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  • Designing The Workplace Women in Tech Actually Want with Tiffany Aude and Yoana Leusin | Show notes episode 132

    Designing The Workplace Women in Tech Actually Want with Tiffany Aude and Yoana Leusin | Show notes episode 132

    What if promoting people on merit is the easiest way to get more women into boardrooms?

    In episode 132 of Women Disrupting Tech, Yoana Leusin shares this statistic: using clear, merit-based promotion criteria makes companies 75 percent more likely to promote women.

    It shows how much potential goes unseen and why so many women in tech step away before senior leadership.

    In this episode, Tiffany Aude and Yoana Leusin explore what changes when you redesign the workplace so women in tech can actually thrive.

    Hit play to listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, or scroll down to read about the other lessons for startup founders, women in tech, and their allies.

    3 Lessons From This Conversation

    This conversation with Tiffany Aude and Yoana Leusin challenges some familiar assumptions about how careers are built and who rises inside tech companies. It shows how mindset, structure, and lived experience shape women’s careers in tech.

    1. Meritocracy is only fair when it is designed that way

    Tiffany and Yoana explain how men are often promoted on potential while women are judged on performance. When companies switch to objective merit criteria, the likelihood of promoting women rises by 75 percent. The talent was always there. The system simply wasn’t measuring it. This matters because fixing meritocracy is one of the simplest ways to unlock the leadership pipeline already inside your company.

    2. Women leave tech not because they lack drive but because clarity is missing

    Unclear expectations and shifting goalposts drain motivation fast. Many women respond by questioning themselves rather than the structure around them. Yoana’s point is sharp: clarity in job descriptions, promotion paths, and feedback is not a nice-to-have. It is a retention strategy. When clarity improves, women stay, contribute, and lead with far more confidence.

    3. Mindset determines how far you allow yourself to go

    Tiffany’s story about wishing she “were one of those men” shows how early narratives shape ambition. What changed her trajectory was learning to challenge those beliefs and replace them with ones that gave her agency. Many women in tech never get support for that shift. Of course, mindset alone can’t fix a broken structure, but it does influence how women navigate it and how they step into the opportunities they earn.

    Together, these lessons underline a simple point: when you redesign the system, you redesign who succeeds in it.

    Know someone who does not believe in this? Yoana and Tiffany would love to talk to them. So share the episode using the buttons below.

    Or scroll down for magical moments, practical takeaways, and my own observations.

    And if you want more lessons like this? Subscribe to updates for a weekly dose of female founder inspiration.

    1. 3 Lessons From This Conversation
    2. Highlights and timestamps
    3. 3 Magic Moments In The Episode
    4. Practical Takeaways for Founders and Allies
    5. The Quote From The Episode
    6. 3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
    7. A Question for You 🤔
    8. Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech
    9. Listen to Episode 132 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
    10. Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
    11. About Tiffany Aude
    12. About Yoana Leusin
    13. About impowr
    14. Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
    15. What I Want To Leave You With

    Highlights and timestamps

    Time Highlight
    03:08 Personal Journeys and Career Paths
    08:15 The Impact of Gender Dynamics in the Workplace
    12:43 The Dynamics of Competition in Corporate Environments
    20:24 The Promotion Paradox
    26:56 Legislative Changes and Their Impact on Gender Equality
    29:01 The Business Case for Gender Equality
    38:17 The Impact of Job Descriptions on Diversity
    39:24 Creating Inclusive Interview Structures
    41:33 Building a Supportive Workplace Culture
    43:35 Strategies for Empowering Women in Tech
    50:07 Creating Inclusive Work Environments
    51:54 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Building Confidence
    55:09 Tools for Enhancing Self-Worth and Negotiation Skills
    1:02:00 The Role of Male Leaders in Supporting Women
    1:09:19 Future of Gender Equality in the Workplace

    3 Magic Moments In The Episode

    Many women step out of traditional career paths and start building their own businesses. It’s a clear sign that something is broken. Tiffany and Yoana give us hope. These three moments in this conversation reveal the emotional and strategic shifts that help women move from self-doubt to agency.

    1. “Maybe we’re not actually the problem here.”

    Tiffany and Yoana explain how many women respond to stalled careers by questioning themselves first. The turning point comes when they realise other women in similar roles experience the same barriers. That shared recognition interrupts the cycle of self-blame and reframes the issue as systemic rather than personal. It is often the moment women stop shrinking and start advocating.

    2. From frenemies to partners

    The two of them operated as competitors in their corporate roles because the structure pushed them into rivalry. It wasn’t personal. It was the environment. Once that structure fell away, they discovered that their different styles and shared values were an advantage. The friction that once limited them became a strength when they built impowr together.

    3. Control what you can. Walk away when you can’t.

    Yoana’s advice is simple but grounding: look at any situation and identify what is within your control to move it forward. If there is no action you can take to change the outcome, that is often the signal to leave. It is a mindset shift that returns agency to women who have been taught to overanalyse instead of act.

    Together, these moments show how clarity, community, and agency help women navigate a system that was not built for them.

    💬 What was your favorite moment from the episode? Share yours in the comments.

    Or scroll down for practical tips that will fuel your own journey as a founder.

    Practical Takeaways for Founders and Allies

    This episode offers founders three takeaways that help you retain great people, build inclusive teams, and create workplaces where women in tech can grow.

    1. Use objective hiring practices to reduce bias

    A structured interview process and a diverse interview panel can reduce gender bias by more than 50 percent. Clear, specific job descriptions also matter. Women are 28 percent more likely to apply when responsibilities are spelled out rather than left open to interpretation. Bias is not inevitable. It is something you can design against.

    2. Rethink how you incentivize your team

    Perks like Rolexes or trips to Vegas may appeal to some men, but they rarely motivate women. Women often want development, visibility, and opportunities that strengthen their leadership. When your team diversifies, your incentives should too. The right incentives increase motivation. The wrong ones signal who the system was built for.

    3. Male leaders need to act, not observe

    Tiffany and Yoana are clear: the men who made a difference in their careers listened, advocated, and removed obstacles. They didn’t wait to be asked. They stepped in. Listening to understand is one of the most important skills a male leader can develop. When men act with intention, women rise faster. The system changes with them.

    These takeaways matter because founders shape the environment. A few intentional choices can change who stays, who grows, and who leads.

    💬 Know a founder who should hear this? Use the share button below to tell them.

    Or scroll down to discover an inspiring quote and learn about my own takeaways.

    The Quote From The Episode

    Picture of impowr founders Tiffany Aude and Yoana Leusin with a quote by Tiffany from episode 132 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech titled 'Designing The Workplace Women in Tech Actually Want'.

    “You have to be intentionally creating spaces that women want to be in, and cultures that they want to be part of.”

    Tiffany Aude, co-founder of impowr

    This line from Tiffany captures the heart of the episode and the work still ahead for founders and leaders.

    3 Things That Changed The Way I Think

    Part of our conversation is about the systems that are blocking women. But Tiffany and Yoana also share these personal strategies and mindset shifts discussed for navigating the current corporate landscape:

    1. Allyship is not theory. It is removing a blocker at the right moment

    The stories Tiffany and Yoana shared about the men who shaped their careers were concrete. Someone stepped in, cleared a path, or made a decision that changed everything. It reminded me that allyship is not abstract encouragement. It is action taken at the moment it matters.

    2. The power of knowing when to leave

    If self-advocacy and negotiation don’t shift the situation, women need the confidence to walk away and choose environments that value them. Yoana’s advice to act on what is within your control—and to leave when nothing else can change—felt like a mindset shift many women never give themselves permission to make.

    3. The right legislation helps companies be more inclusive

    Their work at impowr is shaped by new rules that demand more transparency and accountability. Instead of treating legislation as a burden, they see it as a catalyst. When the rules change, companies finally redesign the systems that have held women back.

    Together, these ideas made it clear that inclusion is a mix of personal agency, supportive systems, and leaders who act with intention.

    💬 What changed your thinking? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

    A Question for You 🤔

    💬 Do you have an ally in your life who clears obstacles for you?

    👇 Celebrate him in the comments. Let’s keep this conversation going and promote allyship so it becomes a normal thing.

    Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech

    Christmas is a time for reflection. And if there is one stat to reflect on for 2025, it’s that 95% of AI projects fail.

    To discover why this happens, I had a conversation with Sophia Zitman. She argues that it’s the human factors that often lead to the failure of AI implementation. We cover do’s and don’ts, how to navigate company politics and stakeholder engagement, and the potential of AI as an equalizer in business and education.

    In this clip, you’ll hear Sophia discuss how to design AI projects for long-term adoption.

    Hit play to hear what makes and breaks AI projects.

    Want to hear the rest? When you’re subscribed, you’ll find it in your mailbox next week at 8 am CET. So stay tuned for more Women Disrupting Tech.

    And until the next episode, as always, keep being awesome.

    Dirkjan

    PS. When you’ve come this far, you must be a fan. So do yourself a favor and subscribe to updates or follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

    Listen to Episode 132 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube

    Designing The Workplace Women in Tech Actually Want with Tiffany Aude and Yoana Leusin | Ep. 132 – Women Disrupting Tech

    Listen on Spotify
    Listen on Apple Podcasts Logo
    Listen on Apple Podcasts
    Listen on YouTube (audio only)

    Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech

    Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

    Follow the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast

    Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

    Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple.

    It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

    Share the stories that move you.

    Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

    So when you know someone who should hear it, pass it on when you’re done.

    About Tiffany Aude

    Tiffany believes your mind is your most precious possession – the key to unlocking your potential. She discovered this through her own struggle in London’s male-dominated recruitment sector, where her obsession with mindset work became her breakthrough, ascending the sales leaderboard. Moving to Amsterdam, she launched and led a brand in healthtech recruitment, where she discovered her true calling in coaching and trained 250+ professionals, designing performance management programs still embedded in organizations today.

    With her BSc in Psychology and ICF certification, she identified the pattern: women were capable but lacked permission to own the power they already had within. At impowr, she co-founded the solution – equipping women with the mindset, tools, and confidence to play bigger and fulfill every dream they’re bold enough to pursue.

    You can connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn.

    About Yoana Leusin

    Yoana Leusin is Co-Founder of impowr. After a decade in high-pressure sales environments and serving as VP of People & Performance managing the performance of 250+ professionals, she identified a critical gap: few development programs were built for women, like her, advancing in these spaces.

    Inspired by her mother’s example to be a powerwoman- both as a mom and a business lady, Yoana’s ambitious drive and passion for impact led her to co-launch impowr, creating a community where women build the skills, mindset, and support to reshape the most influential industries in the world. With a degree in social studies, ICF coaching certification, and Harvard Business School credentials, she delivers measurable outcomes to forward-thinking businesses.

    You can connect with Yoana on LinkedIn as well.

    About impowr

    Impowr is the coaching platform for ambitious women in male-dominated industries. Through their tried and tested coaching methodologies, their partnerships with forward-thinking businesses, and their community of badass women, impowr’s mission is to inspire and empower women to stop playing it safe and start playing bigger so together we can reshape the most influential industries in the world.

    You can learn more about impowr on the website, LinkedIn and Instagram. And they’ll be hosting this event on 14 January 2026.

    Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend

    The fall is loaded with great events, and I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

    Looking for an event to start your new year off right? Well, Impowr and Boom Chicago have got your back. They’re starting on 14 January with an event where networking meets comedy. You can get your early-bird ticket (a €10 discount until 30 November) on the Boom Chicago website.

    This is the last week you can get that early bird, and the last time I spoke with the ladies of Impowr, they had sold 70 tickets already.

    Diverse Leaders in Tech Events

    If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.

    Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.

    You can register for events on the DLiT website. Did I mention that joining your first event is free?

    Equals Events

    Equals is on a mission to shape a society where women and men stand on equal footing. At their home base in Amsterdam, they regularly organize events, but you can organize yours there too. You can find the events on Luma.

    What I Want To Leave You With

    The biggest shift for me in this conversation is seeing inclusion for what it really is: strategy. Not an add-on. Not a side project. A strategic choice that shapes performance, retention, and long-term value.

    When companies embed inclusion into how they hire, reward, develop, and lead, the impact is measurable. It changes who thrives, who stays, and how strong the business becomes. And when founders treat it as strategy, they build companies that are both more profitable and more humane.

    Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

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  • Why Your Strategy Should Fit on a Post-It with Dorit Roest | Show notes episode 131

    Why Your Strategy Should Fit on a Post-It with Dorit Roest | Show notes episode 131

    Does your strategy fit on a Post-It?

    Founders often feel off-track because the world shifts fast and their own motivations shift with it, while their strategy stays frozen in last year’s (or even last month’s) version of reality.

    But what if strategy were simple and agile, something you could revisit often and adjust without stress?

    That question sits at the heart of my conversation with Dorit Roest. She sees that many founders risk losing their drive when misalignment between personal and business goals drains their motivation. Because success without impact feels empty. And she offers a recipe to realign your goals with what is happening in your company and the world around you, Post-Its included.

    Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, or scroll down for the lessons from the episode.

    3 Lessons From This Conversation

    Dorit argues that we need a new definition of what a successful company or what successful entrepreneurship looks like. Strategy should be more agile and more aligned with the impact founders want to make with their businesses.

    Entrepreneurship carries a moral obligation

    Founders build the systems that shape our future. That power comes with responsibility. Dorit argues that entrepreneurship is one of the few places where change can move fast and with intention. When founders zoom out and consider their role in the world, their strategy gains depth and direction. Purpose becomes a design choice rather than an afterthought.

    Misalignment drains motivation

    When founders drift from the reason they started, their energy drops long before their metrics do. The work becomes heavier, decisions slower, and momentum harder to recover. Misalignment creates a quiet leak in motivation that compounds over time. Staying close to your why is not a luxury. It is fuel.

    Investor and founder incentives must align

    It is tempting to absorb an investor’s priorities as your own. It feels efficient, even strategic. But when the incentives diverge, the founder risks bending the company into a shape that no longer fits. The cost is subtle at first. Eventually it becomes a loss of purpose or even a loss of the company. Healthy strategy requires clarity on who you are building for and why that matters.

    These lessons matter because strategy is not only about goals and staying aligned with your purpose requires courage, because thinking bigger than your circumstances is often the first strategic decision you make.

    Share the episode with someone who needs to hear this.

    Or scroll down for magical moments, practical takeaways, and my own observations.

    And if you want more lessons like this? Subscribe to updates for a weekly dose of female founder inspiration.

    1. 3 Lessons From This Conversation
    2. Highlights and timestamps
    3. 3 Magic Moments In The Episode
    4. Practical Takeaways for Founders and Allies
    5. The Quote From The Episode
    6. 3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
    7. A Question for You 🤔
    8. Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech
    9. Listen to Episode 131 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
    10. Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
    11. About Dorit Roest
    12. About Strategy Sprint Company
    13. Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
    14. What I Want To Leave You With

    Highlights and timestamps

    Time Highlight
    02:20 Dorit Roest’s Entrepreneurial Journey
    05:24 The Role of Entrepreneurship in Solving Global Issues
    08:16 Aligning Personal and Business Goals
    11:13 The Importance of Agility in Strategy
    14:09 Simplifying Strategy for Modern Businesses
    17:16 Zooming Out: Understanding the Bigger Picture
    20:24 Addressing Global Challenges as Entrepreneurs
    23:14 Mapping Opportunities and Threats
    26:14 The Battery Check: Assessing Personal and Business Energy
    29:09 Prioritizing Time, Money, and Energy
    32:02 Lessons from the Past Year
    43:33 Navigating Maternity Leave and Business Growth
    46:05 The Unique Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs
    48:09 Innovative Leadership and Team Management
    50:47 Encouraging Ambition and Risk-Taking
    52:18 Visualization Techniques for Goal Setting
    58:40 Aligning Personal and Professional Goals
    1:03:11 The Importance of Alignment in Success
    1:07:13 Simplifying Goals and Accountability
    1:12:20 Building Supportive Networks for Female Founders

    3 Magic Moments In The Episode

    What if you had 10 times as much courage? That question opens a part of the conversation that shifts how founders see themselves and what they allow themselves to build and grow without limitations.

    Thinking big

    Dorit contrasts European modesty with the American instinct to applaud ambition. Her message is simple: dreamers move faster when people around them say yes instead of should you really do that. Founders need circles that lift them up, not rein them in.

    The visualization

    At about 50 minutes into our conversation, Dorit guides a visualization of your ideal day in 2030. It is a practical way to bypass limitations and reconnect with the life you are actually trying to create. It brought me back to the spark behind Project Ally and why the long-term vision matters more than any single feature or milestone.

    The maternity leave moment

    Dorit describes the quiet peak of realizing her company kept running during her maternity leave. It was proof that the systems she built could hold, and that leadership does not mean being indispensable. For founders, it is a reminder that sustainable companies require trust, not constant presence.

    These moments matter because they show how courage, clarity, and systems create momentum.

    💬 What was your favorite moment from the episode? Let me know in the comments.

    Or scroll down for practical tips that will fuel your own journey as a founder or ally.

    Practical Takeaways for Founders and Allies

    A good strategy starts with zooming out. When you understand what is happening in the world and how it touches your domain, opportunities become clearer and threats feel manageable instead of overwhelming.

    Zooming out gives you the right focus.

    Dorit teaches founders to look at global shifts, then bring the lens back to their own business. Keep it simple. Ask what is happening, why it matters, and where you can play a role. Eight minutes is enough to spot blind spots and name risks without getting lost in them.

    The battery check helps you focus on what matters.

    Time, money, and energy shape every decision. The battery check shows which of the three needs attention next year. Choosing one priority creates a natural compass for what to say yes to and what to postpone.

    Keep goals simple to ensure alignment and momentum.

    If your objective and key results cannot fit on a post-it, they are too complex. Simple goals are easier to track, easier to communicate, and easier to adjust as reality changes. Complexity kills momentum. Clarity fuels it.

    Founders often overcomplicate strategy when what they need is a rhythm that helps them choose, focus, and act. These takeaways help them avoid exactly that.

    💬 Know a founder who should hear this? Use the share button below to tell them.

    Or scroll down to discover an inspiring quote and learn about my own takeaways.

    The Quote From The Episode

    Strategy without context becomes hollow. And Dorit puts words to a discomfort many founders feel but rarely name out loud:

    Square image for Episode 131 of Women Disrupting Tech with a picture of Dorit Roest and a quote from the episode. The quote reads: “Success that is only based on what you think is important to your company, without taking into account the role that you play in the world, is doomed to be empty.”

    “Success that is only based on what you think is important to your company, without taking into account the role that you play in the world, is doomed to be empty.”

    Dorit Roest, CEO and co-founder of Strategy Sprint Company

    3 Things That Changed The Way I Think

    Alignment matters more than speed. When founders lose sight of why they started, their drive fades even if the company looks healthy from the outside. This conversation made me look differently at what fuels momentum and what quietly drains it.

    Purpose vs money

    Dorit shared her experience that during the battery check, many women choose money because they are underpaid or undervalued. But money is often a stand-in for worth. What if purpose is the real unlock? For many women founders, shifting attention from compensation to contribution might create more confidence, more clarity, and eventually more revenue.

    The Pregnancy Gap

    Dorit’s honesty about pregnancy and entrepreneurship hit hard. The reality that women fall “behind ten to zero” during fertility treatments, pregnancy, or maternity leave is not a mindset issue. It is a systemic one. It reshapes how I think what genuine support for women founders must look like.

    Community is not a nice-to-have.

    While talking about fundcoach.ai, Dorit reminded me that nothing fuels you like talking to a woman who has already walked through what you are facing. It helped me shift how I look at community as a strategic asset for my own company. Courage, clarity, and momentum grow faster in the company of people who understand your ambitions.

    These reflections matter because alignment is not a feeling. It is a discipline. And the clearer you are about your reality, your purpose, and your constraints, the easier it becomes to build something that lasts.

    💬 What changed your thinking? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

    A Question for You 🤔

    💬 When you could 10x your courage, what would your company look like?

    👇 Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep this conversation going and make dealing with stress easier for everyone.

    Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech

    Next week, I’m joined by Yoana Leushin and Tiffany Aude from Impowr to see how we can stop the drop to the top for women in tech. When rising the career ladder, many women get stuck in the middle of their careers. And our conversation is about why that is and how we can solve it.

    Here, you hear Yoana reveal one of the main causes for the lack of women at the top: the promotion paradox.

    Hit play to hear about the promotion paradox.

    Want to hear the rest? When you’re subscribed, you’ll find it in your mailbox around the same time next week. So stay tuned for more Women Disrupting Tech.

    And until the next episode, as always, keep being awesome.

    Dirkjan

    PS. Want to be the first to learn about new episodes? Subscribe to updates or follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

    Listen to Episode 131 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube

    Why Your Strategy Should Fit on a Post-It with Dorit Roest | Ep. 131 – Women Disrupting Tech

    Listen on Spotify
    Listen on Apple Podcasts Logo
    Listen on Apple Podcasts
    Listen on YouTube (audio only)

    Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech

    Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

    Follow the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast

    Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

    Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple.

    It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

    Share the stories that move you.

    Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

    So when you know someone who should hear it, pass it on when you’re done.

    About Dorit Roest

    Dorit Roest is an entrepreneur, strategist, speaker and founder of Strategy Sprint Company. She built her first startup, TIM — the first influencer-marketing platform in the Netherlands. She helped Techleap and the Dutch Government build ScaleNL — an accelerator-and-ecosystem program that helped dozens of Dutch tech startups scale to the US market, before starting The Strategy Sprint Company.

    With Strategy Sprint Company, she uses that breadth of experience to help founders and teams find clarity, direction and impact. She combines startup-hardened discipline with big-picture thinking, always centering people and purpose. Her background as a founder, strategist and international ecosystem builder gives her a sharp yet human lens into the challenges that entrepreneurs face. Her approach to strategy is reflected throughout our conversation, where she shows how clarity and alignment unlock momentum for founders.

    You can connect with Dorit on LinkedIn and via her website.

    About Strategy Sprint Company

    Strategy Sprint Company is a strategy agency, academy and facilitator network founded by Dorit Roest. The company is built on a unique method — the Strategy Sprint — designed to help entrepreneurs, teams and organisations quickly get clarity and direction without over-complexity.

    With formats ranging from one-on-one sessions to team and group workshops, Strategy Sprint Company uses a “pressure-cooker” model to transform scattered ideas, doubts or noise into a clear roadmap. The promise: in a few focused hours you arrive at a sharpened strategic foundation, a ranked set of priorities, and a concrete plan for short- and long-term execution.

    In 2023 Strategy Sprint Company launched an Academy to train and certify facilitators — scaling the method beyond the founder’s own practice. The aim is to make Strategy Sprint a go-to ritual for entrepreneurs, similar to a periodic check-up, that helps them stay aligned with both their internal purpose and external reality.

    If your strategy feels noisy, scattered, or stuck, their Sprint formats offer a fast way to find direction again. To learn more, check out their website and use their brand-new booking tool. Of course, you can also follow the company on LinkedIn.

    Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend

    The fall is loaded with great events, and I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

    Looking for an event to start your new year off right? Well, Impowr and Boom Chicago have got your back. They’re starting on 14 January with an event where networking meets comedy. You can get your early-bird ticket (a €10 discount until 30 November) on the Boom Chicago website.

    This is the last week you can get that early bird, and the last time I spoke with the ladies of Impowr, they had sold 70 tickets already.

    Diverse Leaders in Tech Events

    If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.

    Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.

    You can register for events on the DLiT website. Did I mention that joining your first event is free?

    Equals Events

    Equals is on a mission to shape a society where women and men stand on equal footing. At their home base in Amsterdam, they regularly organize events, but you can organize yours there too. You can find the events on Luma.

    What I Want To Leave You With

    What stayed with me after this conversation was Andrea’s calm clarity. She knows stress will always show up, but she refuses to let it run her life. She listens to her own rhythm and leads from there.

    And the way she names it is disarming. Women should not be expected to lead the way men lead. Founders should not treat self-care as something they must earn. Stress can be a guide instead of a burden.

    Andrea told me that recording the episode was the highlight of her week. It reminded me why these conversations matter. They give us a different way to build, one that lasts.

    Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

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  • The Founder Guide to Turning Stress into a Superpower with Andrea Christancho | Show notes episode 130

    The Founder Guide to Turning Stress into a Superpower with Andrea Christancho | Show notes episode 130

    As a founder, you probably know the feeling when stress feels like it is steering the wheel. I know it. And so does Andrea Cristancho.

    She built her life across Shanghai, South Africa, and Switzerland. And somewhere along the way, she learned something simple and hard. If she is not feeling it, she cannot sell it. Not to her team. Not to her clients. Not to herself.

    That realisation changed how she leads. And it’s where our conversation starts.
    We talk about the pressure founders put on themselves. The routines that fall apart when life changes. And the idea that stress can become a tool instead of a weight you carry.

    When you are ready to turn stress into a superpower, listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Or scroll down for more about the episode.

    3 Lessons From This Conversation

    Founders hear a lot of noise about what it takes to build a company. Sleep later. Push harder. Get up no matter how many times you fall. These mantras sound motivating, but often break the people who try to live by them. Andrea cuts through that noise and offers three lessons that show a different way to lead.

    1. Wellbeing is a business foundation

    Andrea learned early that you cannot build a company on empty fuel. When founders push through without checking in with themselves, the team feels it, the work suffers, and the business pays the price. She sees wellbeing as the starting point of leadership, not a bonus you earn at the end of the week. Something to be integrated into your routines and business plans. It is a reminder that how you feel shapes how you lead and how others follow.

    2. The old “fall down, get up again” mantra becomes false leadership

    The startup world loves the idea that strength means getting back up no matter how many times you fall. Andrea calls this false leadership. After her second burnout, she realised that muscling through everything might look heroic, but breaks you faster than it builds you. Sustainable leadership requires honesty about limits, not blind persistence. It is a call to replace toughness with long-term thinking.

    3. Stress can become a tool when you know how to work with it

    Andrea reframes stress as something you can learn from rather than fight. Pattern interrupts help you notice the moment when you still have capacity or when you have hit your edge. With that awareness, stress shifts from a threat to a signal that helps you lead with more clarity. It is a lesson in treating stress as feedback instead of a force to resist.

    Each of these lessons points to the same idea. You lead better when you stop fighting stress and start understanding what it is trying to tell you.

    Share the episode with someone who needs to hear this.

    And if you want more lessons like this? Subscribe to updates for a weekly dose of female founder inspiration.

    Or scroll down for magical moments, practical takeaways, and my own observations.

    1. 3 Lessons From This Conversation
    2. Highlights and timestamps
    3. 3 Magic Moments In The Episode
    4. Practical Takeaways for Founders and Allies
    5. The Quote From The Episode
    6. 3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
    7. A Question for You 🤔
    8. Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech
    9. Listen to Episode 130 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
    10. Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
    11. About Andrea Cristancho
    12. Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
    13. What I Want To Leave You With

    Highlights and timestamps

    Time Highlight
    03:45 Andrea’s Journey to Entrepreneurship and Health Coaching
    06:50 The Impact of Burnout on Leadership
    09:35 Well-being as a Foundation for Success
    13:16 Integrating Well-being into Leadership
    17:47 Managing Guilt and Prioritizing Self-Care
    24:57 The Role of Pattern Interrupts in Daily Life
    34:37 How Leaders Can Support Teams in Building Routines
    38:56 Breathing Techniques for Better Focus
    41:28 The Breathing Exercise
    45:28 Stress as a Friend, Not the Enemy
    51:00 The Role of Men in Supporting Women in Leadership

    3 Magic Moments In The Episode

    If you allow your mind to believe that self-care is only earned after work is finished, you’re on the wrong track. It’s something Andrea found out while recovering from her second burnout. Where powering through worked the first time, she needed to recalibrate how she wanted to build her business. These magical moments tie her ideas together in a way that is impossible to ignore.

    1. “If I Can’t Feel It, How Can I Sell It?”

    Already in her twenties, Andrea learned that if she cannot feel well, she cannot lead well. And if she treats self-care as something she must earn, she breaks the foundation she is trying to build her company on. It is rare to hear someone speak this honestly about the cost of ignoring your own limits. This felt like a truth every founder needs to hear.

    2. The breathing exercise at 38 minutes

    We paused the conversation, and she took me through a simple practice. Hands on the stomach. Inhale until the ribcage expands for seven seconds. Then exhale through the nose. Ten seconds of presence that change the entire tone of your workday. I felt it immediately. It’s a simple exercise that you can do in between replying to emails. It shows how small moments can reset a founder’s mind.

    3. Her message to men at the end of the episode

    Andrea ends with something both gentle and firm. Do not expect women to lead the way men do. Let them work in their own rhythm. Honor the cycle they are in. When men give that space, they get the best out of the women they work with. It is one of the clearest allyship lessons I have heard.

    Each of these moments shows a different side of what conscious leadership can look like.

    💬 What was your favorite moment from the episode? Let me know in the comments.

    Or scroll down for practical tips that will fuel your own journey as a founder or ally.

    Practical Takeaways for Founders and Allies

    A lot of founders still hear the old mantra that you can sleep when you are dead, but Andrea shows there is a better way. Stress can become a friend when you learn how to work with it.

    1. Use pattern interrupts to catch stress early

    Stress becomes harmful when it slips below your awareness. Pattern interrupts help you notice the moment when healthy pressure turns into overload. A one-minute walk. A break between tasks. A pause before you reply. These small signals make stress workable instead of overwhelming.
    They teach you to listen before your body starts yelling.

    2. Use breathing as a fast reset when stress spikes

    Breathing is the quickest way to regulate your nervous system. One deep inhale until your ribcage expands. A slow exhale through the nose. Ten seconds that calm the mind and bring your focus back. It is simple enough to do between emails and powerful enough to shift your entire afternoon.
    It reminds you that clarity is only a breath away.

    3. Design your own stress recovery rhythm

    Turning stress into a friend means recognising when you are still in your zone and when you have reached your edge. Build routines that fit your life today and update them each quarter. Some seasons need movement. Others need rest. Founders who adapt instead of forcing old habits protect their resilience.
    It helps you work with your limits rather than fight against them.

    These tools shift stress from something that derails you to something that guides you.

    💬 Know a founder who should hear this? Use the share button below to tell them.

    Or scroll down to discover an inspiring quote and learn about my own takeaways.

    The Quote From The Episode

    “The more we focus on our wellbeing as leaders, the better we do in everything we touch, but mainly in the business.”

    Andrea Christancho

    Andrea said this early in our conversation, and it framed everything that followed. She was not talking about wellness as something nice to have, but as the core of how she leads, decides, and builds. It is a simple line that cuts through a lot of noise in founder life.

    3 Things That Changed The Way I Think

    This episode held up a mirror in an unexpected way. Each reflection made me look at stress, work, and routine with more honesty.

    1. I treat time as a constraint and forget what it does to the quality of my work

    I often edit these episodes late at night, long after my focus has faded. Andrea made me see the real costs. Pushing through does not make me productive. It makes me sloppy. And it turns the craft of podcasting into something it should not be. Her view on stress made me rethink when to stop and when to return with a clear mind. It reminded me that quality needs space, not speed.

    2. The Tuesday workout moment showed my real dilemma

    During the episode, we talked about how I feel guilty when I step away for a workout if my to-do list is not complete. I had forgotten that part of the conversation. Hearing it back felt like watching my own habit from the outside. The tension between self-care and meeting my own expectations is still there. Andrea helped me see that this is not about discipline. It is about belief. It pushed me to question why finishing the list feels more important than feeling well.

    3. Stress only becomes manageable when you understand your own patterns

    Andrea’s approach to pattern interrupts made me realise how often I let stress decide the pace of my day. I move from task to task without noticing how my mind shifts or how my body reacts. Her way of naming these moments, and using tiny pauses to catch them, gave me a new way to think about stress. It taught me that awareness is the first step to resilience.

    So what did I change? I use pattern interrupts to see if I’m focusing on the lack of time instead of the quality of my work. And I have since stopped editing late at night. In fact, I stopped editing this blog post at 9pm instead of continuing until about 11pm just to finish it. And I ditched the feeling of guilt when biking to my Tuesday evening workout.

    💬 What changed your thinking? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

    A Question for You 🤔

    💬 What’s a pattern interrupt that you want to start trying in your work?

    👇 Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep this conversation going and make dealing with stress easier for everyone.

    Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech

    Once in a while, you have those conversations that you’d wish would continue forever. My conversation with Dorit Roest is one of those.

    We started talking about how she designed Strategy Sprints to help founders align their business goals with who they are and how they want to run it.

    It ended up being a conversation about purpose, the power of thinking big, and why your strategy should fit on a post-it.

    Hit play to hear why your strategy should fit on a Post-It.

    So stay tuned for more episodes of Women Disrupting Tech.

    And until the next episode, as always, keep being awesome.

    Dirkjan

    PS. Want to be the first to learn about new episodes? Subscribe to updates or follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

    Listen to Episode 130 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube

    The Founder Guide to Turning Stress into a Superpower with Andrea Christancho | Ep. 130 – Women Disrupting Tech

    Listen on Spotify
    Listen on Apple Podcasts Logo
    Listen on Apple Podcasts
    Listen on YouTube (audio only)

    Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech

    Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

    Follow the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast

    Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

    Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple.

    It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

    Share the stories that move you.

    Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

    So when you know someone who should hear it, pass it on when you’re done.

    About Andrea Cristancho

    Andrea Cristancho is an international entrepreneur, certified health coach, breathwork instructor, and founder of the wellness initiative behind her name. She has built businesses across Asia, Africa, and Europe, from Mainland China to South Africa and now Switzerland, which gives her a deep, lived understanding of what founder life demands.

    At the heart of her work is a simple conviction. Wellbeing is not a reward. It is the foundation of sustainable leadership. Through breathwork, holistic coaching, and mindful routines, she helps startup founders and teams turn stress into a guiding force instead of a burnout risk.

    When she is not coaching, you might find her in nature with her family, camping under the stars, or exploring ways to bring restful rituals into everyday life. In Andrea’s world, success does not come at the cost of balance. It comes from building a business that respects the human rhythm behind it.

    You can connect with her through her website or on LinkedIn.

    Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend

    The fall is loaded with great events, and I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

    Looking for an event to start your new year off right? Well, Impowr and Boom Chicago have got your back. They’re starting on 14 January with an event where networking meets comedy. You can get your early-bird ticket (a €10 discount until 30 November) on the Boom Chicago website.

    This is the last week you can get that early bird, and the last time I spoke with the ladies of Impowr, they had sold 70 tickets already.

    Diverse Leaders in Tech Events

    If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.

    Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.

    You can register for events on the DLiT website. Did I mention that joining your first event is free?

    Equals Events

    Equals is on a mission to shape a society where women and men stand on equal footing. At their home base in Amsterdam, they regularly organize events, but you can organize yours there too (like the 3mbrace Health events). You can find the events on Luma.

    What I Want To Leave You With

    What stayed with me after this conversation was Andrea’s calm clarity. She knows stress will always show up, but she refuses to let it run her life. She listens to her own rhythm and leads from there.

    And the way she names it is disarming. Women should not be expected to lead the way men lead. Founders should not treat self-care as something they must earn. Stress can be a guide instead of a burden.

    Andrea told me that recording the episode was the highlight of her week. It reminded me why these conversations matter. They give us a different way to build, one that lasts.

    Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

    , , , , , , , ,

  • The Power of Workations and Generous Leadership with Gina Schinkel | Show notes episode 129

    The Power of Workations and Generous Leadership with Gina Schinkel | Show notes episode 129

    Most founders don’t like shortcuts. They want to solve that one big problem once and for all.

    So they take the long road. And Gina Schinkel is no exception.

    She “defied the traditional career path” because exploring the world mattered more than climbing a ladder.

    That choice shaped everything she has built since. Driftawave and Leaderwave didn’t come from a straight line. They are the result of someone who said yes to curiosity, lived in different cultures, and only later discovered how all those roads could come together.

    This episode is about that. The courage to build on your own terms. The power of a workation to reconnect a team. And the kind of leadership that starts with giving first.

    When you’re ready, listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube—or scroll down for more about the episode.

    3 Lessons From This Conversation

    If one thing stood out in our conversation, it is that the modern career path is flexible and global. Gina is proof that you no longer need to choose between career advancement and travel; professionals can pursue “this part of freedom and exploration that life can offer”. In keeping with that theme, here are three lessons that follow.

    1. Workations are not perks. They help you attract and keep the right people.

    I knew offsites could lift energy. What I didn’t expect was how strongly they influence hiring and retention. Gina showed how workations reduce time to hire, strengthen employer branding, and keep teams aligned during growth. When people feel connected, they perform better. And they stay longer.

    2. You don’t have to choose one path to build something meaningful.

    Gina spent years exploring the world before stepping into tech. She didn’t follow the traditional line. She built her own. Seeing how she combines travel, AI, culture, and leadership into one coherent vision reminded me that founders don’t need permission to integrate the different parts of their lives. You can build from all your roads.

    3. Generous leadership builds the strongest networks.

    Giving first is simply how she moves. A tool. A contact. A recommendation. Watching how naturally she does this made me realize how powerful that habit is. It opens doors without forcing them. It creates the kind of trust most people try to manufacture through strategy.

    What Gina made clear to me is that the modern career works best when it gives people room to move, room to grow, and room to build the kind of connections that last.

    Know a founder who could benefit from a workation? Share the episode with them using the buttons below

    And if you want more lessons like this? Subscribe to updates for a weekly dose of female founder inspiration.

    Or scroll down for magical moments, practical takeaways, and my own observations.

    1. 3 Lessons From This Conversation
    2. Highlights and timestamps
    3. 3 Magic Moments In The Episode
    4. Practical Takeaways for Founders and Allies
    5. The Quote From The Episode
    6. 3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
    7. A Question for You 🤔
    8. Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech
    9. Listen to Episode 129 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
    10. Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
    11. About Gina Schinkel
    12. About Driftawave
    13. About Leaderwave
    14. Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
    15. What I Want To Leave You With

    Highlights and timestamps

    Time Highlight
    03:43 Gina Schinkel’s Journey to DriftWave and LeaderWave
    06:12 The Intersection of Travel and Technology
    09:09 Cultural Insights: Returning to the Netherlands
    11:55 The Benefits of Team Retreats and Workations
    14:20 Creating Connections: The Role of Workations in Team Dynamics
    17:22 Navigating Remote Work and Office Mandates
    19:55 Exploring Workation Locations and Experiences
    22:52 The Evolution of Workations: Beyond Just Work
    24:50 Workations and Startup Success: Attracting Talent
    27:43 Measuring Success: KPIs for Workations
    30:45 The Future of Work: AI’s Role in Business
    33:24 Leadership Trends and the Role of AI
    35:09 Diversity and Inclusion in Work Culture
    37:42 Building Trust and Connections in Business
    47:32 Empowering Women in Tech
    1:02:18 Closing the Funding Gap for Female Founders

    3 Magic Moments In The Episode

    Gina is an associative storyteller. Sometimes I had to wait for the magic inside her answer, but at least once she couldn’t resist giving it to me straight. These are the three moments you’ll want to hear.

    1. The moment she used roleplay to outsmart AI.

    Gina told me how she used ChatGPT to solve a coding problem by making it roleplay as the company’s CTO inside Lovable. The moment she framed it that way, ChatGPT “in a nice way, whooped his ass” by solving the issue Lovable couldn’t crack. It says a lot about how she approaches new tools. With curiosity. With humor. And without fear.

    2. The moment she didn’t hesitate to tell the truth.

    When I asked what companies with strict office mandates are missing out on, she didn’t dress it up. She just said it. “Top talent.” It was quick. Honest. And exactly the kind of clarity founders sometimes need to hear.

    3. The moment her two worlds clicked into one sentence.

    When she said “Leaderwave shows where we’re going, and Driftawave translates it into the organization,” something landed. These weren’t two separate ventures. It was one worldview. One founder trying to help teams move with the future instead of waiting for it.

    What I loved about these moments is how they reveal the same pattern. Gina trusts her instincts. She experiments early. And she says the thing most people only think.

    💬 What was your magic moment from the episode? Let me know in the comments.

    Or scroll down for practical tips that will fuel your own journey as a founder or ally.

    Practical Takeaways for Founders and Allies

    It’s easy to see workations as a nice-to-have and to see AI as just the next hype. But both can have a real use case, provided that founders are intentional about them. Gina shared three insights that stood out to me, especially if you want to strengthen your team, design better offsites, and stay ahead in a world where AI is moving fast.

    1. Measure the real ROI of a workation.

    Most founders look at offsites through the lens of energy or morale. Gina looks at them through KPIs. eNPS, retention, time to hire, employer branding, collaboration, innovation, and belonging. When you measure what a workation actually moves, you stop seeing it as a perk and start seeing it as infrastructure.

    2. Design offsites with intention, not vibes.

    A location alone won’t change a team. What matters is how you shape the experience. Shared moments. Vulnerability. Alignment. Coaching time. Context for people who feel invisible in remote settings. Gina reminds us that the best offsites don’t happen by accident. They happen because someone designed them with care.

    3. If AI makes you anxious, explore it instead of avoiding it.

    Gina sees a clear pattern. The people who fear AI the most are often the ones who haven’t taken time to play with it. Her advice is simple. Start small. Try a tool. Experiment for fun. See what it can do for your workflow instead of assuming the worst. Curiosity beats fear every time.

    What you can take from Gina is simple. When you treat culture, connection, and new technology with intention instead of fear, your company likely moves in the right direction.

    💬 Know a founder or ally who should hear this? Use the share button below to tell them.

    Or scroll down to discover an inspiring quote and learn about my own takeaways.

    The Quote From The Episode

    Some quotes need no introduction. This one fit the episode like a glove as it captures how work is becoming a global marketplace.

    Picture of Gina Schinkel with a quote from episode 129 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech which features and interview with her.

    “You can now make a career basically from anywhere there is WiFi.”

    Gina Schinkel – Founder Driftawave and Leaderwave

    3 Things That Changed The Way I Think

    Life as a podcaster is interesting because every guest expresses themselves differently. Some give short, to-the-point answers. Others need a bit of encouragement. And then there was Gina. She needed no encouragement to share her wisdom. It taught me the following.

    1. Not everyone answers in straight lines. And that’s a good thing.

    Talking to Gina reminded me that some founders think out loud. They circle the point, follow a story, and land the insight later than you expect. I noticed my own tendency to look for the direct answer. But sometimes the real insight is in the detour, not the bullet point.

    2. Integration matters more than choosing a path.

    I always knew that curiosity shapes careers, but hearing how Gina merged travel, tech, culture, and AI into one direction made me rethink the idea of “staying in your lane.” Maybe the most meaningful careers come from collecting experiences first and connecting them later.

    3. Giving first is not soft. It’s strategic.

    I’ve read The Go-Giver. I know the idea. But hearing Gina talk about offering a course, a tool, or a contact before asking for anything back made it real again. It’s a reminder that generosity builds trust faster than strategy ever could.

    All three learnings help me be a better podcaster, a better founder, and a better person. What more would you want to get out of an episode?

    💬 What changed your thinking? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

    A Question for You 🤔

    💬 What’s one small experiment with AI or team connection that you want to try after hearing this episode?

    👇 Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep this conversation going and make inclusion the new normal in tech.

    Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech

    Next week’s episode is a special one. Andrea Christancho is our guide as we explore how female founders can stay sane in a life that sometimes borders on insanity.

    She argues that stress is not the ugly word we’ve come to accept. In fact, this episode is full of ways to make stress your friend. Here’s a clip from the episode.

    Hit play to hear how Andrea wants us to see stress.

    So stay tuned for more of Women Disrupting Tech. And until the next episode, as always, keep being awesome.

    Dirkjan

    PS If you fear missing out, subscribe to updates or follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

    Listen to Episode 129 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube

    The Power of Workations and Generous Leadership with Gina Schinkel | Ep 129 – Women Disrupting Tech

    Listen on Spotify
    Listen on Apple Podcasts Logo
    Listen on Apple Podcasts
    Listen on YouTube (audio only)

    Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech

    Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

    Follow the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast

    Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

    Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple.

    It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

    Share the stories that move you.

    Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

    So when you know someone who should hear it, pass it on when you’re done.

    About Gina Schinkel

    Gina Schinkel is the founder of Driftawave and Leaderwave, two ventures that bring together her love of travel, culture, and the future of work. Before building retreats and workations for teams, she lived and worked across the world from Aruba to Austria to the Great Barrier Reef. Her career spans tourism, LinkedIn, events, sales, and leadership development, all shaped by a curiosity that took her across continents and industries. Today she helps companies design experiences that build connection, spark growth, and make work feel a little more human.

    You can spam her on LinkedIn (her words) to connect with her.

    About Driftawave

    Driftawave is your workation partner for remote- and distributed teams, companies and communities. They design turnkey travel experiences where creativity thrives, genuine connection happens, and growth isn’t just professional—it’s personal too. With a foundation in global travel and talent solutions, they help companies unlock culture, build collaboration and ignite innovation through thoughtfully crafted offsites across destinations like Croatia, Morocco, Spain and Italy. Ready for what’s next? Driftawave makes work meet adventure.

    Follow Driftawave on Instagram and LinkedIn and check out the website to discover your next workation.

    About Leaderwave

    Leaderwave is a global platform that equips next-generation leaders with insights, community, and momentum. Through immersive gatherings, curated content and peer networks, it helps founders and executives navigate the future of work with connection and clarity. Ready to lead differently? Leaderwave turns leadership into movement.

    You can learn more about Leaderwave on the website, LinkedIn and Instagram.

    Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend

    The fall is loaded with great events, and I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

    During this final 3mbrace Health event of 2025, you’re invited to better understand the importance of women’s health and the powerful role it plays in our personal, professional, and societal well-being. Men are expressly invited to join. And yes, I will be there too. So buy your tickets on Luma.

    That’s What She Said

    Looking for an event to start your new year off right? Well, Impowr and Boom Chicago have got your back. They’re starting on 14 January with an event where networking meets comedy. You can get your early-bird ticket (a €10 discount until 30 November) on the Boom Chicago website.

    This is the last week you can get that early bird, and the last time I spoke with the ladies of Impowr, they had sold 70 tickets already.

    Diverse Leaders in Tech Events

    If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.

    Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.

    You can register for events on the DLiT website. Did I mention that joining your first event is free?

    Equals Events

    Equals is on a mission to shape a society where women and men stand on equal footing. At their home base in Amsterdam, they regularly organize events, but you can organize yours there too (like the 3mbrace Health events). You can find the events on Luma.

    What I Want To Leave You With

    Gina has a kind of self-generated momentum that’s rare and energizing. She doesn’t wait for permission, external deadlines, or a manager telling her what to explore. She builds her own curiosity loops. She experiments with new tools. She pushes herself into new territory just to see what’s possible.

    And the way she talks about it makes you feel it. It’s the thing that stayed with me after our conversation, and it’s what makes this episode worth listening to.

    Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

    , , , , , , , ,

  • How To Be a Compassionate Ally for Women in Tech with Salmaan Sana | Show notes episode 128

    How To Be a Compassionate Ally for Women in Tech with Salmaan Sana | Show notes episode 128

    What if being honest about what we feel was a starting point for being a good ally?

    In this episode, Salmaan Sana explains how allyship touches leadership, emotional health and the role men can play to support women in tech. As a former medical student turned leadership facilitator, he brings both personal stories and structural insights to the table. We dig into how vulnerability matters, how small moments can be big for change, and how being an ally isn’t only about what you do — it’s how you show up.

    We talk about vulnerability, overcompensation, and the everyday micro-moments that reveal who we really are at work.

    Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube—or scroll down to explore the key lessons from our conversation.

    3 Lessons From This Conversation

    When Salmaan Sana was a medical student, he stumbled on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. That book changed his path. It taught him that leadership isn’t a trait you’re born with, but a skill you can train. He began sharing those ideas with other medical students—long before he called himself a facilitator or consultant. The same lessons still shape how he thinks about allyship today.

    1. Focus on what you can influence

    Salmaan reminds us that frustration often comes from worrying about things we can’t change. He uses Covey’s idea of the circle of influence versus the circle of concern to help people redirect their energy. In his view, true leadership—and true allyship—start when you act where your influence actually matters.

    2. Seek first to understand

    Another principle from Covey’s book that stayed with him is listening before responding. Salmaan applies this to allyship: men need to ask women about their experiences rather than assume they know. His barbershop story shows how bias often slips in unnoticed, and how one moment of humility can change the tone of a whole conversation.

    3. Sharpen your awareness

    Covey calls it “sharpening the saw,” the habit of continuous reflection. For Salmaan, that means noticing your own bias, being honest about it, and learning from it. He openly shares how he once came out sexist and racist on a Harvard bias test—and how awareness, not denial, became his way forward.

    These lessons remind us that allyship isn’t about perfection. It’s about awareness, humility, and small consistent actions.

    Share this episode with someone who cares about making people feel at home in new places.

    Or scroll down for magic moments.

    And if you want more lessons like this? Follow the podcast or subscribe to updates for a weekly dose of female founder inspiration.

    Or scroll down for magical moments, practical takeaways, and my own observations.

    1. 3 Lessons From This Conversation
    2. Highlights and timestamps
    3. 3 Magic Moments In The Episode
    4. Practical Takeaways for Founders and Allies
    5. The Quote From The Episode
    6. 3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
    7. A Question for You 🤔
    8. Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
    9. Listen to Episode 128 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
    10. Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
    11. About Salmaan Sana
    12. Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
    13. What I Want To Leave You With

    Highlights and timestamps

    Time Highlight
    03:00 Journey into Healthcare and Leadership
    10:30 The Role of Medical Education in Leadership
    20:06 Understanding Allyship and Its Importance
    31:45 Men’s Vulnerability and Emotional Health
    51:32 Practical Steps to Become an Ally
    59:04 Closing the Funding Gap for Female Founders

    3 Magic Moments In The Episode

    Salmaan’s story begins close to home. He saw his mother’s potential limited by culture and circumstance, and that realization stayed with him. It made him aware of how many women are still held back. Not because they lack talent, but because systems and expectations were never built for them. That awareness became the seed of his allyship. These three stories from the episode bring that awareness to life:

    1. Healing starts with understanding, not blame

    He shares a story from a woman who worked for the World Health Organization in Congo. She said their mission wasn’t only to heal women after violence, but also to heal men. Because the harm came from inherited trauma and a false sense of inferiority rooted in colonialism. That insight reshaped how Salmaan sees toxic behavior: not as evil, but as pain looking for an outlet.

    2. Meeting bias with empathy

    Another moment comes from an everyday encounter at a flower shop. A woman he’d just met told him she distrusted asylum seekers. Instead of confronting her, he chose to listen. When she asked if he had ever faced racism, he said yes, many times. But instead of turning it into a debate, he kept the door open for a real conversation later. By staying open, he gave her space to reflect on her own words (and food for thought in the process).

    3. The micro-moments that matter

    At his coworking space, he noticed a receptionist who looked unwell. When she whispered that she was on her period, he didn’t brush it off. He asked why she felt she had to push through instead of resting. That question opened a dialogue with her manager about creating space for menstrual health at work. It’s a small act, but it shows how allyship can show up in micro-moments: noticing, asking, and making room for change.

    These stories reveal how allyship often begins with simple awareness. It’s not about grand gestures. It’s about how you choose to respond in the moment.

    💬 What was your magic moment from the episode? Let me know in the comments.

    Or scroll down for practical tips that will fuel your own journey as a founder or ally.

    Practical Takeaways for Founders and Allies

    Different perspectives are essential to close the gap. Salmaan’s stories remind us that inclusion isn’t just about representation; it’s about the quality of understanding that comes from it. Whether in funding decisions, company culture, or day-to-day collaboration, real progress depends on who’s in the room and how they listen to each other.

    1. Let skeptics go through their own process

    You can’t change people, no matter how strong your argument is. Salmaan says the best way to deal with resistance is to stay calm, keep the dialogue open, and allow others to reach their own realization in time. Change that comes from reflection sticks longer than change forced through debate.

    2. Fairness sometimes requires imbalance

    In his words, it’s okay to overcompensate for women in the workplace. After all, they’ve been undercompensated for too long. Founders and leaders can apply this by giving more room, resources, or visibility where imbalance has been the norm. Overcompensation isn’t favoritism; it’s repair.

    3. From consideration to understanding to compassion to action

    Salmaan describes allyship as a sequence that starts with noticing and ends with doing. Consider what others go through. Try to understand it. Let that spark compassion. Then take small, visible steps that improve the environment you’re in. It’s how you turn awareness into culture.

    💬 Know a founder or ally who should hear this? Use the share button below to tell them.

    Or scroll down to discover an inspiring quote and learn about my own takeaways.

    Next, I’ll share the moments from this conversation that shifted how I think about building inclusive companies.

    The Quote From The Episode

    When Salmaan talks about allyship, he doesn’t hide behind neutral language. He says what many hesitate to say out loud: women deserve some extra support. Not because they’re weak, but because, for too long, women have been undercompensated, underrepresented, and underestimated.

    Picture of Salmaan Sana with a quote from episode 128 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech titled 'How To Be a Compassionate Ally for Women in Tech.'

    “It’s okay to overcompensate for women in the workplace.”

    Salmaan Sana

    3 Things That Changed The Way I Think

    This conversation challenged some of my own assumptions about leadership and allyship. It’s what a conversation with a facilitator like Salmaan will do. I want to share three examples where he provided a mirror so I could start seeing how some of my own behaviors work for me—or against me.

    1. Relatability comes from being unfinished

    Salmaan doesn’t present himself as someone who has it all figured out. He admits that he’s still learning, still catching himself, still rethinking old patterns. That honesty makes him relatable. It’s a reminder that credibility doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from being in the process.

    2. The real question under defensiveness

    When men are confronted with their own toxic behavior, Salmaan says the deeper question is, “How good do I feel about myself right now?” That one line reframed how I see defensiveness. It’s not just resistance—it’s often a reflection of pain, insecurity, or shame. And seeing it that way changes how you respond.

    3. Vulnerability is leadership, not weakness

    What stands out most is how he lives what he teaches. He doesn’t share his flaws to prove he’s self-aware. He does it to show others that it’s safe to be honest. That kind of vulnerability isn’t a strategy—it’s leadership in action.

    What’s so powerful is that by sharing his own dilemmas and biases, Salmaan helps others shift their perspective and stays open to the perspectives that shift his own.

    💬 What changed your thinking? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

    A Question for You 🤔

    💬 Which part of Salmaan’s perspective on allyship made you rethink your own assumptions?

    👇 Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep this conversation going and make inclusion the new normal in tech.

    Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech

    Next week, Gina Schinkel discusses how her ventures, Driftawave and Leaderwave, are strategically capitalizing on the remote work boom by using innovative workations to foster team culture and productivity, while simultaneously preparing leaders and organizations to leverage AI and other new technologies for the future of work.

    Gina is clearly a tech and AI enthusiast. So in this clip, she explains why people who risk being laid off because of AI should actually embrace it.

    So stay tuned for more Women Disrupting Tech. And until the next episode, as always, Keep Being Awesome!

    Dirkjan

    PS If you fear missing out, subscribe to updates or follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

    Listen to Episode 128 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube

    How To Be A Compassionate Ally for Women in Tech with Salmaan Sana | Ep 128 – Women Disrupting Tech

    Listen on Spotify
    Listen on Apple Podcasts Logo
    Listen on Apple Podcasts
    Listen on YouTube (audio only)

    Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech

    Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

    Follow the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast

    Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

    Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple.

    It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

    Share the stories that move you.

    Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

    So when you know someone who should hear it, pass it on when you’re done.

    About Salmaan Sana

    Salmaan Sana is a leadership facilitator and organisational consultant based in Amsterdam who brings a rare blend of seriousness and humanity to his work. He started his career in medicine, where he witnessed chronic fatigue, burnout and a system built for endurance — not for wellbeing. That experience awakened his interest in how people and structures respond to change. Today, he works with teams and organisations to rediscover connection, belonging and alignment through inclusive leadership and emotional awareness.

    He describes himself as a process-artist who listens deeply, designs with intention and then turns insight into action. Whether through consultancy, workshops or master-classes, Salmaan uses everyday experiences and structural insight to help people move from resignation to agency. His mission is to make the workplace somewhere everyone can show up fully and be heard, not just survive.

    In the podcast, Salmaan mentions a TEDx Talk that he gave in 2011. You can watch that on YouTube.

    You can learn more about Salmaan on his website and connect with him on LinkedIn and Substack.

    Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend

    The fall is loaded with great events, and I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

    During this final 3mbrace Health event of 2025, you’re invited to better understand the importance of women’s health and the powerful role it plays in our personal, professional, and societal well-being. Men are expressly invited to join. And yes, I will be there too. So buy your tickets on Luma.

    That’s What She Said

    Looking for an event to start your new year off right? Well, Impowr and Boom Chicago have got your back. They’re starting on 14 January with an event where networking meets comedy. You can get your early-bird ticket (a €10 discount until 30 November) on the Boom Chicago website.

    Diverse Leaders in Tech Events

    If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.

    Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.

    You can register for events on the DLiT website. Did I mention that joining your first event is free?

    Equals Events

    Equals is on a mission to shape a society where women and men stand on equal footing. At their home base in Amsterdam, they regularly organize events, but you can organize yours there too (like the 3mbrace Health events). You can find the events on Luma.

    What I Want To Leave You With

    We recorded this episode the same week that 17-year-old Lisa was killed while cycling home in Amsterdam. The city felt different that week. Many women, across the country and in the media, spoke up about what it means to not feel safe in the dark. Many men, myself included, started to listen more closely.

    It reminded me that allyship is something that needs constant attention and improvement. It’s checking in, asking, and noticing who doesn’t feel safe or seen—and what we can do about it, right where we are.

    Salmaan’s work shows that leadership and allyship aren’t separate things. They both begin with paying attention. And they both depend on whether we’re willing to act, even when it feels uncomfortable.

    Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

    , , , , , , , ,

  • How to Use Relocation to Build Inclusive Teams with Marieke van Iperen | Show notes episode 127

    How to Use Relocation to Build Inclusive Teams with Marieke van Iperen | Show notes episode 127

    Marieke van Iperen never planned to become a founder. That only changed after she became a mom and purpose became non-negotiable. She decided to use her lived experiences to do something simple and difficult at the same time. Make people feel at home when they move to a new country.

    That belief is the foundation of Settly. And it shows why relocation is not just paperwork. It is identity, belonging, and the human side of moving teams across borders.

    But our conversation covers much more. In 42 minutes we talk about immigration, scaling, team culture and safe spaces.

    Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, or scroll down to learn more about the conversation.

    3 Lessons From This Conversation

    Marieke shares how her personal experience of moving and struggling to feel at home led her to found Settly. Settly’s core mission is to create a world where everyone feels at home. One thing that stands out in this conversation is how value-driven decisions can scale.

    Growth and values can reinforce each other.

    Belonging is not fluffy. It is rooted in design. Marieke shows that you can build a company that grows fast without losing sight of community, because growth and purpose are not opposites. They can reinforce each other when you make them part of how you operate.

    The right capital is a tool, not the destination.

    Bootstrapping first protected Settly’s values. Later, when it was time to scale, she chose impact investors because they understood the link between money and expansion. For her, the capital is not the point. The capital is the tool that unlocks more reach.

    Belonging happens in culture, not in forms or packages.

    Belonging is not something you solve with a form. It requires trust, curiosity and asking why more often. When people are encouraged to bring their full selves, you unlock a level of connection that actually makes relocation work.

    This matters because belonging is often treated like a soft outcome. But this conversation makes it clear that it is the engine behind performance and growth.

    Share this episode with someone who cares about making people feel at home in new places.

    Or scroll down for magic moments.

    And if you want more lessons like this? Follow the podcast or subscribe to updates for a weekly dose of female founder inspiration.

    Or scroll down for magical moments, practical takeaways, and my own observations.

    1. 3 Lessons From This Conversation
    2. Highlights and timestamps
    3. 3 Magic Moments In The Episode
    4. Practical Takeaways for Founders
    5. The Quote From The Episode
    6. 3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
    7. A Question for You 🤔
    8. Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
    9. Listen to Episode 126 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
    10. Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
    11. About Marieke van Iperen
    12. About Settly
    13. Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
    14. What I Want To Leave You With

    Highlights and timestamps

    Time Highlight
    03:00 Journey to Becoming a CEO
    04:16 Hippie Roots and Startup Culture
    05:36 Bootstrapping and Values in Business
    06:51 Cultural Intelligence in Hiring
    12:15 Navigating COVID-19 Challenges
    15:16 Geopolitical Challenges in Expansion
    17:16 Overview of Settly and Its Services
    19:44 Impact of Government Policies on Business
    24:59 Changing Perspectives on Immigration
    28:38 Creating Safe Spaces in Companies
    44:02 Men’s Role in Inclusivity
    45:02 New Features and Closing Thoughts

    3 Magic Moments In The Episode

    One in three international moves fails. The stat shows what happens when companies focus on getting someone hired instead of helping them feel at home. And it shows the magic in the work that Marieke is doing with Settly. Here are three more magical moments from our conversation.

    Turning negative events into opportunities.

    Marieke grew up with scarcity. A single mom. Welfare. Hard moments. She learned to pause and look for the lesson before reacting. Over time, that coping mechanism became a source of strength. It helps her make choices rooted in optimism rather than fear.

    When a Covid idea became a platform feature.

    Settly started online community events during the pandemic. It began as a way to give stranded hires something to hold on to. That experiment became a core feature of the product. It shows how improvisation can unlock something lasting.

    Tenant Hub makes belonging practical.

    Tenant Hub helps newcomers find each other so they can increase their housing budget together. It is simple and free. And it shows that belonging is not just philosophy. It is product decisions that help people feel at home faster.

    These moments matter because they show how belief becomes action. And how action becomes culture.

    💬 What was your magic moment from the episode? Let me know in the comments.

    Or scroll down for practical tips that will fuel your founder journey.

    Practical Takeaways for Founders

    Much of our conversation is about belonging. But when we talk about why she bootstrapped and what she learned from getting VCs on board, Marieke shares some great learnings that all founders could benefit from.

    Structure helps you fast-track decisions

    Getting investors involved forced more structure into the business. That structure helped Marieke and her team make better calls in less time. It shows that the right support at the right moment can help you skip unnecessary rework.

    Learning is fun, but not always best for business

    The early days of Settly were a lot about trial and error. Only when her investors started challenging her and her partner in board meetings did she discover that she could shorten her learning curve by borrowing patterns that already work.

    Curiosity builds belonging

    Never assume. Stay curious. Ask why. Take the time to understand someone’s background and needs. Belonging is not an abstract idea. It is the result of these small choices repeated every day.

    These takeaways matter because founders often jump straight to execution. But belonging and business good outcomes both require structure and intention.

    💬 Know a founder who should hear this? Use the share button below to tell them about the episode.

    Or scroll down to discover an inspiring quote and learn about my own takeaways.

    Next, I’ll share the moments from this conversation that shifted how I think about building inclusive companies.

    The Quote From The Episode

    I mentioned Marieke’s ability to reframe negative situations into an opportunity. And I think it is one of her really strong points. This quote captures the essence of what it is about.

    Picture of Settly cofounder and CEO Marieke van Iperen with a quote episode 127 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech titled ‘How to Use Relocation to Build Inclusive Teams’.

    “With every downside there is always an opportunity to come out stronger if you pause, reflect and try to take the learnings out.”

    Marieke van Iperen, CEO and cofounder of Settly

    3 Things That Changed The Way I Think

    This episode is slightly different from most other episodes in the sense that we go deep on Marieke’s personal observations. Here’s what our conversation taught me.

    One in three moves fails

    I knew belonging mattered. But the 1 in 3 failure rate for hires involving relocations surprised me. It shows how often we optimize for hiring instead of human landing. And that we shouldn’t see belonging as a nice-to-have, but as a cost driver.

    Different cultures respond differently to stress

    When Marieke talked about her own team after the 2023 election, I realized how much background shapes emotional safety. The same uncertainty can trigger fear in one person and curiosity in another.

    Angel investors earlier, not VCs earlier

    I found this refreshing. We often think “just raise sooner”. But Marieke makes a case that some learning can only happen when you build your own pattern first. That nuance shifted the way I look at funding advice.

    These reflections matter because they force me to look at belonging not only as a founder topic, but as a personal one.

    What changed your thinking? I would love to hear from you in the comments.

    A Question for You 🤔

    💬 What was the biggest eye-opener of the episode for you? Was it that 1 in 3 moves fail? Or that we really need the talents to come to the Netherlands and feel at home? Or that the housing crisis plays a role in the debate around immigration?

    👇 Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep this conversation going and make inclusion the new normal in tech.

    Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech

    Next week, we’ll move back to ally territory. In episode 128, Salmaan Sana teaches us how leadership, emotional health and compassion help us to be better allies.

    And talking about allyship, Salmaan has some opinions about what is needed to create a more equal society. Like the need to overcompensate people who so far have been undercompensated.

    Click play to listen why Salmaan thinks overcompensation is good.

    So stay tuned for more Women Disrupting Tech. And until the next episode, as always, Keep Being Awesome!

    Dirkjan

    PS If you fear missing out, subscribe to updates or follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

    Listen to Episode 126 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube

    How to Use Relocation to Build Inclusive Teams with Settly CEO Marieke van Iperen | Ep. 127 – Women Disrupting Tech

    Listen on Spotify
    Listen on Apple Podcasts Logo
    Listen on Apple Podcasts
    Listen on YouTube (audio only)

    Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech

    Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

    Follow the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast

    Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

    Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple.

    It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

    Share the stories that move you.

    Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

    So when you know someone who should hear it, pass it on when you’re done.

    About Marieke van Iperen

    Marieke van Iperen is the CEO and co-founder of Settly. Before she became a founder she spent more than a decade leading HR and Reward teams at global companies like Uber, PwC, Nike, Starbucks, and Manpower. She saw how difficult it can be for talent to move to a new country, and that experience became the starting point for Settly. Her mission is simple. Create a world where everyone feels at home.

    Settly helps companies relocate people in a way that saves time and money while increasing belonging. The platform integrates with HR systems, gives clear insight into budgets, and offers support for housing, immigration, tax, moving goods, schooling, spouse support, and cultural transition. With a diverse, value-driven team and thousands of successful moves, Settly shows that relocation is not just about logistics. It is about helping talent land well so they can contribute, grow, and stay.

    You can connect with Marieke on LinkedIn.

    About Settly

    Settly is a values-driven HR tech company on a mission to create a world where everyone feels at home. Founded by Marieke van Iperen and Kimo Paula in 2019, the startup emerged from real experience: Marieke’s years in global HR and Kimo’s expertise in destination services revealed a stark gap in how companies support relocating talent. Settly’s all-in-one platform brings together support for housing, immigration, tax, moving goods, schooling, spouse integration and cultural transition — all integrated with core HR systems to help companies attract, engage and retain global talent efficiently.

    From day one, Settly has made community and inclusion part of its business model. The team boasts wide national and cultural diversity and early recognition, such as being named a Top 200 Inspiring & Diverse Start-Up. Backed by a 9.2 CSAT and over 5,000 successful moves, Settly stands as proof that relocation is more than logistics: it is identity work. By helping people truly feel at home, Settly helps companies unlock performance, reduce cost and enable sustainable growth.

    You can learn more about the company and about Tenant Hub on the Settly website and by following Settly on LinkedIn.

    Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend

    The fall is loaded with great events, and I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

    During this final 3mbrace Health event of 2025, you’re invited to better understand the importance of women’s health and the powerful role it plays in our personal, professional, and societal well-being. Men are expressly invited to join. And yes, I will be there too. So buy your tickets on Luma.

    That’s What She Said

    Looking for an event to start your new year off right? Well, Impowr and Boom Chicago have got your back. They’re starting on 14 January with an event where networking meets comedy. You can get your early-bird ticket (a €10 discount until 30 November) on the Boom Chicago website.

    Diverse Leaders in Tech Events

    If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.

    Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.

    You can register for events on the DLiT website. Did I mention that joining your first event is free?

    Equals Events

    Equals is on a mission to shape a society where women and men stand on equal footing. At their home base in Amsterdam, they regularly organize events, but you can organize yours there too (like the 3mbrace Health events). You can find the events on Luma.

    What I Want To Leave You With

    We often talk about talent and innovation like they are separate domains. But this episode showed me that the future of our tech ecosystem will not only be shaped by who we manage to hire. It will be shaped by how we make talent feel that they belong.

    Because belonging is not a perk. It is a human right and an economic necessity. The Netherlands needs new talent to keep building and competing. And we need to stop treating relocation as logistics and start treating it as identity work. That is where growth lives.

    Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, and discover how Settly transforms relocation into belonging.

    , , , , , , , ,

  • Permissionless Inclusion, One Meal at a Time with Yasmina Khababi | Show notes episode 126

    Permissionless Inclusion, One Meal at a Time with Yasmina Khababi | Show notes episode 126

    It was in a classroom filled with graphs and headlines about global warming and migration, Yasmina Khababi saw that people cared about climate or migration. But rarely about both. Few linked the two.

    She did. And she found the simplest way to bridge them: food.

    This idea became Freshtable, a platform connecting climate, migration, and dignity through food. Yasmina built it with her own resources and a resilient mindset; treating her mind as a sanctuary, boundaries as protection, and rest as a right.

    This episode is about inclusion, leadership, and learning to build systems that work for people. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, or scroll down for more about the conversation.

    3 Lessons From This Conversation

    In Yasmina’s family, food was never just food. It was storytelling, connection, and comfort all at once. Every meal carried a memory of where her parents came from and what they wanted to pass on. It is no surprise that she would later build a company around the same idea: food as a bridge between worlds.

    Connection begins at the table.

    When Yasmina studied climate change and the refugee crisis, she saw how rarely people linked the two. One was treated as an environmental issue, the other as a human one. She saw them as part of the same system. Food became her way to connect those dots, the simplest possible entry point to rebuild empathy between people and planet.

    See opportunity where others see limitation.

    Many of Freshtable’s team members once had careers as engineers, bookkeepers, or bank directors before fleeing their countries. Their qualifications no longer counted on paper, but their talent remained. Yasmina saw that as an opportunity, not a risk. By matching skills to roles that honour people’s experience, she turned underused potential into shared value for everyone involved.

    Build systems that outlast you.

    Through Freshtable and the Freshtable Foundation, Yasmina invests in the next generation of impact makers. Her goal is to make her own presence unnecessary, to create structures that keep working when she steps away. That shift from founder-led to founder-designed might be the purest form of sustainable leadership.

    Yasmina’s story shows that building a business isn’t only about solving problems. It is about connecting systems that were never meant to be separate.

    Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

    Or scroll down for magic moments.

    And if you want more lessons like this? Follow the podcast or subscribe to updates for a weekly dose of female founder inspiration.

    Or scroll down for magical moments, practical takeaways, and my own observations.

    1. 3 Lessons From This Conversation
    2. Highlights and timestamps
    3. 3 Magic Moments In The Episode
    4. Practical Takeaways for Founders
    5. The Quote From The Episode
    6. 3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
    7. A Question for You 🤔
    8. Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
    9. Listen to Episode 126 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
    10. Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
    11. About Yasmina Khababi
    12. About Freshtable
    13. Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
    14. What I Want To Leave You With

    Highlights and timestamps

    Time Highlight
    03:10 Introduction to FreshTable and Its Mission
    05:58 Connecting Climate Change and Refugee Issues
    09:02 The FreshTable Business Model and Its Values
    12:00 Empowering Refugees Through Work and Education
    15:15 Geographical Luck and Its Impact on Opportunity
    18:06 Facilitating Change: The Role of FreshTable
    21:00 Accreditation and Career Advancement for Refugees
    24:02 Diversity vs. Inclusion in the Workplace
    27:10 The Vision for a Sustainable Future
    30:03 The Role of the FreshTable Foundation
    32:48 Creating a Safe Space for Feedback
    36:34 Servant leadership and safe spaces
    42:24 Mindset as a Sanctuary
    48:36 The Art of Letting Go
    56:15 Rest as a Right, Not a Reward
    58:12 The Role of Men in Promoting Inclusion

    3 Magic Moments In The Episode

    The second part of the conversation turns into a mindset masterclass. Here are three magic nuggets from that part of the episode.

    The mind as a sanctuary.

    Yasmina describes her mind as a space she protects. A place where she decides what thoughts to let in and which to keep out. It is her way of staying calm and focused when the outside world gets noisy.

    The Art of Letting Go.

    When something goes wrong, Yasmina looks for what she can do to make it right, then lets it go. She explains that forgiveness does not mean giving people the same access again. It means clearing the emotional space so she can move forward.

    Prayer as a reset button.

    For Yasmina, prayer is more than faith. It is discipline. Five times a day she pauses to reflect and reset. It reminded me of my own non-negotiable workouts, the moments that keep me balanced and focused.

    I’m not religious but I fully understand how the call to prayer can have a grounding effect. It shows that mindset is not something you have or not. It is something you build through rhythm, reflection, and rest.

    💬 What was your magic moment from the episode? Let me know in the comments.

    Or scroll down for practical tips that will fuel your founder journey.

    Practical Takeaways for Founders

    Yasmina’s story offers a rare mix of purpose and practicality. Her lessons can help any founder build a business that lasts and a mindset that sustains it.

    Let your values shape your business model.

    For Yasmina, impact was never an add-on. Freshtable’s entire model is built around three pillars: sustainability, food accessibility, and inclusion in the labor market. The company’s structure reflects its purpose, proving that values and profitability can go hand in hand.

    Make rest part of your system.

    Rest is not a reward. It is a right. Schedule it with the same intention you bring to your meetings or product launches. Rest is what keeps your business healthy and your ideas sharp.

    Find mentors who help you see yourself.

    Yasmina credits much of her growth to mentorship. But not the kind that tells you what to do. A good mentor, she says, is someone who helps you see your own potential, asks the right questions, and guides you back to your own intuition.

    What I like most about Yasmina’s approach is how she shows that sustainable leadership is not about doing more. It is about designing systems that reflect who you are and what you stand for.

    💬 Know a founder who should know about these? Share the episode with them using the buttons below.

    Or scroll down to discover an inspiring quote and learn about my own takeaways.

    Next, I’ll share the moments from this conversation that shifted how I think about building inclusive companies.

    The Quote From The Episode

    Yasmina sees inclusion not as a statement, but as a system. This quote captures exactly that.

    Picture of Freshtable founder and CEO Yasmina Khababi with a quote from episode 126 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech, which features an interview with her.

    “My dream is that we create more startups and corporations that see inclusivity, sustainability and food accessibility as no-brainers.”

    Yasmina Khababi, CEO and Founder of Freshtable

    3 Things That Changed The Way I Think

    Yasmina talks about geographical luck, the privilege of being born in a place that offers safety, opportunity, and stability. It is a reminder that much of what shapes our lives is not earned, but given. Listening to her made me think about luck in a broader sense: how it multiplies when shared, and how it can quietly reinforce inequality when ignored.

    Luck is something to multiply and share.

    Yasmina’s idea of geographical luck made me see privilege in layers. There is also gender luck, the invisible advantage that comes from not being expected to step back for caregiving or family. Recognizing it is not about guilt. It is about awareness and the balance it can create.

    What feels normal to me isn’t standard for others.

    Her stories reminded me that the freedoms I take for granted are not universal. The hours I can dedicate to work, the safety to speak my mind, the networks I have access to, none of them are standard. Awareness becomes empathy when it leads to inclusion.

    Servant leadership starts within.

    Yasmina’s definition of safe spaces begins with self-compassion. You cannot create safety for others if you treat yourself with harshness. Leadership built on kindness, rather than pressure, creates room for everyone to grow.

    Overall, this episode taught me that men can play a key role in advancing inclusion and sustainability by acknowledging the positions and privileges they hold, what Yasmina would call gender luck, and by using that privilege to share platforms and give space to minoritized voices. Awareness is only the first step. Action is what makes it real.

    What changed your thinking? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

    A Question for You 🤔

    💬 What’s one action you can take to weave inclusion, sustainability and food accessibility into your company’s DNA?

    👇 Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep this conversation going and make inclusion the new normal in tech.

    Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech

    Next up is another episode with a founder who sees limitations as opportunities. Settly founder Marieke van Iperen comes on to share how she merged her community-driven “hippie” values with high-growth technology to fulfil her mission of creating a world where everyone feels at home.

    Here’s a clip from the episode that reframes our perceived immigration problem.

    Why we need immigration? Here’s Marieke’s take.

    So stay tuned for more Women Disrupting Tech. And until the next episode, as always, Keep Being Awesome!

    Dirkjan

    PS If you fear missing out, subscribe to updates or follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

    Listen to Episode 126 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube

    Permissionless Inclusion, One Meal at a Time with Yasmina Khababi | Ep. 126 – Women Disrupting Tech

    Listen on Spotify
    Listen on Apple Podcasts Logo
    Listen on Apple Podcasts
    Listen on YouTube (audio only)

    Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech

    Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

    Follow the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast

    Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

    Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple.

    It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

    Share the stories that move you.

    Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

    So when you know someone who should hear it, pass it on when you’re done.

    About Yasmina Khababi

    Yasmina Khababi is a Dutch-Moroccan entrepreneur, change consultant, and keynote speaker who helps organizations and individuals create lasting social impact.
    She believes that inclusion starts with connection, between people, systems, and ideas.

    As the founder and CEO of Freshtable, she brings that same mindset to the table, literally. Yasmina uses food as a bridge between climate, migration, and human dignity. With every meal, she shows that business can be both profitable and purposeful.

    She also serves on the Executive Board of the Freshtable Foundation, where she supports social entrepreneurship in underprivileged areas and leads the #ShareAMeal campaign, aiming to give away 10,000 free meals to people in need.

    Learn more by connecting with Yasmina on LinkedIn.

    About Freshtable

    Freshtable is a social impact catering company based in the Netherlands that connects sustainability, inclusion, and great food. Founded by Yasmina Khababi, Freshtable creates meaningful jobs for highly skilled former refugees by matching their original expertise with new opportunities in the hospitality industry.

    Every dish tells a story of connection, between cultures, skills, and shared values. Freshtable caters for companies and events that want more than good food; they want to make a difference, one meal at a time.

    Beyond catering, the Freshtable Foundation invests in the next generation of changemakers through its #ShareAMeal campaign and global social entrepreneurship programs.

    Together, Freshtable and its Foundation prove that inclusion and sustainability are not add-ons. They are good business.

    Discover more on the Freshtable website or follow Freshtable on LinkedIn.

    Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend

    The fall is loaded with great events, and I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

    During this final 3mbrace Health event of 2025, you’re invited to better understand the importance of women’s health and the powerful role it plays in our personal, professional, and societal well-being. Men are expressly invited to join. And yes, I will be there too. So buy your tickets on Luma.

    That’s What She Said

    Looking for an event to start your new year off right? Well, Impowr and Boom Chicago have got your back. They’re starting on 14 January with an event where networking meets comedy. You can get your early-bird ticket (a €10 discount until 30 November) on the Boom Chicago website.

    Diverse Leaders in Tech Events

    If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.

    Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.

    You can register for events on the DLiT website. Did I mention that joining your first event is free?

    Equals Events

    Equals is on a mission to shape a society where women and men stand on equal footing. At their home base in Amsterdam, they regularly organize events, but you can organize yours there too (like the 3mbrace Health events). You can find the events on Luma.

    What I Want To Leave You With

    Yasmina reminded me that people are not born as minorities. They are minoritized by systems, policies, and narratives that decide whose voice gets heard. Inclusion begins when we start seeing that difference.

    The way to break this is simple. Start by listening. By resting. By creating systems that help others thrive. And most of all, by not waiting for permission to begin.

    Listen to the full conversation with Yasmina Khababi on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, and discover how inclusion can start with something as simple as a meal.

    , , , , , , , ,

  • How Mews Builds Inclusive Cultures in Hospitality with Magali Elhage and Matthijs Welle | Show notes episode 125

    How Mews Builds Inclusive Cultures in Hospitality with Magali Elhage and Matthijs Welle | Show notes episode 125

    Imagine your CEO introducing himself like this during your new hire orientation: “Hi, I’m Matthijs. This is my boyfriend, and this is my dog, Beyoncé.”

    That was how Matthijs Welle once opened Mews’ new hire orientation. A small but defining moment for people like Magali Elhage. Because when the CEO starts by being real, it signals that everyone else can be too.

    In episode 125 of Women Disrupting Tech, we explore what happens when inclusion, psychological safety, and innovation are built into the heart of a company. And how Mews turned those values into business performance.

    Scroll down to explore the lessons from this conversation, or listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

    3 Lessons From This Conversation

    If there is one thing I hope you take away from listening, it is that unsafe workplaces kill performance. Magali’s earlier career in traditional hospitality “killed her from the inside,” showing how much energy goes into hiding identity instead of performing. Her experience at Mews couldn’t have been more different. Because she felt safe, she could focus on what really matters: changing hospitality for the better.

    Here are three more things you’ll learn by listening:

    Diversity is a business advantage.

    Everyone stays in hotels, so products must reflect everyone’s needs. A small group of white straight men simply can’t solve the problems for blind guests, neurodivergent travelers, or female travelers. When diversity becomes part of product design, inclusion stops being a side topic and starts driving business growth.

    Culture is a leadership function, not an HR one

    Matthijs used a Czech saying to describe it: “The fish stinks from the head.” Culture starts at the top, and at Mews it’s reinforced by leaders who model self-awareness and transparency. They constantly ask themselves where bias might be showing up and whether they’re addressing it in the right way. That kind of reflection makes inclusion part of daily practice, not a corporate statement.

    Micromanagement rebranded to T-shaped leadership.

    Matthijs believes good leaders know when to go deep and when to step back. He calls it being T-shaped: having depth in one area while understanding how it connects to the bigger picture. “We used to call it micromanagement, but today it’s a leadership skill.” True leadership means staying curious about the details without losing sight of the vision.

    These lessons matter because they show that inclusion is not a side topic but a driver of performance and innovation. They remind us that leading with empathy and awareness creates space for people to do their best work.

    Share the episode with someone who needs to hear this.

    Or scroll down for magic moments.

    And if you want more lessons like this? Follow the podcast or subscribe to updates for a weekly dose of female founder inspiration.

    Or scroll down for magical moments, practical takeaways, and my own observations.

    1. 3 Lessons From This Conversation
    2. Highlights and timestamps
    3. 3 Magic Moments In The Episode
    4. Practical Takeaways for Founders
    5. The Quote From The Episode
    6. 3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
    7. A Question for You 🤔
    8. Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
    9. Listen to Episode 125 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
    10. Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
    11. About Magali Elhage
    12. About Matthijs Welle
    13. About Mews
    14. Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
    15. What I Want To Leave You With

    Highlights and timestamps

    Time Highlight
    03:05 Journey to Mews: Personal Stories of Transformation
    05:48 Breaking Barriers: The Struggles of Diversity in Hospitality
    08:26 From Traditional to Innovative: The Birth of Mews
    11:10 Building a Tech-Driven Hospitality Future
    13:55 Inclusion by Design: Creating a Culture of Belonging
    16:44 Empowering Voices: The Role of Leadership in Diversity
    19:37 The Importance of Storytelling in DEI Initiatives
    22:12 Navigating Challenges: The Path to Inclusive Leadership
    25:07 Creating Safe Spaces: The Mews Experience
    27:44 The Role of Employee Resource Groups in Culture Building
    30:40 Parental Leave and Support: Building for the Future
    33:50 Addressing the Gender Pay Gap: A Long-Term Commitment
    36:40 Leveraging AI for Growth and Learning
    39:40 The Power of Allyship in Tech
    42:17 Reflections on Personal Growth and Performance
    45:31 Innovative Tools for Communication and Feedback
    48:19 Facing Fears: Embracing Change in Leadership
    51:11 Advice for Founders: Building an Inclusive Company
    54:19 The Future of Mews: Vision and Strategy

    3 Magic Moments In The Episode

    When Matthijs told the story of the first two women joining the office, I couldn’t help but smile. Almost overnight, the atmosphere changed. The men started cleaning up after themselves and became more aware of their behavior. No new policies, no training sessions, just the quiet power of diversity doing its work.

    Here are three more moments that stayed with me:

    Fear as fuel

    Matthijs said something every founder can relate to: “Even if it’s crippling me with fear or anxiety, I jump into it to learn more about it.” When AI first appeared on the scene, he feared it could destroy his company. But instead of stepping back, he leaned in. It’s a mindset that turns fear into curiosity, and curiosity into leadership.

    Safety as freedom

    Around the 40-minute mark, Magali describes what it feels like to work in an unsafe environment: the self-censorship, the exhaustion of pretending, the constant effort to hide who you are. Then she contrasts it with her first new hire orientation at Mews, when Matthijs introduced his boyfriend and his dog. In that moment, she realized she could finally be herself. The shift from hiding to belonging changed how she performed and how she led others.

    Role models matter

    Pictures of Magali Elhage (top right) and Matthijs Welle (bottom right) with a quote from episode 125 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech, titled 'How Mews Builds Inclusive Cultures in Hospitality'.

    A bit later, Magali shares what having Matthijs as a role model did to her own ambitions. Her reflection that “If you can make it to C-level being who you are, it means my career isn’t stuck because of who I am,” captures the impact of seeing someone like you lead authentically. Representation isn’t about tokenism or quotas. It’s about showing others what’s possible when you stop conforming and start leading from who you really are.

    These moments matter because they show that inclusion is built on real people and actions, not slogans on a website. They remind us that when people feel safe enough to be themselves, they start doing their best work as their best selves.

    💬 What was your favorite moment from the episode? Let me know in the comments.

    Or scroll down for practical tips that will fuel your founder journey.

    Practical Takeaways for Founders

    Mews wasn’t designed to be inclusive from day one. Inclusion grew from small, authentic choices like Matthijs being openly gay and using English internally. Those decisions didn’t come from strategy decks or slogans. They came from being real, paying attention, and learning along the way.

    Here are three practical insights you can apply to your own company:

    Lead by example and make action visible.

    When AI first appeared on the scene, Matthijs feared it could destroy his company. Instead of stepping back, he decided to learn his way through the fear. He built a bot himself, filmed the process, shared it online, and asked his leadership team to do the same before attending the offsite. It was a simple but powerful way to turn talk into accountability. By embracing what scares you and showing others how you learn, you make curiosity part of the culture.

    Build through small experiments.

    Inclusion and innovation rarely start with big declarations. They grow from many small experiments that evolve as the company learns. At Mews, progress happens through iteration: testing new policies, adjusting when things don’t work, and keeping inclusion alive as an everyday practice. Building a truly inclusive company is a slow, deliberate process of many small decisions that, over time, shape the culture and the business.

    Support every stage of life.

    Mews also looks at inclusion beyond work performance. They support primary and secondary caregivers through fair parental-leave policies, helping parents return to work without losing career momentum. That same attention helps close the gender pay gap and shows that inclusion doesn’t end at the office door. It extends to how you treat people in every chapter of their lives. These takeaways matter because they show that inclusion and performance are built the same way: through consistent, visible actions. They remind us that culture is created by what leaders do, not what they say.

    💬 Know a founder who should know about these? Share the episode with them using the buttons below.

    Or scroll down to discover an inspiring quote and learn about my own takeaways.

    Next, I’ll share the moments from this conversation that shifted how I think about building inclusive companies.

    The Quote From The Episode

    Towards the end of the episode, Magali, Matthijs and I talk about the role of men in the DEI conversation. It’s a topic that often feels loaded and a left-wing hobby, but Matthijs frames it in a way that cuts through the noise and gets to the heart of what allyship really means.

    Pictures of Matthijs Welle(top right) and Magali Elhage (bottom right) with a quote from episode 125 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech, titled 'How Mews Builds Inclusive Cultures in Hospitality'.

    “I think the word ally, it’s not a noun, it’s a verb… What are you doing to lean into that conversation.”

    Matthijs Welle, CEO of Mews

    3 Things That Changed The Way I Think

    When I checked into a hotel during my recent holiday, I instantly remembered Matthijs’s story about manual hotel processes. What Matthijs and his team are building at Mews isn’t just software. It’s a system that removes friction, giving both guests and employees the space to focus on what really matters.

    It’s one of those moments from this episode that changed how I look at leadership, growth, and privilege. Here are the others.

    Freedom to grow

    Both Magali and Matthijs joined Mews to escape ceilings that limited their growth. For both, the company became a form of liberation. A place where they could finally be their best selves and help reshape an industry they once felt excluded from.

    (P)Reaching beyond the converted

    At one point, Matthijs mentioned that this podcast “preaches to the converted.” It made me rethink my own audience and how to reach the middle group: people who may not identify with DEI labels but are still open to listening, learning, and changing how they lead. That’s where real progress happens.

    Privilege and perspective

    Hearing both Magali and Matthijs describe hiding parts of themselves made me aware of my own privilege. As a white heterosexual man, I’ve always had the safety they had to fight for. Producing this episode reminded me how much of a privilege it is to host these conversations and to be trusted with stories that challenge me to look deeper.

    And Magali’s story about building her own AI coach planted the seed for the AI Coach I now want to build myself.

    What changed your thinking? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

    A Question for You 🤔

    💬 What’s one small action you can take to make your team feel safer and more included?

    👇 Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep this conversation going and make inclusion the new normal in tech.

    Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech

    Next week, we continue our journey with another female founder who bootstrapped. Freshtable founder and CEO Yasmina Khababi shares how she built Freshtable as a platform where food connects climate, migration, and human dignity.

    The second part of our conversation is a masterclass on mental health. Here’s a clip where she explains why she treats her mind as a sanctuary and how discipline, reflection, and rest help her lead with purpose.

    Hear from Yasmina Khababi why founders should treat their minds as a sanctuary.

    So stay tuned for more Women Disrupting Tech. And until the next episode, as always, Keep Being Awesome!

    Dirkjan

    PS If you fear missing out, subscribe to updates or follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

    Listen to Episode 125 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube

    How Mews Builds Inclusive Cultures in Hospitality with Magali Elhage and Matthijs Welle | Ep. 125 – Women Disrupting Tech

    Listen on Spotify
    Listen on Apple Podcasts Logo
    Listen on Apple Podcasts
    Listen on YouTube (audio only)

    Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech

    Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

    Follow the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast

    Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

    Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple.

    It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

    Share the stories that move you.

    Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

    So when you know someone who should hear it, pass it on when you’re done.

    About Magali Elhage

    Magali Elhage is a former hotel-operations specialist who now leads guest-experience strategy at Mews. Early in her career she worked on the frontline of hospitality and witnessed the friction of manual processes and outdated systems. At Mews she uses that insight to help hoteliers deliver more personal, efficient service with technology. She believes hospitality tech is the way forward to redefine industry standards and put people (not paperwork) first.

    You can connect with Magali on LinkedIn.

    About Matthijs Welle

    Matthijs Welle is CEO of Mews and a former hotel manager turned tech-leader. He joined the company in its early days to help replace the systems that held the industry back, rather than just patch them. Under his leadership, Mews has grown into a global cloud platform for hospitality operations. He sees culture, inclusion and innovation as inseparable and leads from the front to turn those values into performance.

    You can connect with Matthijs on LinkedIn.

    About Mews

    Mews was founded in 2012 by ex-hoteliers who knew all too well how outdated systems slowed down service and innovation. Today, it’s a cloud platform used by thousands of properties worldwide to automate tasks, personalise guest experiences and free staff to focus on people. At Mews, building the right culture is as important as building the right product, because when teams feel safe, customers notice.

    To learn more about this Dutch Unicorn, visit their website and (like 86 thousand other people) follow them on LinkedIn.

    Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend

    The fall is loaded with great events, and I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

    Diverse Leaders in Tech Events

    If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.

    Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.

    You can register for events on the DLiT website. Did I mention that joining your first event is free?

    Understanding Women’s Health – 3 December 2025

    During this final 3mbrace Health event of 2025, you’re invited to better understand the importance of women’s health and the powerful role it plays in our personal, professional, and societal well-being. Men are expressly invited to join. And yes, I will be there too. More info and tickets can be found here.

    Equals Events

    Equals is on a mission to shape a society where women and men stand on equal footing. At their home base in Amsterdam, they regularly organize events, but you can organize yours there too (like the 3mbrace Health events). You can find the events on Luma.

    That’s What She Said

    Looking for an event to start your new year off right? Well, Impowr and Boom Chicago have got your back. They’re starting on 14 January with an event where networking meets comedy. You can get your early-bird ticket (a €10 discount until 30 November) on the Boom Chicago website.

    What I Want To Leave You With

    One reason I love having Magali and Matthijs on the show is that Mews treats inclusion as part of the business, not a side project. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are a big part of that. They serve as safe spaces where people can find role models, mentors, and community.

    Matthijs used to think of them as ‘corporate mumbo jumbo,’ but when he saw how they operate at Mews, he turned around. Now, Mews compensates ERG leaders with equity shares, recognizing that building culture and diversifying the employee base is real work and it deserves to be valued as such.

    It’s a reminder that when inclusion is rewarded, it scales. That’s how small cultural actions turn into lasting change.

    Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

    , , , , , ,

  • How Anieke Lamers Closes the Inequality Gap by Backing Female Founders with Borski Fund | Show notes episode 124

    How Anieke Lamers Closes the Inequality Gap by Backing Female Founders with Borski Fund | Show notes episode 124

    “Do we really need to haze the next generation of female founders?

    In sororities, hazing is a rite of passage. For female founders, it’s often unspoken. Many women who’ve made it to the top feel like they have to struggle alone. So those who come after them should too.

    Anieke Lamers doesn’t buy that.

    In Episode 124 of Women Disrupting Tech, Anieke Lamers challenges the view that female founders must struggle alone and explains how we can create an investment ecosystem that supports bold women early. As a founder-turned-Borski Fund partner, Anieke brings both urgency and unique insight.

    🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Or scroll down for the lessons, magic moments, and reflections from our conversation.

    3 Lessons From This Conversation

    You know that some parts of the system weren’t built to be fair. And that other parts weren’t built for women at all. But Anieke shines a light on the quiet forces shaping funding decisions, and what we need to do to change them.

    Impact-driven founders are burning out, and VCs need to notice.

    Founders who care deeply often put the mission above their own well-being. Anieke saw it happen again and again. So she launched The VC Coach to help investors recognize the signs early and make more human decisions that protect both founders and their portfolios.

    How trust is built on similarity and why you need to second-guess yourself as an investor

    Anieke explains how investors often trust founders who feel familiar. If someone talks or behaves like you, you’re more likely to see them as competent. But that instinct reinforces bias and keeps overlooked founders out of the room.

    We need structural changes, not just individual effort.

    More female founders and more women in VC matter, but policy matters too. From better parental leave to education that teaches girls how to fail, Anieke makes the case for systemic support so women don’t have to choose between building a company or a family.

    💬 Which of these lessons resonates most with you? Share them in the comments.

    And if you want more lessons like this? Follow the podcast or subscribe to updates for a weekly dose of female founder inspiration.

    Or scroll down for magical moments, practical takeaways, and my own observations.

    1. 3 Lessons From This Conversation
    2. Highlights and timestamps
    3. 3 Magic Moments In The Episode
    4. Practical Takeaways for Founders
    5. The Quote From The Episode
    6. 3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
    7. A Question for You 🤔
    8. Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
    9. Listen to Episode 124 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
    10. Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
    11. About Anieke Lamers
    12. About Borski Fund
    13. Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
    14. What I Want To Leave You With

    Highlights and timestamps

    Time Highlight
    02:40 Journey to Borski Fund
    05:29 The Role of an Operating Partner
    08:28 Challenges for Women in Leadership
    11:26 The Founder-Investor Dynamic
    14:36 Building Peekabond: A Personal Journey
    17:26 The Emotional Attachment of Founders
    20:24 Coaching for Mental Health in Startups
    23:29 Changing Expectations in Pitching
    26:18 The Importance of Diverse Teams
    29:19 Borski Fund’s Mission and Impact
    32:21 The Slow Progress of Female Founders
    35:26 The Future of Gender Equality in VC
    37:57 Bias in Investment Decisions
    41:16 Selecting the Right VC
    44:04 The Need for Policy Changes
    47:01 Celebrating Female Founders
    49:53 Success Metrics for Borski Fund
    52:52 The Role of Men in VC
    55:48 Final Thoughts and Connections

    3 Magic Moments In The Episode

    In this episode, three moments reveal what drives Anieke Lamers as both investor and person: empathy, self-awareness, and imagination make her approach unique and charming.

    When women help women, everyone wins.

    Long before joining Borski Fund, Anieke founded The Old Girls Network to connect women who wanted to lift each other up. It was her response to seeing senior women believe others had to climb the same hard road they did. Her story is a reminder that solidarity is not a luxury; it is a responsibility.

    Her wake-up call as a VC turned founder.

    As a junior analyst, Anieke used to ask founders tough questions, assuming she knew better. Only after becoming a founder herself did she realize how arrogant that was. Founders live and breathe their companies. No thirty-minute meeting can match that depth of insight.

    The idea of business baby showers.

    Anieke believes we should celebrate female entrepreneurship the same way we celebrate new life. Instead of baby clothes, gift founders a Notion subscription or a tool that helps them grow their business. Building a company is also a kind of birth, and it deserves the same support and joy.

    These moments show the mix of empathy, self-awareness, and imagination Anieke brings to investing, explaining why she’s reshaping leadership in venture capital.

    💬 What do you think of the idea of business baby showers? Share the post with someone you’d invite.

    💡 Looking for the practical tips Anieke shared for female founders navigating fundraising and finding the right investors? That’s coming up next.

    Practical Takeaways for Founders

    As Anieke puts it: “As a female founder you have to be either mad or genius, and probably a bit of both, to start building.” And Anieke knows both sides of the table. She evaluated pitches, pitched investors as a founder, and now she is one. She shares three insights to help you get started on your fundraising journey.

    Get a storytelling coach.

    Data builds trust, but stories build memory. Your founder story is what sticks with investors long after your pitch deck fades from view. Just imagine what your story would sound like if you stopped pitching and started connecting.

    Ask about the fund’s vintage year.

    The fund’s age determines how long a VC has before they need an exit. If your vision takes time, a short remaining investing period means that you could be talking to the wrong partner. And don’t be afraid to ask. Investors will tell you.

    Look for a values match, not just a financial fit.

    The right investor believes in what you’re building, not just how fast you can grow it. Talk to other founders in their portfolio. Ask how they show up when things get hard.

    These tips are practical, but they also speak to something deeper: knowing your worth, asking the right questions, and refusing to shrink your ambition to fit someone else’s timeline.

    💬 Know a founder who should know about these? Share the episode with them using the buttons below.

    Or scroll down to discover an inspiring quote and learn about my own takeaways.

    Next, I’ll share the moments from this conversation that shifted how I think about founders, investors, and the system that connects them.

    The Quote From The Episode

    Many VCs seem to think that they are the real heroes of the story. Anieke Lamers has quite a different opinion about this.

    Portrait of Anieke Lamers smiling outdoors next to a quote that reads, “If anything, VCs should be putting founders on a pedestal. Because they are ultimately the people building the companies and bringing in their money.” — Anieke Lamers on episode 124 of the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast.

    “If anything, VCs should be putting founders on a pedestal. Because they are ultimately the people building the companies and bringing in their money.”

    Anieke Lamers, Operating Partner at Borski Fund

    3 Things That Changed The Way I Think

    What struck me in our conversation was the deep passion that Anieke has for improving the odds for female founders. And some of the factors that play a role are not even money-related. For instance, talking with Anieke made me see just how much pressure the system puts on both founders and investors.

    Detachment can be a strength.

    Passion drives founders, but it can also hold them back. When you’re too emotionally attached to your startup, it becomes harder to experiment or pivot. Anieke’s story, and her reflection on the WeTransfer founder’s detached mindset, showed me how experience helps create emotional distance—and how freeing that can be.

    The VC timeline shapes how companies grow.

    I used to think ten years was long-term, until Anieke explained how it actually pushes founders to chase short-term wins. In a system that celebrates unicorns, too many good companies die early. Maybe it’s time to let sustainable growth count as success too.

    Investing isn’t as rational as it looks.

    Most VC decisions are shaped by gut feeling and intuition, not just data. It made me wonder how many great ideas are missed simply because they don’t feel familiar enough.

    These moments matter because they expose the invisible forces shaping who gets funded and who burns out. Seeing them clearly is the first step toward changing them.

    Scroll down for my closing thoughts on what this episode means for the future of inclusive investing. And if you’re ready to discover what else Anieke and I cover, listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

    A Question for You 🤔

    💬 Which part of Anieke’s story resonated most with you?
    Was it the reality of founder burnout, the “business baby shower” idea, or her take on fund timelines and bias?

    👇 Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep this conversation going and make inclusion the new normal in tech.

    Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech

    Next week, it is time for episode 125. And let me tell you, it is perhaps one of the best conversations that I’ve had. Magali Elhage and Matthijs Welle from Dutch unicorn Mews come on the podcast to share how they’re building a culture that ties belonging to success.

    To give you an idea of what I mean, listen to this fragment about the new employee introduction. I don’t get emotional easily, but listening to this brought tears to my eyes.

    Hear how Magali shares her experience at the new employee introduction of Mews.

    So stay tuned for more Women Disrupting Tech. And until the next episode, as always, Keep Being Awesome!

    Dirkjan

    PS If you fear missing out, subscribe to updates or follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

    Listen to Episode 124 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube

    How Anieke Lamers Closes the Inequality Gap by Backing Female Founders with Borski Fund | Ep. 124 – Women Disrupting Tech

    Listen on Spotify
    Listen on Apple Podcasts Logo
    Listen on Apple Podcasts
    Listen on YouTube (audio only)

    Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech

    Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

    Follow the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast

    Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

    Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple.

    It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

    Share the stories that move you.

    Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

    So when you know someone who should hear it, pass it on when you’re done.

    About Anieke Lamers

    Anieke Lamers is a Dutch venture partner and coach who splits her time between Portugal and the Netherlands. She started her career in finance and venture capital before founding Peekabond, a startup that helped global families strengthen emotional bonds across distance. That experience changed how she saw both entrepreneurship and investing.

    Today, Anieke works as an Operating Partner at Borski Fund, a Dutch fund investing in female founders of tech companies. Her role focuses on deal sourcing, strategic partnerships, and fundraising strategy, but her real mission runs deeper. She believes good investing is not just about returns, but about alignment—between head, heart, gut, and spirit.

    Through her coaching practice, The VC Coach, Anieke helps investors make more conscious, human decisions and spot burnout early in their founders. Her purpose is simple but powerful: to inspire authentic connection. To connect people to themselves, to each other, and to the impact they can make when they lead with both empathy and conviction.

    Connect with Anieke on LinkedIn, or learn more about Borski Fund below.

    About Borski Fund

    Borski Fund is a Dutch venture capital fund that invests in female-founded and gender-diverse tech companies. Its mission is to make the investment landscape more inclusive, proving that diversity is not just fairer but also smarter business.

    The fund focuses on companies from seed to Series A, operating in health, circular economy, and what it calls future society. By backing underrepresented founders, Borski aims to reduce the gender funding gap and show that female entrepreneurship can drive both impact and profitability.

    The fund is named after Johanna Borski, the first female investor in the Netherlands, who famously helped finance the Dutch central bank in the 19th century. Her legacy of bold, forward-thinking investment lives on in Borski’s approach today: investing in women who build the future.

    To learn more about Borski and to discover if they’re a good fit, please check out their website or follow them on LinkedIn.

    Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend

    The fall is loaded with great events, and I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

    Diverse Leaders in Tech Events

    If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.

    Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.

    You can register for events on the DLiT website. Did I mention that joining your first event is free?

    ImpactFest – 10th edition – 30 October 2025

    The place to be for impact makers, period. Meet 1,500 impact makers from more than 35 countries during one of the 100+ sessions in the 10th edition of ImpactFest. You can learn more about being part of ImpactFest on their website.

    Understanding Women’s Health – 3 December 2025

    During this final 3mbrace Health event of 2025, you’re invited to better understand the importance of women’s health and the powerful role it plays in our personal, professional, and societal well-being. Men are expressly invited to join. And yes, I will be there too. More info and tickets can be found here.

    What I Want To Leave You With

    What struck me most in this conversation is how clearly Anieke connects empathy with action. She is not just talking about inclusion, she is building it through every founder she backs and every investor she coaches.

    When we change how we listen, we change who gets heard.
    When we change how we invest, we change who gets to build.

    Borski Fund may still be needed today, but Anieke’s vision is for a world where it is not. Until then, the rest of us have work to do.

    Listen to the full episode with Anieke Lamers on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. And if it shifted your thinking on inclusion, share it with someone.

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  • How Showing Her the Money Changes Venture Capital with Azin Radsan van Alebeek | Show notes episode 123

    How Showing Her the Money Changes Venture Capital with Azin Radsan van Alebeek | Show notes episode 123

    “I never really thought I could be doing this with my money, my investments.”

    That is what her Dutch friend whispered into Azin’s ear after watching the movie ‘Show Her The Money’.

    It’s a line that captures the heart of what this episode is about. Venture capital often feels like a closed world. Azin Radsan van Alebeek wants to open it up and show women how money can fuel change. In Episode 123 of Women Disrupting Tech, she shares her journey from boutique consultancy, to stay-at-home mom, to venture capitalist reshaping outcomes.

    You can listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Or scroll down for the lessons, magic moments, and reflections from our conversation.

    3 Lessons From This Conversation

    This conversation is about using capital as a way to create change. And these three lessons all circle around one point: if capital fuels ideas, then we need to pay attention to which ideas get fuel.

    Capital Can Be Used as a Tool for Change

    Azin sees venture capital not just as a way to make returns, but as a lever to change behavior. Money has the power to align attention and focus. Used well, it can shift founders, investors, and even entire markets toward outcomes that matter.

    Fueling a Broader Range of Ideas Builds a Better Future

    Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. If we only fund a narrow group of founders, we only build part of their future. Funding women and other underrepresented groups is not just fair, it is necessary if we want innovation that reflects all of us.

    The Size of the Vision Shapes the Outcome

    Being able to think big is essential when raising capital. Too often, women are conditioned to present smaller, safer ideas, and that directly affects how investors respond. Expanding the scale of the vision can change the scale of the outcome.

    These three lessons matter because they show venture capital does not have to stay the way it is. If we choose to fund more broadly, think bigger, and use money as a tool for change, we can build a future that works for more people.

    The funding gap won’t close through numbers alone. It starts with conversations like this one. Share this episode with someone shaping the future of venture capital.

    And if you want more lessons like this? Follow the podcast or subscribe to updates for a weekly dose of female founder inspiration.

    Or scroll down for magical moments, practical takeaways, and my own observations.

    1. 3 Lessons From This Conversation
    2. Highlights and timestamps
    3. 3 Magic Moments In The Episode
    4. Practical Takeaways for Founders
    5. The Quote From The Episode
    6. 3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
    7. A Question for You 🤔
    8. Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
    9. Listen to Episode 123 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
    10. Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
    11. About Azin Radsan van Alebeek
    12. About Emmeline Ventures
    13. Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
    14. What I Want To Leave You With

    Highlights and timestamps

    Time Highlight
    03:30 Introduction and Background
    06:23 The Importance of Gender Representation in Venture Capital
    09:43 Azin’s Journey into Angel Investing
    13:38 Cultural Perspectives and Personal Experiences
    18:06 The Impact of Underrepresentation in Venture Capital
    23:26 Statistics on Female Founders and Funding
    27:16 Changing Perspectives on Gender Roles
    29:14 Using Venture Capital for Change
    31:14 Show Her The Money: Film and Book Overview
    34:42 Inspiring Stories of Female Founders
    39:00 The Role of Male Investors in Supporting Female Founders
    43:05 Emmeline’s Focus on Women’s Health
    44:49 Understanding Women’s Health Disparities
    47:09 Investing in Female-Centric Solutions
    48:50 The Ideal Founder Profile
    51:26 Integrity in Investment Relationships
    52:22 Comparing Support for Female Founders in Europe and the US
    55:15 What Makes a Pitch Deck Stand Out?
    59:13 Defining Venture-Ready Proposals
    1:03:06 Encouraging Women to Think Bigger
    1:05:03 Upskilling for Stay-at-Home Moms
    1:12:55 The Future of Venture Capital for Women

    3 Magic Moments In The Episode

    There were many moments in our conversation that lit up for me. I wanted to share three moments that show what becomes possible when we start funding women’s businesses.

    The Whisper at the Premiere

    When I ask her about a moment where she knew that creating ‘Show Her The Money’ was the right thing, Azin shares the anecdote about the premiere. When the credits roll over the screen, her Dutch friend confesses: “I never really thought that I could be doing this with my money.”

    Hopeful Signals

    Picture of Azin Radsan van Alebeek with a quote from episode 123 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech titled ‘How Showing Her the Money Changes Venture Capital’.

    Azin notes that more traditional male investors are stepping into this space and she calls them smart for doing so. It is a sign that mindsets are shifting, even from within the system.

    Reframing Women’s Health

    When she talks about pregnancy, Azin flips the perspective: women’s health does not just affect half the population. It affects 100 percent. That one reframe makes it clear why these markets are central, not niche.

    These moments matter because they make it clear that change is already happening, and that inclusion is not just an aspiration but a practice.

    So what was your magical moment from the episode? Put it in the comments. I’d love to hear.

    Practical Takeaways for Founders

    One of the things I value in these conversations is when advice goes beyond theory. Azin has been both an angel investor and a venture capitalist. Her advice is practical and direct, and it is the kind of guidance founders can apply right away.

    Know Why You Need VC

    Not every company needs venture funding. Ask yourself why VC dollars are the right path before you start pitching. Especially if your goal is steady, thoughtful growth, venture capital may not be the right fit.

    Keep Your Deck Sharp and Concise

    The purpose of a pitch deck is not to explain every detail. It should spark curiosity and secure a call. One page for the problem and one page for the solution is enough. Particularly in the pre-seed and seed stages.

    Show How Investors Make Money

    Investors want to back impact, but they also need to see returns. Make sure your deck clearly shows how they will make money from your business. It also shows empathy which is important when building a long-term relationship.

    These takeaways matter because they come straight from someone who sees dozens of pitches. They remind founders that clarity, fit, and vision are what turn a meeting into an opportunity.

    Know a founder who is fundraising? Tag them in the comments or share these tips with them directly!

    Or scroll down to discover an inspiring quote and learn about my own takeaways.

    The Quote From The Episode

    This quote captures why Azin invests and why funding diversity is not just fair, but necessary for innovation.

    Picture of Azin Radsan van Alebeek with a quote from episode 123 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech titled ‘How Showing Her the Money Changes Venture Capital’.

    “Capital fuels ideas. And if we’re not fueling a cross section of ideas, we’re building a future that does not allow all of us to be our best self.“

    Azin Radsan van Alebeek, cofounder and managing partner at Emmeline Ventures

    3 Things That Changed The Way I Think

    Even after 123 episodes, every conversation shifts something for me. Sometimes it is a new perspective, sometimes it is a reminder of something I had overlooked. With Azin, three reflections stood out because they made me rethink how I look at founders, investors, and even myself.

    The Outsider Perspective

    Azin grew up as one of the few kids of color at school. She told me that being an outsider made her open to other people’s views. “If you approach it with openmindedness, your world becomes so much larger.” I have felt like an outsider too, even as a white man. As a founder, maybe that is an advantage. Because you are used to being misunderstood and pushing against norms.

    Motherhood as Strength

    Her comments about the unique skills you gain as a mom made me pause. I realized I have often overlooked how those experiences translate into leadership and pitching. What is often called a gap might actually be a strength. And I hope Azin’s words inspire the women who are on the sidelines to look at it as an enriching part of their lives.

    Storytelling as a Superpower

    Azin has a story for everything, whether it is an analogy, an example, or a way to make a point stick. It made me realize that founders should write down their stories, so they can bring them out when it counts. Not just the origin stories but the everyday analogies can make your story more relatable (and they make for great social content too).

    These reflections matter because they reminded me that inclusion is not abstract. It shows up in lived experiences, in unexpected strengths, and in the way we tell our stories.

    So I’d love to hear what shifted your thinking. Share your learnings in the comments. Or scroll down for links to the episode and a preview of what’s coming up.

    And if you’re ready to discover what else Azin and I cover, listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

    A Question for You 🤔

    How might the startup world look different if more stay-at-home parents became founders?

    Let me know your thoughts in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear your take.

    Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech

    In episode 124, another investor takes the mic. Anieke Lamers, operating partner at Borski Fund, share how her experience as a founder makes her a better investor.

    And she’s has some pretty interesting lessons to share of her own.

    Anieke shares how her own founder experience changed her ways of working as an investor.

    So stay tuned for more Women Disrupting Tech. And until the next episode, as always, Keep Being Awesome!

    Dirkjan

    PS If you fear missing out, subscribe to updates or follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

    Listen to Episode 123 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube

    How Showing Her the Money Changes Venture Capital with Azin Radsan van Alebeek | Ep. 123 – Women Disrupting Tech

    Listen on Spotify
    Listen on Apple Podcasts Logo
    Listen on Apple Podcasts
    Listen on YouTube (audio only)

    Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech

    Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

    Follow the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast

    Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

    Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple.

    It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

    Share the stories that move you.

    Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

    So when you know someone who should hear it, pass it on when you’re done.

    About Azin Radsan van Alebeek

    Azin Radsan van Alebeek is the co-founder and managing partner of Emmeline Ventures, an early-stage fund investing in female-led startups across tech-enabled, FemTech, FinTech, and sustainability sectors.

    With over 30 years of executive and advisory experience in the US and Europe, she brings strategic insight and coaching skills to help entrepreneurs grow their companies and create lasting impact. Azin is dedicated to empowering women to be financially sovereign and regularly mentors on financial literacy, angel investing, and leadership.

    You can connect with Azin on LinkedIn. And if you want to learn more about the movie ‘Show Her The Money’, check out this website.

    About Emmeline Ventures

    Emmeline Ventures is an early-stage venture fund that invests in female-founded and female-led companies with bold ideas in FemTech, sustainability, and tech-enabled solutions. The firm backs founders who are building businesses that improve lives, health, and opportunities for women, while delivering strong returns for investors. Emmeline’s mission is to expand who gets to play in the venture ecosystem by fueling companies that combine innovation with purpose.

    You can check out their portfolio companies, including Alloy, Ema | AI for Women’s Health, and WealthMore on the Emmeline website. Or follow Emmeline Ventures on LinkedIn and Instagram.

    Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend

    The fall is loaded with great events, and I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

    Diverse Leaders in Tech Events

    If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.

    Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.

    You can register for events on the DLiT website. Did I mention that joining your first event is free?

    ImpactFest – 10th edition – 30 October 2025

    The place to be for impact makers, period. Meet 1,500 impact makers from more than 35 countries during one of the 100+ sessions in the 10th edition of ImpactFest. You can learn more about being part of ImpactFest on their website.

    Understanding Women’s Health – 3 December 2025

    During this final 3mbrace Health event of 2025, you’re invited to better understand the importance of women’s health and the powerful role it plays in our personal, professional, and societal well-being. Men are expressly invited to join. And yes, I will be there too. More info and tickets can be found here.

    What I Want To Leave You With

    During the episode, I mention that I see venture capital as part of the problem. The incentives do not always align with what I feel should be the goals, and I see the funding gap as proof of that.

    What struck me in this conversation is how Azin approaches it differently. She uses venture capital as a lever to change behavior and create wealth at the same time. She shows it can be part of the solution if money is aligned with the right vision.

    If capital fuels ideas, then fueling a broader cross-section of ideas is how we build a future that lets all of us be our best selves.

    And on a personal note, I want to thank Katty Hsu for inviting me to that first screening of Show Her the Money. Without that, this conversation might not have happened.

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