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The Women Who Built The Internet: Ada Lovelace
When you look up the history of the Internet, men are credited with building it. But that is unfair to women. In fact, according to the website No Web Without Women, there would be no Internet without women.
Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to feature some profiles of the women who built the Internet, and that Ada Lovelace would be a good start.
AI-generated picture of Ada Lovelace. Ada Lovelace
Ada Lovelace (born Augusta Ada Byron) co-wrote the first algorithm in 1843. At that time, women were usually supposed to take care of the household, especially when they were married. But Lovelace was different.
Her mother decided that she should not be a poet like her father, Lord Byron. So, her mother raised her to become a brilliant mathematician.
At the age of 12, she decided to study the possibility of flight. In 1833, at the age of 18, she met Charles Babbage for the first time thanks to her tutor, Mary Sommerville. This encounter would change her life and, indeed, the history of the Internet.
Her contribution to the Internet
Ada Lovelace worked with Charles Babbage on the first version of the computer, the Analytical Engine.
Contrary to Babbage and his male contemporaries, she saw the machine’s potential to do more than just computations. In fact, when she translated a French article by the Italian engineer Luigi Menabrea about the Analytical Engine into English, she added footnotes with her own calculations and thoughts, tripling the article’s length.
The First Algorithm
In these footnotes, she took Babbage’s initial programming to the next level and described the potential to process information in addition to performing complex calculations. In that sense, she co-wrote the first computer software and foresaw much of what computers and Artificial Intelligence do today.
She also described the machine’s limitations: It cannot predict the future; it can just replicate and expand on what it already knows. Again, we see these limitations in computers and AI in the form of hallucinations and biases.
Her story does not end well.
The sad thing is that Ada Lovelace had a brilliant mind but poor health. In 1852, she died at the age of 36 of cervical cancer, a disease that – with all the advancements in modern medicine – we have not yet been able to eradicate.
More Women Who Built The Internet?
For more stories of Women Who Built The Internet, subscribe to this blog or to my newsletter on LinkedIn.
And, on my podcast Women Disrupting Tech, I interview modern-day Ada Lovelaces, who are changing the face of tech and inspiring you to follow in their footsteps.
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Empowering Doctors with AI for Better Patient Care With Jacqueline Kazmaier | Show Notes for Episode 56 of Women Disrupting Tech
Join Autoscriber’s CEO and co-founder Jacqueline Kazmaier to discover how AI is transforming the healthcare landscape by reducing doctors’ administrative workload and enhancing patient care.
Plus, Jacqueline shares why The Netherlands is a top spot for starting a business and offers inspiring career advice for young women looking to break into technical fields.
Don’t miss out on this inspiring and insightful conversation! Press play to tune in or read more about the episode by scrolling down.
Empowering Doctors with AI for Better Patient Care With Jacqueline Kazmaier | Ep. 56 – Women Disrupting Tech
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
Do you recognize this? You’re at the doctor’s office trying to explain some health issues that you’re experiencing, and the doctor is looking at their screen the entire time. That is not something you want as a patient, right?
Here’s their reality: for every hour spent with patients, doctors spend two hours on administrative tasks like note-taking, insurance, and billing. This overload impacts their productivity and job satisfaction, leading to burnout and high turnover, further burdening the remaining staff.
So, the million-euro question is how we can improve this and how AI can help.
In episode 56 of Women Disrupting Tech, you’ll hear the answer from Autoscriber co-founder and CEO Jacqueline Kazmaier. Join us to explore:
🩺 How Autoscriber acts as a doctor’s companion for better patient care.
💡 Viewing technology as a tool to amplify human strengths in healthcare.
🌟 Why not having a medical degree can be advantageous in health tech.You’ll also learn about their organizational governance model, which allows them to adapt to the constantly evolving environment quickly.
When you’re ready to listen and discover how Autoscriber is empowering doctors with AI for better patient care, you can find the links to this magical episode throughout this blog post. Or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app.🎧✨
AI-generated image of a female startup founder creating an AI tool for doctors. Free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
As a male ally, you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032. And you can help by doing these two things:
- Use the share button to 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.
- Rate the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. You can use a rating of one to five stars. This will help other people discover the podcast (and if you explain the rating, it will help me improve).
About Jacqueline Kazmaier and Autoscriber
Jacqueline Kazmaier is the co-founder and CEO of Autoscriber. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in industrial engineering from Stellenbosch University.
Before co-founding Autoscriber, she co-founded two other companies. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.
Autoscriber is transforming doctor–patient interactions by extracting relevant patient information from conversations and storing it in the electronic patient file. Their goal is to improve the health of 1 million people per year. You can learn more on their website and follow their journey on LinkedIn or Instagram.
“Just show young women and girls that it is possible and acceptable to work in this field, and that they can succeed.”
Jacqueline Kazmaier
What makes this episode magical🌟?
Now, I can tell you about Jacqueline’s magic blend of a love for math and medicine. I can also tell you about the entrepreneurial spirit that makes The Netherlands a great place to start a business. I can even tell you her inspiring advice to make the podcast obsolete by the end of 2032: focus more on diverse founder teams.
But that is only part of the magic of this episode. To me, the real magic is in Autoscriber’s solution.
With the number of physicians dropping in Europe, having top-notch health tech is crucial to safeguarding our access to high-quality healthcare.
Imagine having a personal medical buddy right in your pocket. One that suggests treatments and orders your meds. One that helps you prevent health problems or detect them early.
When you think about Autoscriber like that, you see a massive opportunity for transformative, AI-driven solutions like Autoscriber to improve the lives of doctors and patients.
What’s coming up?
I’ll be taking a break in June to go on holiday and recharge my own battery.
In July, in episode 57, Wafa M’ribah returns as a solo guest to explain how you can build a career in AI.
So stay tuned for more amazing women disrupting tech and their male allies in season three of Women Disrupting Tech!
Let me know what you think!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, leave a comment below with your thoughts on how AI can transform healthcare!
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email or send me a DM on LinkedIn. -
Gaming Your Way Into Tech with Lizzy Wilmer | Show Notes on Episode 55 of Women Disrupting Tech
Can you game your way into tech🎮?
Listen to episode 55 of Women Disrupting Tech to discover the answer to that question.
Lizzy Wilmer is our guide as we follow her own journey into gaming, the power of role models in gaming, and the changes needed in education and business to make gaming the gateway for women into tech.
When you’re ready to listen and learn how to game your way into tech as a woman, click the play button below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your podcast app. You can also follow the show on YouTube.
Gaming Your Way Into Tech with Lizzy Wilmer | Episode 55 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
An AI-generated picture of a motion capture technician who is developing a game. Note that in real life, they wear special suits, not office attire. The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
🎮 Can gaming be the gateway for women into the tech world?
You can discover the answer to this question by embarking on Lizzy Wilmer’s personal journey.
Tune in to hear from Lizzy:
🕶️ How the AR and VR training that she helps to design, helps companies optimize their businesses and reduce incidents.
👩💼 Why having role models like Lizzy on the team gives her employer a competitive advantage in hiring other women.
🌟 What schools and companies need to do to make tech a more welcoming place.Plus, get the scoop on the unique crime scene investigation that Lizzy was part of.
When you’re ready to listen and learn how to game your way into tech as a woman, find the links to this magical episode in the comments or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app.🎧✨
Free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
As a male ally, you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032. And you can help by doing these two things:
- Use the share button to 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.
- Rate the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. You can use a rating of one to five stars. This will help other people discover the podcast (and if you explain the rating, it will help me improve).
About Lizzy Wilmer
Lizzy Wilmer is a 3D Animator and Motion Capture Technician at Infinity Labs. She designs AR and VR-based training for companies like KLM, Ahold, and Tesla.
Prior to working at Infinity Labs, she studied International Games Architecture and Design at Breda University for Applied Sciences. She interned at Centroid, a world-leading motion capture studio in London.
You can connect with her on LinkedIn and view her portfolio on her website and Instagram.
And, you can learn more about her studies and work on episodes 9 and 21 of the podcast Ga toch Gamen (in Dutch).
“I feel like I’m kind of part of the catalyst of that movement to get more women into the industry.”
Lizzy Wilmer
What makes this episode magical🌟?
I don’t say this quickly, but I really think that this is one of the best episodes so far. There is so much gold in here that I had trouble choosing the special parts of our conversation.
Around the 17-minute mark, I pick Lizzy’s brain to hear what needs to happen to make tech a more welcoming place for women. What follows is a long and deep conversation about her own experiences and the changes she believes are needed.
First, Lizzy shares the simple, practical things companies can do and adds that her employer wasted no time implementing them.
Then, about 40 minutes into our conversation, she reveals why she started gaming and talks about her own challenges as a teenager. The beautiful thing about it is that her brothers, both avid gamers, supported her on her journey.
Finally, we also discuss her role models in gaming. What I find fascinating is that she selects her role models based on how they deal with issues that she will encounter in the future.
What’s coming up?
In episode 56, Jacqueline Kazmaier will be our guide in the world of health tech. Her company Autoscriber uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help doctors spend more time with their patients and less on admin.
And in episode 57, Wafa M’ribah returns as a solo guest to explain how you can build a career in AI.
So stay tuned for more amazing women disrupting tech and their male allies in season three of Women Disrupting Tech! And if you want to be the first to know about new episodes and blogs, use the button below to subscribe to updates.
Let me know what you think!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, leave a comment below with your thoughts on how gaming can serve as a gateway for women into tech.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email or send me a DM on LinkedIn. -
The Power of Financial Inclusion for a Better Planet with Kimberly Ofori | Show Notes on Episode 54 of Women Disrupting Tech
Do tech startups develop solutions that truly benefit the people who need them?
Kimberly Ofori believes that they don’t and that it is time for a new, more sustainable, and inclusive business playbook.
In episode 54 of Women Disrupting Tech, we have a thought-provoking discussion about how financial inclusion can help break biases for a better planet.
Tune in to episode 54 to discover Kimberly’s formula for building sustainable businesses, the importance of diverse perspectives, and why misunderstood problems are actually opportunities in disguise.
To listen, hit the play button below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your podcast app.
The Power of Financial Inclusion for a Better Planet with Kimberly Ofori | Episode 54 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
AI-generated picture of a diverse group of people discussing financial inclusion. The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
You know that biases exist, even in the progressive tech world. But here are two stats that will blow your mind:
- 1) Femtech startups founded by men raise twice as much as female-founded femtech startups even though 70% of their founders are women (compared to 20% overall).
- 2) Women’s problems are so poorly understood that solutions are seen as ‘niche’ by investors, even though they potentially impact half of the world’s population
So, I wanted to learn what causes this and how we can solve this attitude. And who better to explain this than Kimberly Ofori of The Bold New Company?
In episode 54 of Women Disrupting Tech, Kimberly takes us on an eye-opening journey through financial literacy, inclusion, biases, and the redefinition of success.
In an hour-long conversation, she shares her roadmap towards more financial inclusion in the tech ecosystem:
- Stop throwing money at problems expecting a solution, and start building sustainable businesses💡.
- Include diverse perspectives in decisions about what gets built and how 👥.
- Accept that problems that we may not fully understand aren’t niche; they’re opportunities waiting to be scaled🚀.
By listening, you’ll also discover how guys can step up to the plate and set the right example for their peers.
When you’re ready to listen and learn about the power of financial inclusion for a better planet, find the link to the episode on Spotify below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app.🎧✨
Two free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
As a male ally, you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032. And you can help by doing these two things:
- Use the share button to 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.
- Rate the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. You can use a rating of one to five stars. This will help other people discover the podcast (and if you explain the rating, it will help me improve).
About Kimberly and The Bold New Company
Kimberly Ofori is a former banker turned management consultant and then digital entrepreneur at The Bold New Company (formerly known as Ofori and Company).
She is currently chair of the executive board at VOAW, sits on the advisory board of several startups, and acts as an advisor for entrepreneurship programs run by the UNDP and the European Innovation Council, among others.
She’s also the founder and general partner at Future Ventures Fund, where she and her partners invest smart capital in diverse founding teams that use technology to address global financial inclusion, health, and food challenges across Europe and Africa.
During our conversation, she mentions the statistics about the funding of Femtech startups. You can find more information and a link to the report here.
You can connect with her via LinkedIn and her website. And, on these websites, you can learn more about her Bold New Company and Future Ventures Fund.
“The problem isn’t that tech can be used for bad purposes. The problem is that we need to build the things to be used for as much good as possible.”
Kimberly Ofori
What makes this episode magical🌟?
Kimberly and I cover a lot of ground as we discover what financial inclusion is really about: from credit scores to how we build and finance solutions for women’s problems. Whatever the topic, Kimberly is generous in sharing her wisdom and opinions.
A particular part of the conversation, that I found magical was her advice for male allies to be part of the solution. So, if you’re a male ally, here is how you can contribute:
- help raise awareness
- Stop seeing inclusion as a matter of winning and losing
- Support by setting the right example for other men
On supporting and setting the right example, Kimberly shares how she received support from a male ally in a meeting with 10 CEOs when these ‘gentlemen’ asked her to make tea. The response of the male ally was really powerful and a compelling example of how you can do this.
What’s coming up?
In episode 55, we’ll find out how you can game your way into tech with Lizzy Wilmer. It’s a magical episode that will inspire you for sure.
After that, Jacqueline Kazmaier will be our guide in the world of health tech. Her company Autoscriber uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help doctors spend more time with their patients and less on admin.
So stay tuned for more amazing women disrupting tech and their male allies in season three of Women Disrupting Tech! And if you want to be the first to know what’s coming, use the button below.
Let me know what you think!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, please leave a comment below with your thoughts on how we can achieve greater financial inclusion.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email or send me a DM on LinkedIn. -
The Incredible Funding Journey of the Female Solo Founder Building an App Empire with Veerle Witte | Show Notes on Episode 53 of Women Disrupting Tech
Can a female solo founder build and fund an app empire?
In the 53rd episode of the podcast “Women Disrupting Tech”, Veerle Witte, a solo female founder who is building a B2C journal app empire, shares her journey and insights on how to secure funding.
To listen, hit the play button below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your podcast app.
The Incredible Funding Journey of a Female Solo Founder Building an App Empire with Veerle Witte | Ep. 53 – Women Disrupting Tech
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
Excited about building your startup but unsure how to secure funding as a solo female founder? Dive into Episode 53 of Women Disrupting Tech for a dose of inspiration and invaluable insights!
Veerle Witte shares her inspiring journey as the founder of Journal Lab. She discusses the challenges she faced as a female solo founder and how she overcame them. She also shares her journey from writing her first business plan for Travel Diaries to expanding into new branches of journalling apps.
By listening, you’ll learn:
💡 how she found a business model that works for her B2C business,
💶 how she managed to secure funding as a female solo founder, and
🚀 how she works with a diverse and distributed team to build an app empire to document life’s adventures.Plus, she highlights the role of education in creating a more equal world.
So, when you’re ready to listen to the incredible funding journey of a female solo founder building an app empire, find the link to the episode on Spotify below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app.🎧✨
AI-generated picture of a female solo founder building a journal app empire.
Two free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
If you like the Women Disrupting Tech podcast and you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032, there are two things you can do:
- Use the share button to 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.
- Rate the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. You can use a rating of one to five stars. This will help other people discover the podcast (and if you explain the rating, it will help me improve).
About Veerle, Travel Diaries, and Baby Diaries
Veerle Witte is the founder and CEO of Journal Lab. As a travel journalist for National Geographic Traveler, she created Travel Diaries in 2014 because she struggled to document her own journeys and discovered that existing apps did not work for her.
She recently raised €1.2M in new funding, bringing the total amount she raised with Journal Lab to €1.5m. The best way to connect with Veerle is via LinkedIn.
In addition to Travel Diaries, there is also a Baby Diaries app, and she is soon expanding her offering of journal labels with a general journal app and a cookbook.
Both apps are available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store via the links on the websites.
“The most important thing is to educate yourself and trust in yourself.”
Veerle Witte
What makes this episode magical🌟?
You probably know that many solo founders have a hard time finding an investor. Well, this episode is here to inspire you with a different perspective.
First, Veerle did Travel Diaries as a side project while continuing to travel for quite a long time. Yet, she managed to raise funding as a solo founder.
Second, she had a co-founder twice, and both times, it did not work for her. So, she decided that, for the time being, not having a co-founder is OK. And it didn’t prevent her from raising funding the second time.
This goes to show that by meeting supportive investors with a convincing story, you can achieve your goals as a solo founder, no matter how tough the journey may seem.
What’s coming up?
In episode 54, we return to the theme of inclusive finance with Kimberly Ofori.
After that, we’ll find out how you can game your way into tech with Lizzy Wilmer.
So stay tuned for more amazing women disrupting tech and their male allies in season three of Women Disrupting Tech! And if you want to be the first to know what is coming… use the button below.
What do you think?
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, feel free to leave a comment below about your experiences as a solo founder.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email or send me a DM on LinkedIn. -
How Conceptual Technologists Uplift Humanity with Kim Carson | Show Notes on Episode 52 of Women Disrupting Tech
Did you know that the same people who developed Internet 2.0 around the turn of the century are now also developing AI?
They develop AI products and services that have the same biases built in and that exclude the same people from using their solutions.
Kim Carson argues that we need to change that if we want progress that is shared throughout society.
In episode 52 of Women Disrupting Tech, she explains how conceptual technologists can play a vital role in creating tech solutions that are agents of societal change.
To listen, hit the play button below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your podcast app.
How Conceptual Technologists Uplift Humanity with Kim Carson | Episode 52 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
AI-generated picture of a Conceptual Technologist The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
We all know that it’s crucial to have multiple perspectives when developing a product, and AI is no exception. This way, we can avoid increasing the risk of bias and ethical blind spots in AI systems.
Enter Kim Carson. As the founder of Parallax Futures, she believes that a new breed of innovators, conceptual technologists, will ensure that AI innovations will uplift humanity.
Kim is my guest in episode 52 of Women Disrupting Tech to explain how:
- Conceptual Technologists leverage biases to create an AI system that represents everyone 🤖
- Her experience with IBM Watson Education taught her that AI is not another productivity tool but one that can enhance how we live and learn🧠
- The fellowship that Parallax Futures offers can help conceptual technologists build more inclusive technologies🤝
And you’ll discover who the male ally is that supports Parallax Futures (hint: it is not Mark or Elon).
To listen, find the link to the episode on Spotify below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app.🎧✨
Two free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
If you like the Women Disrupting Tech podcast and you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032, there are two things you can do:
- Use the share button to 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.
- Leave a review about the podcast with up to five stars on your favorite podcast platform. This will help other people discover the podcast (and it will help me improve).
About Kim Carson and Parallax Futures
Kim Carson is an AI futurist and conceptual technologist. She was recently named the Success Magazine’s Women of Influence. She’s a Black Tech Achievement Awards Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, and she was awarded the Diversity Professional Women of Excellence Award.
As the Founder and CEO of Parallax Futures, she leads a non-profit fellowship program that inspires positive futures by cultivating a new kind of innovator: the conceptual technologist.
Prior to Parallax Futures, she held a wide variety of leadership positions in both academia (UCSF) and the technology sector (IBM).
You can follow Kim on her journey by connecting with her on LinkedIn.
Parallax Futures’ mission is to inspire positive futures by infusing the world with a new kind of innovator called ‘Conceptual Technologists’. Conceptual technologists are the newest wave of innovators after design thinking, bringing a unique ideation practice to AI and beyond. You can learn more about Parallax Futures and their fellowship program on their website. And, of course, they’re on LinkedIn.
“AI could enhance the things that we do that are inherently human.”
Kim Carson
What makes this episode magical🌟?
Creating this episode started with an email from Kim’s PR agent. And I’m glad Jonathan emailed me. Because otherwise, I would not have known about this new, groundbreaking breed of technologists.
When I started learning more about it, my curiosity won over my doubts. And as you’ll learn when you listen to the episode, it is for good reasons. Conceptual Technologists solve the problem of inclusion that is currently missing in AI development.
What I found particularly inspiring is that instead of leaving tech to a bunch of “nerds,” conceptual technologists are about inviting everybody to the table. As a result, we will gain important insights about AI’s impact on society that we would not have learned otherwise. And that would mean that we can seize opportunities for societal improvement.
Another thing that persuaded me to dive into this concept was that Parallax Futures has a very prominent backer. One who built an app that we all use regularly: LinkedIn.
On the podcast, Kim shares how that came about, and she shares a little-known fact about this LinkedIn founder.
What’s coming up?
In episode 53, Veerle Witte will be my guest as we discover how she is building a new breed of journalling apps as a solo founder.
After that, we return to the theme of inclusive finance with Kimberly Ofori in episode 54.
So stay tuned for more amazing women disrupting tech and their male allies in season three of Women Disrupting Tech! And if you want to be the first to know what is coming… use the button below.
What do you think?
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.
I’m particularly curious to hear if you agree that conceptual technologists can play an important role in ensuring that AI benefits everyone.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email or send me a DM on LinkedIn. -
How To Balance Feminine and Masculine Values in Business and Investment with Alice Pavin | Show notes to episode 51 on Women Disrupting Tech
In a world that sees growth as the ultimate cure to every problem, it’s time to pause and ponder: Is our obsession with growth in business bad for society?
Alice Pavin dares to say yes. She invites us to shift our focus from the relentless pursuit of more to a path less traveled.
In episode 51 of Women Disrupting Tech, Alice invites us to join her on a journey to a post-growth world. And I invite you to tune into episode 51 of Women Disrupting Tech.
To listen, hit the play button below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your podcast app.
How To Balance Feminine and Masculine Values in Business and Investment with Alice Pavin | Episode 51 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
Is our obsession with growth in business a bad thing for our society?
In episode 51 of Women Disrupting Tech, Alice Pavin challenges the notion that all growth is inherently positive.
To create positive growth, she believes that we need to embrace a balance of feminine and masculine values in business and investment. And that we need to balance reaching goals with well-being.
In episode 51, Alice Pavin takes us on a journey to a post-growth and value-balanced world. On the way there, we discover:
⚖️ How we can increase equality in investments when we acknowledge our values, biases, and challenges with gender stereotypes.
🧑🏻🏫 What we need to fix in the education system to facilitate a balance between masculine and feminine values.
🛠 Practical tools to increase the balance between feminine and masculine values in your business and personal life.
We also discuss how she supports women entrepreneurs and investors through her Women in Ventures program at WorldStartup.
Tune into the episode for insights, revelations, and a sprinkle of magic from a woman who is a role model for people who want to create a world where inclusive financing is the norm.
To listen, find the links to the episode in the comments or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app.🎧✨
Two free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
If you like the Women Disrupting Tech podcast and you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032, there are two things you can do:
- Share the podcast with friends, family, and co-workers to give the women disrupting tech the platform they need to make it happen.
- Leave a review about the podcast with up to five stars on your favorite podcast platform. This will help me improve and help other people discover the podcast.
About Alice, WorldStartup, and Women In Ventures
Alice Pavin is an Investment and Program Manager at World Startup. At age 15, she became interested in environmental, social, and well-being issues, which is why she got into the startup space in the first place. You can connect with her and follow her journey on LinkedIn.
At WorldStartup, Alice manages the Women in Ventures initiative. You can learn more about it on the website or by following Women in Ventures on LinkedIn.
WorldStartup also has its Changemaker Platform, where you can find training and courses that can empower your journey as an impact entrepreneur.
“It’s about getting beyond these biases and then leveling the playing field in finance on all levels.”
Alice Pavin
What makes this episode magical🌟?
This episode is about finance with a heart. It’s about learning how we can challenge gender norms to create an inclusive finance ecosystem.
Here’s what Alice taught me during the episode:
🎯 Making an impact goes beyond ticking off sustainable development goals. It’s about mindset, business models, and values, regardless of gender.
🌈 A balance between masculine and feminine values is not about men versus women. It is about embracing our own biases.
🤝 Diversity in teams and organizations helps to bring balance between feminine and masculine values, as every person has feminine and masculine values.When you’re ready to be inspired, join us for an episode filled with insights, revelations, and yes, a sprinkle of magic.
What’s coming up?
Next week, Kim Carson will be my guest as we discover what a conceptual technologist is and how they can be agents for positive societal change.
After that, I have some more amazing women disrupting tech lined up for you before we take a turn into the male ally territory.
So stay tuned for some inspiring episodes in season three of Women Disrupting Tech! And if you want to be the first to know what is coming… there’s a button for you below.
Feedback? Let me know!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, let me know what you think.
Leave a comment below or send me a DM on LinkedIn.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email. -
Disrupting The Way Companies Collaborate On Large Datasets With Linksight CEO Martine van de Gaar | Show notes to episode 50 on Women Disrupting Tech
Should men take a female leadership course?
If you ask Martine van de Gaar, they should. We can keep telling women how much fun it is to work in tech, that it’s much more than just coding, that it’s really flexible, and that it’s great when you have kids. And all that is true.
But as a woman, you still need ‘balls’ to enter the tech domain. So, we need to change the mindset of the men as well.
How can we solve that puzzle, you ask? Well, listen to the 50th episode of Women Disrupting Tech. It’s all about puzzles, not just diversity. Hit the play button below to listen. Or scroll down to learn more about Martine and the episode.
How Linksight Disrupts The Way Companies Collaborate On Large Datasets With Martine van de Gaar | Ep. 50 – Women Disrupting Tech
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
Sharing large datasets between companies for research purposes has always required a magic potion. One that contains a central collection point, trust, encryption, and legal agreements.
But that is about to change. Because Linksight is disrupting the way companies share data and get insights from large combined datasets.
I wanted to learn how they do that. And thanks to Andy Lurling, I had a chance to interview Linksight CEO Martine van de Gaar.
In episode 50 of Women Disrupting Tech, Martine is our guide in the world of decentralized computing and large datasets. By listening, you’ll learn
🤝 How companies can share sensitive customer data without risking privacy violations
🔐 Why privacy by design means taking a different starting point in product design
🧠 What the strengths of having a diverse team are when it comes to building complex technological solutions.
So, whether you’re commuting, sipping coffee, or unwinding after a long day, tune in to the episode via the link below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast player.
Two free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
If you like the Women Disrupting Tech podcast and you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032, there are two things you can do:
- Share the podcast with friends, family, and co-workers to give the women disrupting tech the platform they need to make it happen.
- Leave a review about the podcast with up to five stars on your favorite podcast platform. This will help me improve and help other people discover the podcast.
About Martine and Linksight
Martine van de Gaar is the Co-founder and CEO of Linksight. Before becoming the CEO of this TNO spin-off company, she worked as a project and program manager for TNO, Cap Gemini, Ahold, and Philips Lightning. Martine holds a Master’s degree in Management Economics and Consumer Studies from Wageningen University.
You can connect with Martine on LinkedIn. Simply send her a DM with your connection request.
Linksight helps data scientists of companies extract maximum insights and value from their data collaborations without revealing sensitive data. Their platform enables secure data sharing without the need for a central collection and processing party. You can learn more about their journey on their website and by following them on LinkedIn.
“Maybe men need to take women leadership training?”
Martine van de Gaar, CEO Linksight
What makes this episode magical🌟?
This is the 50th episode. That means that 50 women have a platform to inspire others. I’m grateful for all the help and support I’ve had. And making it to 50 is a bit of a magical moment by itself.
What is magical about the episode? Well, I always learned that you can recognize a true expert when they explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand way.
Martine does just that as she takes us on a journey into the world of multi-party computation (MPC). For example, she uses the analogy of a train that is stopping at different stations to collect fully encrypted data. The train track is built to ensure that data can be safely transported.
And when I asked her what needs to happen to make this podcast obsolete, Martine provides strategic advice for the podcast itself. Season 3 awaits, and Martine believes it’s essential to start bringing the message to men. As a male ally, I couldn’t agree more.
So, let Martine’s wisdom ignite your curiosity and empower you to solve the privacy puzzle of data sharing and diversity.
What’s coming up?
Next week, Alice Pavin will be my guest to discover the answer to the following question: “How do you balance feminine and masculine values in a tech startup ecosystem that men dominate?”
After that, I have eight more amazing women disrupting tech lined up for you before we take a turn into the male ally territory.
So stay tuned for some inspiring episodes in season three of Women Disrupting Tech! And if you want to be the first to know what is coming… there’s a button for you below.
Feedback? Let me know!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, let me know what you think.
Leave a comment below or send me a DM on LinkedIn.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email. -
Arosha Brouwer on Building a Company with Grace and Empathy | Show Notes to Episode 49 of Women Disrupting Tech
What is the key to unlocking your startup’s full potential?
In episode 49 of Women Disrupting Tech, you get the answer from the always-inspiring Arosha Brouwer. Spoiler: it’s not about the money.
Recently, Quan announced that they secured new funding (bringing the total funding to $3m) and concluded an exciting new strategic partnership with the most significant occupational health and safety service provider in The Netherlands.
In this episode, Arosha returns to Women Disrupting Tech to share her insights, strategies, and experiences from her journey from startup to scale-up. This knowledge is invaluable whether you’re a female founder or a male ally.
When you’re ready for 45 minutes of female founder magic, click the play button below, or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app to listen.
Building a Company With Grace and Empathy with Arosha Brouwer | Episode 49 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
Two free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
If you like the Women Disrupting Tech podcast and you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032, there are two things you can do:
- Share the podcast with friends, family, and co-workers to give the women disrupting tech the platform they need to make it happen. Plus, you’ll help other women and male allies discover the podcast.
- Become a member of the Women Disrupting Tech Community. Members are the first to learn when new episodes and blogs come online, and you’ll get access to exclusive Women Disrupting Tech events.
About Arosha Brouwer and Quan
Arosha Brouwer was born in Sri Lanka and grew up in Australia. She is the CEO and co-founder of Quan. She and Lucy Howie founded the company in 2019, just before COVID-19. Prior to Quan, Arosha worked for large international companies like PwC, DSM, and TNT. As of 10 April, Arosha is also a lead mentor at the Dutch New Narrative Lab.
Quan is a B2B SaaS Software company that focuses on helping teams measure and proactively manage their well-being. In 2022, Quan was the first Dutch female-led startup to be accepted into a YCombinator program.
Quan recently concluded a strategic partnership with Dutch Occupational Health Care provider Zorg van de Zaak to ensure that 1 million employees in the Netherlands can identify mental health issues before they lead to employee burnout. You can learn more about it in this press release, where they also announce closing their bridge funding round.
You can learn more about how Quan can help your organization measure and proactively manage employee burnout on its website or by following it on LinkedIn.
Tip: Listen to episode 3 to learn more about Arosha’s and Quan’s journey.
The magic you can expect in this episode 🪄
After being my guest in episode 3 of Women Disrupting Tech, it’s safe to say that Arosha Brouwer has been very busy.
Over the past two years, Arosha grew her company while raising new funds and attracting additional customers.
But she also had to downscale the team to survive a funding crunch before concluding an exciting new partnership with The Netherlands’ largest occupational health provider.
And, in the end, Quan also managed to secure funding as part of a bridge round. How about that for a roller coaster ride?
To allow you to benefit from her experiences, and because it’s just a heck of a story, I asked her to come back on as a guest. And I can tell you, you won’t be disappointed.
Because, in this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Arosha shares valuable insights:
🛠️ Her software’s role in supporting both customers and her team through tough times
🤝 A new partnership that taught her that entrepreneurship is also about building a network of people who can help you
👩💼 Being a founder and being a CEO of a scale-up come with totally different requirementsAnd she reveals the genius move that helped her company survive the challenging funding environment.
When you’re ready to listen to an absolute masterclass in personal growth as a female founder, tune into the episode on Apple, Goodpods, or Spotify.
You can also find the podcast by searching for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast player.
What makes this episode really magical?🌟
The episode is a masterclass in personal growth. We talk about building a company from startup to scale-up, attracting investors who are a good match for the company’s values, and having to let people go while you continue to build a great product.
When she shares her own experience about having to let people go, Arosha has some important advice: “There should be no black box to this.” She argues that being transparent about the reasoning kept the remaining team motivated because they saw the grace with which it happened. And it kept the leavers loyal to the point that they would want to work with Quan again.
As we recorded the podcast on International Women’s Day, I asked her what it meant to her. To Arosha, it is a day to recognize all the amazing women who have done something to, in spite of the conditions, make it easier for another woman. From the pioneers we all know to that Sri Lankan woman standing up against her family to say that her daughter deserves her education and she’s not going to marry young.
What’s coming up?
In episode 50 of Women Disrupting Tech, we’ll learn from Martine van de Gaar about the cryptographic magic of secure multi-party computation (MPC).
After that, Alice Pavin will be my guest to discover the answer to the following question: “How do you balance feminine and masculine values in a tech startup ecosystem that is dominated by men?”
So stay tuned for some great episodes!
Feedback? Let me know!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Let me know by leaving a comment below or by sending me a DM on LinkedIn.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email.
-
How to Shine Without Selling as a Female Role Model in Tech with Charlotte Hoekstra | Show notes to episode 48
Join me as I interview Charlotte Hoekstra to discover the secret of celebrating your uniqueness as a female role model in tech.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to:
🔁 Change your perspective so you can best serve others while staying true to yourself.
🫱🏼🫲🏾 Connect with the people you work with in a way that is authentic to you
🚀 Help female role models as a male ally.
To listen to our enlightening conversation, hit the play button below, or find the podcast by searching for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast player.
How to Shine Without Selling as a Female Role Model in Tech with Charlotte Hoekstra | Episode 48 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
About Charlotte Hoekstra
Charlotte Hoekstra is a certified career coach with a master’s degree in organizational psychology & change management. She helps people to present and advocate for themselves to get the career opportunities that fit their ambitions.
You can learn more about Charlotte’s background, workshops, and coaching on her website or by connecting with her on LinkedIn or Instagram.
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
Positioning yourself as a female role model in tech requires you to celebrate yourself and your work.
Now, if you’re like me and most of the guests on my podcast, Women Disrupting Tech, you hate having to “sell yourself.” It just feels unnatural.
So, I was wondering: How can female role models in tech increase their visibility and create the right opportunities without having to sell themselves? In other words, how can they shine without selling?
In this episode, Charlotte Hoekstra takes her own journey as a starting point to teach us that we should celebrate a woman’s uniqueness, personality, and what they bring to the table.
In an enlightening conversation, Charlotte openly shares her path as a magic recipe to authenticity, including
- embracing her femininity and discovering the power of confidence
- using the hero’s journey to discover if her values align with those of the people she works with
- finding how her uniqueness can contribute to other people’s goals
Plus, she shares why diversity in tech is not a zero-sum game (something I 100% agree with).
When you’re ready to listen and learn how to position yourself as a female role model in tech without selling yourself, tune in on Spotify using the button below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast player.
What makes this episode magical🌟?
One of the steps to finding your uniqueness as a role model involves tuning into your feelings and identifying how experiences make you feel. Charlotte shares an example from her past: Her experiences as an intern in Ghana still make her smile. In fact, you can feel the smile beaming through your headset.
Another magical part is her story about when her father took her out to shop for clothing for her first job. He told her to embrace her femininity and larger-than-life personality. The result was that other people at her workplace started feeling empowered to wear clothes that they felt good in as well. How’s that for a role model?
And, toward the end of the episode, I ask her if she believes diversity in tech is a zero-sum game. The conversation that follows is definitely worth a listen.
What’s coming up?
Next week, I’ll be taking a small break from recording new episodes and re-releasing an old episode.
And, after that, I will be interviewing Kimberly Ofori to discuss the importance of financial literacy for women.
So stay tuned for some great episodes!
Did you know…
… that you can discover more incredible stories and learn from trailblazing women on Spotify, Google, Apple, or Goodpods. There, you can find the entire inspiring archive of episodes with over 1,000 minutes of Women Disrupting Tech content I have published since September 2022.
Feedback? Let me know!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I’d love to hear your thoughts about this episode.
I would like to know if I should include my guest’s bio or if you’re OK with being sent to the show notes for more info.
So please do not hesitate to contact me via LinkedIn or email if you have any positive or negative feedback or if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast.
With that, I wish you a magical day and a happy Easter (if you’re celebrating). And remember: keep being awesome!
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast
Stories That Build a More Inclusive Tech Future.
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast 