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“For me, being vocal is about being an ambassador for female entrepreneurs.” | Tessa de Flines on Women Disrupting Tech
Happy New Year! Welcome to a new episode full of women disrupting tech inspiration 🚀.
Join me as I speak to Tessa de Flines to explore why angel investing is about as close as you can get to making an impact as a woman.
How to be an ambassador for female entrepreneurs | Tessa de Flines on Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
How to be an ambassador for female entrepreneurs 🪄
On this first episode of Women Disrupting Tech in 2024, Tessa guides us on an inspiring deep dive into the startup world.
We explore what makes scaling so challenging and how startup founders can deal with these challenges. Tessa helps us discover- What makes scaling a journey that is unique to every company 🚀
- How female founders can future-proof their businesses 🔮
- Why visibility is the key to making an impact as an investor and a founder 👀
Tessa also shares what she looks for as an angel investor in startups and her recipe for getting dealflow as an investor. Plus, around 34 minutes into the interview, she mentions a framework from McKinsey that helps frame difficult strategic discussions in the proper context.
What’s Magical About This Episode 🌟?
From pitching tips to advice on how to scale your company, this conversation covers it all. I found listening to all the wisdom Tessa shares with you really powerful. One pitching tip I want you to take advantage of is inserting breaks in your pitch after every couple of sentences. This gives the listening people the opportunity to take in the information and ask questions if they have. And it allows you to check if they’re still interested.
Another magical part of the podcast episode comes towards the end of the episode (around the 39-minute mark), as Tessa graciously shares her insights into three startup investments that hold a special place in her portfolio. And at least one could be familiar to you as I interviewed the founder back in the fifth episode of this podcast.
About Tessa de Flines
Tessa is passionate about helping (female) startup founders reach their full potential. To do that, she uses her business scaling knowledge, expertise, and visibility as an angel investor.
After working for large corporations like General Electric and ABN-AMRO in process improvement, strategy, and marketing roles, Tessa de Flines entered entrepreneurship and learned how much direct impact she could have.
It was through networking that she met her partners at Masters of Scale just before COVID hit. With Masters of Scale, she helps companies to future-proof their business.
And Tessa’s impact goes beyond. She is also an angel investor with Great Stuff Ventures and the chairperson of Female Ventures. Female Ventures is a non-profit that empowers women in their careers with knowledge, inspiration, and networking through events, a community, and a mentorship program. Tessa is also an active mentor for (female) startup founders and as a Fractional COO.
If you would like to learn more about Tessa and her work, you can connect with her via LinkedIn.
What’s coming up?
In the next episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I interview Núria Barceló Peiró. She is the general manager of a Female Role Model agency called RoleItOut.
And if you’re curious to learn how RoleItOut helps women develop themselves into the Next Female Role Model in tech, keep your eyes on your mailbox next Friday.
In the meantime, you can binge the entire inspiring archive of episodes with over 1,000 minutes of Women Disrupting Tech content I published last year on Spotify, Google, Apple, or Goodpods.
Be a Male Ally
How do you get started with diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech when you’re a man?
Let me give you a few suggestions, courtesy of ChatGPT:
📚 Educate yourself about the topic.
👂🏻 Listen to underrepresented people and amplify their voices.
💪🏼 Support inclusive practices like fair compensation.
🫱🏼🫲🏾 Collaborate with DEI organizations and advocate for DEI within your company.Sounds easy? Maybe not…
About 18 months ago, I was struggling with this as well. So, I started a podcast to interview women working in tech. I wanted to learn why there are so few of them. This podcast is called Women Disrupting Tech.
Since I started, I’ve interviewed 37 women about topics ranging from DEI in general to mental health and how to do chores like bookkeeping. My goal is to provide them with a platform so they can inspire other women to consider an education or a job in tech.
But my goal for 2024 is to have more men join the conversation as guests and members of the Women Disrupting Tech Community.
As a member, you’ll receive a free email every Friday. By reading it, you’ll learn something new about diversity in tech. Like how we can prevent the gender pay gap. Or how to start with DEI in a startup. The women I interview inspire you with their stories, help you understand their points of view, and advocate for them. Of course, I include links to the most recent podcast episode and the show notes for further reading and education.
So, it is an excellent way to start educating yourself. But reading the newsletter and listening to the podcast also ticks other boxes on the list. By sharing the articles, you can amplify their voices to other people in your network. With the wisdom these women share, you can support inclusive practices in your company.
Ultimately, that’s good for business and gets you karma points. All of that for free.
To join the Women Disrupting Tech Community, enter your best email address below.
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What’s in store for 2024?
As the year ends, I thought it was an excellent time to look back to the first full year of the Women Disrupting Tech podcast and provide a glimpse into what is in store for 2024.
Stats for 2023 (courtesy of Spotify)
Before we look ahead to the coming year, let’s explore what my first full year of podcasting has brought about.
- 30 episodes with over 1,000 minutes of podcast content published 💫
- Listened to by people in 16 different countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Bangladesh 🗺️
- In the top 5 podcasts of 64 listeners, #1 podcast for 19 fans 🙏🏻
What’s in store for 2024
Podcast-wise, I’ll continue to publish episodes every week. We’ll start the year with an episode about angel investing in female-founded startups. And I’ve found just the guide we need for that.
In January, we’ll also explore diversity in tech from the angle of an expat. And I’ll talk to the founder of another platform that promotes female role models in tech.
Besides that, 2024 will be the year of the first events with female founders. Behind the curtains, I’m working on an event where female founders can have a 1 on 1 meet-up with an investor over dinner. These dinners will be hosted in an inspiring atmosphere, so even if business is not working, there is still enough to talk about. More about that coming in the second quarter.
If you want to stay up to date, you can choose to visit this blog. But you can also become a Women Disrupting Tech Community member.
Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community
With the podcast and the blog, I provide a platform for women who are building successful (tech) startups to help inspire other women to take the leap.
But I want to build a movement for more diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. A movement that helps to bring the changes necessary to get better products, more profitable businesses, and happier people in tech.
And you can join the movement by becoming a member of the Women Disrupting Tech community. As a member, you get an email every Friday morning with everything you need to know about the new episode of Women Disrupting Tech.
And you’ll have exclusive access to members-only events, like the dinners I mentioned above.
On top of that, you’ll be part of a network of like-minded people who change the status quo of unequal rewards for underrepresented groups in tech.
To join, simply enter your best email address below.
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“It’s crazy to think that we live in a country where we just accept that men and women are not paid equally” | Johanna Spiller on Women Disrupting Tech
Joanna Spiller does not expect Dutch women to follow the example that their Icelandic sisters set on 24 October: go on strike for a full day to demand equal pay for equal work. Even their prime minister joined in.
So what does she expect Dutch women to do? And more importantly, what does she do about the 13% gender pay gap?
Listen to the last episode of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech in 2023 to hear the answers. Just click the play button or follow one of the links below.
“It’s crazy to think that we live in a country where we just accept that men and women are not paid equally” | Johanna Spiller on Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
Listen on Spotify, Apple or Goodpods
- Listen on Spotify.
- Listen on Apple podcast.
- Listen on Goodpods.
In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech
Join me as I interview Alyx co-founder and CEO Johanna Spiller to discover how we can solve the gender pay gap.
On this final episode of Women Disrupting Tech in 2023, Johanna reveals
- 🤯 what makes solving the gender pay gap so difficult,
- ✅ why the scarcity of women in tech makes for a win-win business case for women and their employers and
- 💶 how her startup Alyx fixes the gender pay gap.
She also highlights that having more diversity requires organizations to make a cultural shift that will not come from hiring just one woman.
What makes the episode magical?
Johanna is very transparent about her tech skills. She even tells me that when she took the assessment that Alyx employees take as part of the recruitment process, the result was that her own startup would not hire her as a developer.
It goes to show that you don’t need to have a tech background to work in tech.
But it gets better.
According to Johanna, changing a culture takes 3 generations of employees. If you consider that an employee generation lasts around 2-3 years, that would mean that my goal of making this podcast obsolete in 9 years is within reach.
That’s what I call magic💫.
About Johanna Spiller and Alyx
Johanna Spiller is a true champion of women in tech. But, like many of the guests on this podcast, Johanna found her way into tech by accident when someone around her suggested making an introduction for her at IBM. There she notices that even though the work is fabulous, she feels out of place because she does not have a tech background.
After a few years at the Big Blue, she decides to do something about the lack of women in tech.
With Alyx, she retrains women for jobs in tech. Alyx works with businesses and (semi) government institutions to create a more hospitable environment for women wanting to join tech.
For more information about Alyx and to schedule your coffee date, visit their website. You can also follow them on LinkedIn and Instagram.
You can read more about Johanna’s work with Alyx in two Dutch articles, one on MT/Sprout and one on channelconnect.nl. And feel free to connect with Johanna on LinkedIn.
And if you want to try if tech is something for you, you can try out these websites (no endorsement):
Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community
I never considered my podcast a learning opportunity for those who do not know where to start building a diverse organization. That is until Johanna explained on this episode that listening to podcasts like this is a great way to learn about a topic without exposing that you’re an absolute beginner.
If this is you, you want to allow yourself to listen and learn what the Women Disrupting Tech can teach you.
Now, when you’re learning, you want to ensure you get the maximum learning benefit, right? So, you want to make sure you get this information regularly.
That’s why I’ve got an offer for you: Become a Women Disrupting Tech community member.
As a member, you’ll be among the first to learn when new blogs and podcast episodes go online. So you can learn from the best, get inspired to build a more profitable business, and do what you know is best for all of us, absolutely for free🤗.
And best of all, no one will ever know you learned everything you need to know here. It will be our little secret🤫.
To join, simply enter your best email address below.
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Episode 35: The Value Proposition of Having More Women in IT and Digital with Joanna Pamphilis
Joanna Pamphilis believes there is a hidden talent in all of us. She didn’t know that she would have a career in tech until a female leader in computer engineering at her university persuaded her to take a class. This magically unlocked her talent for tech.
Join me as I interview her to discover her secret potion for a more inclusive culture in FinTech. Spoiler: it does not work in isolation.
The Value Proposition of Having More Women in IT and Digital | Joanna Pamphilis on Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
The Magic You Can Expect In This Episode 🪄
In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Joanna is our guide as we explore diversity, equity, and inclusion in the world of Fintech.
She explains how you can build an inclusive culture in FinTech. Joanna has a secret potion 🧪 that consists of 4 key elements:
- Give people the authority to solve business problems and access to resources.
- Give people the information they need and the power to make decisions.
- Trust that they will do the best thing.
- And hold them accountable for the results.
And she emphasizes that building a diverse culture does not work when you’re operating in silos. So collaboration, also with men, is critical to getting to the finish line.
And, Joanna highlights that men play an essential role in supporting and promoting women in tech. In that sense, diversity is a two-way learning experience.
“Diversity is a two-way learning experience, not something you build in silos”
Joanna Pamphilis
What’s Magical About This Episode 🌟?
One of the most exciting parts of the interview is the story about how Joanna co-founded the Pink community within UniCredit. What started as an informal aperitivo during COVID is now a community where more than 300 people (including men) visit their events. And next year, the community will expand to other countries where UniCredit has offices.
It’s almost like building a startup.
Another magical moment comes when I ask Joanna who inspires her. At first, she mentions Melinda French Gates and Mary Barra for reasons you’ll discover when you listen to the episode. And because she does not meet these ladies daily (anyone in the community who does, let me know), she also gets inspiration from the women around her as they are the future leaders in tech.
How’s that for an inspirational leader in tech?
About Joanna
Joanna’s tech journey started at university when a female head of the computer engineering program inspired her to major in computer science. It gave her leadership experience as she helped to set up the computer sciences program.
After decades of working in Fintech, she builds bridges between tech and business departments at Unicredit. With the Pink Community, she champions women in IT and digital within Unicredit. In addition, she is a Global CIO Top 100 winner in 2023 from Hewlett Packard Enterprises and one of the FinTech Top 100 Women 2023 awarded by FinTech Magazine.
You can learn more about Joanna and connect with her on LinkedIn.
What’s coming up?
In the next episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I talk to a lady who doesn’t wait for others to take action when it comes to getting more women into tech and closing the gender pay gap. Because the women who work for Team Alyx get a tech education and a 13% bonus.
Want to know who that is? Well, the next episode will be out just in time for the long Christmas weekend. So you’ll have plenty of time to binge the 1,000 minutes of Women Disrupting Tech content that I published this year on Spotify, Google, Apple, or Goodpods.
Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community
Did you know that she was one of the first members of the Women Disrupting Tech community? So, she is actually one of your peers.
By joining, you can help build a movement for more diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. A movement that helps to bring the changes necessary to get better products, more profitable businesses, and happier people in tech.
As a Women Disrupting Tech community member, you’ll be among the first to learn when new blogs and podcast episodes go online. Also, you’ll have exclusive access to members-only events (both online and offline).
Plus, you’ll help build a group of like-minded people who change the status quo of unequal rewards for underrepresented groups by giving them a platform to shine and act as role models.
To join, simply enter your best email address below.
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“I don’t think a tech career should suck for women” | Claudia Bruce-Quartey on Women Disrupting Tech
Imagine the possibilities of inspiring and motivating women in tech with the knowledge and insights you have gained during your own tech career.
If you want to learn how to do that, or just be inspired, you want to listen to the new episode of Women Disrupting Tech with Claudia Bruce-Quartey.
Simply click the play button below to discover how she helps women, particularly mothers, disrupt tech.
Why a tech career should not s*ck for women with Claudia Bruce-Quartey | Ep. 34 – Women Disrupting Tech
By the way, you can listen to this show on the following platforms
What magic can you expect in this episode?
In this episode, we explore the impact sponsors can have on women’s careers in tech and how women can utilize the opportunities that sponsors create the best.
Claudia helps us discover how women can take up their roles in the tech industry. During a powerful and inspiring conversation, we also talk about- Claudia’s motivation to break down the masculine and nerdy image of the tech industry.
- How women can show their leadership skills before getting an official title and
- How she empowers her daughter to see that being a minority doesn’t equal not being normal.
The episode is also loaded with practical career advancement tips on negotiating salaries and promotions, looking through a recruiter’s wishlist, and how to enable a sponsor to help you achieve your goals.
I don’t think a tech career should suck for women.
Claudia Bruce-Quartey.What makes this episode magical?
Just before the 30-minute mark, I ask her for tips on how to advocate for yourself. Claudia responds that you don’t need a title to be a thought leader. It’s a role that you need to grow into, so women better start early with that.
Another gem in this episode is her unique take on why women need to negotiate for their salary: Claudia argues that women have longer lives than men, but also more career interruptions. So, negotiating for salary and promotions is essential to empower your future self.
More about Claudia
Claudia Bruce-Quartey entered the tech industry by accident. In fact, during her study of political science, she tried to stay as far away as possible from anything techie or financial.
As a German-born Ghanaian, she has held different sales responsibilities in some of the fastest-growing software and hardware companies in the world, including Salesforce and Cisco. She currently works as a key account manager for RedHat, an open-source software company best known for its Linux operating system.
Claudia wants more women to work in tech and mothers to keep working in tech. That is why she is on a mission to make tech more hospitable for women. She coaches women, especially mothers, to reach peak performance in their careers.
You can connect with Claudia and learn more about her coaching via LinkedIn and her website. On her website, you can also buy the book “My Hair, My Choice,” which she wrote to inspire her daughter to shape her destiny.
Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community
With the podcast and the blog, I provide a platform for women who are building successful (tech) startups to help inspire other women to take the leap.
But I want to build a movement for more diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. A movement that helps to bring the changes necessary to get better products, more profitable businesses, and happier people in tech.
And you can join the movement by becoming a member of the Women Disrupting Tech community. As a member, you’ll be among the first to learn when new blogs and podcast episodes go online. Also, you’ll have exclusive access to members-only events (both online and offline).
Plus, you’ll help build a group of like-minded people who change the status quo of unequal rewards for underrepresented groups by giving them a platform to shine and act as role models.
To join, simply enter your best email address below.
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De onverwachte impact van Plants as a Service | Rolien Wiersinga on Women Disrupting Tech
Kun je planten hergebruiken? Toen ik voor het eerst naar de website van Circular Green keek en las dat dit kon, dacht ik hoe dan?
Rolien Wiersinga biedt met haar bedrijf Circular Green Plants as a Service aan. Het is een circulaire manier om mensen een betere werkomgeving te geven en planten een langer leven. En het blijkt nog een andere onverwachte positieve social impact te hebben.
Welke dat is, onthullen we in deze aflevering.
De onverwachte impact van Plants as a Service | Rolien Wiersinga on Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
In deze aflevering van Women Disrupting Tech
In aflevering 33 ontrafelen Rolien en ik de logistieke uitdagingen van circulair ondernemen en bespreken we waarom planten zo goed zijn voor onze mentale gezondheid.
Daarnaast vertelt Rolien
- Hoe zij bepaalt of haar dienstverlening echt duurzaam is.
- Waarom ze werkt met mensen die een afstand tot de arbeidsmarkt hebben.
- Waarom je als ondernemer je product of dienst samen met je eerste klant moet bouwen
En we onthullen hoe zelfs haar hydrokorrels een positieve sociale impact teweegbrengen.
Benieuwd naar die impact?
Over Rolien en Circular Green
Rolien Wiersinga’s reis in de wereld van Plants as a Service begint bij haar werk voor Flora Holland. Ze verbetert daar de efficiency van de logistieke processen rondom de veiling van planten. En ze begint zich af te vragen waarom we zoveel nieuwe bloemen en planten nodig hebben.
Bij Circular Green komen haar ervaring in vernieuwing en logistiek, en haar studie en onderzoek bij Wageningen University samen. Met duurzame planten helpt ze bedrijven en instellingen een groene en gezonde werkplekken te bieden voor hun medewerkers.
Denk je nou, “dit wil ik ook!”? Neem dan contact op met Rolien via email of LinkedIn. Wil je meer informatie over hoe ze jouw bedrijf of instelling kan helpen, kijk op de site van Circular Green.
Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community
With the podcast and the blog, I provide a platform for women who are building successful (tech) startups to help inspire other women to take the leap.
But I want to build a movement for more diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. A movement that helps to bring the changes necessary to get better products, more profitable businesses, and happier people in tech.
And you can join the movement by becoming a member of the Women Disrupting Tech community. As a member, you’ll be among the first to learn when new blogs and podcast episodes go online. Also, you’ll have exclusive access to members-only events (both online and offline).
Plus, you’ll help build a group of like-minded people who change the status quo of unequal rewards for underrepresented groups by giving them a platform to shine and act as role models.
To join, simply enter your best email address below.
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“Als je als vrouw onafhankelijk wilt zijn, dan moet je zeker voor techniek kiezen.” | Sanne Jongejan on Women Disrupting Tech
“Een slimme meid is op haar toekomst voorbereid”, was de slogan van een overheidscampagne die meisjes en jonge vrouwen moesten overtuigen om voor een opleiding en baan in de techniek te kiezen.
Fast forward naar 2023 als minder dan 5% van meisjes in het MBO voor een technische studie kiest.
Hoe komt dat? En vooral, hoe krijgen we daar verbetering in?
Daarover gaat de nieuwe aflevering van Women Disrupting Tech. Samen met Sanne Jongejan, directeur onderwijs van de sector Techniek en Technologie bij Curio duiken we in de rol die opvoeding en onderwijs spelen in de aanvoer van vrouwelijk tech talent.
“Als je als vrouw onafhankelijk wilt zijn, dan moet je zeker voor techniek kiezen.” | Sanne Jongejan on Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
Waar gaan we het dan precies over hebben?
In een levendige aflevering hebben we het over zaken als:
🗣️ Hoe de andere, mannelijke, taal in de techniek ervoor zorgt dat meiden zich minder veilig kunnen voelen.
📜 Welke verouderde opvattingen over meisjes in techniek bij leraren en decanen, meiden op het verkeerde been zetten bij het maken van carrière keuzes.
🔎 Waarom een overschot aan leraressen in het basisonderwijs onbedoeld bijdraagt aan een verkeerde beeldvorming over techniek bij kinderen en moeders.
“Dat wat je niet weet, daar kun je het niet met elkaar over hebben.”
Sanne Jongejan on Women Disrupting TechInteressant, vertel me meer…
Maar we hebben het ook over wat Curio als onderwijsinstelling doet om voor een veilige omgeving te zorgen voor de meiden die wel voor de technische opleiding kiezen.
En ook nu weer komt het belang van meer rolmodellen aan bod. Rolmodellen die niet alleen de meiden overtuigen maar er ook voor zorgen dat moeders hun dochters kunnen vertellen waarom techniek echt iets voor hen is.
Luister nu naar de nieuwste Women Disrupting Tech podcast en ontdek hoe we samen de toekomst van vrouwelijk tech talent kunnen veranderen! Klik op de link om te luisteren.
Over Sanne Jongejan en Curio
Sanne Jongejan is de directeur Onderwijs van de sector Techniek en Technologie bij Curio. Ze brengt een schat aan ervaring in het onderwijs mee die ze opbouwde in meer dan 20 jaar in diverse onderwijs en managementposities bij Avans Hogeschool en als directeur van De Nassau in Breda. Je kunt meer over haar te weten komen en connecten via haar LinkedIn profiel.
Curio is de beroepsopleider van de regio West-Brabant. Zij hebben de opleidingen die vrouwen nodig hebben om in de techniek te kunnen werken. Meer informatie over vind je op hun website en op hun LinkedIn en Instagram profiel
En op 25 januari 2024 hebben ze een open dag, ook voor technische opleidingen. Je kunt je daarvoor vanaf vandaag vrijblijvend inschrijven. Dat is een mooie kans om erachter te komen welke bijdrage je dochter, vriendin, kleindochter, nichtje, zus aan een mooiere wereld kan leveren dankzij een technische opleiding.
Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community
With the podcast and the blog, I provide a platform for women who are building successful (tech) startups to help inspire other women to take the leap.
But I want to build a movement for more diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. A movement that helps to bring the changes necessary to get better products, more profitable businesses, and happier people in tech.
And you can join the movement by becoming a member of the Women Disrupting Tech community. As a member, you’ll be among the first to learn when new blogs and podcast episodes go online. Also, you’ll have exclusive access to members-only events (both online and offline).
Plus, you’ll help build a group of like-minded people who change the status quo of unequal rewards for underrepresented groups by giving them a platform to shine and act as role models.
To join, simply enter your best email address below to join.
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Championing DEI in Tech, Wisdom From a Frontrunner | Ingrid Tappin on Women Disrupting Tech
Imagine you’re the founder of a tech startup with an all-male team. And you wonder if you’re ready to make the pivotal shift towards diversity, equity, and inclusion. Where do you start?
Spoiler: the DEI journey does not start with hiring a woman or a person of color.
So, what should you do at the start of your journey into the world of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Listening to the podcast is a good start!
Championing DEI in Tech, Wisdom From a Frontrunner | Ingrid Tappin on Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
An hour of DEI Magic
Ingrid Tappin gives you the answer in the 31st episode of Women Disrupting Tech. It’s a vibrant conversation about DEI with one of the DEI experts in the startup ecosystem. Ingrid and I talk about:
- How being an inclusive leader is a lot like being a parent,
- The importance of building relationships and a network, and
- How to use KPIs to ensure that your DEI efforts are effective.
Oh, and did I mention the upcoming DEI in Tech Summit on 23 November? Well, we talk about that too.
About Ingrid Tappin and Diverse Leaders in Tech
Ingrid Tappin is the founder and director of Diverse Leaders in Tech and M/T Sprout Inclusive Leader 2023.
She has over 20 years of experience in the tech ecosystem as a former co-founder of a SaaS startup, senior manager at Accenture, and Director of DEI at Techleap. You can connect with Ingrid on LinkedIn.
To learn more about Diverse Leaders in Tech and partners and to apply for a membership, visit their website. If you would like to listen to another Diverse Leader in Tech, you will find my interview with Sabine Schoorl interesting.
Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community
With the podcast and the blog, I provide a platform for women who are building successful (tech) startups to help inspire other women to take the leap.
But I want to build a movement for more diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. A movement that helps to bring the changes necessary to get better products, more profitable businesses, and happier people in tech.
And you can join the movement by becoming a member of the Women Disrupting Tech community. As a member, you’ll be among the first to learn when new blogs and podcast episodes go online. Also, you’ll have exclusive access to members-only events (both online and offline).
Plus, you’ll help build a group of like-minded people who change the status quo of unequal rewards for underrepresented groups by giving them a platform to shine and act as role models.
To join, simply enter your best email address below.
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Vera op den Brouw on Unlocking the Potential: How Patents Empower The Women Disrupting Tech
Did you know that only 16,5% of inventors named in international patent applications are women? And here’s the kicker: startups with a patent are 10 times more likely to secure funding!
In that sense, a patent is a serious unlock. Therefore, for female founders in the tech world, understanding the path to securing a patent is a game-changer.
That is why, in the latest episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I sit down with Vera op den Brouw. Vera is a remarkable European Patent attorney and partner at AOMB. Her passion? Boosting the number of female inventors in the world.
Unlocking the Potential: How Patents Empower The Women Disrupting Tech with Vera op den Brouw | Ep. 30 – Women Disrupting Tech
What you’ll hear on this episode.
In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, we’ll talk about
- Vera’s journey in the world of patents,
- The intricacies of the patent process
- How can we get more women to apply for a patent?
- Why more female inventors are the key to a better world.
Vera’s advice to women who want to try if tech is something for them: “There is no shame in trying and failing.”
More about Vera and AOMB
Vera, with a master’s and Ph.D. in organic chemistry, found her calling as a patent attorney at AOMB, where science, law, teaching, and writing converge. With over two decades of experience, she’s been instrumental in helping companies build, manage, and protect their patent portfolios.
You can connect with Vera via LinkedIn and via her personal page on the AOMB website.
AOMB, a leading Dutch Intellectual Property Consultancy firm, offers expert patent advice in Chemistry, Life Sciences, Engineering, and High-Tech sectors.
For more insights on AOMB, please visit their website. There, you can also find specific information on patents.
And if you’d like to have more information about patents and intellectual property, and you like listening to podcasts, try out their podcast called Kennispodje.
How you can help get more female inventors
With the podcast and the blog, I provide a platform for women who are making groundbreaking inventions and building successful (tech) startups to help them inspire other women to take the leap.
But I want to build a movement for more diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. A movement that helps to bring the changes necessary to get better products, more profitable businesses, and happier people in tech.
And you can join the movement by becoming a member of the Women Disrupting Tech community. As a member, you’ll be among the first to learn when new blogs and podcast episodes go online. Also, you’ll have exclusive access to members-only events (both online and offline).
Plus, you’ll help build a group of like-minded people who change the status quo of unequal rewards for underrepresented groups by giving them a platform to shine and act as role models.
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Seven things you can start doing today to advance your career as a woman in tech
I recently moderated a panel discussion on Career advancement for Women in Tech at The Hague Tech. On the panel were Wafa M’ribah, Jennifer Delano, and Hendrika Willemse. During the panel discussion, we discussed a broad range of career advancement topics, including:
- Why it is important that companies show that they value the women on their teams.
- What men can contribute to the career advancement of women in tech.
- How young women can break into the world of Artificial Intelligence.
The magic from the Q&A
Toward the end, we had quite a bit of time for Q&A. The purpose was to give the women in the room tips that they could use to boost their careers. There was real magic in the answers from the women on the panel as the questions revolved around three themes:
- I have the feeling that people don’t listen to me.
- I get passed over for promotions.
- I’m not getting the pay that I deserve.
As I’m sure that these themes are relevant to many more women than were in the room, I’m sharing their answers and stories here with you.
“It is not your fault.”
It is never good if you feel that you’re not taken seriously. Every person deserves to be respected for who they are and what they do.
And, as Wafa indicated, it is also crucial that you do not take it personally. If people don’t listen to you, help, or support you in the same way that they do with others, you cannot be blamed for that.
“Make a connection.”
When she notices that she has a “difficult” person at work, she schedules a one-on-one meeting to get to know that person. Or, if it’s a colleague, she will try to work one-on-one with that person, like in pair programming.
This way, she gets to know the person, and the person gets to know her. They will notice that Wafa has got her act together, which builds trust and helps build a relationship.
As a result, people will be more likely to understand the value that you bring and make an effort to help you when you need it.
“Know your value“
Knowing your value also means recognizing your strengths, accomplishments, and unique qualities. Take the time to reflect on your achievements, skills, and expertise. Highlight any certifications, awards, or projects that demonstrate your capabilities and add value to your profile.
“Do benchmark research.”
Understanding your worth and having the confidence to negotiate is crucial in both personal and professional settings. When it comes to negotiating a salary, it is essential to know your worth.
Therefore, Hendrika recommends doing your benchmark research before negotiating a salary. And she indicated that even when there is little room for improvement on the base salary, there is always something to negotiate for. Consider items like time off, expense payments, and other secondary benefits.
Knowing your value will help you negotiate a fair compensation. That applies to entrepreneurs, too, as Jennifer explained. She said that she never negotiates about the prices she charges her customers.
“Take action”
So when you discover you’re undervalued compared to colleagues, you want to take that up with your manager.
When Hendrika learned she was underpaid, she discussed this with her manager. Specifically, she asked him what their next step would be and when this would be taken.
When my girlfriend felt she was not getting the promotion she deserved, she deployed the following powerful tactic: She asked her manager to sit down with her and discuss what she needed to do (training, performance, achievements) to get the promotion. She then documented this in the HR system so that when she had met the requirements, she was promoted.
“Document your achievements.“
This is a tip I got from Marie Weijler when I interviewed her on the podcast in 2022. And it is one that I pass on every time I hear a woman tell me that she has been passed over for a promotion
Marie stated that it is easy to assume that people will see how hard you work, but they don’t. We’re generally focused on how we’re doing ourselves. Your manager is no exception to that rule. Only in some extraordinary circumstances will they notice the out or underperformance of others.
It’s as simple as writing an email.
Marie Weijler’s solution is that she sends an email to her managers every week to document what she has been working on. This avoids the trap of thinking that others will see what you’re doing.
This sounds quite simple, but don’t underestimate the importance of documenting your achievements, no matter how small they may seem. Keeping a record of your accomplishments serves several purposes.
And, of course, if your company has an HR system that facilitates this, you should use that to document your achievements.
Here’s why
Firstly, it allows you to track your own progress and reflect on how far you’ve come. Documenting your own progress, particularly when written down on paper, will help you remember when you’re negotiating for a raise or a promotion.
Secondly, it provides valuable evidence of your skills and abilities when updating your resume or portfolio.
Lastly, it can remind you of your capabilities during times of self-doubt or when preparing for job interviews or performance evaluations.
Here’s how to document
To execute this, consider creating a file or document where you regularly update your achievements. Include specific details such as project outcomes, quantifiable results, and any positive feedback received. This comprehensive record will not only boost your confidence but also provide concrete evidence of your value and impact.
Remember, knowing your value, ensuring you are valued, and documenting your achievements are vital components of personal and professional growth. By practicing these principles, you can navigate toward fulfilling opportunities and a sense of fulfillment in your endeavors.
“There are other jobs.”
It’s essential for everyone, not just women, to be in an environment where your contributions are recognized and appreciated.
During the panel discussion, Wafa stressed that if you feel undervalued consistently and efforts to address the issue have proven unsuccessful, it might be time to evaluate your options.
And, as Hendrika adds: “There are always other jobs. Specifically in tech, there are always companies willing to pay what you’re worth.”
The seven things you can start doing today
So, these are the seven strategies that women in tech can deploy to advance their careers.
- Always keep in mind that it is not about you
- Make a connection
- Know your value
- Do benchmark research
- Take action if you feel undervalued
- Document your achievements
- Remember, there are other jobs
Before I close out, I want to stress that it is also essential to consider your own mental health in this context. A supportive and appreciative work or personal environment can have a significant impact on your overall happiness and success. Surrounding yourself with people who value and respect you will boost your confidence, motivation, and productivity.
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast
Stories That Build a More Inclusive Tech Future.
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