brands throughout Park Cities, silicon slopes and globally. It started, yeah, go ahead. No, go ahead. It started because I wanted to level up my community and bridge some gaps that I saw, and then it has grown into something bigger and better in the fact that the work that I'm doing is not only helping local businesses, but it's helping level up our youth, and creating an opportunity for our youth to follow a yellow brick road, so to speak, with my work that I have put forth so that they are more resilient, emotionally intelligent, and have the mental strength To endure this ever changing world. So it's been quite interesting to see how it's shifted from helping businesses mentoring individuals into this new space. Michael Hingson  37:14 And so what does the company do today? What? What you talk about helping youth and so on? Tell me a little bit more about what what you do and how you do it, and is it just you, or do you have other people in the company? Cynthia Washington  37:27 No, it's just me. Just now, just me. Yes, I don't have enough time to invest in it because Zions is my nine to five. I work at a local boutique in town to stay in the heartbeat of town, you know. And then I have the social media stuff that I do. So my calendar is quite full. The level up with C dub work has been word of mouth, and people like you have sought me through various platforms, and I like that. I'm not ready to scale it yet, even though it is scalable, but I like being able to control the the the incoming work and produce high quality products with my brand name attached to it. So right now, it's something that exists. Um, it's something it's a labor of love, and so I'm not quite ready to bring on a team, because it's multi faceted. There's a lot of mentoring, there's a lot of coaching, there's a lot of brand building, and these are all things that I just like to do on my own. Michael Hingson  39:20 So what kind of things do you do you do from a mentoring standpoint, what? What exactly does the company do? Cynthia Washington  39:28 Well, from a mentoring standpoint, I mentor across different platforms. I just received an Impact Award for mentoring girls in the tech realm of silicon slopes, over 1000 Utah high schoolers, actually, 1000s of high school girls have been mentored through this program called she tech, of which I am a part of and. Um, in addition to that, I have middle level professionals who want to level up within their career, who utilize me and my services to help coach them to their next corporate move. And so there's some one on one time. People hire me. I fit them into my schedule. We work together. They call me, you know, hey, I have this moment at work that's happening and I need some guidance. How do I navigate it? You know, sometimes it's easier to talk through that situation with a coach than it is to talk through it with your peer or manager, because you don't want to take away the integrity of the the momentum you've created at work. So I act as at sounding board for a handful of other executive, young executives who are up and coming, rising into their career, and so it's it's multifaceted. Everything's been word of mouth, and I don't have a website. I started with one, I perhaps might go back to creating one. But for now, everything is pretty manageable. I just wear a lot of different hats and work through a lot of different projects, helping many different people across different platforms. Michael Hingson  41:48 How do you keep it all together? Cynthia Washington  41:53 Great question. I use a calendar. I write a lot of notes down. I have a very systematic approach to everything that I have going on. I've learned to say no and to prioritize what's most important. I had an executive coach when I was in Silicon Valley and working in the Medicare realm of business and my executive coach brought so much value into being that sounding board for me and Springboarding My career that giving back in that same capacity is so rewarding for me. I find enjoyment out of it, and the busier I am, the more full I feel my life is. And so right now, I manage it all by writing it down and keeping it organized. You know, in my calendars, thankfully, there's flexibility with all that I do, which allows me to be very agile and giving back in the level up with C dub work that I do. Michael Hingson  43:21 Well, it sounds like when you had access to an executive coach, you were very observant about what they did, so that you could do that same sort of thing and pass it on. Because it sounds like you you took to heart the lessons you learned from that coach. Absolutely. Cynthia Washington  43:40 I had the best executive coach. And you know, when I was on my deathbed, she reached out to me and cared for me even though I was no longer her client. You know, we had become friends through that relationship, and I want to be that person for someone else, and that's why right now, I don't have anyone on my team with me, and I don't have an intention of scaling it At this point in time, because I try to, I to take on the workload with intention and purpose so that I can authentically lead and give back to help others grow and thrive within their realm of life, right? Michael Hingson  44:46 Well, you have written a book. Tell us about that and what what it is, and anything you want to talk about, Cynthia Washington  44:54 yeah, this is a book right here for those who. You are able to see Michael Hingson  45:04 it, and it's called Mind Matters. Cynthia Washington  45:07 Yes, sir, Mind Matters. It's the story of my life. It's a memoir encompasses everything and an easy to read book. It encompasses my travels, my corporate climb and fall, my Columbia education and studies, how I overcame some big hurdles with a grind, with grit, mindset and mentality. My time in Hollywood, what I like to call the trifecta me, Eminem and Kobe, and my work, the music of Eminem and Mama mentality with those three things, you can achieve anything. And what else does it include? Oh, it just has some really fun tales of growing up in California. I and some principles, guiding principles I learned from Columbia University that I wanted to encapsulate into this book and share again to give back to others. It's modestly priced on Amazon. You can buy it wherever books are sold. It's I didn't write it for fame or recognition. I respectfully share stories about my friends in Hollywood. Good and, yeah, it's a fun a fun story. I released it a year ago, October 10, and did my first book launch release party, November 15. And so it's really fun to see it become what it has, and to see its ripple effects throughout society. Michael Hingson  47:32 What did you learn about you from writing the book? Cynthia Washington  47:39 Oh, well, writing a book requires a lot of self discipline. I learned that I have lived a story rich with abundant blessings, and I learned that I have accomplished so much with having That spirit of gratitude. I grind it with grit, resilience, that has catapulted me into the space that I am living in now. However, it was also a very humbling experience as I wrote the book, I it healed me in some ways, because I had been in hiding for a year, and as much As I was sharing my life on social media, I was still afraid to live my life because I was in hiding, and so it helped me heal from that trauma, which is why I have it modestly priced, because if I can help someone else overcome something as traumatic that I have lived by sharing my story and giving hope through my story, then I want to put it out there. I'm not in it for money. I'm in it so I can help our society through this humanitarian effort, you know, and sharing a little bit about me might help someone in their time of need. So, yes, I love. Learned. I learned to heal, I learned to trust the process, and I learned who I am. Michael Hingson  50:08 It makes a lot of sense. And I asked the question, having written three books and learning from all three of them, various things about me, but also just learning to have the discipline and to go into that place where you can create something that hopefully people in the world will appreciate. I think that's that's a really cool thing, and clearly you've done that. Cynthia Washington  50:38 Yes, thank you, and you definitely can understand that, you know, you put your heart and soul into this book of creative mindfulness, and it's truly rewarding to share it with other people. And I like to say my books wrapped with my daughter's big thank you hug, because it's wrapped in her artwork that she drew, that I have framed, and I thought it was a perfect cover for it. And it's it's really a blessing to have gone through the trauma, live through it, and for her to see this work of art, share my story and help others and her. Thank you. Hug around it is even a bigger form of love Michael Hingson  51:44 you have won, and you mentioned it earlier, a she Peck she tech champion Impact Award. Tell us about that award, what it is, and a little bit more about why you won one and so on. Cynthia Washington  51:58 Yes, so while at Columbia, I did the level up with CW work, I worked with Zions Bank, had the social media influencer role, and I aligned with a lot of great women and businesses throughout Park City, Salt Lake and silicon slopes, those women became friends and she Tech was founded by one of my friends, and I became involved in that about five years ago, as a mentor, a role model, an influencer, helping young girls learn that there is opportunity in The tech space. Technology space for women and girls learning and their worth, their their value and creating opportunities for them. And so through the social media aspect, I have been able to share to share the great work of she tech and women tech Council and some other brands that I've aligned with to help young girls see other women leaders actively working and living in these different capacities. So all of the work that I do goes hand in hand with this mentoring space and helping our youth see their potential. Chi Tech, I was one of 30 who received that award this year, I was humbly honored to be a recipient of the award. I knew the work I was doing was focused on my love to change the world for my daughter and make the world a better place for her, her friends and ultimately, all children. I just didn't realize how far reaching my impact was until I received the email notifying me of this. Impact Award, and when I stood on stage with all these other champions, champions, champion champions, championing change and this trajectory of our world. It just reinforced all of the work I have done and the profound impact it's having on our youth today, and it's remarkable to like. I can't, I can't express the depth it has, because it's so far reaching, and it's something beyond my wildest dreams that I've created through my work, through all these different intersections of strategic marketing and social media brand work and leading by Cynthia Washington  56:16 good and using my influence for good. And it's just truly amazing to see that I've helped 1000s of teenage girls understand their potential, their value and their worth, knowing that there's so many different possibilities in the tech space for them to learn, grow and do Michael Hingson  56:47 well, congratulations on winning the award. That's a that's a cool thing, and obviously you're making a big difference. Cynthia Washington  56:57 Thank you so much. I'm still so humbled, and I keep having to ground myself because I never expected to be in this moment. I simply was a mom on a mission to change the trajectory for my daughter, and receiving this award was something I never expected, and I keep ground, grounding myself, because I just I'm so humbly honored to have received it, and to have come to this, this elevated level of where I'm at in my current life, by giving up everything, I became something so much bigger and better than I ever expected or or planned for myself, and it's profound to me, and I just have to constantly ground myself and remind myself like that it's it's okay to be here. Michael Hingson  58:17 That's what gratitude can do, and that's what gratitude obviously does for you, because you you clearly exhibit a lot of gratitude in in all that you say and all that you do. And I think that's extremely important. People really should think a little bit more about gratitude than they then they typically do. But you know, it is something that that clearly you have put in the forefront of of your being. You do a lot with social media. And tell me a little bit more about about that as we move forward here and get close to wrapping up. Cynthia Washington  58:57 Well, yes, I do do a lot on social media, but before I answer that question, you found me through social media, and I want you to share a little bit about how you discovered me knowing that you're unable to see a lot of the content I create. So how were you able to find me? And then I'll answer that question. Tell me what intrigued you Michael Hingson  59:31 when you say not see the content, like, What do you mean? Cynthia Washington  59:36 Well, you have a blindness, vision impairment, correct, Michael Hingson  59:46 not an impairment, but that's okay, but, but what is it that I don't see exactly? Cynthia Washington  59:52 How do you see my social media content for you to be able to find. Michael Hingson  1:00:00 I use a piece of software that verbalizes whatever comes across the computer screen, so hearing the the text, listening to what your profile on LinkedIn says about you and so on, is all just as straightforward for me as it is for you, and to describe that in great detail would be like me asking you how you do what you do. It's what we grow up learning. The reality is, blindness isn't the problem. That's why I said it's not an impairment, because people always think about blindness as a visual impairment. Well, visually, I'm not different because I'm blind and I'm not impaired because I am blind, if, if the reality is impairment has nothing to do with it, and we really need to get away from thinking that someone is less than someone else because they may not have the same senses that that we do. And while I don't necessarily have eyesight, I have other gifts that I've learned to maximize, and probably the greatest gift of all, is that I don't happen to be light dependent like you are. The reality is that for you, when there's a power failure or something that causes all the lights and everything to go out, you scramble looking for an iPhone or a smartphone or a flashlight or something to bring light in, because we spent a lot of time bringing light on demand. To you ever since the light bulb was invented, I don't have that problem. The power goes out, doesn't bother me a bit. The reality is we've got to get away from this idea of thing that somebody is impaired because they don't have some things that we do. There are a lot of ways to get information, and eyesight is only one of them. Cynthia Washington  1:01:48 I love that, and that's exactly why I wanted you to explain that, because I think that's super important as we discuss unstoppable mindset. I think that's a critical necessity for society to learn and to know, and because you were able to find me using these great resources that you have and the work I'm putting forth intrigued you to bring me into this meeting with you. So I am, again, so grateful that we have this opportunity to collaborate in this space, bringing both our good works together to Oh, help level up awareness that there are no limits. We are unstoppable. Glasses shattering everywhere because of people like you and me who are doing this good work to change the trajectory of the world, and social media for me, has given me the opportunity to do what you do in this podcast. Michael Hingson  1:03:14 If you want people to be able to reach out to you and interact with you, how best can they do that Cynthia Washington  1:03:22 the like you did through LinkedIn is great. That's how I do receive most of my work is through LinkedIn. People find me there and will message me through then, LinkedIn, what? Michael Hingson  1:03:43 What's your LinkedIn name or your house? Cynthia Washington  1:03:47 Cynthia Washington. Okay, that's easy, yes. Cynthia Washington, Park City, Salt Lake City, will get you to me. Another outlet is through Instagram. I'm little bit more hesitant to reply to the direct messages on Instagram. I do try to filter a lot of my content and screen things. So I do trust LinkedIn a little bit more. As far as the messaging component is concerned, also, I have provided you with my email which you're happy I'm happy for you to share. Okay, so any of those three means will get you connected to me. I do not have a website. As I said, everything is organic, authentic and word of mouth. My Plate is really full, and so I like to be selective of the projects I bring on in hopes that they give back to society in one way or another. Lacher, I'm not doing it to chase every deal or get a bunch of free product. I do it with a very intentional Spirit giving back with gratitude that karmic effect goes a long way well. Michael Hingson  1:05:18 I hope people will reach out. You clearly have a lot to offer, and I think you've you've given us a lot to think about today, which I appreciate a great deal. So thank you very much for that. I want to thank all of you who are listening or watching our podcast today, or maybe you're doing both listening and watching. That's okay too. I want to thank you for being here with us. Love to get your thoughts. If you have any messages or our ideas you want to pass along. Love it if you'd reach out to me. Michael, H, I m, I C, H, A, E, L, H i at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I B, e.com, you can and I would appreciate it if you would, wherever you're listening or watching this podcast, give us a five star rating, and please give us a review. We really value your reviews highly, and I would appreciate it if you would do that. If you know of anyone Cynthia, you as well, who you think ought to be a guest on unstoppable mindset, please let us know. Introduce us. We're always looking for people to come on to help show everyone that we're all more unstoppable than we think we are. But again, Cynthia, I want to thank you for being here. This has been absolutely wonderful. Can you believe we've been doing this over an hour already? Cynthia Washington  1:06:37 Oh no, not at all. Oh yeah. Well, I am so forever grateful again, and as we head into the holidays, just remind everyone to live with a spirit of gratitude, be kind to others. And there are no limits. It's time to shatter those limits that we have created as barriers and Live limitless with an unstoppable mindset. Michael Hingson  1:07:09 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Send us a textChristina Klein, a visionary leader at Lansweeper, joins Joey Pinz at IT Nation Orlando to share her unique blend of creativity, discipline, and data-driven leadership. From learning carpentry as a child to leading tech innovation and women's leadership programs, Christina discusses how she bridges design, technology, and purpose. She reveals how Lansweeper empowers MSPs with deep asset visibility, accelerates cybersecurity response times, and enables scalable growth through efficiency and trust. The conversation explores leadership authenticity, the impact of AI, and how small daily actions can unlock big transformations — in business and life. 

As tech companies shift towards innovations in artificial intelligence, companies like Amazon, Meta and IBM have announced tens of thousands job cuts. And this is having a trickle down effect on entry-level positions. We speak with Bibi Souza, a Vancouver software engineer and BC's head of Women in Tech, about how the work of junior engineers has been on the decline with the adoption of AI tools that can code. We also speak with Sandra Lavoy, a manager with the global recruitment agency, Robert Half, about how to break into this challenging job market.

What if the fastest way to grow your career isn't a straight climb but a series of smart, sideways moves that sharpen your empathy and judgment?  In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Catherine Wong, COO and CPO at Entrata, to unpack how she scales products and people by shaping cultures where every voice is invited, and the best ideas surface early. From engineering during the dot-com downturn to leading global teams through acquisitions and hypergrowth, Catherine shares the habits that turn uncertainty into momentum: practice your voice, ask for real feedback, and reward behaviors that build trust.We go deep on how product and operations intersect when you're building an operating system for real estate. Catherine explains why diverse perspectives improve outcomes and how leaders can intentionally signal what matters by recognizing thoughtful execution, not just loud opinions. Her take on the future of work is refreshingly actionable: AI changes the “how,” not the “why.” Whether you specialize or stay broad, treat curiosity like a muscle. Run small experiments, unlearn out-of-date tactics, and stay anchored to clear business outcomes.You'll hear practical frameworks for deciding under ambiguity. widen inputs, seek data, welcome dissent, and iterate with agility. Catherine also breaks down visibility tactics for women who are competent but overlooked: volunteer for updates, lead slices of complex projects, and request precise post-meeting feedback. Her story of integrating a UK acquisition while battling imposter syndrome reveals a simple truth: courage plus clarity compounds into trust, scope, and impact.If you care about culture design, product leadership, AI fluency, and building a resilient career in tech, this conversation is a blueprint you can use today. Follow along, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and subscribe to get more candid, practical conversations. Loved this one? Leave a review and tell us the bold step you're taking next.Resources:Catherine Wong on LinkedInEntrata

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Andrei Craciunescu, founder and CEO or RiskCube about why the next generation of insurance will be built like software; adaptive, transparent, and embedded into every business platform. They also talk about how AI and data are transforming the role of the broker from middleman to intelligent orchestrator, and what the insurance experience of 2030 could look like when protection becomes invisible and trust becomes the new currency. KEY TAKEAWAYS What companies want from the insurance market is fast underwriting, not to talk with humans so much any more, especially startups, they want a quote in minutes not months. This is how we got into the segment where we offer business insurance for startups – mainly venture backed startups. There are some providers that already offer what we are doing, but there is no comparison. Every founder needs to go to every insurance company separately and ask for a quote, which often vary a lot – sometimes 40% difference between quotes. They spend a lot of time investigating these quotes which is expensive and hard to understand. RiskCube is an AI insurance agency for startups where founders can buy and manage insurance online. We looked at what an agency traditionally does; they have different processes in place like application for insurance, renewal, cancellation and claims. We tried to map out all these processes to see which can be done by AI agents. AI cannot solve the whole insurance value chain, but we see a huge adoption on the claims and applications processes. Generally, most founders don't really care which insurance company they're with, they care that they have somebody that really understand them as a customer. We want startups to come to us because they trust the system which provides a fast experience that works for them. It's not very complicated, what we do for them at the beginning, we provide a smooth process where we can say they have high, medium or low risk then evaluate different quotes for them. BEST MOMENTS  ‘Everybody's pushing on the AI front, but the insurance market is also evaluating if it's really necessary, it's not all in which is impressive.'  ‘We build the firm first and then embedded the technology inside the firm, this will make us defensible in the future because we will own the data in our agency and use it to train our own model.' ‘People are using a lot of AI nowadays, but nobody really understands where the data is going or hosted.' ‘Insurance companies tend to adapt AI for themselves, not for the whole market. We want to bring them all together in one channel.' ABOUT THE GUEST Andrei Craciunescu is redefining risk management with RiskCube, an AI-powered platform revolutionising insurance by streamlining risk assessments, accelerating quote processes, and providing real-time insights to help businesses secure coverage faster and smarter. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook  TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode of Mainframe Coven, Jessielaine Punongbayan (Product Manager, Dynatrace) and Richelle Anne Craw (Software Engineer, Beta Systems Software) chat with Lezlie Browder, A Technologist Devoted to Lifelong Learning. She shares her decades-long career as a mainframe mentor, instructor, and technologist. She reflects on inclusive tech culture, teaching across generations, volunteering, and offering grounded advice for women balancing caregiving, career growth, and lifelong learning.Links and Resources Mentioned in the Episode:- Open Mainframe Project Mentorship Program: https://openmainframeproject.org/projects/mentorship/- IBM TechXchange Community: https://community.ibm.com/community/user/my-community- Black Girls Code: https://www.wearebgc.org/- Blind Service Chicago: https://www.blindservicechicago.org/- Source: Isha Jain, “Care responsibilities impact career choices for 40% of women in tech,” Data Centre & Network News, Tech Talent Charter survey, retrieved from dcnnmagazine.com: https://dcnnmagazine.com/news/care-responsibilities-impact-career-choices-for-40-of-women-in-tech/

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Jac Dunne, CEO of Dimply, an AI-powered financial experience platform that's quietly reshaping how banks, insurers and wealth managers serve their customers. After almost three decades in legacy finance, Jac made a bold move in her mid-50s into regtech and then fintech, “bookending” her career by building the kind of technology she always wished existed inside the big institutions. She breaks down what Dimply actually does in plain English, how it powers hyper-personalised journeys inside apps like AIB's, and why the future of money will be a hybrid of human advice and seamless digital experiences. Jac also opens up about leaving a senior corporate role where her voice wasn't being heard, taking on a startup CEO role, scaling a remote-first team, and building practical programmes to get more women and students into tech. If you're a founder, operator or leader trying to scale something meaningful and still have a life outside of work, this conversation is packed with insight. Show Notes: In this episode, we cover:

Send us a textIn this episode of Women in Tech, Holly sits down with Rachael Childs, Creative Technologist, AI Specialist, and Founder of Glow Lock Labs and Wallside Studios. Rachael's journey is not the usual path into tech. She started as an artist who never saw herself as technical, yet she now builds AI tools, works with global tech companies, and helps creators bring new ideas to life.Rachael talks about how electronic music first drew her into the world of logic and structure. What began as curiosity slowly became confidence, and that confidence carried her into machine learning and AI development. Her story shows that you do not need a traditional background to thrive in tech. You just need the courage to follow the things that spark your interest.She also shares why prompt engineering is becoming a great way for women to enter the industry, and how AI is opening doors for creative talent who never imagined a future in tech. Her experience with Google and Meta came from positioning herself well on LinkedIn, not chasing roles, which makes her approach both realistic and encouraging.Throughout the episode, Rachael's advice is full of warmth and honesty. She reminds women to bring their real passions into their work, to stop trying to fit a stereotype, and to trust that everyone starts from zero.The conversation ends with a brilliant quick fire round where she opens up about her role model, the best advice she's ever been given, and the dream project she hopes to build next.This episode is uplifting, creative and full of hope. It's a great listen for any woman who wants to step into tech in a way that feels authentic.

StormHarvester has been announced as the fastest growing technology company in this year's Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards at a ceremony in the Mansion House in Dublin this evening. StormHarvester uses its advanced anomaly detection system to analyse data from thousands of sensors to help wastewater utilities predict and prevent issues like flooding and pollution. The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards, now in its 26th year, is one of Ireland's foremost technology award programmes. It is a ranking of the country's 50 fastest-growing technology companies based on revenue growth over a four-year period. Previous winners include Wayflyer and Swoop. Reacting to the win, Brian Moloney, founder and CEO of StormHarvester, said: "Achieving the top spot in Deloitte's Fast 50 ranking is a really special moment for all the team at StormHarvester. What started as an idea over ten years ago in Australia for a solution that would reduce the impact of flooding has grown into a proud Belfast-based business that is going from strength to strength. In the last year alone, our funding has enabled us to double our headcount, which will help us fuel our expansion further and create even more exciting opportunities in Ireland. "The Deloitte Fast 50 Awards recognition is a chance to pause, reflect and celebrate all that we have achieved and all that we plan to achieve in the years ahead." Cumulatively, the Deloitte 2025 Technology Fast 50 winners generated €1.76 billion in total annual revenues. The average growth rate of the companies was 442%. The 50 companies employ over 7,500 people and 12 of the ranked companies were first time winners. Announcing the winners of the programme, James Toomey, partner and Fast 50 lead, Deloitte Ireland said: "For 26 years, the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards have been a benchmark for Ireland's most ambitious tech entrepreneurs. The combined €1.76 billion in revenues generated by these 50 indigenous companies is a powerful symbol of the exceptional talent and innovative thinkers we have in Ireland. Despite a challenging external environment, Fast 50 companies are still growing, which is a real signal of confidence. "A standout from this year's awards is that companies with Artificial Intelligence (AI) embedded in their operations are seeing the biggest growth, but access to skilled employees who can prompt and deploy AI effectively will be crucial. "The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 is a rigorous, data-driven ranking that provides a trusted measure of success and growth. Congratulations to all the companies that ranked; your grit, resilience and creativity are truly inspiring. I would like to extend a special congratulations to StormHarvester for securing the top spot in this year's rankings." In addition to announcing the ranking of the Fast 50 companies, the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards included several award categories. Protex AI, which uses AI to enhance workplace safety and operational efficiencies, won the Rising Star Award in association with Enterprise Ireland, having demonstrated a promising growth trajectory and the potential for inclusion in the Fast 50 rankings in years to come. Receiving the award, Dan Hobbs, co-founder and CEO of Protex AI, said: "Since founding Protex AI, our mission has been to enable organisations to use data-driven insights to drive safer workplaces and unlock meaningful operational efficiencies. The growth of our team and client base has made achievements like this possible, and we are thrilled to celebrate receiving the Deloitte Fast 50 Rising Star Award and to meet the incredible tech entrepreneurs in the rankings." The winners of the awards this year were: Award Winner Growing new technology in association with Google This award recognises a company that has created or introduced a new or innovative product or service to international markets, which helped grow their business over the last four years. Aerlytix Advocate for Women in Tech in association with NetSuit...

Why We Still Can't Say ‘Vagina' at Work, and What It's Costing Women in Leadership. Ugh. I know. But there's hope:What if the biggest barrier to women's leadership isn't a lack of confidence, but the shame we're taught to carry about our own bodies?In this episode, Helena sits down with Kamola Mir, CEO and founder of Lidovex, a health-tech company building the world's first cervical (data) ecosystem. What begins as a conversation about fem-tech quickly expands into a deeper truth:You cannot build a world that values women if you still devalue the female body.From being laughed at on stage for saying the word “vagina,” to navigating investor meetings where a woman's worth is often assessed before her work isKamola breaks down the emotional, biological, and cultural realities women face when they lead inside male-designed systems.Together, we explore:Why de-stigmatizing women's bodies is a leadership issue, not a “women's topic”How shame shapes everything from our ambition to our burnout cyclesWhy female biology is not a weakness, but a strategic advantageThe hidden mental load female founders carry in every roomHow to stay authentic when the world rewards you for fitting inHow to build inner power even when the system feels riggedThis is an episode for every woman who has ever hustled through pain, silenced her intuition to appear “professional,” or tried to win inside a structure that was never built for her.If you're ready to unlearn the shame, reclaim your biology, and lead from a place of grounded power, this one is for you.Chapters:00:55 Intro: Why femtech isn't niche but a cultural revolution01:20 Moving past generations of research centered on white men02:16 The rise of women leading taboo-breaking innovation02:49 How women are finally steering investment and change03:37 Celebrating Kamola Mir, Founder/ CEO reshaping women's health with Lidavex: Building an ecosystem that returns ownership to women's bodies04:16 Kamola's Trauma: childbirth care built without women in mind06:00 Leaving patriarchal workplaces, listening to our inner voice and create the change we need in the world07:30 Women must fight for their bodies09:07 The moment intuition becomes survival in labor10:41 Why women need both intuition and data to lead well12:06 How shame still silences women's conversations about our bodies13:03 Reclaiming our anatomy and naming our truths without fear15:01 When saying “vagina” triggers giggles and how to speak up17:09 Patriarchy at work and why women don't fit the 9–5 mold19:37 Redefining productivity through the wisdom of female cycles21:08 Navigating sexualization while trying to lead authentically24:26 Three ways women can release shame and rise into leadership29:43 Building an immune system for disagreement and staying grounded under pressure31:53 The emotional cost of being ‘fuckable' in male-dominated spaces & how to deal with it33:07 Showing up empowered while navigating safety, power, and perception37:53 Knowing when to adapt, when to walk away, and when to stand your ground43:01 Why patriarchal hustle culture breaks women's bodies and how to reclaim balance Connect with Kamola on LinkedInDiscover, stay up to date, fund and support Lidovix' journey: Website and LinkedInUntil next time!! xx Connect with me:IG: https://www.instagram.com/whereboundariesdissolvepodcast?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@helena.arjuna?_t=8oSbtTilPSQ&_r=1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenasuter/ Youtube: https://youtube.com/@whereboundariesdissolvepodcast?si=g63NToOK45W1CiBI Support the show

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Rob Schimek, Group CEO at bolttech, about how bolttech's connector model is redefining global insurance distribution, from telcos to auto makers and beyond. They also talk about why the future of protection will depend on trust, data and design more than policy documents and premiums, and what leadership really looks like when you are building at the intersection of revelation, innovation, and human impact.  KEY TAKEAWAYS If you have an hour to solve a problem you should spend 55 minutes on the problem and then 5 minutes on the solution. I've spent my career in the problem, the formation of bolttech is the attempt at the solution – it's the path that I've chosen to bring that solution to the marketplace. Our mission is to work out how to close a multi-billion-dollar protection gap that has existed for years, that's getting bigger? In order to do that we need to really understand the problem. We think there are 4 basic drivers for this multi-billion-dollar protection gap that and they're pretty irrefutable. We're trying to make a seamless connection between the buyers of protection products (insurers) and the distribution partners who have access to the customers so we can put those solutions into the hands of the customers. bolttech's here to try to provide tailored, affordable, accessible, and convenience insurance in the hands of the customer on a B2B2C basis, connecting big partners who have lots of customers to the insurance providers. Without the data there's a tendency to paint everything with one brush, like it's all the same. Data is accessible and available on a real-time basis today and it can be available with no intervention, straight from the vehicle telematics about the unique driver. BEST MOMENTS  ‘We really want to connect people with more ways to protect the things that they value, we want to close the global protection gap.'  ‘The more we make connections frictionless, the more the connection will happen and the more the protection gap will get closed.'‘ If the mission and the vision are super-well-known then nothing can distract you from solving that problem, regardless of what's going on in the marketplace around you.'‘ If a customer doesn't trust the use of AI in their interactions with you then AI won't be successful in that space because it won't be accepted in that space. Ultimately it comes back to do we do things the right way and give the customers a reason to trust us?' ABOUT THE GUEST Rob Schimek is Group Chief Executive Office at bolttech where he leads the team across its operations globally, overseeing its growth and partnership opportunities. With more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Rob previously held senior leadership roles, including Managing Director & Group Chief Operating Officer for FWD Group, President and Chief Executive Officer of AIG's commercial insurance businesses worldwide, and Chief Executive Officer of the Americas for AIG. Prior to that, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of EMEA for AIG, and was the Chief Financial Officer of AIG's global property and casualty insurance business. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook  TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Periodically on Trust Me, I Know What I'm Doing, we share a SPOTLIGHT conversation and feature brief chats with an individual from the community about a very special topic or a unique endeavor. Now, we live in an era where lessons and memory of the past seems to get crystallized and presented with increasing speed and accuracy. But perhaps now more than ever, it's equally important to actually pause and reflect and synthesize and process our experiences as rich human lessons to share and express to the world. Vinita Gupta is a pioneering entrepreneur and technology leader who made history as the first woman of Indian origin to take a company public in the US. With over 40 years in Silicon Valley, she's a celebrated leader in engineering and innovation, and a staunch advocate for women in tech. To add to that, Vinita is an internationally recognized bridge champion, an artist, and a writer. And she recently wrote about her multifaceted journey in her memoir, The Woman Indeed: Road to IPO, Bridge Tables, and Beyond, which is available everywhere.Big shout out to INDIASPORA for sparking this one, to anyone who is sick of the six seven trend, to the American South Asian Network at americansouthasiannetwork.comIt's Thanksgiving week in the US, so please, find someone in need and consciously practice a random act of kindness!

This episode is brought to you in partnership with flaconi, Germany's leading online destination for beauty and fragrance. But flaconi is more than a retailer, it's a platform that celebrates individuality and empowerment. Values that deeply align with today's guest and everything she stands for.Linda Hallberg is a name many in the beauty world already know. A visionary makeup artist, founder of LH cosmetics and one of Sweden's most creative forces. From pioneering multi-use products to building a radically inclusive beauty brand, she's been shaping the conversation long before it was mainstream.But behind the iconic looks and bold colors is a story of resilience. In this episode, Linda opens up about growing up queer in a small town, the early days of makeup school while living in a caravan and the journey of building her own brand, LH cosmetics.This conversation is a reminder that it's okay to take up space  and that sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is return to artistry and play.Read more about the Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast via waa.berlin/aboutFollow us on Instagram & find us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletter via waa.berlin/newsletter ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In today's episode in the Founding Mother's series, we explore two influential women from the past: Lilian Gilbreth, an American psychologist, industrial, consultant and educator who was once described as “a genius in the art of living," and Edith Clark, an electrical engineer who is credited with laying the foundation for the smart grid. Both women were born in the late 1800s, but both of them made impacts in their fields that affect our lives to this day.Join Lauren Torres and Kimberly Rockwell as they discuss the legacies (sometimes controversial!) of these two fascinating women.

Danika Waddell's journey from solo founder to firm leader is a masterclass in intentional growth.In this episode of The Advisor Journey, Danika—founder of Zena Financial Planning—shares how she built a practice centered on professional women in tech, the lessons learned from evolving her business model, and what it takes to create lasting partnerships.From starting her firm in 2020 to merging with another RIA five years later, Danika opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, why she left the hourly model behind, and how aligning values and vision made her merger a success.Advisors will walk away with insight into fee structures, niching with purpose, and building meaningful collaborations that amplify both impact and joy.ABOUT ALTRUIST: We're on a mission to make independent financial advice better, more affordable, and accessible to everyone. As a modern custodian, Altruist helps high-growth, client-centric, and tech-forward RIAs deliver great advice to more clients at lower costs. Want to find out how Altruist can help you grow? Talk to our team by visiting www.altruist.com/talk-to-us STAY CONNECTED: Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/altruistcorp/ Twitter ► https://x.com/altruist Linkedin ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/altruistcorp/ ABOUT THE ADVISOR JOURNEY: Real-life strategies for the modern financial advisor who's ready to scale. Join Altruist leaders and guests as they share proven tactics, unfiltered advice, and hard-won lessons you can apply to your own practice. These conversations will propel your career to the next level—don't miss it. Disclaimer: Altruist Corp ("Altruist") offers technology and tools designed to help financial advisors achieve better outcomes. Advisory and certain other services are provided by Altruist LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser, and brokerage related products and services are provided by Altruist Financial LLC, a member of FINRA/SI...

In this inspiring episode of Mindset Mastery Moments, Dr. Alisa Whyte sits down with Ciara (Kiara) Azam, the powerhouse entrepreneur behind Eventist, a rapidly growing software platform transforming the fitness tech space. As a fully bootstrapped founder, Ciara brings a refreshing blend of authenticity, resilience, and innovation to the entrepreneurial world.Together, they explore the realities of building a business from the ground up — from navigating uncertainty to balancing personal life with the demands of leadership. Ciara opens up about her journey from electrical engineer to software developer, sharing how she carved her own path without traditional funding, investors, or external pressure.With vulnerability and wisdom, she breaks down the mindset shifts required to embrace failure, learn from every challenge, and define success on your own terms — not by revenue, but by happiness, alignment, and purpose. Their conversation highlights the importance of community, the power of inner confidence, and why authenticity is the true currency of sustainable entrepreneurship.Whether you're a creator, startup founder, or dreamer at heart, this episode is filled with actionable insight and inspiring truth.

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to us about all she's learned from the numerous guests on the show recently, from startup founders who build AI to simplify the chaotic insurance back office, to innovation leaders in Fortune 500 firms wrestling with ethics, regulation, and talent shortages. After dozens of conversations here's what Sabine has learned: AI isn't just changing our tools. It's changing our temperament. This episode is her reflection on those lessons; a guide for leaders and builders trying to navigate this new age of intelligence and unpacks five principles that define successful AI adoption. KEY TAKEAWAYS When Branch Insurance introduced AI into its claims process, something unexpected happened. It wasn't the customers who resisted, it was the adjusters. They were worried, not because AI made mistakes but because it didn't. When Lisa Bechtold's (who led AI governance at Zurich Insurance, now at Nestlé) team started implementing AI, they faced the classic dilemma: Move fast or move right. Lisa said: “We don't see governance as slowing innovation – we see it as enabling trust at speed.” ERGO Group worked with CamCom, a startup from India that uses computer vision to detect car damage from photos or drones. The tech was brilliant. The challenge? Integrating it into a multinational insurer's process. They didn't just hand over the product, they sat side by side – engineers, adjusters, compliance officers, even lawyers – to make it work. It took nearly a year to get from pilot to production and the result wasn't just faster claims; it was a new relationship model. The startup learned how corporates think. The corporate learned how startups move. That's the real win. After all the talk about data, systems, ethics, and pilots, what really matters is how humans evolve. AI won't replace people, but people who know how to use AI will replace people who don't. That's not a threat, it's an invitation. AI is already changing what we expect from talent. Claims adjusters now need to interpret AI outputs. Underwriters must question models. Leaders must learn to manage digital teammates. BEST MOMENTS  ‘Intelligent tool don't remove human judgment; they reveal it in higher resolution.'  ‘In this AI era, trust is the new currency.'‘Every AI dream dies in the shadow of bad data.'‘The irony is that the more intelligent our systems become, the more human our leadership must be. Empathy, creativity, ethics aren't data points, they're our differentiators.' ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook  TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Timestamps:4:58 - Diversity in tech: challenges and opportunities6:08 - Recruiting challenges in tech13:00 - Supporting girls in STEMThis episode was sponsored by Google Cloud. Join their Founder's Story event on December 4th to hear an exclusive panel discussion with visionary leaders sharing what it takes to go from building companies to funding them. Link is in the bio! This episode was originally a live conversation recorded at the SEF.Growth Founders Conference back in June 2025.Episode Summary:Beat Knecht is the co-founder and CEO of the TV streaming provider Zattoo, and a general partner at the VC fund REALR. She also founded Genistat and Levuro. Bea holds a BA in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley.Carla Bünger is the co-founder of Phoenix Technologies, a tech cluster that drives the AI landscape through its sovereign hyper-secure IT infrastructure (kvant Cloud) and its SaaS solutions in frontier technologies. She also co-founded KORE Technologies Switzerland. Carla holds an MA in International Relations from the Geneva Graduate Institute.Sandra Trittin is the co-founder and CGO of beebop.ai, a power grid orchestration software which unlocks grid flexibility within consumer devices, turning it into a valuable, tradable asset. She also founded Futurize Energy. Sandra holds an MBA from Mannheim Business School.During their chat with Silvan, our 3 guests discussed the current representation of women in tech in the Western world. Women are significantly underrepresented in tech, especially in leadership roles (e.g., only 22% of AI professionals in Switzerland are women). They face career obstacles such as stereotypes, biases, and societal filters that hinder their progress.Diverse teams drive innovation, but the tech industry often overlooks this potential. To improve gender representation, proactive efforts are needed, including:Encouraging risk-taking (critical for startups and leadership).Building support systems (mentorship, peer networks).Fostering STEM environments for girls to ensure future diversity.Addressing unconscious biases in hiring and promotions.Ultimately, empowering women in tech requires systemic change, from education to workplace culture, to unlock their full potential and drive long-term progress.

Melinda French Gates is a philanthropist, business leader, and New York Times bestselling author who has spent decades transforming lives around the world. Melinda opens up to Hoda about why her latest chapter is more personal than ever, how she learned to let go of perfection, and what it means to lead with empathy. She reflects on her lifelong advocacy for women and families, the faith and friendships that have grounded her, and why she believes the smallest acts of kindness can spark the biggest change. Plus, she shares where her focus lies today through her work with Pivotal Ventures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Kate Hayward, UK Managing Director at Xero. Kate talks about how AI can make life easier for small business owners, the new skills the next generation of accountants will need, and how organisations can manage maternity leave for the benefit of everyone. On this episode, Kate and Gareth discuss how gymnastics breeds discipline, why Britons are generally lacking in financial literacy, and the three things Kate looks for when starting a new job. Timestamps: Good Leadership and Early Career (1:45) Xero – The "Gangly Teenager Phase" (9:00) Career or Family, or Both… (13:00) Discipline and Gymnastics (20:30) Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship (24:20) Xero and AI (31:35) New Skills for Accountants (42:30) Tips to stay Organised, and Advice for 21-year-old Kate (45:45) Hopes and Fears for Future of AI (48:00) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

AI is changing how people get hired — and it's happening fast. In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, Dr. Toni Collis sits down with Nicole Bugenske, a recruiter from Robert Half, to unpack what's really going on in the 2025 tech job market. From fake résumés and AI-generated cover letters to the rise of quiet hiring and risk-averse employers — we're breaking down what job seekers and hiring managers need to know right now. Learn how to stand out as the human signal in a sea of AI, what recruiters are really looking for, and how to future-proof your career in tech leadership. If you're applying for jobs, leading a team, or planning your next career move — this episode will help you navigate the new hiring landscape with clarity, authenticity, and strategy. What You'll Learn How AI-written résumés are flooding the job market (and how recruiters are spotting them) Why 1 in 4 candidate profiles may now be fake — and how hiring managers are adapting What to do when applying through job boards vs. networking directly The truth about quiet hiring and the hidden job market How to show strategic visibility instead of applying to hundreds of roles What makes a candidate a "safe bet" in today's risk-averse hiring climate Real recruiter insights on résumés, references, and interview trends What hiring looks like for women in tech leadership in 2025 Want to make your résumé stand out — without sounding like a bot? Download my free AI-Powered Résumé Writing Guide to learn how to use AI ethically and effectively to land more interviews:

Send us a textIf you've been worried about AI replacing your job, overwhelming your business, or making you feel obsolete—this episode will give you a fresh, empowering perspective.In this episode of The Good Enough Mompreneur Podcast, Angela sits down with Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek—AI expert, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Your AI Roadmap: Expand Your Career, Money, and Joy. Joan shares how she turned two layoffs into opportunity, what women are getting wrong about AI, and how to take your career and income into your own hands in this fast-changing world.Whether you're building a business or raising the next generation, this episode will help you navigate change with clarity and confidence.

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Stephen Brittain, co-founder of InsurTech Gateway, a pioneering venture builder focused on bringing early-stage startups into the heart of the insurance world – a regulated industry that typically moves at glacial speed. Over the past decade, Stephen has helped launch and scale ventures inside one of the most regulated, risk-averse business sectors on the planet: the insurance space. He has been the spark for innovation inside large insurance corporates and the strategic partner for founders who wanted to navigate the labyrinth of regulation, procurement and distribution at scale. In other words: he has been solving the archetypal “how to innovate inside a large enterprise” question while keeping the spirit of a startup alive. KEY TAKEAWAYS I was a product /service designer, and I found myself – through building bigger and bigger products – coming up against risk, and I saw risk as a constraint. I knew that if I could only understand risk better that I might be able to do bigger and bolder and better projects. That's how I outgrew product design and moved into insurance. InsurTech Gateway's original intention was to find amazing founders and fast-track them into market with enough creative energy to survive, adapt and evolve in an environment where your first idea had to be your fixed idea. Today we give founders greater agility to learn and evolve, because no one ever knows what to do when they first start, it's a learning journey. The upside, the enthusiasm, the opportunity framing of entrepreneurialism and venturing gets everybody started, rallies people together. But, an a bad day, the downside view is actually the long-term sustainability of any new category. VCs and insurers have never sat round the table together. BEST MOMENTS  ‘The opportunity was not to make insurance sexy, it was to look at the secret powers of insurance to create mutual models to work at scale, to unlock lending and put trust into ecosystems that didn't exist before.'  ‘One of the biggest challenges in InsurTech is; to get a successful outcome from something that looked great on day 1 but didn't evolve into the opportunity.' ‘Pattern recognition has never been higher and the cost to entry and experimentation has never been lower. We recognise what works and what doesn't much better, but can we validate it with an insurer and get them onside? I think we still need to work out the connectivity.' ‘If you can work with innovators, and you understand risk, and you can help unlock that innovation, you can make it sustainable.' ABOUT THE GUESTS Stephen Brittain is the Co-Founder of InsurTech Gateway, the world's first authorised venture builder and fund focused on insurtech. A true pioneer at the intersection of innovation, investment, and impact, Stephen has spent the past decade turning bold ideas into scalable ventures that redefine how insurance and technology collide. ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook  TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

What if the fastest way to grow your career is to reinvent how you work before the market forces you to? In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Caitlin Clark-Zigmond, a two-time entrepreneur and former CMO for Intel's global software and SaaS portfolio, to map the leap from hands-on operator to AI-powered brand builder, and why clear value translation beats clever slogans every time.Caitlin takes us from scaling a catering business to shipping Comcast Digital Voice, to leading massive B2B portfolios at Verizon and Intel. We dig into how Intel Tiber emerged to make software visible inside a hardware giant, uniting trust and security, AI and ML, edge and cloud, performance optimization, and developer workflows under a narrative customers could navigate. The result: sharper messaging, analyst clarity, and real pipeline acceleration. If your portfolio feels like a maze, her brand framework shows you how to draw a clean map.Then we get practical with AI go-to-market. Forget tool-chasing—start with painful use cases, build on clean, connected data, and let AI amplify what already moves the needle. Caitlin explains why a CDP or an MCP layer unlocks CRM, marketing automation, analytics, billing, and customer success, enabling them to communicate effectively with each other. We cover intent data for account prioritization, conversation intelligence for coaching, predictive scoring for pipeline, and agents that handle repetitive data pulls and weekly reporting so teams can focus on thinking, not tab-hopping.For leaders and modern marketers, the upskilling path is clear: achieve 30% fluency in core AI concepts, measurement, and understanding how your stack—HubSpot, Salesforce, GA, CDPs, and chat systems —actually works. You don't need to code; you need to understand revenue mechanics. We also share Caitlin's strategic networking system—the 5–5–5 method—that turns coffee chats into an operating system for your career, with value-first follow-ups that work even for introverts.We conclude with candid insights on the value of progress over perfection, investing in relationships before you need them, and redefining success in terms of client transformation, sustainable growth, and work-life integration. Subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us: what's the scary move you're finally ready to make?Resources: Website: www.clarkgp.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlinclarkzigmond Upcoming LILive GTM Event: https://www.linkedin.com/events/2026gtmrealitycheck-makemisalig7393722093324107776/Monthly Blog: https://gtmmaven.substack.com/p/why-the-c-suite-must-work-together

If your product strategy stops at the download, you're leaving impact—and revenue—on the table. In this conversation, I sit down with Ghazenfer Mansoor, CEO & founder of Technology Rivers, to talk about building software that actually gets used, loved, and shared. Ghazenfer has been in mobile since the pre-iPhone days and has led the build of nearly 60 apps, primarily in healthcare. We explore ideas from his forthcoming book, Beyond the Download, including why retention beats acquisition, when a mobile app truly makes sense (and when a web experience is smarter), and how AI-driven, proprietary workflows can become a company's real moat. We also step into leadership, including what it takes to fix “broken” projects, the values that guide his global remote team (transparency, fairness, and getting things done), and why peer networks and coaching matter for founders. It's a practical, fast-moving chat for leaders who want their technology to create efficiency, differentiation, and long-term value. Here are some highlights: -Retention over acquisition: Ghazenfer shares practical ways to design for daily use and bring people back because downloads without engagement aren't success. -“Do you really need an app?”: We unpack decision criteria for native vs. web, and why solving a real, repeat problem is the first gate before writing any code. -Workflow is the moat: How codifying proprietary processes, especially in healthcare and HIPAA-sensitive environments, creates efficiency, margin, and higher valuations. -Fixing broken projects: Common failure patterns (from feature chasing to UX missteps) and how to course-correct so you “build it right the first time.” -Leading a global team: The operating system behind Technology Rivers; clear KPIs, remote-first communication, fairness, and a growing commitment to women in tech. Plus the role of EO/Vistage-style peer groups and coaching for tough decisions. About the guest:  Ghazenfer Mansoor is the founder and CEO of Technology Rivers, a Washington, D.C.–area software firm specializing in HIPAA-compliant healthcare SaaS and mobile apps. A mobile veteran since the pre-iPhone era, he has led the build of 59+ apps and numerous AI-powered workflow platforms that help service businesses scale, boost margins, and increase valuation. Known for “building it right the first time,” Ghazenfer is frequently tapped to rescue broken software projects. He's the author of the forthcoming book Beyond the Download: How to Build Mobile Apps That People Love, Use, and Share Every Day and host of the podcast Lessons from the Leap. Active in EO and other CEO peer groups, he leads a global, values-driven team grounded in transparency, fairness, and getting things done. Connect with Ghazenfer: Website: https://technologyrivers.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmansoor/  Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/  Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/   #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textFormer Army veteran and cybersecurity strategist Nia Luckey joins Joey Pinz Conversations live at Cyber Bay 2025 to explore how calm, creativity, and courage intersect in today's fast-moving digital world.From 13 years in the U.S. Army to leading major security operations for Cisco, JSOC, and AT&T, Nia reveals how adaptability, humility, and trust fuel progress in both tech and life. She reflects on her TEDx Sugar Creek journey, turning raw burnout into a message that now inspires thousands.We dive into:1️⃣ How her military mindset evolved into collaborative cybersecurity leadership2️⃣ Why AI and quantum bring both opportunity and risk3️⃣ The life lessons behind her motto — “Choose your hard.”Nia reminds us that real success starts with stillness, service, and consistent action — whether hiking mountain peaks or leading global security teams.

http://tonicollis.com/how-to-prioritize-work-to-get-promoted/If your calendar is overflowing but your career feels stuck, this episode is for you. You're not alone in the busyness trap. For so many high-achieving women in tech, doing more has always felt like the way to get ahead — but it's not what gets you promoted. In this episode of the Leading Women in Tech Podcast, we're unpacking the truth behind prioritizing impactful work, the hidden gap between performance and promotion, and how to build the kind of executive presence that actually gets noticed. If you're ready to stop being the go-to person for everything and start focusing on what truly shifts your career — this episode will show you how to lead smarter, not harder.

AI only works at scale when the shiny demo meets the gritty realities of deployment, security, and change management. In episode #146 of the 2B Bolder Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Monica Livingston, AI Platform Lead for the Americas at Red Hat and a former Intel leader, to unpack how open source accelerates real outcomes, and why the “plumbing” behind enterprise AI matters more than most roadmaps admit. Monica shares a clear view of what platforms must do in production: version control, monitoring, governance, policy, and cost discipline, all while staying flexible enough to avoid stack lock-in.We get candid about the two biggest misconceptions leaders hold: AI isn't a black box you plug in once, and the most complex variable is people, not models. Monica explains how to align teams through transparency, psychological safety, and clear KPIs so pilots survive the leap to operations. She also offers practical advice for new managers under pressure, from building trust to making recognition routine, and reflects on mentors who pushed her to trade constant breadth for deep expertise that compounds.For anyone mapping a career in AI, this conversation covers real paths forward, including accessible learning, hands-on projects, and emerging roles that are reshaping the field. We discuss early STEM exposure as a lever for agency, guidance for young women entering the tech field, and the value of calculated risk anchored in personal values such as family and health. Monica also shares her perspective on how to stand out in crowded applicant pools, the power of referrals, and why transformation often occurs on your own time before it becomes a job title.If this resonates, follow and share with a colleague who's building AI for the real world. Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of open technology, human leadership, and careers with purpose, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.Hi Mary here, through my conversations with women leaders, I've learned just how urgent the need is for AI strategies that actually make sense. It's not about adopting tools just to keep up; it's about building a smart foundation. That's exactly what Beyondsoft is doing. To learn more visit https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-yCsEeZbsl6ivoZoS9YW1quYxbQr1Teo

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Sebastien Denef, CEO and co-founder at AGENTS.inc, a company at the forefront of building intelligent agent platforms for enterprises. On this episode we explore how agentic AI architectures are reshaping industries, what it takes to scale agentic AI solutions across siloes, and why the winners in this space will be those who master both the technology and collaboration. KEY TAKEAWAYS You can give a task to an AI agent – a piece of software – that autonomously handles the task. When compared to previous layers of automation, we can now increase the autonomy level because of the AI models and the increased amounts of data we have.  It's underhyped. The impact we can have with today's technology is very, very big and it will impact all sectors, from education to finding a job, buying a house, buying your groceries, deciding where to go on your weekend where right now we're only seeing the beginnings of what could happen.  Almost the entire industry is trying to improve ChatGPT, to make it a little bit better, we actually see that this chat function isn't really needed. What is needed is having a tireless workforce that tirelessly works for you as AI agents – you don't necessarily want to converse with all of them because there would be too many messages to handle. You need a control interface to steer these new employees. RPA allowed us to move a document from A to B. AI agents will allow us to understand what's inside that document, extract the right stuff, put the right thing into the system, evaluate the information, and so on. All these things were impossible before, that's the big difference and that is possible today. BEST MOMENTS  ‘Think of AI agents as computers that work while you are asleep.'  ‘We will see shifts in entire industries, especially those with large workforces which will no longer be needed, and we will see new stuff coming up because of that.' ‘Companies are only just waking up from the dream that if you use ChatGPT or Microsoft CoPilot you're “AI-ready”.' ‘More than 70% of the work people do right now can be automated.' ABOUT THE GUESTS Sebastien Denef is CEO and co-founder at AGENTS.inc who is inventing the future of human-computer interaction. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook  TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

 In this second episode of the special AI mini-series, we now explore the human side of transformation, where technology meets purpose and people remain at the center. From future jobs and critical thinking to working with C-level leaders, how human intervention and high-quality data drive success in an AI-powered world.This week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob talk to Indhira Mani, CDO at Intact Insurance UK, about the Love for data, insights on leadership, resilience, and preparing the next generation for what's next.    TLDR:01:30 Introduction of Indhira Mani and Scotch whisky05:45 Explaining the State of AI mini-series with Craig07:12 Conversation with Indi about her boyfriend called Data 38:33 Umbrella Sharing in Japan and the trust on AI45:15 The British Insurance Award and Women in Tech finalist GuestIndhira Mani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/indhira-mani-data/HostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/with co-host Craig Suckling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigsuckling/ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/ 'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

Angela Woody talks about her career journey; learning to let go of inherited beliefs; making IT investments; & the guiding principles that have shaped her life. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.09] Angela's coincidental career – how volunteering at an event led to an internship that led to a full-time role at Kimberly-Clark. "It was a happenstance!... Someone took a chance on me." [08.41] Angela's 13-year tenure at Kimberly-Clark: how her career progressed, what she learned, and her biggest achievements. "Working for a global manufacturing company, you just had a wealth of opportunities… There was an opportunity to work on a first-of-a-kind project… and on that project, I could be innovative, experimental – it was career-changing." [14.21] Why Angela made a move from large CPG to small healthcare business, and how she changed her assumptions around what a stable, long-term career should look like. [17.45] What Angela loves about supply chain. "Supply chain is not a flashy job! … It's dirty, and for some reason that sparked my intertest... Supply chain is the last thing that's going to touch a product before it's delivered to the customer, that's our responsibility – and I fell in love with that." [21.40] How the pandemic shone a light on the industry, and why hesitation to make capital investments in IT systems is one of the biggest challenges in supply chain right now. "2020 was a blessing in disguise for supply chain. It brought some immediate visibility into how fragile our global supply chain really is – and it finally became a topic in the boardroom." "The companies that are truly making the investment in IT, making the investment in upgrades, they're the ones that are winning." [24.40] Why change management is still such a big problem, and how businesses should be approaching it for success. "Change management takes focus, time, resources and empathy. Change management is one of the most underleveraged capabilities, and I've seen many IT transformations fail because of a lack of investment in it." [27.40] Angela's 'Bring Your Kid To Work Day' experience with her daughter, and how we engage the upcoming generations in supply chain. "I have two girls, and I want to be a role model for them. I want to show them they can do anything they set their minds to, as long as they work hard." [31.31] Angela's experience as a woman in supply chain and technology. [35.15] The guiding principles that have shaped Angela's success, in life and work. [36.08] The importance of mentorship, and how Angela supports the next generations. "When I first started, mentorship wasn't something that was available, or even discussed… So, as we've evolved, and have seen its importance, I've taken male and female mentees and worked with them to have an opportunity to talk about things – I wish I had that." [38.35] The future for Angela. "I've worked hard to be where I am, but the feeling you get when you spend time out in the community and truly give back, is very special to me." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   You can connect with Angela over on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear from more women in tech, check out 493: Women in Supply Chain, Natalie Walker, 470: Women in Supply Chain, Melodie Van Der Baan, or 479: Women in Supply Chain, Lina Castaneda.

In this episode: Why do 84% of reorgs fail?, Building psychological safety, Managing fear responses, Creating clarity during change, Financial resilience with Chelsea Wierbonski Episode Summary In this episode of the Mindful Fire Podcast, host Adam Coelho sits down with career transformation coach and Group Product Manager at Google, Chelsea Wierbonski. Together, they explore the challenging landscape of organizational change, specifically focusing on why a staggering 84% of reorganizations fail. Chelsea shares invaluable insights on building psychological safety, managing fear responses, and creating clarity during turbulent times. They also discuss the importance of financial resilience and side hustles in navigating change. Guest Bio Chelsea Wierbonski is a career transformation coach and Group Product Manager at Google. With extensive experience in leading teams through organizational change, she empowers individuals to build resilience and thrive in their careers. Her passion lies in helping women in tech elevate their careers through neuroscience and inner work. Host Adam Coelho helps tech leaders land their reorg in 2-3 weeks instead of 6-9 months by rebuilding psychological safety and alignment to a shared vision. He created The Mindful FIRE Podcast in 2020 to explore the intersection two of his passions, mindfulness and financial independence. Resources & Books Mentioned • "The Simple Path to Wealth" by JL Collins • Mindful Fire Podcast Episode with JL Collins Guest Contact Information Instagram: Chelsea W LinkedIn: Chealsea Wierbonski Key Takeaways Understanding Reorgs: 84% of reorganizations fail due to broken trust and lack of clarity. Building Psychological Safety: Leaders must create an environment where team members feel safe to voice concerns and ideas. Managing Fear Responses: Recognizing and addressing the fear that comes with change is crucial for individuals. Finding Clarity: Clear communication around roles and expectations helps teams navigate uncertainty. Financial Resilience: Building an emergency fund and exploring side hustles can provide security during turbulent times.

Send us a textIn this inspiring episode, Cornell Bunting sits down with Priya Ahluwalia, a powerhouse of innovation and heart. Priya's journey spans continents, industries, and impact — from leading global business growth to empowering her local community through education, entrepreneurship, and service.With over 14 years of experience, Priya has worn many hats: Business Leader – As former VP of Operations at One Homes, she helped drive North American sales from $2 million to $50 million, reshaping operations with a global vision. Community Builder – At Prime Fiber, she's bridging the digital divide, helping communities gain access to high-speed internet and a brighter future. Investor & Mentor – Through MoAloo Ventures, she's fueling innovation across food tech, ed-tech, electric mobility, and drone technology — empowering the next generation of changemakers. Educator & Lifelong Learner – Since 2009, Priya has taught Entrepreneurship, Chinese, and Hindi, preparing students to thrive in a globalized world.  Rotarian & Humanitarian – As founder of the SWFL Rotary, she's redefining how service meets innovation. She also serves on the boards of EHAS (Everyone Has A Story) and NCWIT's Aspirations in Computing (AiC), where she advocates for young women in tech.Since moving to Babcock Ranch in 2021, Priya has become a beacon of community spirit — launching programs, mentoring youth, and leading initiatives that bring people together.This episode dives deep into her passion for purpose, the power of innovation, and her vision for creating change that lasts.Tune in to hear how Priya Ahluwalia continues to build bridges, uplift others, and inspire transformation — one story at a time. Support the showThank you for tuning in with EHAS CLUB - Stories to Create Podcast

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Ulrich (Uli) Homann, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft, and Mark Luquire, EY Global Microsoft Alliance Co-innovation Leader, about how to build an agentic AI enterprise that doesn't just work faster, but works smarter and, most importantly, works for everyone. KEY TAKEAWAYS In the past automation has been very task driven and specific, things had to go in a certain order and you needed to know that order ahead of time. While you need some of that with generative AI, we now have a system that can help do some of that thinking, so if things change in the process along the way, you can deal with it. Now you can rethink what processes even need to exist and focus on the outcome and how to get to it in a new way.  By giving everyone at EY access to generative AI a couple of years ago we learned that people were able to accomplish more more quickly. They used it as a thought-partner, used it as a way to fine tune the product they were working on. Being able to see the evolution of generative AI to now where it's coding applications on its own almost, seeing the new agent capabilities and tools, and being able to take action on its own with very little prompting, it opens the doors to possibilities and what you'll be able to do in the future.  BEST MOMENTS  ‘Focus on where you want to be and then rethink how you're going to get there, that's the real key.' ‘It's not just an assistant to you, providing you with information, it's actually taking on work it's actually thinking through and processing those things as well.' ABOUT THE GUESTS Ulrich (Uli) Homann is a Corporate Vice President & Distinguished Architect in the Cloud + AI business at Microsoft. As part of the senior engineering leadership team, he's responsible for the customer-led innovation efforts across the cloud and enterprise platform portfolio. Previously Homann was the Chief Architect for Microsoft worldwide enterprise services, having formerly played a key role in the business' newly formed Platforms, Technology and Strategy Group. Prior to joining Microsoft in 1991, he worked for several small consulting companies, where he designed and developed distributed systems and has spent most of his career using well-defined applications and architectures to simplify and streamline the development of business applications. Mark Luquire leads the EY organization's global efforts to co-develop innovative solutions with Microsoft and clients, driving growth and accelerating technology strategy. He oversees cross-functional teams spanning sectors and service lines, serving as a key liaison to Microsoft's product and engineering teams. Previously, Mark headed Platform Adoption for EY Global, leading enterprise-wide AI and cloud enablement, including integrating generative AI tools like EYQ, GitHub Copilot and Microsoft Copilot. He also created the first EY Global DevOps Practice and led cloud transformation efforts, making EY a leader in Microsoft Azure usage. Mark's career includes leadership roles in large healthcare enterprises and technology startups, where he established scalable operations, spearheaded digital transformation, and built high-performing global teams. ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook  TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Laurna Castillo, Senior Vice President of Product at CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer serving millions of customers across the western United States. Laurna has become a leading voice in reimagining how the insurance industry – and entire communities – can build resilience in the face of escalating wildfire risk. On this episode, Laurna will share her journey, lessons learned from the frontlines of growth, and actionable insights for listeners eager to drive meaningful impact in their own ventures. KEY TAKEAWAYS The AAA was originally an automobile association focussed on making cars safer with advocacy for seatbelts, for example. Without seatbelts car insurance would be more expensive making driving less accessible to the average person. It's the same with wild fire, there a massive quantities of homes being lost every year and if we don't have these solutions for less homes being burned down by wild fire, it's going to be less accessible for the average consumer to live in places like California. Knowing where to start was our biggest challenge, but picking a direction and sticking with it, and recognising all the different facets that need progressing, we leant in when we recognised those. We've learned that people are overwhelmed. There's so much information out there, if you speak to your neighbour you might get one thing, if you speak to your local fire-chief you might get another. That was reinforced in our community engagements, as was the fact that trusted voices matter; people are most likely to trust the motivations of people they know rather than insurance companies.  We've been leaning into this problem with this mindset for over a decade and it's becoming more of a strategic focus and imperative for us because of the increase in really large fires that are affecting a lot of properties. One of the most important issues is where to start, in terms of mitigation. The 0-5 foot ignition zone is the single most important factor. Te next is scalability, we need to rally around and give common standards and similar messages, that will help homeowners receive clear, consistent guidance. BEST MOMENTS  ‘Do the next, best, right thing that's in front of you. If you keep doing that, eventually it builds up into a system of change and collective progress.'  ‘I cannot emphasise enough how important partnerships are to this problem. They extend reach.' ‘The easiest way to have a wild fire resilient home is to build one, building one that's not resilient and trying to retrofit it is less optimal and not as easy.' ‘The single most important thing is clearing flammable material (fences, overhanging trees and bushes) from a 0-5 foot zone from the house.' ABOUT THE GUESTS Laurna Castillo is a forward-thinking leader and passionate advocate for innovation and sustainable growth. With a dynamic background spanning entrepreneurship, community development, and strategic leadership, Laurna has dedicated her career to empowering organizations and individuals to unlock their full potential. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook  TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Yo Kwon, CEO at Voltaire.Claims. Together, we pull back the curtain on how enterprise operations (and in particular finance and insurance operations) are being reinvented – not tomorrow, but right now. KEY TAKEAWAYS           ·       I was working with my co-founder on Ai technology trying to work out what would be applicable for wider businesses. While we were testing ideas someone was using one of our products to write claims letters. ·       Adjustors don't enjoy writing claims letter, especially denials, they lean heavily on templates and cheat sheets to figure out the clauses to cite, so small mistakes and big ones can slip though. Voltaire generates each letter from scratch, it doesn't take shortcuts which removes the room for error.  ·       Litigation alone adds an average of $10,718 per claim in loss adjustment expense, we projects Voltaire can reduce litigated claims by 10% or more through more defensible correspondence. Even a conservative 5% improvement in leakage through clearer letters translates to $320,00 in recovered value.  ·       We include critical guardrails. If an adjustor requests a denial letter but there's no valid policy exclusion that exists to support the denial, the system returns ‘no relevant policy language was found'. This prevents a wrongful denial or compliance violation before it happens. BEST MOMENTS  ‘Before I started this company I did not think this would be a problem in 2025, and this is a problem because of the complexities of claims.'  ‘Whenever productivity is measured, people will choose speed over compliance, I'd go far as to say most adjustors never actually learn the correct way to write a claims letter.' ‘Claims managers and adjustors have told us the AI is teaching them things about policies that they've never known before.' ‘Our approach treats compliance as a product feature, not an afterthought.' ABOUT THE GUESTS Yo Kwon is the Co-Founder and CEO of Voltaire.Claims, where he leads the development of cutting-edge AI solutions that transform insurance correspondence. With deep expertise in artificial intelligence, decentralized systems, and cybersecurity, Yo brings a rigorous technical perspective to one of the industry's most overlooked but high-impact challenges: claims letter automation. Under his leadership, Voltaire has built a lightweight, API-driven platform that integrates seamlessly with core systems like Guidewire to deliver accurate, regulator-compliant claim letters in seconds. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner.   Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook  TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/