Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast – Stories That Build a More Inclusive Tech Future.

How Cogensus Uses AI to Tackle Loneliness and Cognitive Decline | Show notes for episode 112 of Women Disrupting Tech

Loneliness raises your risk of serious health problems by 59 percent. Would you trust an AI companion to change those odds?

In Episode 112, Raju Joshi shares what most people learn too late: that the biggest signals of cognitive decline don’t show up on medical charts. They show up in silence. In missed moments. In the space between “I’m fine” and what someone really wanted to say.

Now, as Chief Clinical Officer of Cogensus, Raju is building something different. A platform that listens for what families and clinicians often miss. So we can intervene earlier, talk more meaningfully, and preserve what makes someone feel like themselves.

She joined Cogensus to help build a system that captures what the healthcare system misses: the emotional, cognitive, and social shifts that shape how people age. As she puts it, “Innovation isn’t a sex-based trait or a culturally driven issue. It’s identifying a problem, creating a solution using calculated risk, and benefiting your customer.”

Key Takeaways from Episode 112

The World Health Organization estimates that dementia and Alzheimer‑related care cost 1.3 trillion dollars in 2019 and will rise sharply as populations age. So there is a clear business case for what Cogensus is building.

Loneliness and cognitive decline are deeply connected. Raju explains how shrinking social circles and solo living increase cognitive risk. This impacts women disproportionately as they live alone more often, provide 70% of caregiving hours and tend to delay care for themselves.
AI can help address loneliness and cognitive decline with empathy and dignity. Most check-ins ask about mood and medication. Cogensus goes further. It engages individuals in conversation beyond just medical topics, fostering a fuller understanding of their lives and alleviating loneliness.
Cogensus’ solution reaches beyond elder care. In the future, Cogensus can use the same approach for supporting veterans who isolate after service and athletes at risk for concussion‑related dementia.

Raju’s north star is agency: giving people the data they need, at the moment they need it, to stay connected and in control of their lives.

To hear her full story, including her take on inclusion in tech, listen to episode 112 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Or scroll down for Magical Moments and Practical Takeaways.

3 Magic Quotes Defining This Episode

Picture of Cogensus co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer Raju Joshi with a quote from episode 112 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech which features an interview with her.

“We want patients to have agency over their own life.”

Raju Joshi, Co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer of Cogensus

This episode reframes aging as not just a medical process, but a social one. It’s also a call to rebalance where we invest research, tools, and care. Here are three lines that capture the heart of the conversation. Each one opens a door to a bigger truth:

“People are so much more than the medications that they’re on.” (27:08)
This quote says in one line what many systems forget. It’s the emotional thesis behind Cogensus. Data that respects the whole person.
“We want patients to have agency over their own life.” (46:22)
One of the most powerful ethical stakes in the episode. Raju makes it clear that tech should support autonomy, not replace it.
“There is a need for the female perspective in the work that is being created.” (54:39)
This is both a statement of fact and a rallying cry. It reminds us that inclusion isn’t just about fairness. It’s about better design, better outcomes, and better futures.

What is the moment that stood out to you? Let me know in the comments.

🎧 Ready to hear more? Listen to Episode 112 on Spotify.

BTW, know someone who needs to hear this? Use the buttons to share this post with them.

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

As the summer holiday has started, the event season will take a break. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

Founders Beach Series | Edition 3: Tech & Soul

Date: 11 September 2025
Location: Mango’s Beach Bar, Zandvoort
Time: 15:00 – 22:00 hours
Tickets: On Luma

A Question for You 🤔

Would you feel comfortable talking to an AI about your mood or memory?

Let me know in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear your take.

Meaningful Moments of the Episode

03:36 – Raju Joshi and Cogensus
05:47 – Personal Motivation Behind Joining Cogensus
09:01 – Understanding Cognitive Health and Loneliness
10:45 – The Impact of Aging on Health
13:18 – Gender Differences in Cognitive Decline
15:25 – Delays in Diagnosis and Treatment
17:02 – Current Understanding of Cognitive Decline
19:50 – Introducing the AI-Enabled Solution
21:47 – Insights for Caregivers
24:51 – Differentiating from Chatbots and Passive Listening
31:36 – Building Trust in AI Conversations
33:42 – The Importance of Human Connection
36:20 – Building Trust with Technology for the Elderly
39:13 – Personal Experience in Tech Development
41:05 – Expanding the Scope of Cogensus
43:05 – Understanding CTE and Its Implications
44:52 – Addressing Loneliness in Veterans
47:49 – AI’s Role in Enhancing Human Care
50:33 – Balancing Ambition and Community Needs
53:11 – Navigating the Funding Landscape
56:51 – Encouraging Female Founders
1:00:37 – Shifting Mindsets for Inclusion

5 Practical Insights for Building Ethical, Inclusive AI

About 33 minutes into our conversation, I pick Raju’s brain on how we can build ethical, responsible and inclusive AI solutions for healthcare. If you are designing technology for vulnerable users, these tips from Raju offer a clear roadmap:

Keep usability simple. This is how you build trust, especially with older adults. Raju emphasizes that trust is won through design, not just intention.
Know your use case. Cogensus focuses on cognitive health and loneliness, not general diagnostics. That clarity helps it stay responsible and relevant.
Design for emotional safety. Some people feel more comfortable confiding in a bot than a family member. Don’t dismiss that. Raju’s example of the airplane seat confidant explains this perfectly.
Build for people who are curious, not just tech-savvy. Raju’s father-in-law represents the kind of user often left out. Curious, not fluent, and eager to feel seen.
Give users agency. Good AI doesn’t over-monitor. It listens when asked, and steps back when not needed. Finding that balance is the goal.

🎧 For the full conversation on how Cogensus uses AI to tackle loneliness and cognitive decline, listen to Episode 112 on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Or click the image below to listen on YouTube.

“There is a need for the female perspective in the work that is being created.”
Raju Joshi, Chief Clinical Officer and co-founder of Cogensus.

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

Amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech by following the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple. It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

Share the stories that move you.
Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

Use the buttons below to spread the word. Your voice helps amplify theirs.

My Personal Reflections

The best thing that can happen when you make a podcast is that it gives you tools and inspiration to change your behavior for the positive.

This episode made me look differently at what it means to care for my aging mother. I realized how easy it is to miss the signals when our conversations stay surface-level.

What stuck with me most was how Raju spoke about the emotional blind spots in caregiving and how technology, when used thoughtfully, can help us see them.

Her storytelling also stands out. She brings warmth and clarity through analogies: the airplane seat confidant, the hesitant elder who’ll talk to Siri but not their kids.

And she understands tech trust like few others, naming her 94-year-old father-in-law as someone who’s not tech-savvy but deeply curious. That curiosity, she says, is enough.

In the end, I’m convinced that Raju and her team are building something timely, urgent, and deeply human.

Listen to Episode 112 of Women Disrupting Tech wherever you listen to podcasts to hear the full conversation.

About Raju Joshi

Raju Joshi is Co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer at Cogensus. Trained in biomedical sciences and epidemiology, she brings more than 30 years of experience across the healthcare spectrum—academic research, payers, long-term-care pharmacies, Medtronic, Amgen, and Deloitte Consulting.

After losing her mother-in-law to dementia and her father soon after, Raju saw how symptom-focused care often ignores the emotional and social realities of aging. She joined Cogensus first as an advisor and board member, then stepped into an executive role to build AI tools that preserve agency, reduce loneliness, and give clinicians richer context.

You can connect with Raju on LinkedIn.

About Cogensus

Cogensus is a digital health platform that uses conversational AI and sentiment analysis to surface potential early signals of cognitive change and loneliness in older adults.

Via an avatar-led dialogue, the system tracks memory, verbal fluency, and social factors, turning those patterns into actionable insights for families and clinicians.

Cogensus is not a diagnostic tool; it provides insights on loneliness and preserves personal stories. In 2025 the company was selected for the Caduceus Health Accelerator, and currently it is raising $1.5 million to expand pilot programs with insurers, providers, and senior-living communities.

You can learn more about Cogensus on the website and by following the company on LinkedIn.

Should inclusion be tied to performance reviews and promotions in tech?

Let me know what you think and how we can start doing this in the comments below.

And if you would like to suggest a guest or a theme for the podcast, please let me know via email or send a DM on LinkedIn.

Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech

Next week, we go back to basics: Femke Brouwer exposes how systemic bias in work, home, and education keeps tech unequal. And she calls on men and women to redesign a system that works for everyone.

In this clip, she shares why gender equality in tech and beyond benefits all of us.

Click play to hear the clip.

So stay tuned for this and much more on Women Disrupting Tech. And until the next episode: Keep Being Awesome!

31 July 2025

Podcast

Diversity in Tech, Female Founder, Healthcare, Inclusion, Podcast, role model, show notes, Venture Capital, Women Disrupting Tech, Women in Tech

How She Unfolds Creates the Space Where Women in Tech Belong | Show notes for episode 111 of Women Disrupting Tech

What if high performance doesn’t come across as being authentic?

That’s one of the quietly radical questions at the heart of this deeply personal conversation on gender equality, inclusion, and leadership in tech with cybersecurity expert and SheUnfolds co-founder Emily van Putten.

In episode 111 of Women Disrupting Tech, Emily opens up about navigating the tech world as a transgender woman, and what it taught her about visibility, perception, and the price of not fitting the mold.

Having lived and worked on both sides of the gender spectrum, she brings a rare and profound perspective on what it really means to belong.

This isn’t just an episode about diversity. It’s about survival, about community, and about changing the rules so more people can thrive.

Key Takeaways from Episode 111

This is one of the most personal, thought-provoking conversations I’ve had on the podcast. Here’s what you’ll learn by listening to episode 111 of Women Disrupting Tech:

Inclusion must come with accountability. If you’re not helping others grow, you shouldn’t be rewarded for leadership.
How (social media) algorithms fragment our identities and create what Emily calls the “digital closet”.
Belonging makes growth possible. We grow when we feel safe enough to stop performing.

🎧 Listen now to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech and explore how inclusion, leadership, and digital identity shape the future of women in tech.

Hit play below, or find the episode on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Or scroll down for Magical Moments and Practical Takeaways.

Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack

Changing the funding landscape starts with access. Not just to capital, but to the right people, ideas, and spaces. That’s why I’m building The Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack.

Join us if you want to help more women be heard, funded, and celebrated in tech. You’ll receive:
✨ Early access to new podcast episodes, plus a weekly email with the moments that moved me and what they taught me.
✨ Exclusive research on what it really takes to build a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
✨ Invites to special events we sponsor or co-host, where conversations turn into collaborations.

This community is for people who believe in action. And know that together, our voices go further.

Join me on Substack

Three Reasons Why Allies of Women in Tech Should Listen

As a transgender woman, Emily brings a rare dual perspective. She has seen how leadership, visibility, and bias play out on both sides of the gender spectrum. And she speaks with a clarity and vulnerability that’s impossible to ignore. Here are three magical moments that touched me.

The hug of a total stranger at CODAM. A reminder of how powerful it is to make someone feel seen.
Emily describes the shift in how people treated her expertise before and after transitioning. The same ideas, the same work, from the same person, suddenly questioned.
Her reflection on the “digital closet,” and how social media makes it harder to be authentic in real life.

🎧 Ready to hear more? Listen to Episode 111 on Spotify.

BTW, if you know another ally who should hear Emily’s story? Use the buttons to share this post with them.

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

As the summer holiday has started, the event season will take a break. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

Founders Beach Series | Edition 3: Tech & Soul

Date: 11 September 2025
Location: Mango’s Beach Bar, Zandvoort
Time: 15:00 – 22:00 hours
Tickets: On Luma

🤔 Your Turn: A Question for You

Have you ever felt the need to present a version of yourself online that’s different from who you really are?

Let me know in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear your take.

Meaningful Moments of the Episode

02:52 – Introduction to SheUnfolds and Advocacy for Women in Tech
05:38 – Challenges of Retaining Women in IT
08:36 – The Importance of Belonging and Leadership
11:43 – Navigating Gender Dynamics in the Workplace
14:31 – Personal Journey and the Impact of Transitioning
17:12 – The Role of Empathy in Leadership
20:03 – The Need for Diverse Perspectives in Tech
22:54 – Conclusion and Future Outlook
29:01 – Navigating Identity and Online Presence
37:09 – The Role of Authenticity in Performance
41:45 – Creating Safe Spaces for Women in Tech
49:23 – Envisioning an Inclusive Future

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

Amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech by following the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple. It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

Share the stories that move you.
Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

Use the buttons below to spread the word. Your voice helps amplify theirs.

3 Practical Suggestions for (Allies of) Women in Tech

Picture of SheUnfolds co-founder Emily van Putten with a quote from episode 111 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech which features an interview with her.

“Use technology intentionally to empower authenticity and not to distort it.” – Emily van Putten

Each episode, we ask our guests for practical recommendations that listeners can use to build a more equal tech ecosystem. They’re not checklists but the kind of insights that make you (and me) stop and think: what could I do differently today?

Inclusion isn’t a soft skill. Tie it to pay, power, and promotions.
Don’t wait for someone else to define what safe spaces look like. Start small, listen well, and create moments of real connection.
Audit your digital self. Are you posting for validation, or expressing who you are?

What practical advice do you have that others could benefit from? Don’t be shy and leave them in the comments.

🎧 For the full conversation on how SheUnfolds creates the space where women in tech belong, listen to Episode 111 on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Or click the image below to listen on YouTube.

“You can’t thrive when you’re constantly trying to survive.”
Emily van Putten, co-founder of SheUnfolds.

Personal Observations

This is a special episode for many reasons. Emily speaks with clarity, vulnerability, and strength. Her story is not only brave, it’s deeply instructive.

What stood out most to me was her ability to articulate how exhausting it is to scan every room, to filter every word, and to still be questioned.

And yet, she stays, builds, and leads.

Her message to tech leaders is clear: Stop outsourcing the problem to the people already carrying it. Make inclusion part of your leadership standard.

About Emily van Putten

Emily van Putten is a cybersecurity expert with nearly two decades of experience in the tech industry. She’s also the co-founder of She Unfolds, a foundation focused on creating space for women in tech to connect, recharge, and belong. As a transgender woman, Emily brings a rare perspective on inclusion, visibility, and what it really means to lead with authenticity. She speaks openly about the biases she’s faced and the community she’s building to change that.

You can connect with Emily on LinkedIn.

About SheUnfolds

SheUnfolds is a community initiative founded by Emily van Putten and Megan Weidema. Born from the success of the first Women in IT Gala, it’s a response to the loneliness many women in tech feel as “the only one” on their team or in their company. SheUnfolds creates gatherings that feel different: no name tags, no forced pitches, just space to slow down and connect. It’s about building belonging, not just networks. And making tech a place where more women can stay, grow, and lead.

You can learn more about SheUnfolds on the website and by following it on LinkedIn.

Should inclusion be tied to performance reviews and promotions in tech?

Let me know what you think and how we can start doing this in the comments below.

And if you would like to suggest a guest or a theme for the podcast, please let me know via email or send a DM on LinkedIn.

Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech

Another week, another episode of Women Disrupting Tech. This time, we learn from Raju Joshi how the company she co-founded, Cogensus, is helping an aging population to reduce loneliness and improve cognitive health.

This clip from our conversation on how to spot mom’s memory lapse made me pause and listen more carefully to the answers I get from my own mother.

Click play to hear the clip.

So stay tuned for this and much more on Women Disrupting Tech. And until the next episode: Keep Being Awesome

Related Episodes

If this conversation struck a chord, you might also want to listen to:

Episode 108: Farshida Zafar on authentic leadership and radical inclusion
Episode 81: Pim Blom on the power of storytelling for unconditional inclusion
Episode 89: Femke Cornelissen on paving the way for more women in AI and Cyber

24 July 2025

Podcast

community, Cybersecurity, Diversity in Tech, Inclusion, Podcast, role model, show notes, Women Disrupting Tech, Women in Tech

How FEM-Start Helps Female Founders Get Funded | Show notes for episode 110 of Women Disrupting Tech

What if we stopped asking women to change, and started changing how the system works?

In this episode, FEM-Start co-founders Marian Spier and Simone van Bijsterveldt explain what still keeps female founders from raising capital—and what needs to happen next.

Whether you’re fundraising for your first round or mentoring someone who is, this conversation is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways from Episode 110

FEM-Start isn’t just a training for female entrepreneurs. It’s a mindset shift. A platform. A response to structural bias. And a roadmap for change.

1. Visibility leads to funding

Investors need a certain level of FOMO. If female founders aren’t visible in the press or at events, they’re more likely to be overlooked. Visibility isn’t vanity, it’s strategy.

2. Modesty isn’t the issue; bias is

Women often present more realistic forecasts. That’s not a lack of ambition. That’s clarity. The problem isn’t the pitch. It’s how investors judge it.

3. Access still isn’t equal

Even when women ask for a meeting, they often don’t get a reply from investors. FEM-Start gives them the tools to open doors and make the most of the opportunity when they get there.

🎧 Tune in to discover How FEM-Start Helps Female Founders Get Funded and hear what the future of funding could look like when more women get to the table. Hit play below, or find the episode on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Or scroll down for Magical Moments and Practical Takeaways.

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

As the summer holiday is approaching, the event season will take a break. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

Founders Beach Series | Edition 3: Tech & Soul

Date: 11 September 2025
Location: Mango’s Beach Bar, Zandvoort
Time: 15:00 – 22:00 hours
Tickets: On Luma

Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack

Changing the funding landscape starts with access. Not just to capital, but to the right people, ideas, and spaces. That’s why I’m building The Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack.

Join us if you want to help more women be heard, funded, and celebrated in tech. You’ll receive:
✨ Early access to new podcast episodes, plus a weekly email with the moments that moved me and what they taught me.
✨ Exclusive research on what it really takes to build a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
✨ Invites to special events we sponsor or co-host, where conversations turn into collaborations.

This community is for people who believe in action. And know that together, our voices go further.

Join me on Substack

Three Reasons Why Female Founders Should Listen

This episode gives you more than advice. It gives you language, mindset, and courage.

1. Marian and Simone name what others only hint at

From investor bias to financial blind spots, Marian and Simone speak with clarity and care about the real challenges female founders face.

2. They offer tools and experience

You’ll learn from two leaders who have seen it all what’s in their programs, and why understanding investor “lingo” is a power move.

3. It reminds you not to shrink

You don’t need to change who you are to get funding. In fact, investors should choose you. So you do need to be prepared. This episode shows you how to stay authentic and still win the pitch.

🎧 Ready to hear it? Listen to Episode 110 on Spotify.

BTW, please share this post with someone who should hear it.

🤔 Your Turn: A Question for You

Julia has redefined success to be measured from within, not based on external factors. And I wonder, how do you define success?

Let me know in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear your take.

Meaningful Moments of the Episode

02:30 – Founding FEM-Start: The Journey
05:16 – Navigating Challenges During COVID-19
08:23 – Barriers for Female Entrepreneurs
11:31 – The Importance of Visibility and Networking
14:18 – Investor Bias and Its Impact
17:25 – Educating Female Entrepreneurs
20:11 – Confidence in Pitching
23:23 – The Role of Bias in Investment Decisions
26:01 – Changing the Narrative Around Female Founders
29:04 – Myths About Female Entrepreneurs
32:03 – The Future of Gender Diversity in Business
33:39 – Gender Bias in Leadership and Promotion
36:13 – Education Gaps for Women Entrepreneurs
42:07 – The Role of FEM-Start in Entrepreneurial Growth
43:47 – Personal Experiences Shaping Entrepreneurial Journeys
47:24 – Understanding Financial Literacy for Entrepreneurs
52:45 – Future Aspirations for FEM-Start
1:00:30 – Advocating for Inclusion in Tech Funding

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

Amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech by following the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple. It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

Share the stories that move you.
Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

Use the buttons below to spread the word. Your voice helps amplify theirs.

Three Pieces of Practical Advice for Female Founders

Taken straight from the FEM-Start playbook, here are three pieces of practical advice for female founders:

1. Know your finances by heart

Investors want founders who understand their numbers. Not just the P&L, but also cash flow, forecasting, and what’s driving growth.

2. Learn the language of funding

Terms like “pre-seed,” “valuation,” and “cap table” are more than buzzwords. Knowing the VC lingo helps you negotiate from strength, not guesswork.

3. Build your pitch like a marriage

Don’t play a role just to impress. The investor-founder relationship is long-term. Be honest from the start. You’ll attract better partners.

🎙️ Which of these have you already mastered? Share your experience in the comments.

🎧 For the full conversation on how FEM-Start closes the gender funding gap, listen to Episode 110 on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Or click the image below to listen on YouTube.

Pictures of Simone van Bijsterveldt (left) and Marian Spier (right) with a quote from episode 110 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech titled 'How FEM-Start Helps Female Founders Get Funded'. The quote is from Simone. — Simone van Bijsterveldt’s quote from episode 110.

“I believe founders should know their business case by heart. Because if you don’t know it, what should an investor do with it?”
Simone van Bijsterveldt, founder of FEM-Start on the importance of understanding your business case as a founder.

Bonus Insight for Investors

Bias training won’t fix the gap. But behavior can.

About 24 minutes into the conversation, Marian says something important: the system won’t change because people suddenly become less biased. It will change because more women are building companies too big to ignore.

That is why it’s important to expand the lens through which we evaluate potential. And asking better questions, to women and to men.

About Marian Spier

Marian Spier is the founder of FEM-Start and a serial entrepreneur with a background in innovation, education, and leadership. She launched TEDx Amsterdam Women and the Startup Awards to spotlight underestimated female talent. Marian believes visibility leads to funding. With FEM-Start, she now helps women learn the rules of the game: how to raise capital, how to stay true to yourself, and how to build a global business without losing your voice.

You can connect with Marian on LinkedIn.

About Simone van Bijsterveldt

Simone van Bijsterveldt is a finance expert turned entrepreneur. After working as CFO at MediaMonks, she joined FEM-Start to make the startup world more accessible for women. Her strength? Helping founders get investor-ready by keeping the back office strong. Simone believes female founders don’t need fixing. They need support, honest forecasts, and access to the right rooms. With FEM-Start, she helps them get there.

You can connect with Simone on LinkedIn as well.

About FEM-Start

FEM-Start is an education platform that prepares female founders to raise funding. Founded in 2020, the program combines online courses with real-world investor meetups. It focuses on early-stage entrepreneurs with growth ambition. FEM-Start teaches the language of funding, helps women understand investor expectations, and connects them to a broader ecosystem of legal, tax, and finance experts. The mission: close the gender funding gap one pitch at a time.

You can learn more about FEM-Start on their website and by following them on LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

What would change if we closed the gender funding gap?

Let me know what you think or what you hope would happen 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

Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech

Next week on Women Disrupting Tech, I’m joined by Emily van Putten. She shares her personal experiences as a transgender woman in tech, the impact of online identity, and the necessity of accountability in leadership.

Talking about leadership, Emily has a clear view on what inclusive leadership is and isn’t. Just click to hear it…

Click to hear Emily’s view on inclusive leadership.

So stay tuned for this and much more on Women Disrupting Tech.

Final Thoughts

This episode made me pause. Not just because of what Marian and Simone said, but because of how they said it: With clarity, conviction, and with zero interest in playing games.

FEM-Start isn’t just helping women raise money. It’s helping them raise the bar for what funding should look like in an inclusive tech world.

🎧 Listen to Episode 110 of Women Disrupting Tech: “How FEM-Start Helps Female Founders Get Funded” on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

And until the next episode: Keep Being Awesome!

17 July 2025

Podcast

Diversity in Tech, ecosystem, Funding of female founders, Inclusion, Podcast, role model, show notes, Venture Capital, Women Disrupting Tech, Women in Tech

How Cyberette Battles Deepfakes to Restore Digital Trust | Show notes for episode 109 of Women Disrupting Tech

Can we still trust what we see on the internet?

That question is becoming harder to answer. Because deepfakes are getting harder to spot. And digital trust is no longer a given.

In Episode 109 of Women Disrupting Tech, I spoke with Julia Jakimenko. She’s the founder of Cyberette. Her tech startup focuses on detecting deepfakes across video, audio, and images.

But what really stood out? Julia’s not just building software. She’s building standards. For truth. For transparency. For safety in a digital world shaped by AI.

Key Takeaways from Episode 109

Julia Jakimenko isn’t just building a product. She’s building the conditions for trust in a digital world shaped by AI. Here are three things that stood out:

Digital Trust Starts With Transparency

Cyberette’s vision is clear: media verification should be as normal as two-factor authentication. Built-in. Always on. No second-guessing.

AI Can’t Be Ethical Without Clear Boundaries

Julia is outspoken about the risks of scraping, shortcuts, and data misuse. She believes AI needs global standards, and the companies building it should be held accountable.

Self-Promotion Still Comes With a Gender Tax

Women in tech are often judged more on tone and appearance than competence. Julia breaks down how she’s had to navigate expectations — and why “putting on a bit of ego” shouldn’t be a disadvantage.

🎧 Hear how Julia leads with clarity, integrity, and purpose in Episode 109 of Women Disrupting Tech. Hit play below, or find the episode on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Or scroll down for Magical Moments and Practical Takeaways.

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

As the summer holiday is approaching, the event season will take a break. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

Founders Beach Series | Edition 3: Tech & Soul

Date: 11 September 2025
Location: Mango’s Beach Bar, Zandvoort
Time: 15:00 – 22:00 hours
Tickets: On Luma

Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack

Changing the funding landscape starts with access. Not just to capital, but to the right people, ideas, and spaces. That’s why I’m building The Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack.

Join us if you want to help more women be heard, funded, and celebrated in tech. You’ll receive:
✨ Early access to new podcast episodes, plus a weekly email with the moments that moved me and what they taught me.
✨ Exclusive research on what it really takes to build a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
✨ Invites to special events we sponsor or co-host, where conversations turn into collaborations.

This community is for people who believe in action. And know that together, our voices go further.

Join me on Substack

Three Magic Quotes From This Episode🪄

This episode goes beyond startup strategy or AI trends. Here are three magic moments from the episode that show us Julia’s heart as a founder.

“Our goal is not to stop AI, but to bring confidence back to the internet.”
Julia on Cyberette’s core mission

“Now for me, success is something more holistic. Something that comes from inside. I cancelled all those external values. I transitioned into peace and happiness that doesn’t rely on that portrayed image of what success is like.”
Julia on redefining success on her own terms

“I think we really need more role models. […] If you don’t have those role models, you know, growing up, how can you know that someone that looks like you can be successful?”
Julia on the power of visibility for women in tech

These words are more than quotes. They’re reminders of why stories matter. And why we need more women like Julia shaping the future of tech.

Ready for some more magic? Check out the episode on Spotify.

Oh, and don’t forget to tell me about your favorite moment from the episode in the comments.

🤔 Your Turn: A Question for You

Julia has redefined success to be measured from within, not based on external factors. And I wonder, how do you define success?

Let me know in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear your take.

Important Moments of the Episode

03:20 Journey to Cyberette: A Unique Path
06:31 Understanding Deepfakes: Technology and Implications
09:31 The Threat of Deepfakes: Real-World Examples
12:05 Spotting Deepfakes: Red Flags and Awareness
14:55 AI and Digital Trust: Building Confidence Online
17:58 The Role of Women in Tech: Diversity and Inclusion
20:53 Challenges for Female Founders: Funding and Support
23:39 Self-Promotion: The Gender Divide
26:47 Success Redefined: Personal Growth and Business Goals
29:25 Cultural Adaptability: Lessons from Diverse Backgrounds
32:24 The Future of Cyberette: Envisioning Success
35:21 Privacy First: Ethical Considerations in AI
38:07 The Importance of Data Quality: Building Trust
37:36 Navigating the Male-Dominated Tech Landscape
44:06 Overcoming Self-Doubt: The Female Entrepreneur’s Journey
46:48 The Power of Community: Building Networks
49:48 Vision for 2032: A Safer Digital World
52:33 Final Thoughts: Inclusion and Authenticity in Tech

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

Amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech by following the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple. It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

Share the stories that move you.
Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.

Use the buttons below to spread the word. Your voice helps amplify theirs.

Five Ways to Spot a Deepfake (Tips from Julia)

Deepfakes are getting better with AI. But there are still ways to spot them. During our conversation, Julia shared some practical red flags you can look out for to prevent you from being abused.

Pressure to act quickly

This is the biggest red flag. If someone asks you to respond fast, especially on the phone, pause.

Requests to move platforms

Scammers often try to move you from email to WhatsApp or a call. That’s because voice cloning is easier over the phone.

Unnatural blinking or lighting

Watch the eyes. And check if the light on the person’s face matches the background.

Robotic tone or strange background noise

If something feels off, it probably is. Trust your instincts.

Inconsistent context

Someone looks like they’re at the office, but you hear beach sounds? That’s a clue.

Julia calls this a “zero trust” approach. It doesn’t mean paranoia. It means paying attention.

🎧 For Julia’s full masterclass on detecting deepfakes, listen to Episode 109 on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Or click the image below to listen on YouTube. And don’t forget to share what your biggest learning from the episode was in the comments.

Picture of Cyberette founder and CEO Julia Jakimenko with a quote from episode 109 of Women Disrupting Tech titled 'How Cyberette Battles Deepfakes So You Can Trust What You See.' — Quote by Julia from episode 109.

“Success is something more holistic. Something that comes from inside.”
Julia Jakimenko, Founder and CEO of Cyberette

About Julia Jakimenko

Julia Jakimenko is the visionary founder and CEO of Cyberette, a Dutch startup born from her journey into law, human rights, and now impactful tech. She’s driven by a relentless belief that digital trust must be rebuilt, one verified video, call, and message at a time. 

You can connect with Julia on LinkedIn.

About Cyberette

Cyberette is a Netherlands-based startup on a mission to prevent disinformation and fraud by detecting AI-manipulated content and ensuring the authenticity of digital interactions. They do this by making media verification as routine as two-factor authentication.

Their AI-native platform provides real-time detection of deepfakes in images, videos, audio and text with 99% accuracy.

You can learn more about Cyberette on the website and by following them on LinkedIn and Instagram.

What would change if we treated women’s well-being as the default, not the exception?

Let me know what you think or what you hope would happen 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

Next week on Women Disrupting Tech, we hear from FEM-Start founders Marian Spier and Simone van Bijsterveldt how they’re empowering female entrepreneurs. We cover the need for education, confidence, and collaboration in supporting female founders, as well as the aspirations for Femstart to create a global platform for women in business.

And education should not only cover women. Investors need education, too. Here’s Marian explaining why.

FEM-Start founder Marian Spier on the need for women and investors to educate themselves.

So stay tuned for this and much more on Women Disrupting Tech. And until the next episode: Keep Being Awesome!

10 July 2025

Podcast

Cybersecurity, Diversity in Tech, Female Founder, Inclusion, Podcast, role model, show notes, Women Disrupting Tech, Women in Tech

Reclaiming Health, Pleasure, and Power with Jo Sarah | Show notes for episode 108 of Women Disrupting Tech

When was the last time you heard someone speak openly about topics still considered private or taboo?

Or heard a leader talk openly and without flinching about sexual trauma and hormonal cycles?

In Episode 108 of Women Disrupting Tech, you’ll hear Jo Sarah, founder and CEO of Umaversity, do exactly that.

Key Takeaways from Episode 108

Jo Sarah is on a mission to help women reclaim their bodies, their pleasure, and their power through education, community, and cultural inclusivity.

Here’s what you’ll learn when you listen to our open, vulnerable, and deeply human conversation:

🔍 Why female anatomy is still missing from biology books
💡 How shame and lack of knowledge about the female anatomy fuel burnout and trauma.
🌍 Why Umaversity blends science with global ancestral wisdom.

Heads up: the episode contains explicit language and references to female genitals. Always in a respectful way, but I thought you should know.

🎧 Ready to dive in? Hit play below, or find the episode on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Or scroll down for Magical Moments and Practical Takeaways.

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

Below are some events worth visiting in the coming month. You’ll find a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, on the events page.

Founders Beach Series | Edition 2: Feel the Brand, Lead the Future

Date: 3 July 2025
Location: Mango’s Beach Bar, Zandvoort
Time: 15:00 – 22:00 hours
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

Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack

Changing the funding landscape starts with access. Not just to capital, but to the right people, ideas, and spaces. That’s why I’m building The Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack.

Join us if you want to help more women be heard, funded, and celebrated in tech. You’ll receive:
✨ Early access to new podcast episodes, plus a weekly email with the moments that moved me and what they taught me.
✨ Exclusive research on what it really takes to build a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
✨ Invites to special events we sponsor or co-host, where conversations turn into collaborations.

This community is for people who believe in action. And know that together, our voices go further.

Join me on Substack

The Magic in This Episode🪄

This conversation was unlike any I’ve had before: brutal, raw, and deeply honest. Here are three quotes, including timestamps, so you can easily find them.

✨ “This disconnection steals energy, creativity, confidence — and it costs society more than we realize.” 🕒 06:19–06:25

When Jo Sarah talks about women being disconnected, she means the disconnect from their bodies, cycles, and needs. And the cost is real: When women are disconnected from their bodies, the impact isn’t just personal. It affects families, workplaces, and communities.

✨ “If I ask other people to be vulnerable, I need to be vulnerable myself.” 🕒 25:14–25:19

Jo Sarah leads by example. She shares her personal journey, including a rare health condition. Not to inspire pity but to build trust and model what safety actually looks like.

✨ “I would love to create systems where women’s well-being is the standard.” 🕒 Around 51:49

This is more than a dream. It’s a blueprint for future workplaces, schools, and leadership cultures. Imagine if health equity wasn’t a perk but a foundation of a better society.

Ready for some more magic? Check out the episode on Spotify.

Oh, and don’t forget to tell me about your favorite moment from the episode in the comments.

🤔 Your Turn: A Question for You

What would it take to make health equity the standard? And what is the role of men in making that happen?

Let me know in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear what you take from this episode.

Important Moments of the Episode

03:55 – Introduction to Jo Sarah and Her Mission
05:22 – Understanding Women’s Sexual Health and Education
08:00 – Impact of Ignorance on Women’s Lives
10:56 – The Business Case for Women’s Well-being
13:23 – Breaking Taboos and Myths in Women’s Health
16:08 – The Importance of Education in Schools
20:31 – Umaversity’s Role in Empowering Women
22:19 – Creating Safe Spaces for Discussion
25:19 – Inclusivity in Women’s Health Education
28:18 – Addressing Sexual Trauma and Vulnerability
30:36 – The Role of Self-Compassion in Leadership
34:10 – The Importance of Self-Compassion in Leadership
35:34 – Navigating Women’s Health: A New Frontier
37:20 – Empowering Female Founders Through Vulnerability
40:08 – The Power of Curiosity in Leadership
41:27 – Five Ways of Knowledge Exchange at Umaversity
44:34 – Vetting Experts and Partnerships for Women’s Health
47:55 – Integrating Traditional and Modern Approaches to Women’s Health
52:20 – The Role of Allies in Women’s Health Advocacy
56:02 – Future Aspirations for Umaversity
59:38 – Ensuring Unbiased AI in Women’s Health Solutions

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

Amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech by following the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple. It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

Share the stories that move you.
Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps the Women Disrupting Tech build a more inclusive tech future and supports women in getting the stage they deserve.

Use the buttons below to spread the word. Your voice helps amplify theirs.

Practical Advice for anyone who calls themselves an ally about Women’s Health

Towards the end of our conversation, I ask Jo Sarah how men can support women on their health journey. Here are three practical tips that allies can start implementing today.

1. Start with curiosity, not assumptions.

Ask questions. Learn how shame, trauma, and silence show up differently across cultures and generations.

2. Make space for women to speak, on their terms.

Whether in meetings, panels, or policy discussions, inclusion isn’t just about being present. It’s about being safe to speak and be heard.

3. Support platforms that break taboos.

Follow, fund, and amplify initiatives like Umaversity that combine lived experience with real-world impact. Allyship isn’t neutral; it’s active.

These are just three of the many recommendations from the podcast. You can find the rest by listening to the entire episode on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Or click the image below to listen on YouTube. And don’t forget to share what your biggest learning from the episode was in the comments.

Picture of Umaversity founder and CEO Jo Sarah and a quote from episode 108 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech. The episode is titled 'How Umaversity Helps Women Reclaim Power, Pleasure and Health.'
Picture credit: Daria Nelina — Quote by Jo Sarah from episode 108. Picture credit: Daria Nelina

“I would love to create systems where women’s well-being is the standard.”
Jo Sarah, Founder and CEO of Umaversity

About Jo Sarah

Jo Sarah Garcia is an advocate for women’s health and empowerment and the founder and CEO of Umaversity. In addition, she is a Keynote Speaker, DEIB Consultant, and a Human Design & Business Strategist.

As the author of Manifest Your Desires and creator of its 5-step method, she helps people turn vision into action.

You can connect with Jo Sarah on her website and LinkedIn.

About Umaversity

Umaversity is a supportive, non-judgmental platform where women+ can learn, connect, and take ownership of their well-being.

Founded by Jo Sarah, Umaversity empowers women+ through personal, cultural, and generational storytelling—blending science with ancestral knowledge from around the world. The result is a diverse and inclusive community grounded in education, compassion, and healing.

As Jo Sarah explains in Women Disrupting Tech, “women+” includes everyone who identifies as a woman and/or has a vulva, including non-binary and gender-diverse individuals.

You can learn more about Umaversity at umaversity.com and by following Umaversity on LinkedIn. Don’t forget to follow their podcasts on Spotify, Apple or YouTube, too.

What would change if we treated women’s well-being as the default, not the exception?

Let me know what you think or what you hope would happen 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

Next week, we return to the world of tech and hear from Cyberette founder Julia Jakimenko how she helps to prevent fraud by helping companies detect deep fakes.

In this clip, Julia explains what a deep fake is, and criminals use them.

Click to hear from Julia Jakimenko what a deep fake is.

Listen to the episode to learn how you can spot deep fakes and prevent them from scamming you out of your money.

And until the next episode, stay curious and Keep Being Awesome!

3 July 2025

Podcast

Diversity in Tech, Female Founder, Healthcare, Inclusion, Podcast, role model, show notes, Women Disrupting Tech, Women in Tech

How Corporate Volunteering Builds Better Companies with Karlijn L’Ortye | Show notes for episode 107 of Women Disrupting Tech

At the age of 11, Karlijn L’Ortye ate too many of her own sweets, and her first business went bankrupt. Today, she runs a platform that uses AI to connect employees with meaningful volunteer work.

The journey between the two? That’s where the magic happens.

In this episode, Karlijn shares her bold vision for corporate volunteering through her platform MO the Movement.

Key Takeaways from Episode 107

In this episode, Karlijn L’Ortye shows that corporate volunteering is more than a feel-good initiative. It’s a strategic tool for business growth.

When done right, corporate volunteering can:
✅ Boost employee satisfaction and improve retention
✅ Strengthen your employer brand and attract purpose-driven talent
✅ Lead to unexpected business opportunities and new client leads

With the right structure and leadership, companies, employees, and communities all benefit.

🎧 Ready to dive in? Hit play below, or find the episode on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Or scroll down for Magical Moments and Practical Takeaways.

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

Below are some events worth visiting in the coming month. You’ll find a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, on the events page.

Founders Beach Series | Edition 2: Feel the Brand, Lead the Future

Date: 3 July 2025
Location: Mango’s Beach Bar, Zandvoort
Time: 15:00 – 22:00 hours
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

Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack

Changing the funding landscape starts with access. Not just to capital, but to the right people, ideas, and spaces. That’s why I’m building The Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack.

Join us if you want to help more women be heard, funded, and celebrated in tech. You’ll receive:
✨ Early access to new podcast episodes, plus a weekly email with the moments that moved me and what they taught me.
✨ Exclusive research on what it really takes to build a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
✨ Invites to special events we sponsor or co-host, where conversations turn into collaborations.

This community is for people who believe in action. And know that together, our voices go further.

Join me on Substack

The Magic in This Episode🪄

Karlijn’s journey starts with a magical fail, building her own candy business and overdoing on ‘eating your own dogfood’.. But it does not stop there. Here are three more moments that make this episode stand out:

📉 What a debt collection agency taught her about risk

Before launching her first company, Karlijn worked at a debt collection agency where she saw firsthand how businesses fail. That experience shaped her views on risk, optimism, and the hard truth that knowing when to stop can be more valuable than knowing how to start.

🪄 MO time, not me time

Her company rebrands volunteering as MO time, “time for another.” It’s a cultural shift. Instead of squeezing giving into weekends, employees get support and structure to give back during work hours.

🤝 Why volunteering creates better leaders

When managers step into volunteer roles, they start at the bottom. They need to earn trust in unfamiliar environments without relying on their title. This experience builds empathy, sharpens soft skills, and shifts how they lead back at work.

Want to hear more magic from the episode? Tune into Episode 107 on Spotify.

Oh, and don’t forget to tell me about your favorite moment from the episode in the comments.

🤔 Your Turn: A Question for You

Do you think corporate volunteering should be part of every company’s growth strategy? And how would you implement it in your own company?

Let me know in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear what you take from this episode.

Important Moments of the Episode

02:45 Introduction to Karlijn L’Ortye’s Journey
06:42 Understanding Bankruptcy and Risk Management
09:44 Reflective Practices in Entrepreneurship
12:49 The Birth of MO the Movement
14:39 The Impact of Corporate Volunteering
17:49 Engaging Gen Z in Corporate Social Responsibility
20:49 Facilitating Effective Volunteering in Companies
23:55 Maturity Model for Corporate Volunteering
26:43 AI in Matching Corporate Volunteers with NGOs
29:38 Leveraging SDGs in Corporate Volunteering
33:41 The Importance of Privacy and Inclusivity in Volunteering
37:52 Matching Skills with Volunteer Opportunities
41:34 The Impact of Volunteering on Empathy and Workplace Culture
47:35 Navigating Corporate Philanthropy in Challenging Times
52:44 The Role of Supervisory Boards in Promoting Inclusion
58:41 Advocating for Women in Leadership
1:02:39 The Future of AI in Inclusive Practices

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

Amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech by following the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple. It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

Share the stories that move you.
Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps the Women Disrupting Tech build a more inclusive tech future and supports women in getting the stage they deserve.

Use the buttons below to spread the word. Your voice helps amplify theirs.

3 Practical Takeaways for Female Founders

Volunteering isn’t just nice for your brand. It is essential for your business, if you do it right. During our conversation, Karlijn shares these three important takeaways for female founders.

✅ Volunteering is part of a sound strategy

MO the Movement is built on the premise that you should treat volunteering like any other strategic initiative. To help you do this, it uses a five-part maturity model: Leadership, Culture, Programs, Resources, and Communication.

✅ Prioritise inclusion

Thanks to the input of Karlijn’s largely GenZ team, the platform hides names and profile photos during the application phase. This breaks bias and opens doors for a broader group of volunteers. And richer collaboration.

✅ Now is the best time to start doing good

Even when budgets tighten, now is the time to invest in community and purpose. As Karlijn says, “If you want to leave a legacy, it starts today.”

Volunteering is not a distraction from business; it’s a way to build a better one. Listen to Karlijn’s story on Women Disrupting Tech and discover how giving can transform your culture, your team, and your future.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Or click the image below to listen on YouTube. And don’t forget to share what your biggest learning from the episode was in the comments.

This is a picture of Karlijn L'Ortye with a quote from episode 107 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech titled 'How Corporate Volunteering Unlocks Leadership and Inclusion'.

“Philanthropy is not soft at all. It can be a really good business case.”
Karlijn L’Ortye, Founder MO the Movement

About Karlijn L’Ortye

Karlijn L’Ortye is a seasoned entrepreneur with two decades of experience, having started her first venture at age 11.

Her professional journey began with a personal assistant bureau, which evolved into a training agency specializing in professional organizing.

She was an early adopter of e-learning, with a best-selling course on Udemy.com, and later delved into organizational psychology.

For over 15 years, she has coached teams, including management and executive teams. Currently, Karlijn runs two ventures, one of which is Mo The Movement.

You can connect with Karlijn on her website and on LinkedIn.

MO the Movement is a dynamic platform that connects employees with meaningful volunteer opportunities during company time. Founded by Karlijn L’Ortye in 2023, the initiative aims to make corporate volunteering more personal, accessible, and impactful.

By aligning volunteer activities with individual skills and interests, MO the Movement fosters a sense of purpose and well-being among employees, while helping organizations contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The platform is AI-powered, CSRD-ready, and free for non-profits to use. MO the Movement is on a mission to prove that everyone can make a positive impact.

You can learn more about MO the Movement on its website and by following the company on LinkedIn.

What’s the biggest barrier to starting a corporate volunteering program in your company? Let me know your views on corporate volunteering in the comments.

And if you would like to suggest a guest or a theme for the podcast, please let me know via email or send a DM on LinkedIn.

Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech

Coming up, we’ll dive into the world of women’s health and wellbeing. Jo Sarah Smolders shares how she is building Umaversity, the place where women (and men) can go to learn more about women’s health and wellbeing.

He’s a clip to warm you up.

Click to listen to Jo Sarah

So stay tuned for more.

And until the next episode, stay curious and Keep Being Awesome!

26 June 2025

Podcast

Diversity in Tech, Female Founder, Impact, Inclusion, Podcast, role model, show notes, Women Disrupting Tech, Women in Tech

Decoding Human Behavior in the Workplace with Kirsten Heukels | Show notes for episode 106 of Women Disrupting Tech

Founder disagreement is one of the top reasons startups fail. Not because the idea was wrong, but because the relationship went wrong.

So, how can you prevent that?

In Episode 106 of Women Disrupting Tech, I speak with Kirsten Heukels. She’s a confidential counselor, mediator, and crisis negotiator. With 25 years of experience helping people navigate conflict, trust, and pressure, she brings rare insights into what really drives behavior in teams and leadership.

Key Takeaways from episode 106

Infographic with the main points from episode 106.

Whether you’re building a team, backing one, or navigating your own growth, this episode will change how you think about communication, culture, and inclusion.

To learn how to decode human behavior in the workplace, find episode 106 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

Or hit the play button below👇.

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

Below are some events worth visiting in the coming months. You’ll find a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, on the events page.

TNW Conference:

Date: 19 and 20 June 2025
Location: NDSM, Amsterdam
Time: 12:00 – 17:00 hours
Tickets: On TNW Website

Founders Beach Series | Edition 2: Feel the Brand, Lead the Future

Date: 3 July 2025
Location: Mango’s Beach Bar, Zandvoort
Time: 15:00 – 22:00 hours
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

Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack

Changing the funding landscape starts with access. Not just to capital, but to the right people, ideas, and spaces. That’s why I’m building The Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack.

Join us if you want to help more women be heard, funded, and celebrated in tech. You’ll receive:
✨ Early access to new podcast episodes, plus a weekly email with the moments that moved me and what they taught me.
✨ Exclusive research on what it really takes to build a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
✨ Invites to special events we sponsor or co-host, where conversations turn into collaborations.

This community is for people who believe in action. And know that together, our voices go further.

Join me on Substack

The Magic in This Episode🪄

Oh wow, where do I start… Let me just give you three magical quotes that define our conversation.

🧬 “Every person’s perception is as unique as their DNA.”

Kirsten breaks down communication to its core truth: no two people experience the world in the same way. This simple idea has massive implications for founders, especially when building teams, resolving conflict, or aligning on the mission. Shared language doesn’t mean shared meaning. If you’re not asking clarifying questions, you’re probably assuming too much. And you know what they say about assuming…

🤝 “Empathy can lead to exclusion.”

This will sound counterintuitive. But Kirsten explains that we naturally empathize with people who remind us of ourselves, which can quietly reinforce sameness. In hiring, decision-making, and even social moments, unchecked empathy can become a bias. For startup teams trying to innovate, this is a warning: familiarity feels good. Difference makes you grow.

⏳ “If nobody’s dying and nothing’s on fire, you have time.”

A mantra for high-pressure environments. Founders are often told to move fast, be decisive, and act with urgency. But not every moment is a crisis. Kirsten’s reminder is about intentionality. Leadership isn’t about reacting quickly. It’s about responding wisely. Slowing down might just be your most strategic move.

Want to hear more magic from the episode? Tune into Episode 106 on Spotify.

Oh, and don’t forget to tell me what your highlight of the episode is in the comments.

🤔 Your Turn: A Question for You

What’s one conversation you’ve been avoiding in your team — and what might happen if you finally had it?

Let me know in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear what you take from this episode.

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

Amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech by following the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple. It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

Share the stories that move you.
Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps the Women Disrupting Tech build a more inclusive tech future and supports women in getting the stage they deserve.

Use the buttons below to spread the word. Your voice helps amplify theirs.

3 Practical Takeaways for Startup Founders

Talking about trust and behavior is one thing, but how do you make it real? Here’s where to start.

1. Understand Your Own Default Reactions Before Leading Others

Kirsten explains that we all have a go-to survival response: fight, flight, or freeze. Founders under pressure often default without realizing it: raising their voice, withdrawing, or stalling decisions. But real leadership means pausing long enough to choose your response intentionally.

Tip: Ask yourself: What’s my default in conflict? And is it helping or hurting my team?

2. Lead Across Generations with Trust, Not Assumptions

With four generations in the workplace, leadership is no longer about seniority. It’s about adaptability. Younger team members may ask “why?” more often. That’s not resistance. It’s engagement.

Tip for experienced leaders: Don’t try to correct younger team members. Try to understand what drives them. Trust grows when people get space to reach shared goals in their own way.

3. Culture starts at the top and comes to life in everyday conversations

Kirsten is clear: culture is top-down. Founders and senior leaders set the tone by what they reward, tolerate, and model. But culture doesn’t stick because of values on a wall. It sticks when people feel it in daily conversations, in how leaders listen, give feedback, or handle disagreement.

Tip: Start by asking yourself: Are you walking the talk in a way your team can feel?

Curious how these ideas play out in real teams under pressure? Hear the full story and more from Kirsten Heukels on Women Disrupting Tech, now on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Or click the image below to listen on YouTube. And don’t forget to share what your biggest learning from the episode was in the comments.

This is a picture of Kirsten Heukels with a quote from episode 106 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech titled 'Decoding Human Behaviour in the Workplace'.

“…trying to understand another human being is, I think, one of the most difficult things there is.”
Kirsten Heukels, Founder 1for2 Social Innovation

About Kirsten Heukels

Kirsten Heukels is a seasoned professional with 25 years of experience, heading three companies specializing in training and coaching, confidential counseling for organizations, and crisis and hostage negotiation, which includes kinesic interrogation and interviewing.

With her company, 1for2 Social Innovation, Kirsten leads a team of specialists committed to building psychological safety, trust, and resilience in organizations.

You can connect with Kirsten on LinkedIn or via the company website. And you can read this article in The Athletic to learn more about the work she did for Manchester United.

1for2 Social Innovation offers tailored services, including confidential counseling, whistleblower support, profiling, training, mediation, and crisis negotiation.

Based in Rotterdam and active across international markets, 1for2 Innovation serves a diverse client base, from scale-ups to global institutions, strengthening workplace well-being, integrity, and inclusive culture.

To learn more, you can visit the company website or follow 1for2 Social Innovation on LinkedIn.

What’s one thing you’ve learned the hard way about building trust in a team? Let me know your trust-building learning and strategies in the comments.

And if you would like to suggest a guest or a theme for the podcast, please let me know via email or send a DM on LinkedIn.

Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech

Next week, we’ll discover how volunteering can help you be more productive, happy and healthy. Karlijn L’Ortye shares how she’s building a platform where you can find the volunteering gig that is right for you.

He’s a clip to warm you up.

Click play to listen to Karlijn.

So stay tuned for more.

And until the next episode, stay curious and Keep Being Awesome!

19 June 2025

Podcast

Diversity in Tech, Female Founder, Inclusion, Podcast, role model, show notes, Women Disrupting Tech, Women in Tech

Building Inclusion Into Capitalism with James Felton Keith | Show notes for episode 105 of Women Disrupting Tech

We all say inclusion matters. But what if you had the numbers to prove it’s the smartest way to run a business?

In Episode 105 of Women Disrupting Tech, I talk to economist, engineer, and entrepreneur James Felton Keith.

And he flips the DEI conversation on its head.

Key Takeaways from episode 105

Here’s what you’ll discover by listening to episode 105:
📉 Exclusion raises risk, and your insurance premiums
📈 Inclusion builds resilience and reduces your costs
🧩 ISO 30415 and Inclusion Score are changing how companies compete.

This episode is packed with fresh thinking and bold truths, especially for founders, strategists, and leaders who want to build companies that are inclusive by design and resilient by default.

To learn how you can help build inclusion into capitalism, find episode 105 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

Or hit the play button below👇.

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

Below are some events worth visiting in the coming months. You’ll find a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, on the events page.

Founders Beach Series | Edition 1: Founders in Flow

Date: 12 June 2025
Location: Mango’s Beach Bar, Zandvoort
Time: 15:00 – 22:00 hours
Tickets: On Luma

TNW Conference:

Date: 19 and 20 June 2025
Location: NDSM, Amsterdam
Time: 12:00 – 17:00 hours
Tickets: On TNW Website

Founders Beach Series | Edition 2: Feel the Brand, Lead the Future

Date: 3 July 2025
Location: Mango’s Beach Bar, Zandvoort
Time: 15:00 – 22:00 hours
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

Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack

Changing the funding landscape starts with access. Not just to capital, but to the right people, ideas, and spaces. That’s why I’m building The Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack.

Join us if you want to help more women be heard, funded, and celebrated in tech. You’ll receive:
✨ Early access to new podcast episodes, plus a weekly email with the moments that moved me and what they taught me.
✨ Exclusive research on what it really takes to build a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
✨ Invites to special events we sponsor or co-host, where conversations turn into collaborations.

This community is for people who believe in action. And know that together, our voices go further.

Join me on Substack

The Magic in This Episode🪄

If there has ever been an episode I could not wait to release, it is this one. Not only do we get a clear path to incorporating inclusion in our business processes. We get a pricing mechanism to come with it.

Allow me to highlight three quotes from the episode as an example of what I mean:

💬 “I think capitalism is evolving itself into what I like to call inclusionism.”

James reframes inclusion as the next phase of capitalism. Not a side campaign, but a core shift in how value is measured and distributed.

💬 “There is already a price on exclusion. The insurance industry is tracking it.”

Workplace conflict, litigation, and discrimination are costing companies more than they realize. That cost is being priced into insurance premiums and rising fast.

💬 “I’m always doing the work for that 10-year-old boy in Detroit.”

James grew up poor, Black, and queer, constantly questioning why society’s systems weren’t built for him. That experience fuels his mission today: to design systems that include everyone from the start, not as an afterthought.

Want to hear more of James’ inclusionist magic? Listen to Episode 105 on Spotify.

Did you know your company’s insurance premiums could be affected by its DEI practices? Let me know in the comments.

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

Amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech by following the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple. It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

Share the stories that move you.
Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps the Women Disrupting Tech build a more inclusive tech future and supports women in getting the stage they deserve.

Use the buttons below to spread the word. Your voice helps amplify theirs.

Three Hidden Truths About Inclusion

For anyone building an inclusive business, especially in tech, here are three takeaways that matter:

You don’t need more data; it’s already being tracked.

Insurance companies and regulators are already tracking the cost of exclusion globally. You don’t need to collect sensitive personal data to know where your company stands. The financial risk is visible and priced in.

DEI is becoming measurable and auditable.

Standards like ISO 30415 allow companies to assess and improve their inclusion maturity across governance, HR, product delivery, and supply chain. This moves DEI from soft to strategic.

Inclusion lowers your financial risk.

Companies that invest in inclusive systems are seeing lower insurance premiums because they’re managing people risk better. Inclusion is now part of your financial infrastructure.

How inclusive is your business model — really?

If your goal is to build a company that lasts — one that attracts talent, earns trust, and scales sustainably — you can’t afford to treat DEI as an afterthought. You need systems. You need a strategy.

And you need to know how the financial world is already rewarding inclusion. And penalizing the lack of it.

🎧 Listen to Episode 105 of Women Disrupting Tech now on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Or click the image below to listen on YouTube. And don’t forget to share what your favorite moment from the episode was in the comments.

Picture of Inclusion Score founder James Felton Keith with a quote from episode 105 of the podcast Women Disrupting Tech which features an interview with him.

“I think capitalism is evolving itself into what I like to call Inclusionism.”
James Felton Keith, CEO of Inclusion Score

About James Felton Keith

James Felton Keith is an award-winning Engineer & Economist turned Labor Leader who was the first Black LGBTQ person to run for Federal Office in America via the US Congress in 2017.

He is CEO at InclusionScore Companies and currently lectures on Inclusion at the #1 Business School for Insurance, the University of Georgia.

As an entrepreneur, he established the first international diversity & inclusion certification based on the ISO-30415:2021 standard and effectively reshaped commercial insurance underwriting to incentivize inclusion via a standardized “inclusion score.”

You can connect with James on his website and on LinkedIn.

About Inclusion Score

Inclusion Score is the world’s first platform that helps organizations measure and improve how inclusive they really are, using a global standard called ISO 30415.

Created by economist and engineer James Felton Keith, Inclusion Score turns diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into something you can track, improve, and even insure.

By connecting inclusion to business systems like HR, leadership, product development, and supplier diversity, Inclusion Score helps companies lower risk, boost performance, and make sure everyone counts.

It is not about checking a box. It is about building a smarter, fairer way to do business.

You can learn more about Inclusion Score on the website or by following them on social media via @InclusionScore.

How does your company currently track DEI progress? Do you have formal KPIs, or do you already use the ISO Standard? Let me know how you track progress in the comments.

And if you would like to suggest a guest or a theme for the podcast, please let me know via email or send a DM on LinkedIn.

Coming up next on Women Disrupting Tech

Next week, we’ll dive into the world of communication, training, coaching, confidential counselling, and crisis negotiation with Kirsten Heukels.

Here’s a clip from our conversation that is particularly relevant when you want to put the right team together…

Clip from episode 105 with Kirsten Heukels. Press play to listen.

Stay tuned for more. And until the next episode, stay curious and Keep Being Awesome!

12 June 2025

Podcast

Diversity in Tech, Impact, Inclusion, Podcast, role model, show notes, Women Disrupting Tech

Mastering The Art of Authentic Leadership with Farshida Zafar | Show notes for episode 104 of Women Disrupting Tech

What happens when a leader stops performing and starts showing up as herself?

In episode 104 of Women Disrupting Tech, Farshida Zafar shares how embracing her authentic self—sneakers, roots, and all—shaped her leadership journey and helped her build a radically inclusive team culture at Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Farshida’s story begins as a refugee in the Netherlands. It unfolds into a career defined by resilience, authenticity, and a commitment to creating teams where everyone can thrive.

Key Takeaways from episode 104

Here’s what you’ll learn by listening to episode 104:
🧠 Being yourself is not unprofessional, it’s powerful
🤝 Creating a team where everyone belongs starts with showing up as yourself
🔥 Success is not about luck. It’s about making bold choices, showing up, and having the courage to fail.

If you’ve ever wondered whether authenticity can be your greatest strength as a leader, this episode is for you.

To learn how you can master the art of authentic leadership, find episode 104 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

Or hit the play button below👇.

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

Below are some events worth visiting in the coming months. You’ll find a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, on the events page.

TNW Conference:

Date: 19 and 20 June 2025
Location: NDSM, Amsterdam
Time: 12:00 – 17:00 hours
Tickets: On TNW Website

Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack

Changing the funding landscape starts with access. Not just to capital, but to the right people, ideas, and spaces. That’s why I’m building The Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack.

Join us if you want to help more women be heard, funded, and celebrated in tech. You’ll receive:
✨ Early access to new podcast episodes, plus a weekly email with the moments that moved me and what they taught me.
✨ Exclusive research on what it really takes to build a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
✨ Invites to special events we sponsor or co-host, where conversations turn into collaborations.

This community is for people who believe in action. And know that together, our voices go further.

Join me on Substack

The Magic in This Episode🪄

What does it really look like to lead with authenticity?

For Farshida Zafar, it meant refusing to shrink. Refusing to perform. And choosing to lead in a way that feels true, no matter the cost.

In episode 104 of Women Disrupting Tech, Farshida shares the moments that shaped her leadership. Moments when she stood her ground, protected her values, and made space for others to do the same.

These aren’t just career decisions. They’re acts of courage that show how authenticity and inclusion can go hand in hand.

Here are three powerful stories from her journey.

The sneaker story: When someone told her sneakers weren’t professional, she decided to stop hiding. That moment marked the beginning of a new leadership style—unapologetically real.

Walking away to protect her name: After being told her last name would prevent her from becoming a partner, Farshida quit on the spot. “It kept my integrity intact,” she said. “And that matters more than a paycheck.”

Building a culture of belonging: She asks introverts to speak first. Gives space for hard conversations. And leads meetings by listening, not performing.

Want to hear more of Farshida’s magic? Listen to Episode 104 on Spotify.

What are your experiences related to authenticity in leadership? Let me know in the comments.

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

Amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech by following the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple. It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

Share the stories that move you.
Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps the Women Disrupting Tech build a more inclusive tech future and supports women in getting the stage they deserve.

Use the buttons below to spread the word. Your voice helps amplify theirs.

Three Hidden Truths About Inclusion

Inclusion isn’t a buzzword. It’s a leadership practice.

Farshida Zafar doesn’t just talk about inclusion—she builds it into the way her team works. From hiring to team dynamics, she challenges the systems that keep people out and replaces them with habits that bring people in.

Here are three practical ways she puts inclusion into action—no jargon, no fluff. Just real, everyday leadership that works.

Create metrics for inclusion

Don’t just measure how many people you hire. Track whether they feel safe, heard, and empowered to contribute.

Ask better questions in diverse teams

When language or culture causes friction, pause and ask: “What exactly do you mean? What am I missing?”

Challenge the ‘best person for the job’ myth

Question the bias behind how we define merit. Diverse teams aren’t just fairer, they’re smarter.

For more real-world insights on building inclusive teams, listen to Episode 104 of Women Disrupting Tech on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Or click the image below to listen on YouTube. And don’t forget to share what your favorite moment from the episode was in the comments.

Picture of Farshida Zafar with a quote from episode 104 of Women Disrupting Tech, titled "Mastering the Art of Authentic Leadership"

“I think me being me shows my team they can be themselves and they don’t have to put on a mask. They can be their authentic self.”
Farshida Zafar, Director Erasmus Center for Entrepreneurship

About Farshida Zafar

Farshida Zafar, LL.M., is a visionary leader driving transformation at the intersection of education, technology, and entrepreneurship. As Executive Director of the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, she spearheads strategic initiatives focused on (emerging) technology, and inclusive entrepreneurship. Her forward-thinking leadership has garnered international and national recognition, including the Best Campus Development Award (2021), the Techionista Tech Leader Award (2018) and the SURF Innovation (2016).

Her commitment to inclusion earned her a place in the Inclusive 30 of 2023 by MT/Sprout, recognizing her as one of the Netherlands’ most influential inclusive leaders.

With expertise spanning law, technology, and change management, Farshida drives digital transformation across educational and business landscapes. She excels at leading diverse teams to create innovative solutions with meaningful societal impact, embodying the principles of inclusive leadership and technological advancement in everything she undertakes.

About ECE

Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship (ECE) is part of Erasmus University Rotterdam. It is a leading international center for entrepreneurship education and research. ECE empowers aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs through knowledge, networks and access to resources, enabling them to achieve their entrepreneurial ambitions. You can find more information on the ECE website and follow ECE on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Have you ever felt like you had to tone down who you are to succeed at work? Please share your own experiences related to authenticity in leadership in the comments.

And if you would like to suggest a guest or a theme for the podcast, please let me know via email or send a DM on LinkedIn.

Coming up next on Women Disrupting Tech

One masterclass follows another. Next week, James Felton Keith puts a price on non-inclusive companies. Systems and measurements included. It is a truly insightful episode about his groundbreaking work on building the financial business case for DEI.

Here’s a clip from the episode on what motivates him.

Clip from episode 105 of Women Disrupting Tech with James Felton Keith

Stay tuned for more. And until the next episode, stay curious and Keep Being Awesome!

5 June 2025

Podcast

Diversity in Tech, Impact, Inclusion, Podcast, role model, show notes, Women Disrupting Tech, Women in Tech

How Flouria Health is Healing Women and Shaping Workplaces with Anna Christie | Show notes for episode 103 of Women Disrupting Tech

Anna Christie’s journey didn’t start with a clear plan. It started with silence.

The silence you experience when you have a health issue but can’t find clear answers. The silence of doctors not taking you seriously. It’s the type of health issue that women run into all the time.

So Anna did what many founders do: she created what she needed but couldn’t find. She launched a podcast called Bumps Along the Way to document her experience and speak with women’s health experts. It quickly grew into a trusted space for others navigating the same road.

That podcast became the bridge to something bigger.

In Episode 103 of Women Disrupting Tech, Anna shares how she became Flouria’s third co-founder, how timing and healing changed everything, and why women’s health isn’t just a medical topic; it’s a business one.

Alongside co-founders Jeanine and Vlatko, Anna builds Flouria Health, a FemTech platform designed to give women the trusted care and knowledge the traditional healthcare system often overlooks.

Key Takeaways from episode 103

Here’s what you’ll discover by listening to episode 103:
🧠 How her podcast started Anna’s journey as co-founder of Flouria Health
📉 The economic cost of ignoring women’s health
🔥 The real reason we still treat it as niche and how to change that

To learn how Flouria Health is tackling this, find episode 102 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

Or hit the play button below👇.

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

Below are some events worth visiting in the coming months. You’ll find a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, on the events page.

The Culture Code

Date: 3 June 2025
Location: Club ACE, Amsterdam
Time: 12:00 – 19:00 hours
Tickets: On the Culture Code Website

Female Venture’s Founders Table: Empowering Women in Business

Date: 4 June 2025
Location: voco® The Hague
Start 15:00 – Finish: 18:30
Tickets: Sold Out.

TNW Conference:

Date: 19 and 20 June 2025
Location: NDSM, Amsterdam
Time: 12:00 – 17:00 hours
Tickets: On TNW Website

Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack

Changing the funding landscape starts with access. Not just to capital, but to the right people, ideas, and spaces. That’s why I’m building The Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack.

Join us if you want to help more women be heard, funded, and celebrated in tech. You’ll receive:
✨ Early access to new podcast episodes, plus a weekly email with the moments that moved me and what they taught me.
✨ Exclusive research on what it really takes to build a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
✨ Invites to special events we sponsor or co-host, where conversations turn into collaborations.

This community is for people who believe in action. And know that together, our voices go further.

Join me on Substack

The Magic in This Episode🪄

This episode is filled with powerful insights, so I’ll highlight these three because they define not just Anna Christie’s story, but the message behind Flouria Health.

When Anna didn’t step into Flouria — yet

Anna’s decision not to join immediately reflects the exact mindset Flouria promotes: that health isn’t linear, and we need systems that allow space for personal readiness and emotional truth.

When she came back, pregnant with her son

That moment brought quiet symmetry. Flouria isn’t just about providing information. It’s about giving women what they need at the right time in the right way.

Anna rejoining when she felt grounded mirrors how Flouria supports women through different stages, rather than pushing a one-size-fits-all solution.

One quote that reframes it all

“A woman’s body is taken seriously when it’s making another human. But what about all the other stages?”

This quote captures the problem Flouria was built to address. It’s not just about fertility; it’s about all the stages of a woman’s health journey being seen, respected, and supported. The quote reframes the conversation, and Flouria’s platform builds the solution.

Want to discover the rest of Anna’s Journey? Listen to Episode 103 on Spotify.

What was your favorite moment of the episode? Let me know in the comments. And don’t forget to share your thoughts in the poll below.

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:

Amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech by following the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.

Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple. It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.

Share the stories that move you.
Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps the Women Disrupting Tech build a more inclusive tech future and supports women in getting the stage they deserve.

Use the buttons below to spread the word. Your voice helps amplify theirs.

Three Hidden Truths About FemTech

This episode tackles some of the most common misconceptions about Femtech and female health. Here are three of them, with an explanation of why it’s a myth.

FemTech isn’t underfunded because it’s small. It’s underfunded because it’s misunderstood.

When we talk about Female Health, we often hear the same word: niche. But here’s the truth: Flouria Health isn’t targeting a niche audience. It’s addressing conditions that affect half the population. The problem is perception. And perception shapes investment.

Tech isn’t neutral, even in women’s health.

AI powers part of Flouria Health. But it’s selective by design. It avoids triggering users with irrelevant content (like pregnancy advice for someone struggling with fertility). That’s a quiet reminder: empathy should shape how tech is built and deployed.

Inclusion without allies becomes isolation.

Anna’s quote, “If it’s only women solving this problem, it becomes an echo chamber,” isn’t just about gender diversity on cap tables.

It’s about breaking the cycle of women carrying the emotional and logistical burden of fixing broken systems. Real inclusion needs shared responsibility. Because the gender health gap doesn’t just impact women. It affects economies, workplaces, and families.

FemTech is not a side story. It’s the core infrastructure for a healthier future. To learn why, listen to Episode 103: How Flouria Health is Healing Women and Shaping Workplaces with Anna Christie on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Or click the image below to listen on YouTube. And don’t forget to share what your favorite moment from the episode was in the comments.

Picture of Flouria Health co-founder Anna Christie with a quote from episode 103 of Women Disrupting Tech, which features an interview with her.

“If it’s only women solving this problem, it becomes an echo chamber. So, you need male allies”
Anna Christie, co-founder and CCO of Flouria Health

About Anna Christie

Anna Christie is the Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Flouria Health, a digital women’s health platform. With a background in B2B SaaS and tech, and a passion for women’s health, Anna leverages her personal experiences to drive Flouria Health’s mission of putting healthcare back into the hands of women and into organizations across the Netherlands and Europe. Her journey reflects a commitment to transforming personal challenges into solutions that benefit a broader community.

Anna invites you to connect with her on LinkedIn.

About Flouria Health

Flouria Health is a digital platform dedicated to revolutionizing women’s healthcare. Founded by Jeanine van Munster (CEO), Anna Christie (CCO), and Vlatko Stojkovski (CTO), the platform aims to provide women with immediate access to professional support, trustworthy information, and personalized care. By addressing the gaps in traditional healthcare systems, Flouria empowers women to take control of their health through a tech-enabled, personalized approach.

You can learn more about Flouria Health on the website and by following them on LinkedIn and Instagram.

And, in case you’re interested in investing in female health, Flouria is fundraising. You can learn more about their pitch deck and the process on their website.

What’s the biggest barrier to improving women’s health at scale?
1️⃣ Lack of research and investment
2️⃣ Historical medical bias
3️⃣ Lack of allies

Let me know what you think in the comments.

And if you would like to suggest a guest or a theme for the podcast, please let me know via email or send a DM on LinkedIn.

Coming up next on Women Disrupting Tech

Next week, Farshida Zafar shares how embracing her authentic self—sneakers, roots, and all—shaped her leadership journey and built a radically inclusive team culture at Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Towards the end of the episode, I asked about swearing, and this was part of her authentic answer.

Stay tuned for more. And until the next episode, stay curious and Keep Being Awesome!

29 May 2025

Podcast

Diversity in Tech, Female Founder, Healthcare, Inclusion, Podcast, role model, show notes, Women Disrupting Tech, Women in Tech

Key Takeaways from Episode 112

How Cogensus Uses AI to Tackle Loneliness and Cognitive Decline with Raju Joshi | Ep. 112 – Women Disrupting Tech

3 Magic Quotes Defining This Episode

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

Founders Beach Series | Edition 3: Tech & Soul

A Question for You 🤔

Meaningful Moments of the Episode

5 Practical Insights for Building Ethical, Inclusive AI

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

My Personal Reflections

About Raju Joshi

About Cogensus

Share what’s on your mind!

Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech

Key Takeaways from Episode 111

How SheUnfolds Creates the Space Where Women in Tech Belong with Emily van Putten | Ep. 111 – Women Disrupting Tech

Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack

Three Reasons Why Allies of Women in Tech Should Listen

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

Founders Beach Series | Edition 3: Tech & Soul

🤔 Your Turn: A Question for You

Meaningful Moments of the Episode

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

3 Practical Suggestions for (Allies of) Women in Tech

Personal Observations

About Emily van Putten

About SheUnfolds

Share what’s on your mind!

Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech

Related Episodes

Key Takeaways from Episode 110

1. Visibility leads to funding

2. Modesty isn’t the issue; bias is

3. Access still isn’t equal

How FEM-Start Helps Female Founders Get Funded | Ep. 110 – Women Disrupting Tech

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

Founders Beach Series | Edition 3: Tech & Soul

Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack

Three Reasons Why Female Founders Should Listen

1. Marian and Simone name what others only hint at

2. They offer tools and experience

3. It reminds you not to shrink

🤔 Your Turn: A Question for You

Meaningful Moments of the Episode

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

Three Pieces of Practical Advice for Female Founders

1. Know your finances by heart

2. Learn the language of funding

3. Build your pitch like a marriage

Bonus Insight for Investors

About Marian Spier

About Simone van Bijsterveldt

About FEM-Start

Share what’s on your mind!

Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech

Final Thoughts

Key Takeaways from Episode 109

Digital Trust Starts With Transparency

AI Can’t Be Ethical Without Clear Boundaries

Self-Promotion Still Comes With a Gender Tax

How Cyberette Battles Deepfakes So You Can Trust What You See with Julia Jakimenko | Ep. 109 – Women Disrupting Tech

Inclusive Events for Women Disrupting Tech

Founders Beach Series | Edition 3: Tech & Soul

Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community on Substack

Three Magic Quotes From This Episode🪄

🤔 Your Turn: A Question for You

Important Moments of the Episode

Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech

Five Ways to Spot a Deepfake (Tips from Julia)

Pressure to act quickly

Requests to move platforms

Unnatural blinking or lighting

Robotic tone or strange background noise

Inconsistent context

About Julia Jakimenko

About Cyberette

Share what’s on your mind!

Coming up on Women Disrupting Tech

Key Takeaways from Episode 108

How Umaversity Helps Women Reclaim Power, Pleasure and Health with Jo Sarah | Ep. 108 – Women Disrupting Tech