What if high performance doesn’t come across as being authentic?
That’s one of the quietly radical questions at the heart of this deeply personal conversation on gender equality, inclusion, and leadership in tech with cybersecurity expert and SheUnfolds co-founder Emily van Putten.
In episode 111 of Women Disrupting Tech, Emily opens up about navigating the tech world as a transgender woman, and what it taught her about visibility, perception, and the price of not fitting the mold.
Having lived and worked on both sides of the gender spectrum, she brings a rare and profound perspective on what it really means to belong.
This isn’t just an episode about diversity. It’s about survival, about community, and about changing the rules so more people can thrive.
Key Takeaways from Episode 111
This is one of the most personal, thought-provoking conversations I’ve had on the podcast. Here’s what you’ll learn by listening to episode 111 of Women Disrupting Tech:
- Inclusion must come with accountability. If you’re not helping others grow, you shouldn’t be rewarded for leadership.
- How (social media) algorithms fragment our identities and create what Emily calls the “digital closet”.
- Belonging makes growth possible. We grow when we feel safe enough to stop performing.
🎧 Listen now to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech and explore how inclusion, leadership, and digital identity shape the future of women in tech.
Hit play below, or find the episode on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Or scroll down for Magical Moments and Practical Takeaways.
How SheUnfolds Creates the Space Where Women in Tech Belong with Emily van Putten | Ep. 111 – Women Disrupting Tech
- Key Takeaways from Episode 111
- Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack
- Three Reasons Why Allies of Women in Tech Should Listen
- Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech
- 🤔 Your Turn: A Question for You
- Meaningful Moments of the Episode
- Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech
- 3 Practical Suggestions for (Allies of) Women in Tech
- Personal Observations
- About Emily van Putten
- About SheUnfolds
- Share what’s on your mind!
- Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
- Related Episodes
Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack
Changing the funding landscape starts with access. Not just to capital, but to the right people, ideas, and spaces. That’s why I’m building The Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack.
Join us if you want to help more women be heard, funded, and celebrated in tech. You’ll receive:
✨ Early access to new podcast episodes, plus a weekly email with the moments that moved me and what they taught me.
✨ Exclusive research on what it really takes to build a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
✨ Invites to special events we sponsor or co-host, where conversations turn into collaborations.
This community is for people who believe in action. And know that together, our voices go further.
Three Reasons Why Allies of Women in Tech Should Listen
As a transgender woman, Emily brings a rare dual perspective. She has seen how leadership, visibility, and bias play out on both sides of the gender spectrum. And she speaks with a clarity and vulnerability that’s impossible to ignore. Here are three magical moments that touched me.
- The hug of a total stranger at CODAM. A reminder of how powerful it is to make someone feel seen.
- Emily describes the shift in how people treated her expertise before and after transitioning. The same ideas, the same work, from the same person, suddenly questioned.
- Her reflection on the “digital closet,” and how social media makes it harder to be authentic in real life.
🎧 Ready to hear more? Listen to Episode 111 on Spotify.
BTW, if you know another ally who should hear Emily’s story? Use the buttons to share this post with them.
Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech
As the summer holiday has started, the event season will take a break. 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.
Founders Beach Series | Edition 3: Tech & Soul
Date: 11 September 2025
Location: Mango’s Beach Bar, Zandvoort
Time: 15:00 – 22:00 hours
Tickets: On Luma
🤔 Your Turn: A Question for You
Have you ever felt the need to present a version of yourself online that’s different from who you really are?
Let me know in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear your take.
Meaningful Moments of the Episode
02:52 – Introduction to SheUnfolds and Advocacy for Women in Tech
05:38 – Challenges of Retaining Women in IT
08:36 – The Importance of Belonging and Leadership
11:43 – Navigating Gender Dynamics in the Workplace
14:31 – Personal Journey and the Impact of Transitioning
17:12 – The Role of Empathy in Leadership
20:03 – The Need for Diverse Perspectives in Tech
22:54 – Conclusion and Future Outlook
29:01 – Navigating Identity and Online Presence
37:09 – The Role of Authenticity in Performance
41:45 – Creating Safe Spaces for Women in Tech
49:23 – Envisioning an Inclusive Future
Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech
Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:
Amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech by following 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.
Use the buttons below to spread the word. Your voice helps amplify theirs.
3 Practical Suggestions for (Allies of) Women in Tech
“Use technology intentionally to empower authenticity and not to distort it.” – Emily van Putten
Each episode, we ask our guests for practical recommendations that listeners can use to build a more equal tech ecosystem. They’re not checklists but the kind of insights that make you (and me) stop and think: what could I do differently today?
- Inclusion isn’t a soft skill. Tie it to pay, power, and promotions.
- Don’t wait for someone else to define what safe spaces look like. Start small, listen well, and create moments of real connection.
- Audit your digital self. Are you posting for validation, or expressing who you are?
What practical advice do you have that others could benefit from? Don’t be shy and leave them in the comments.
🎧 For the full conversation on how SheUnfolds creates the space where women in tech belong, listen to Episode 111 on Apple Podcasts
Or click the image below to listen on YouTube.
“You can’t thrive when you’re constantly trying to survive.”
Emily van Putten, co-founder of SheUnfolds.
Personal Observations
This is a special episode for many reasons. Emily speaks with clarity, vulnerability, and strength. Her story is not only brave, it’s deeply instructive.
What stood out most to me was her ability to articulate how exhausting it is to scan every room, to filter every word, and to still be questioned.
And yet, she stays, builds, and leads.
Her message to tech leaders is clear: Stop outsourcing the problem to the people already carrying it. Make inclusion part of your leadership standard.
About Emily van Putten
Emily van Putten is a cybersecurity expert with nearly two decades of experience in the tech industry. She’s also the co-founder of She Unfolds, a foundation focused on creating space for women in tech to connect, recharge, and belong. As a transgender woman, Emily brings a rare perspective on inclusion, visibility, and what it really means to lead with authenticity. She speaks openly about the biases she’s faced and the community she’s building to change that.
You can connect with Emily on LinkedIn.
About SheUnfolds
SheUnfolds is a community initiative founded by Emily van Putten and Megan Weidema. Born from the success of the first Women in IT Gala, it’s a response to the loneliness many women in tech feel as “the only one” on their team or in their company. SheUnfolds creates gatherings that feel different: no name tags, no forced pitches, just space to slow down and connect. It’s about building belonging, not just networks. And making tech a place where more women can stay, grow, and lead.
You can learn more about SheUnfolds on the website and by following it on LinkedIn.
Share what’s on your mind!
Should inclusion be tied to performance reviews and promotions in tech?
Let me know what you think and how we can start doing this in the comments below.
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.
Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
Another week, another episode of Women Disrupting Tech. This time, we learn from Raju Joshi how the company she co-founded, Cogensus, is helping an aging population to reduce loneliness and improve cognitive health.
This clip from our conversation on how to spot mom’s memory lapse made me pause and listen more carefully to the answers I get from my own mother.
So stay tuned for this and much more on Women Disrupting Tech. And until the next episode: Keep Being Awesome
Related Episodes
If this conversation struck a chord, you might also want to listen to:
- Episode 108: Farshida Zafar on authentic leadership and radical inclusion
- Episode 81: Pim Blom on the power of storytelling for unconditional inclusion
- Episode 89: Femke Cornelissen on paving the way for more women in AI and Cyber
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast 