What if tech didn’t look like a guy in a hoodie coding alone in a dark room?
What if we saw tech for what it really is: collaborative, creative, and full of people solving real problems?
In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Femke Brouwer challenges the stories we tell about success, leadership, and who belongs in tech.
She explains how the idea of meritocracy still doesn’t apply equally, how she discovered the gender pay gap the hard way, and why conversations about inclusion need to involve more than just the women already doing the work.
Key Takeaways from Episode 113
We talk about:
- How the idea of meritocracy still doesn’t apply equally,
- Why “If I can do it, so can you” just isn’t true for everyone
- How role models, allies, and early education can shift the system
Femke’s message is clear: women can’t fix the system alone. But together, we can build one that works for everyone.
To hear her full story, including why she believes my podcast should be in Dutch, listen to episode 113 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Or scroll down for Magical Moments and Practical Takeaways.
Why Women In Tech Can't Fix the System Alone with Femke Brouwer-Hobbelen | Ep. 113 – Women Disrupting Tech
- Key Takeaways from Episode 113
- Magic Moments In The Episode
- Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech
- The Listening Series
- Episode Highlights and Timecodes
- The Path to Making Inclusion In Tech the New Normal
- A Question for You 🤔
- Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech
- My Personal Observations
- About Femke Brouwer-Hobbelen
- Share what’s on your mind!
- Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
Magic Moments In The Episode
“If we show girls from an early age how fun, creative and meaningful tech can be, they’re more likely to see it as something for them too.”
Femke Brouwer-Hobbelen
Magic moments are the ones that reframe how you see the problem. And the solution. Here are three of those moments in this episode.
“[As a woman] You’re operating in an unequal field. And that’s important to understand.”
This line cuts through the noise. Femke reminds us that when women in tech feel overlooked or undervalued, it’s not because they’re not doing enough. It’s because the playing field is still tilted. Awareness of that reality is the first step toward meaningful change.
“If we show girls from an early age how fun, creative and meaningful tech can be, they’re more likely to see it as something for them too.”
The tech pipeline problem doesn’t start at graduation but in childhood. Femke makes the case for early, joyful exposure to tech, long before biases take hold. Because belonging begins with being able to imagine yourself in the picture.
“It’s not taking something away from men. It’s about creating a system where everyone has a fair chance to thrive.”
This is the heart of the episode. Inclusion is not a loss for one group. It’s a gain for all. Femke brings it back to shared benefit. A system that works better when it works for everyone.
Know someone who still believes inclusion in tech is a zero-sum game? Share this post to help them change their perspective.
🎧 Ready to hear more? Listen to Episode 113 on Spotify.
Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech
You’d think that there are no events in the summer. Well, 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.
The Listening Series
Dates: 10 August and 24 August 2025
Location: The Hague (in the dunes)
Time: 2:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Tickets: On Luma
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
Episode Highlights and Timecodes
02:30 – Femke Brouwer’s Journey into Tech
05:12 – The Broken System: Gender Inequality in Tech
08:02 – The Impact of Gender Roles on Men and Women
12:04 – Addressing Gender Bias in Education
14:36 – The Hidden Costs of Gender Inequality
17:36 – Personal Experiences with Gender Bias
23:57 – The Importance of Critical Mass in Leadership
27:02 – Role Models and the Myth of Meritocracy
30:51 – Creating Balanced Teams for Lasting Change
31:36 – The Role of Language in Inclusivity
37:23 – Education’s Role in Attracting Women to Tech
41:45 – Conversations for Change in Organizations
46:56 – Diversity in Supervisory Boards
51:24 – Men as Allies in the Fight for Equality
53:47 – The Path to Inclusion in Tech by 2032
The Path to Making Inclusion In Tech the New Normal
If you’re looking for a grounded roadmap for real change, this episode offers one. Here’s what stood out in Femke’s vision for what it takes.
She said we need to stop treating inclusion as a side project. It should be part of how we design our teams, our tech, and our businesses from the start.
That means fixing structural problems like pay gaps and hiring bias. It means broadening the image of tech beyond coding, and reaching girls early, before they’ve decided tech isn’t for them.
It also means changing what leadership looks like. Not just adding a few women to the table, but making space for enough diverse voices to actually shift the culture. As she reminded me, research shows you need at least 30 percent representation to move the needle.
And we won’t get there without allies. Especially men in leadership, who still shape the rules and culture of tech companies every day.
🎧 For the full conversation on how we can all contribute to a system where everyone has a fair chance to thrive, listen to Episode 113 on Apple Podcasts
Or click the image below to listen on YouTube.
““It’s not taking something away from men. It’s about creating a system where everyone has a fair chance to thrive.””
Femke Brouwer-Hobbelen
A Question for You 🤔
What would you add to the path to making inclusion the new normal in tech? Let me know in the comments.
Let me know in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear your take.
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.
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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.
My Personal Observations
This episode started with a LinkedIn comment Femke made two years ago: “We need to fix the system, not the women.” That stayed with me.
So did another moment in our conversation. Femke called out the assumption that underpins a lot of storytelling in this space: “If I can do it, so can you.” That’s not always true. The system doesn’t give everyone the same shot. And hearing that from someone who did make it mattered.
One more thing. We also talked about language, how doing this episode in English might make it less accessible to many Dutch women, especially those from vocational education backgrounds. It’s something I’m aware of, even though English is a deliberate choice as the language for the podcast.
Listen to Episode 113 of Women Disrupting Tech wherever you listen to podcasts to hear the full conversation.
About Femke Brouwer-Hobbelen
Femke Brouwer is an energetic, people-centered leader with two decades of experience in the tech industry. She began her career in sales and marketing and rose to senior leadership roles at companies like Microsoft, HP, and Dell before stepping into CEO and COO positions at small and midsized companies.
Femke is known for her steady leadership, strategic clarity, and people-first approach. She thrives in dynamic environments where growth and transformation intersect. Femke brings structure, curiosity, and a deep commitment to building teams where everyone can thrive.
You can connect with Femke on LinkedIn.
Share what’s on your mind!
How can we show people that – in most cases – inclusion in tech is not a zero-sum game?
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
What if we could change the way we think about money, risk, and self-worth?
Catrine Rhenberg believes we can, by reprogramming the subconscious beliefs that hold us back.
In Episode 114, she shares how The Wealth Within Her helps women stop asking for permission and start owning their definition of success.
In this clip, she shares why gender equality in tech and beyond benefits all of us.
So stay tuned for this and much more on Women Disrupting Tech.
And, as always, Keep Being Awesome!
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast 