What if there were a Champions League for DEI?
In episode 100, I speak with Sacha Martina and Danielle Jiskoot, co-founders of House of Inclusion, about the key strategies to building an inclusive workplace and how to become a DEI champion without falling into the trap of following a checklist.
The result? A bold, honest conversation that’s full of both practical insights and emotional depth.
Key Takeaways from episode 100
Here’s what you’ll discover by listening:
✅ Inclusion needs a structure, not slogans.
✅ Don’t wait for perfect. Be transparent.
✅ You’re probably doing more than you think, now you need to say it.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to compete in the DEI Champions League.
To listen, hit play or find episode 100 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Or hit the play button below👇.
How To Become DEI Champions with Sacha Martina and Danielle Jiskoot | Episode 100 – Women Disrupting Tech
- Key Takeaways from episode 100
- Events for Women Disrupting Tech
- Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community
- The Magic In Episode 100 🪄
- Zero-Cost Ways to Support Women Disrupting Tech
- Three Practical Takeaways
- About Sacha Martina
- About Danielle Jiskoot
- About House of Inclusion
- Share what’s on your mind!
- Next week on Women Disrupting Tech
Events for Women Disrupting Tech
Below are some events worth visiting in the coming months. You’ll find a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, on the events page.
FemTech Unite!
Date: 14 May 2025
Location: Equals, Amsterdam
Time: 15:30 – 19:00
Tickets: On Luma
The Angel Initiative Pitch Event
Date: 15 May 2025
Location: VU StartHub
Time: 14:30 – 17:00
More info and tickets: on the website
Diverse Leaders in Tech Events
Date: 28 May 2025
Location: B. Amsterdam
Start: 17:00 – 19:30
More info and tickets: on the website
The Culture Code
Date: 3 June 2025
Location: Club ACE, Amsterdam
Time: 12:00 – 19:00 hours
Tickets: On the Culture Code Website
Female Venture’s Founders Table: Empowering Women in Business
Date: 4 June 2025
Location: voco® The Hague
Start 15:00 – Finish: 18:30
Tickets: buy your tickets.
Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community
One of the important things about changing the funding landscape is access to the right communities. That’s why I’m building The Women Disrupting Tech Community.
Join to receive updates, including:
🚀 Early access to new episodes, including a weekly email with moments that inspired me and key takeaways.
🚀 Exclusive Research about what it takes to get a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
🚀 Access to exclusive events that we sponsor or co-organize.
The Magic In Episode 100 🪄
What stands out from episode 100 is the emotional depth and unexpected moments of connection and insight. Here are three of the moments that stayed with me:
🧠 When personal experience became their professional mission
Danielle spoke candidly about struggling with a panic disorder early in her career. Every day, she pushed through panic attacks while working in high-pressure environments. Her story is a powerful reminder that mental health is a DEI issue — and why it can’t be treated as a side topic.
🌈 When people come out. During their sessions
Sacha shared that people have come out as queer or bisexual in the middle of their DEI workshops. Not because they were asked. But because they felt safe enough to do so. That’s not policy. That’s real culture change.
🤝 Everyone can be an ally, and should be
Allyship isn’t reserved for the powerful. Or just for those affected.
It belongs to all of us. So, don’t wait for underrepresented people to speak up. Use your privilege, whatever it looks like, to open doors, challenge bias, and amplify others. No permission needed.
As Sacha puts it towards the end of the episode: “We love to call out the ally in everyone, because everybody can be an ally for other underrepresented people.”
🎧 Listen to Episode 100 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. You’ll come away with more than strategy. You’ll come away inspired!
Oh, and don’t forget to share what you believe is the toughest part about DEI in the poll below.
Zero-Cost Ways to Support Women Disrupting Tech
Want to help make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how:
- Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Better yet, leave a rating or review from one up to five stars on Spotify or Apple. You’ll help other people discover the podcast and help me improve.
- Share the podcast with friends, family, and co-workers. This way, you give the women disrupting tech the platform they need to make it happen. Use the buttons below to share.
Three Practical Takeaways
If you’re serious about building an inclusive company, this episode is a masterclass.
Danielle Jiskoot and Sacha Martina speak with both clarity and passion about why true inclusion in business matters and how to actually get there. Here are three tips every team that wants to up their DEI game should hear:
🗺️ DEI needs a roadmap, not random actions
Use a phased approach. The five stages of DEI maturity (awareness, intentionality, integration, sustainability, and influence) help companies avoid one-off workshops and instead build real cultural change.
📢 Communicate what you’re already doing
Many companies take inclusive steps (like giving flexible days off for Iftar or Coming Out Day) but don’t explain them clearly to their teams. That limits the impact. Communication around DEI isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a strategic tool.
😇 Don’t wait for perfection. Just start and be honest
Trial and error is better than waiting for the “perfect” plan. Tell your team, “We’re figuring this out, and we want to include you.” Transparency builds trust and momentum.
🎧 Hear the full story on Apple Podcasts.
Or click the image below to listen on YouTube. And drop a comment with your biggest insight. I read every one.
“We love to call out the ally in everyone, because everybody can be an ally for other underrepresented people.”
Sacha Martina, co-founder of House of Inclusion
About Sacha Martina
Sacha Martina is a speaker, strategist, and co-founder of House of Inclusion. Known for her bold, pragmatic approach to DEI, she brings years of commercial experience and a mission-driven mindset to every conversation.
As a woman of color and a lifelong advocate for equity, Sacha is passionate about helping companies move beyond awareness and into real action.
You can connect with Sacha on LinkedIn.
About Danielle Jiskoot
Danielle Jiskoot is a political scientist, public speaker, and co-founder of House of Inclusion. Her personal experience with mental health challenges in the workplace shaped her commitment to inclusion from the inside out.
Danielle combines sharp insights with lived experience to help organizations build cultures where people don’t just stay; they thrive.
You can connect with Danielle on LinkedIn.
About House of Inclusion
House of Inclusion is a modern DEI consultancy founded by Sacha Martina and Danielle Jiskoot. Built on the belief that inclusion should be as normal as having an HR or marketing department, House of Inclusion works with organizations to embed DEI into their culture, strategy, and day-to-day operations. From keynotes to policy writing to culture sprints, their work is pragmatic, human, and designed to create lasting change.
Follow them on LinkedIn and check out their upcoming Culture Code event on the website.
Share what’s on your mind!
What’s the biggest challenge your company faces when it comes to DEI?
a) Moving beyond symbolic actions
b) Keeping momentum over time
c) Communicating effectively
Let me know what you think in the comments.
And if you would like to suggest a guest or a theme for the podcast, please let me know via email or send a DM on LinkedIn.
Next week on Women Disrupting Tech
Another week, another episode. Even after episode 100.
Fortunately, #101 is a perfectly suitable number when you’ll get a Cultural Intelligence masterclass from the one and only Gwen Kolader.
Here’s a clip from the Cultural Intelligence 101 episode on why Cultural Intelligence is so important:
Until then, let’s celebrate the companies bold enough to lead the way. And don’t forget to Keep Being Awesome!
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast 