-
The Incredible Funding Journey of the Female Solo Founder Building an App Empire with Veerle Witte | Show Notes on Episode 53 of Women Disrupting Tech
Can a female solo founder build and fund an app empire?
In the 53rd episode of the podcast “Women Disrupting Tech”, Veerle Witte, a solo female founder who is building a B2C journal app empire, shares her journey and insights on how to secure funding.
To listen, hit the play button below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your podcast app.
The Incredible Funding Journey of the Female Solo Founder Building an App Empire with Veerle Witte | Episode 53 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
Excited about building your startup but unsure how to secure funding as a solo female founder? Dive into Episode 53 of Women Disrupting Tech for a dose of inspiration and invaluable insights!
Veerle Witte shares her inspiring journey as the founder of Journal Lab. She discusses the challenges she faced as a female solo founder and how she overcame them. She also shares her journey from writing her first business plan for Travel Diaries to expanding into new branches of journalling apps.
By listening, you’ll learn:
💡 how she found a business model that works for her B2C business,
💶 how she managed to secure funding as a female solo founder, and
🚀 how she works with a diverse and distributed team to build an app empire to document life’s adventures.Plus, she highlights the role of education in creating a more equal world.
So, when you’re ready to listen to the incredible funding journey of a female solo founder building an app empire, find the link to the episode on Spotify below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app.🎧✨
AI-generated picture of a female solo founder building a journal app empire.
Two free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
If you like the Women Disrupting Tech podcast and you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032, there are two things you can do:
- Use the share button to share the podcast with friends, family, and co-workers. This way, you give the women disrupting tech the platform they need to make it happen. Use the buttons below to share.
- Rate the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. You can use a rating of one to five stars. This will help other people discover the podcast (and if you explain the rating, it will help me improve).
About Veerle, Travel Diaries, and Baby Diaries
Veerle Witte is the founder and CEO of Journal Lab. As a travel journalist for National Geographic Traveler, she created Travel Diaries in 2014 because she struggled to document her own journeys and discovered that existing apps did not work for her.
She recently raised €1.2M in new funding, bringing the total amount she raised with Journal Lab to €1.5m. The best way to connect with Veerle is via LinkedIn.
In addition to Travel Diaries, there is also a Baby Diaries app, and she is soon expanding her offering of journal labels with a general journal app and a cookbook.
Both apps are available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store via the links on the websites.
“The most important thing is to educate yourself and trust in yourself.”
Veerle Witte
What makes this episode magical🌟?
You probably know that many solo founders have a hard time finding an investor. Well, this episode is here to inspire you with a different perspective.
First, Veerle did Travel Diaries as a side project while continuing to travel for quite a long time. Yet, she managed to raise funding as a solo founder.
Second, she had a co-founder twice, and both times, it did not work for her. So, she decided that, for the time being, not having a co-founder is OK. And it didn’t prevent her from raising funding the second time.
This goes to show that by meeting supportive investors with a convincing story, you can achieve your goals as a solo founder, no matter how tough the journey may seem.
What’s coming up?
In episode 54, we return to the theme of inclusive finance with Kimberly Ofori.
After that, we’ll find out how you can game your way into tech with Lizzy Wilmer.
So stay tuned for more amazing women disrupting tech and their male allies in season three of Women Disrupting Tech! And if you want to be the first to know what is coming… use the button below.
What do you think?
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, feel free to leave a comment below about your experiences as a solo founder.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email or send me a DM on LinkedIn. -
How Conceptual Technologists Uplift Humanity with Kim Carson | Show Notes on Episode 52 of Women Disrupting Tech
Did you know that the same people who developed Internet 2.0 around the turn of the century are now also developing AI?
They develop AI products and services that have the same biases built in and that exclude the same people from using their solutions.
Kim Carson argues that we need to change that if we want progress that is shared throughout society.
In episode 52 of Women Disrupting Tech, she explains how conceptual technologists can play a vital role in creating tech solutions that are agents of societal change.
To listen, hit the play button below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your podcast app.
How Conceptual Technologists Uplift Humanity with Kim Carson | Episode 52 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
AI-generated picture of a Conceptual Technologist The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
We all know that it’s crucial to have multiple perspectives when developing a product, and AI is no exception. This way, we can avoid increasing the risk of bias and ethical blind spots in AI systems.
Enter Kim Carson. As the founder of Parallax Futures, she believes that a new breed of innovators, conceptual technologists, will ensure that AI innovations will uplift humanity.
Kim is my guest in episode 52 of Women Disrupting Tech to explain how:
- Conceptual Technologists leverage biases to create an AI system that represents everyone 🤖
- Her experience with IBM Watson Education taught her that AI is not another productivity tool but one that can enhance how we live and learn🧠
- The fellowship that Parallax Futures offers can help conceptual technologists build more inclusive technologies🤝
And you’ll discover who the male ally is that supports Parallax Futures (hint: it is not Mark or Elon).
To listen, find the link to the episode on Spotify below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app.🎧✨
Two free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
If you like the Women Disrupting Tech podcast and you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032, there are two things you can do:
- Use the share button to share the podcast with friends, family, and co-workers. This way you give the women disrupting tech the platform they need to make it happen.
- Leave a review about the podcast with up to five stars on your favorite podcast platform. This will help other people discover the podcast (and it will help me improve).
About Kim Carson and Parallax Futures
Kim Carson is an AI futurist and conceptual technologist. She was recently named the Success Magazine’s Women of Influence. She’s a Black Tech Achievement Awards Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, and she was awarded the Diversity Professional Women of Excellence Award.
As the Founder and CEO of Parallax Futures, she leads a non-profit fellowship program that inspires positive futures by cultivating a new kind of innovator: the conceptual technologist.
Prior to Parallax Futures, she held a wide variety of leadership positions in both academia (UCSF) and the technology sector (IBM).
You can follow Kim on her journey by connecting with her on LinkedIn.
Parallax Futures’ mission is to inspire positive futures by infusing the world with a new kind of innovator called ‘Conceptual Technologists’. Conceptual technologists are the newest wave of innovators after design thinking, bringing a unique ideation practice to AI and beyond. You can learn more about Parallax Futures and their fellowship program on their website. And, of course, they’re on LinkedIn.
“AI could enhance the things that we do that are inherently human.”
Kim Carson
What makes this episode magical🌟?
Creating this episode started with an email from Kim’s PR agent. And I’m glad Jonathan emailed me. Because otherwise, I would not have known about this new, groundbreaking breed of technologists.
When I started learning more about it, my curiosity won over my doubts. And as you’ll learn when you listen to the episode, it is for good reasons. Conceptual Technologists solve the problem of inclusion that is currently missing in AI development.
What I found particularly inspiring is that instead of leaving tech to a bunch of “nerds,” conceptual technologists are about inviting everybody to the table. As a result, we will gain important insights about AI’s impact on society that we would not have learned otherwise. And that would mean that we can seize opportunities for societal improvement.
Another thing that persuaded me to dive into this concept was that Parallax Futures has a very prominent backer. One who built an app that we all use regularly: LinkedIn.
On the podcast, Kim shares how that came about, and she shares a little-known fact about this LinkedIn founder.
What’s coming up?
In episode 53, Veerle Witte will be my guest as we discover how she is building a new breed of journalling apps as a solo founder.
After that, we return to the theme of inclusive finance with Kimberly Ofori in episode 54.
So stay tuned for more amazing women disrupting tech and their male allies in season three of Women Disrupting Tech! And if you want to be the first to know what is coming… use the button below.
What do you think?
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.
I’m particularly curious to hear if you agree that conceptual technologists can play an important role in ensuring that AI benefits everyone.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email or send me a DM on LinkedIn. -
How To Balance Feminine and Masculine Values in Business and Investment with Alice Pavin | Show notes to episode 51 on Women Disrupting Tech
In a world that sees growth as the ultimate cure to every problem, it’s time to pause and ponder: Is our obsession with growth in business bad for society?
Alice Pavin dares to say yes. She invites us to shift our focus from the relentless pursuit of more to a path less traveled.
In episode 51 of Women Disrupting Tech, Alice invites us to join her on a journey to a post-growth world. And I invite you to tune into episode 51 of Women Disrupting Tech.
To listen, hit the play button below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your podcast app.
How To Balance Feminine and Masculine Values in Business and Investment with Alice Pavin | Episode 51 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
Is our obsession with growth in business a bad thing for our society?
In episode 51 of Women Disrupting Tech, Alice Pavin challenges the notion that all growth is inherently positive.
To create positive growth, she believes that we need to embrace a balance of feminine and masculine values in business and investment. And that we need to balance reaching goals with well-being.
In episode 51, Alice Pavin takes us on a journey to a post-growth and value-balanced world. On the way there, we discover:
⚖️ How we can increase equality in investments when we acknowledge our values, biases, and challenges with gender stereotypes.
🧑🏻🏫 What we need to fix in the education system to facilitate a balance between masculine and feminine values.
🛠 Practical tools to increase the balance between feminine and masculine values in your business and personal life.
We also discuss how she supports women entrepreneurs and investors through her Women in Ventures program at WorldStartup.
Tune into the episode for insights, revelations, and a sprinkle of magic from a woman who is a role model for people who want to create a world where inclusive financing is the norm.
To listen, find the links to the episode in the comments or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app.🎧✨
Two free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
If you like the Women Disrupting Tech podcast and you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032, there are two things you can do:
- Share the podcast with friends, family, and co-workers to give the women disrupting tech the platform they need to make it happen.
- Leave a review about the podcast with up to five stars on your favorite podcast platform. This will help me improve and help other people discover the podcast.
About Alice, WorldStartup, and Women In Ventures
Alice Pavin is an Investment and Program Manager at World Startup. At age 15, she became interested in environmental, social, and well-being issues, which is why she got into the startup space in the first place. You can connect with her and follow her journey on LinkedIn.
At WorldStartup, Alice manages the Women in Ventures initiative. You can learn more about it on the website or by following Women in Ventures on LinkedIn.
WorldStartup also has its Changemaker Platform, where you can find training and courses that can empower your journey as an impact entrepreneur.
“It’s about getting beyond these biases and then leveling the playing field in finance on all levels.”
Alice Pavin
What makes this episode magical🌟?
This episode is about finance with a heart. It’s about learning how we can challenge gender norms to create an inclusive finance ecosystem.
Here’s what Alice taught me during the episode:
🎯 Making an impact goes beyond ticking off sustainable development goals. It’s about mindset, business models, and values, regardless of gender.
🌈 A balance between masculine and feminine values is not about men versus women. It is about embracing our own biases.
🤝 Diversity in teams and organizations helps to bring balance between feminine and masculine values, as every person has feminine and masculine values.When you’re ready to be inspired, join us for an episode filled with insights, revelations, and yes, a sprinkle of magic.
What’s coming up?
Next week, Kim Carson will be my guest as we discover what a conceptual technologist is and how they can be agents for positive societal change.
After that, I have some more amazing women disrupting tech lined up for you before we take a turn into the male ally territory.
So stay tuned for some inspiring episodes in season three of Women Disrupting Tech! And if you want to be the first to know what is coming… there’s a button for you below.
Feedback? Let me know!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, let me know what you think.
Leave a comment below or send me a DM on LinkedIn.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email. -
About Women Disrupting Tech
About two years ago, I ran into a statistic that blew my mind: Only 2% of the investments in tech startups go to startups founded by women. In Europe, it’s less than 1 percent.
To learn more, I started to investigate the context. I learned that only 10% of tech startups are founded by women. I also learned that there are not so many female investors in startups. And I found out that women usually outperform men when given a chance.
So why the small percentage, then? After all, it would make sense to invest in female founders from a business case point of view.
So, I decided to investigate a bit more and share the results of my investigation with everyone via a podcast and a blog about the women who are disrupting the tech industry.
On the podcast, you will hear from the women making waves in the tech industry and learn about their journeys, challenges, and successes.
On the blog, you can find links to the podcast, links to the profiles and websites of my guests, and background information on the funding of female founders of tech startups.
Some of the notable female founders of tech startups that I interviewed include:
- Arosha Brouwer, CEO and co-founder of Quan, a startup that helps managers and teams improve employee well-being and prevent burn-out.
- Faviola Dadis, Chief Innovation Officer and founder of NeuroReality, a health tech startup that uses neuroscience and gamification to improve health outcomes for people with acquired brain injuries.
- Puck Landewé, founder of Fintech startup Elfin. Elfin is the financial coach that helps 1 million women to become financially independent.
Ultimately, the blog’s goal is to inspire women to decide for themselves what they want to do and who they want to become. To get there, I want to educate women about what it takes to succeed in tech and provide role models for aspiring female founders.
It’s time to support and celebrate these trailblazers and encourage more women to enter the tech industry.
Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community
Working on it…You're on the listOops, something went wrong -
Disrupting The Way Companies Collaborate On Large Datasets With Linksight CEO Martine van de Gaar | Show notes to episode 50 on Women Disrupting Tech
Should men take a female leadership course?
If you ask Martine van de Gaar, they should. We can keep telling women how much fun it is to work in tech, that it’s much more than just coding, that it’s really flexible, and that it’s great when you have kids. And all that is true.
But as a woman, you still need ‘balls’ to enter the tech domain. So, we need to change the mindset of the men as well.
How can we solve that puzzle, you ask? Well, listen to the 50th episode of Women Disrupting Tech. It’s all about puzzles, not just diversity. Hit the play button below to listen. Or scroll down to learn more about Martine and the episode.
Disrupting The Way Companies Collaborate On Large Datasets With Linksight CEO Martine van de Gaar | Episode 50 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
Sharing large datasets between companies for research purposes has always required a magic potion. One that contains a central collection point, trust, encryption, and legal agreements.
But that is about to change. Because Linksight is disrupting the way companies share data and get insights from large combined datasets.
I wanted to learn how they do that. And thanks to Andy Lurling, I had a chance to interview Linksight CEO Martine van de Gaar.
In episode 50 of Women Disrupting Tech, Martine is our guide in the world of decentralized computing and large datasets. By listening, you’ll learn
🤝 How companies can share sensitive customer data without risking privacy violations
🔐 Why privacy by design means taking a different starting point in product design
🧠 What the strengths of having a diverse team are when it comes to building complex technological solutions.
So, whether you’re commuting, sipping coffee, or unwinding after a long day, tune in to the episode via the link below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast player.
Two free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
If you like the Women Disrupting Tech podcast and you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032, there are two things you can do:
- Share the podcast with friends, family, and co-workers to give the women disrupting tech the platform they need to make it happen.
- Leave a review about the podcast with up to five stars on your favorite podcast platform. This will help me improve and help other people discover the podcast.
About Martine and Linksight
Martine van de Gaar is the Co-founder and CEO of Linksight. Before becoming the CEO of this TNO spin-off company, she worked as a project and program manager for TNO, Cap Gemini, Ahold, and Philips Lightning. Martine holds a Master’s degree in Management Economics and Consumer Studies from Wageningen University.
You can connect with Martine on LinkedIn. Simply send her a DM with your connection request.
Linksight helps data scientists of companies extract maximum insights and value from their data collaborations without revealing sensitive data. Their platform enables secure data sharing without the need for a central collection and processing party. You can learn more about their journey on their website and by following them on LinkedIn.
“Maybe men need to take women leadership training?”
Martine van de Gaar, CEO Linksight
What makes this episode magical🌟?
This is the 50th episode. That means that 50 women have a platform to inspire others. I’m grateful for all the help and support I’ve had. And making it to 50 is a bit of a magical moment by itself.
What is magical about the episode? Well, I always learned that you can recognize a true expert when they explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand way.
Martine does just that as she takes us on a journey into the world of multi-party computation (MPC). For example, she uses the analogy of a train that is stopping at different stations to collect fully encrypted data. The train track is built to ensure that data can be safely transported.
And when I asked her what needs to happen to make this podcast obsolete, Martine provides strategic advice for the podcast itself. Season 3 awaits, and Martine believes it’s essential to start bringing the message to men. As a male ally, I couldn’t agree more.
So, let Martine’s wisdom ignite your curiosity and empower you to solve the privacy puzzle of data sharing and diversity.
What’s coming up?
Next week, Alice Pavin will be my guest to discover the answer to the following question: “How do you balance feminine and masculine values in a tech startup ecosystem that men dominate?”
After that, I have eight more amazing women disrupting tech lined up for you before we take a turn into the male ally territory.
So stay tuned for some inspiring episodes in season three of Women Disrupting Tech! And if you want to be the first to know what is coming… there’s a button for you below.
Feedback? Let me know!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, let me know what you think.
Leave a comment below or send me a DM on LinkedIn.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email. -
Arosha Brouwer on Building a Company with Grace and Empathy | Show Notes to Episode 49 of Women Disrupting Tech
What is the key to unlocking your startup’s full potential?
In episode 49 of Women Disrupting Tech, you get the answer from the always-inspiring Arosha Brouwer. Spoiler: it’s not about the money.
Recently, Quan announced that they secured new funding (bringing the total funding to $3m) and concluded an exciting new strategic partnership with the most significant occupational health and safety service provider in The Netherlands.
In this episode, Arosha returns to Women Disrupting Tech to share her insights, strategies, and experiences from her journey from startup to scale-up. This knowledge is invaluable whether you’re a female founder or a male ally.
When you’re ready for 45 minutes of female founder magic, click the play button below, or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app to listen.
Building a Company With Grace and Empathy with Arosha Brouwer | Episode 49 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
Two free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
If you like the Women Disrupting Tech podcast and you want to support the women on the podcast to make this podcast irrelevant by the end of 2032, there are two things you can do:
- Share the podcast with friends, family, and co-workers to give the women disrupting tech the platform they need to make it happen. Plus, you’ll help other women and male allies discover the podcast.
- Become a member of the Women Disrupting Tech Community. Members are the first to learn when new episodes and blogs come online, and you’ll get access to exclusive Women Disrupting Tech events.
About Arosha Brouwer and Quan
Arosha Brouwer was born in Sri Lanka and grew up in Australia. She is the CEO and co-founder of Quan. She and Lucy Howie founded the company in 2019, just before COVID-19. Prior to Quan, Arosha worked for large international companies like PwC, DSM, and TNT. As of 10 April, Arosha is also a lead mentor at the Dutch New Narrative Lab.
Quan is a B2B SaaS Software company that focuses on helping teams measure and proactively manage their well-being. In 2022, Quan was the first Dutch female-led startup to be accepted into a YCombinator program.
Quan recently concluded a strategic partnership with Dutch Occupational Health Care provider Zorg van de Zaak to ensure that 1 million employees in the Netherlands can identify mental health issues before they lead to employee burnout. You can learn more about it in this press release, where they also announce closing their bridge funding round.
You can learn more about how Quan can help your organization measure and proactively manage employee burnout on its website or by following it on LinkedIn.
Tip: Listen to episode 3 to learn more about Arosha’s and Quan’s journey.
The magic you can expect in this episode 🪄
After being my guest in episode 3 of Women Disrupting Tech, it’s safe to say that Arosha Brouwer has been very busy.
Over the past two years, Arosha grew her company while raising new funds and attracting additional customers.
But she also had to downscale the team to survive a funding crunch before concluding an exciting new partnership with The Netherlands’ largest occupational health provider.
And, in the end, Quan also managed to secure funding as part of a bridge round. How about that for a roller coaster ride?
To allow you to benefit from her experiences, and because it’s just a heck of a story, I asked her to come back on as a guest. And I can tell you, you won’t be disappointed.
Because, in this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Arosha shares valuable insights:
🛠️ Her software’s role in supporting both customers and her team through tough times
🤝 A new partnership that taught her that entrepreneurship is also about building a network of people who can help you
👩💼 Being a founder and being a CEO of a scale-up come with totally different requirementsAnd she reveals the genius move that helped her company survive the challenging funding environment.
When you’re ready to listen to an absolute masterclass in personal growth as a female founder, tune into the episode on Apple, Goodpods, or Spotify.
You can also find the podcast by searching for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast player.
What makes this episode really magical?🌟
The episode is a masterclass in personal growth. We talk about building a company from startup to scale-up, attracting investors who are a good match for the company’s values, and having to let people go while you continue to build a great product.
When she shares her own experience about having to let people go, Arosha has some important advice: “There should be no black box to this.” She argues that being transparent about the reasoning kept the remaining team motivated because they saw the grace with which it happened. And it kept the leavers loyal to the point that they would want to work with Quan again.
As we recorded the podcast on International Women’s Day, I asked her what it meant to her. To Arosha, it is a day to recognize all the amazing women who have done something to, in spite of the conditions, make it easier for another woman. From the pioneers we all know to that Sri Lankan woman standing up against her family to say that her daughter deserves her education and she’s not going to marry young.
What’s coming up?
In episode 50 of Women Disrupting Tech, we’ll learn from Martine van de Gaar about the cryptographic magic of secure multi-party computation (MPC).
After that, Alice Pavin will be my guest to discover the answer to the following question: “How do you balance feminine and masculine values in a tech startup ecosystem that is dominated by men?”
So stay tuned for some great episodes!
Feedback? Let me know!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Let me know by leaving a comment below or by sending me a DM on LinkedIn.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email.
-
How to Shine Without Selling as a Female Role Model in Tech with Charlotte Hoekstra | Show notes to episode 48
Join me as I interview Charlotte Hoekstra to discover the secret of celebrating your uniqueness as a female role model in tech.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to:
🔁 Change your perspective so you can best serve others while staying true to yourself.
🫱🏼🫲🏾 Connect with the people you work with in a way that is authentic to you
🚀 Help female role models as a male ally.
To listen to our enlightening conversation, hit the play button below, or find the podcast by searching for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast player.
How to Shine Without Selling as a Female Role Model in Tech with Charlotte Hoekstra | Episode 48 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
About Charlotte Hoekstra
Charlotte Hoekstra is a certified career coach with a master’s degree in organizational psychology & change management. She helps people to present and advocate for themselves to get the career opportunities that fit their ambitions.
You can learn more about Charlotte’s background, workshops, and coaching on her website or by connecting with her on LinkedIn or Instagram.
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
Positioning yourself as a female role model in tech requires you to celebrate yourself and your work.
Now, if you’re like me and most of the guests on my podcast, Women Disrupting Tech, you hate having to “sell yourself.” It just feels unnatural.
So, I was wondering: How can female role models in tech increase their visibility and create the right opportunities without having to sell themselves? In other words, how can they shine without selling?
In this episode, Charlotte Hoekstra takes her own journey as a starting point to teach us that we should celebrate a woman’s uniqueness, personality, and what they bring to the table.
In an enlightening conversation, Charlotte openly shares her path as a magic recipe to authenticity, including
- embracing her femininity and discovering the power of confidence
- using the hero’s journey to discover if her values align with those of the people she works with
- finding how her uniqueness can contribute to other people’s goals
Plus, she shares why diversity in tech is not a zero-sum game (something I 100% agree with).
When you’re ready to listen and learn how to position yourself as a female role model in tech without selling yourself, tune in on Spotify using the button below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast player.
What makes this episode magical🌟?
One of the steps to finding your uniqueness as a role model involves tuning into your feelings and identifying how experiences make you feel. Charlotte shares an example from her past: Her experiences as an intern in Ghana still make her smile. In fact, you can feel the smile beaming through your headset.
Another magical part is her story about when her father took her out to shop for clothing for her first job. He told her to embrace her femininity and larger-than-life personality. The result was that other people at her workplace started feeling empowered to wear clothes that they felt good in as well. How’s that for a role model?
And, toward the end of the episode, I ask her if she believes diversity in tech is a zero-sum game. The conversation that follows is definitely worth a listen.
What’s coming up?
Next week, I’ll be taking a small break from recording new episodes and re-releasing an old episode.
And, after that, I will be interviewing Kimberly Ofori to discuss the importance of financial literacy for women.
So stay tuned for some great episodes!
Did you know…
… that you can discover more incredible stories and learn from trailblazing women on Spotify, Google, Apple, or Goodpods. There, you can find the entire inspiring archive of episodes with over 1,000 minutes of Women Disrupting Tech content I have published since September 2022.
Feedback? Let me know!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I’d love to hear your thoughts about this episode.
I would like to know if I should include my guest’s bio or if you’re OK with being sent to the show notes for more info.
So please do not hesitate to contact me via LinkedIn or email if you have any positive or negative feedback or if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast.
With that, I wish you a magical day and a happy Easter (if you’re celebrating). And remember: keep being awesome!
-
How to do Marketing in the Age of AI with Liana Hakobyan | Show notes for episode 47
As a startup founder (m/f/x), you’re always looking to improve your business. And you know that artificial intelligence (AI) can help you do that, particularly in marketing.
But how do you choose the right tools?
To find out, I had a conversation with Liana Hakobyan about using artificial intelligence for your business.
In episode 47 of Women Disrupting Tech, Liana is our guide as we discover how
🛍️ AI can help you personalize customer experience
🤔 to deal with privacy considerations
🛠️ to choose the right tools for your marketingWhen you’re ready to dive into the world of marketing in the age of AI, click the play button below.
How to do Marketing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence with Liana Hakobyan | Episode 47 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
About Liana Hakobyan
Liana Hakobyan was born and raised in Armenia. Her journey into the world of artificial intelligence started when her parents gave her the biography of Steve Jobs as a New Year’s present.
She is a startup co-founder, a LinkedIn top voice on Content Marketing, a TEDx speaker, and currently the head of marketing at PATeam.
In addition, she is building her own consultancy, where she uses her background in data science and marketing to help companies use AI in their marketing.
You can connect with Liana and learn more about the exciting new chapter in her business life on LinkedIn.By the way, in case you’re wondering, we agreed to use an AI-optimized image of Liana for the artwork of this episode.
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
There are so many things you can do with AI nowadays. Just look at the capabilities of ChatGPT and MidJouney. And there is so much more. So it is easy to get lost in the possibilities.
In this episode, we discover
🤖 Why everyone needs to have a high-level understanding of AI
🎯 How gamification can help you to teach yourself AI (and other skills)
🛠️ What Liana’s favorite AI tools are.
In the end, this episode is an absolute treasure trove of practical AI advice for businesses, not limited to marketing.
When you’re ready to learn how to market in the age of artificial intelligence, click the button below to tune in to the episode on Spotify, Apple, or Goodpods.
What makes this episode magical🌟?
Like so many young people nowadays, Liana is a great storyteller. You’ll hear that when she talks about her first robot, taking inspiration from the biography of Steve Jobs and her parents, who pushed her to do well at mathematics and chess.
And, at the end of our conversation, Liana shares a heartwarming story about her grandparents, who grew up in the former Soviet Union. In great detail, she recites the stories of her grandmother, who felt really equal to men at her job in the factory that she worked at. Liana’s moral of the story: Embrace diversity by not emphasizing differences.
By the way, Liana is about to become a female founder. In fact, after our interview, she went straight to the Chamber of Commerce to start her own consultancy company (which had nothing to do with the episode, by the way). I probably don’t need to tell you that it has something to do with marketing in the age of AI😉.
What’s coming up?
Next week, Charlotte Hoekstra will help us discover how women can use their uniqueness to position themselves as role models without having to “sell” themselves.
Episode 49 is a unique one, too. Arosha Brouwer will tell us how Quan’s journey continued after she was my guest on episode 3. The episode will air on 5 April, and you do not want to miss it.
So stay tuned for some great episodes!
Did you know…
… that you can discover more incredible stories and learn from trailblazing women on Spotify, Google, Apple, or Goodpods. There, you can find the entire inspiring archive of episodes with over 1,000 minutes of Women Disrupting Tech content I have published since episode 1 aired in September 2022.
Feedback? Let me know!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I’d love to hear your thoughts about this episode.
So please do not hesitate to contact me via LinkedIn or email if you have any positive or negative feedback or if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast.
And with that, I wish you a magical day, and keep being awesome!
-
Artificial Intelligence: the Catalyst for Gender Equality?| Show notes on Episode 46 with Maryam Miradi
Can artificial intelligence be the catalyst for gender equality? To discover the answer to this question, I had a conversation with Maryam Miradi.
Join us on episode 46 as our conversation covers many topics, including:
🤖 How Artificial Intelligence will impact our lives
🫱🏼🫲🏾 The crucial role of explainability when it comes to trust in AI
🙋🏻♀️ Why AI offers a unique opportunity to break gender barriers.Plus, she’ll explain how she uses her 20+ years of experience in AI to help data scientists build AI solutions that matter.
When you’re ready to learn if Artificial Intelligence can act as a catalyst for gender equality, tune in to the episode by clicking the play button below.
Episode 46: Is Artificial Intelligence the Catalyst for Gender Equality? | Maryam Miradi on Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
About Maryam Miradi
Maryam Miradi holds a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence from Delft University. She has over 20 years of experience building artificial intelligence solutions and has worked for many Dutch organizations, including banks, the government, and energy companies.
Her work on predicting the maintenance of Dutch Highways and secondary roads won her international recognition and awards.
To discover more about Maryam’s important work, you can connect with her on LinkedIn.
About AI Solutions Mastery
Maryam is the VP & Chief AI Scientist of Profound Analytics, her own company.
She has carefully bundled her 20 years of knowledge and experience with building artificial intelligence solutions into her new AI training, AI Solutions Mastery.
When you’re ready to learn more, visit www.maryammiradi.com
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
Artificial intelligence (AI) holds a lot of promise for modern society. For instance, with AI, we can improve healthcare by detecting cancers sooner and more precisely than our doctors. We can also allow these doctors to have conversations with their patients without worrying about administrative tasks.
However, for AI to succeed, it is crucial that it is an inclusive technology. And, according to Maryam, the explainability of the data, the underlying models, and the outcomes are critical to its success.As we explore whether artificial intelligence can be a catalyst for gender equality, Maryam and I have a broad-ranging conversation on topics such as
- The power of diversity when building AI solutions 🌈
- The role of parents as the ultimate influencers that can encourage girls to choose a career in AI 👨👩👧👧
- Her mission of preventing that AI code ends up as digital garbage floating around in a cloud 🌫️
Plus, you’ll discover why ChatGPT is not the same as Artificial Intelligence😳.
When you’re ready to explore the world of artificial intelligence, click the button below to listen to the episode.
What makes this episode magical🌟?
I’m letting you in on a little secret: Part of the magic that I want to bring to my podcast is that guests can safely share their knowledge and experiences in a way that is easy to understand for you as a listener.
Reducing complex problems to simple words is a great way to help the women on the podcast be the experts that they are.
For complex topics like AI, this means that I have to balance my curiosity with a little bit of scripting. Especially if I’m interviewing a Ph.D. powerhouse in artificial intelligence.
However, in our 90+ minute pre-recording conversation, Maryam already had so much wisdom to share and an educated point of view about so many things related to women in tech that I knew that our conversation would be amazing, with or without a script.Therefore, I let my curiosity take over.
As a result, this episode contains an hour of AI wisdom woven with personal stories from Maryam’s remarkable journey. Are you ready to listen?
What’s coming up?
Next week, it is time for part two of the AI doubleheader. In episode 47, I’ll interview Liana Hakobyan, a female AI marketer. We’ll explore how we can use AI in marketing beyond the obvious ChatGPT and MidJourney examples.
On International Women’s Day, Interviewed Arosha Brouwer to learn about Quan’s journey after she was my guest on episode 3. The episode will air on 29 March, and you do not want to miss it.
So stay tuned for some great episodes!
Did you know…
… that you can discover more incredible stories and learn from trailblazing women on Spotify, Google, Apple, or Goodpods. There, you can find the entire inspiring archive of episodes with over 1,000 minutes of Women Disrupting Tech content I have published since September 2022.
Feedback? Let me know!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I’d love to hear your thoughts about this episode.
Particular feedback I’m looking forward to this week is if you’d like me to explore the topic of Women in AI a bit more or if you want me to return the focus to female founders?
So please do not hesitate to contact me via LinkedIn or email if you have any positive or negative feedback or if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast.
Do You Want to Be a Male Ally
How do you get started with diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech when you’re a man?
Let me give you a few suggestions, courtesy of ChatGPT:
📚 Educate yourself about the topic.
👂🏻 Listen to underrepresented people and amplify their voices.
💪🏼 Support inclusive practices like fair compensation.
🫱🏼🫲🏾 Collaborate with DEI organizations and advocate for DEI within your company.By listening, you’re already ticking two of these boxes. And maybe you’re ready to do more.
My own journey to being a male ally
About 18 months ago, I was in your shoes. So, I started a podcast to interview women working in tech. I wanted to learn why there are so few of them. This podcast is called Women Disrupting Tech.
Since I started, I’ve interviewed 44 women about topics ranging from founding a startup to managing intellectual property. My goal is to provide them with a platform so they can inspire other women to consider an education or a job in tech.
But my goal for 2024 is to have more men join the conversation as guests and members of the Women Disrupting Tech Community.
Why you want to join?
As a member, you’ll receive a free email every Friday. By reading it, you’ll learn something new about diversity in tech. Like how we can prevent the gender pay gap. Or how to start with DEI in a startup. The women I interview inspire you with their stories, help you understand their points of view, and advocate for them. Of course, I include links to the most recent podcast episode and the show notes for further reading and education.
So, it is an excellent way to start educating yourself. But reading the newsletter and listening to the podcast also ticks other boxes on the list. By sharing the articles, you can amplify their voices to other people in your network. With the wisdom these women share, you can support inclusive practices in your company.
Ultimately, that’s good for business and gets you karma points. All of that for free.
Are you ready to join?
When you’re ready to join the Women Disrupting Tech Community, enter your best email address below.
Processing…Success! You're on the list.Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again. -
“I can’t imagine doing anything outside of tech at this point”| Show notes on Episode 45 with Alexa Lane
Do you celebrate International Women’s Day? If you do, I wish you a Happy International Women’s Day.
Personally, I think every day is a good day to celebrate the women in our lives and the women in tech. So today’s episode is meant to celebrate yet another female role model for women in tech: Alexa Lane.
Join us on episode 45 as we travel the world of recruiting for tech startups and discover:
- Why she moved from doing sales in Silicon Valley to recruiting in Silicon Alley🗽
- How her mentors at SuccessFactors and Optimizely helped her build her career in tech 🚀
- How to build a recruiting playbook for your tech startup from scratch🌱
When you’re ready to dive in, tune in to the episode below.
Episode 45: How To Create a Recruiting Playbook For a Tech Startup From Scratch | Alexa Lane on Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
About Alexa Lane
Alexa Lane is the Head of Recruitment at Placements.io. As the daughter of a father who is a radio host and author and a mother who is a food and drug lawyer, she is not your typical tech prodigy.
Yet, one thing was pretty clear early on: Alexa Lane loved tech and the fast-paced tech ecosystem.
She’s spent almost all of her working life in tech, working at startups like Yelp, Optimizely, and Pendo before moving to Placements.io. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.About Placements.io
Placements.io is an AdTech startup with offices in New York, Denver, Seattle, London, Taipei, and Singapore.
It helps companies like Apple, Microsoft, and SalesForce manage all their online advertising in one place.
You can learn more about the company and any career opportunities they may have by visiting their website, careers page, or Glassdoor page and by following them on LinkedIn.
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
How do you do recruitment for a tech startup? After all, you have no large budget to work with. Nor a reputation that attracts talent on autopilot.
As with many things in the startup world, and in fact in life, having a plan is a great start. For recruiting, this means creating a recruiting playbook.
So, in this episode, Alexa Lane helps us create a recruiting playbook. Alexa is our guide on this startup recruitment adventure as we uncover:- Which skills new employees need to have to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment 🌱
- Why you should not rely on referrals if you want to build a diverse employee base 🌈
- How to balance an attractive base salary with enticing perks like hybrid work, healthcare, and equity. 💰
Plus, you’ll discover the pivotal role of mentors in shaping Alexa’s tech journey and how being a recruiter helps her as a working mom in tech.
When you’re ready to dive in, tune in to the episode by clicking the button below.
What makes this episode magical🌟?
Alexa’s mentors played a crucial role in shaping her career and helping her become the successful tech professional she is today. In fact, thanks to them, she can’t imagine doing anything outside of tech at this point in her career.
So, did her mentors help? Alexa shares that her first mentor, a manager at SuccessFactors, pushed her out of her comfort zone and persuaded her to move to New York. Mind you, she was working in the center of the tech startup world: Silicon Valley.
Her mentor at Optimizely taught her to negotiate well, both for herself and for her employers. As we’ve heard before, negotiating is a skill that is particularly valuable for women who want to grow in their careers.
When Alexa made the move from Silicon Valley to Silicon Alley, as the New York Startup Ecosystem is called, little did she know that it would also lead to a romantic encounter. It was there that she met her future husband.
Now, as a working mom in the tech industry, Alexa faces the challenge of balancing her career with parenting. She refers to this juggling act as “Scheduling Tetris.”Are you ready to listen to Alexa’s story?
What’s coming up?
On International Women’s Day, I’ll interview Arosha Brouwer to learn about Quan’s journey after she was my guest on episode 3. The episode will air on 15 March, and you do not want to miss it.
In the last two weeks of March, we have an AI doubleheader. First, a female professor of artificial intelligence will decode the road to AI for women. Then, I’ll interview a female AI marketer to discover how we can use AI in marketing beyond the obvious ChatGPT.
So stay tuned for some great episodes!
Did you know…
… that you can discover more incredible stories and learn from trailblazing women on Spotify, Google, Apple, or Goodpods. There, you can find the entire inspiring archive of episodes with over 1,000 minutes of Women Disrupting Tech content I have published since September 2022.
Feedback? Let me know!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I’d love to hear your thoughts about this episode.
I’d especially like to know if I should include my guest’s bio or if you’re OK with being sent to the blog for more info.
So please do not hesitate to contact me via LinkedIn or email if you have any positive or negative feedback or if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast.
Do You Want to Be a Male Ally
How do you get started with diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech when you’re a man?
Let me give you a few suggestions, courtesy of ChatGPT:
📚 Educate yourself about the topic.
👂🏻 Listen to underrepresented people and amplify their voices.
💪🏼 Support inclusive practices like fair compensation.
🫱🏼🫲🏾 Collaborate with DEI organizations and advocate for DEI within your company.By listening, you’re already ticking two of these boxes. And maybe you’re ready to do more.
My own journey to being a male ally
About 18 months ago, I was in your shoes. So, I started a podcast to interview women working in tech. I wanted to learn why there are so few of them. This podcast is called Women Disrupting Tech.
Since I started, I’ve interviewed 44 women about topics ranging from founding a startup to managing intellectual property. My goal is to provide them with a platform so they can inspire other women to consider an education or a job in tech.
But my goal for 2024 is to have more men join the conversation as guests and members of the Women Disrupting Tech Community.
Why you want to join?
As a member, you’ll receive a free email every Friday. By reading it, you’ll learn something new about diversity in tech. Like how we can prevent the gender pay gap. Or how to start with DEI in a startup. The women I interview inspire you with their stories, help you understand their points of view, and advocate for them. Of course, I include links to the most recent podcast episode and the show notes for further reading and education.
So, it is an excellent way to start educating yourself. But reading the newsletter and listening to the podcast also ticks other boxes on the list. By sharing the articles, you can amplify their voices to other people in your network. With the wisdom these women share, you can support inclusive practices in your company.
Ultimately, that’s good for business and gets you karma points. All of that for free.
Are you ready to join?
When you’re ready to join the Women Disrupting Tech Community, enter your best email address below.
Processing…Success! You're on the list.Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again. -
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Fatoumata’s Journey From Doubts to Dishes | Episode 44 on Women Disrupting Tech
When you’re ready for some inspiration on how to overcome imposter syndrome and other hurdles that are put in your way as a female startup founder, today’s episode is for you.
Join me as I speak to Fatoumata Diallo to find out how she overcame imposter syndrome to build a community where global foodies can enjoy authentic, home-cooked dishes.
Listen to episode 44 of Women Disrupting Tech to learn
👣 What her first step was on her journey as a startup founder.
🌍 How one letter can make a difference when you want to become a global brand.
🪄Fatoumata’s magic recipe for more diversity in tech.Click the play button below to listen to her story.
Episode 44: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Fatoumata's Journey From Doubts to Dishes | Fatoumata Diallo on Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
Imposter syndrome: the voice in your head that tells you to wait for that “perfect moment.” Because you need more money, experience, or time.
Now, we know that “the perfect moment” does not exist. The lights are never going to turn green at the same time.
So the real question is, “How do you overcome that imposter syndrome?” And you’ll discover the answer in episode 44 of Women Disrupting Tech.
Let Fatoumata Diallo be an inspiring guide with her story about building Gamaal. In this episode, she’ll tell you how
🌟 she uses her doubts as stepping stones to progress.
🥘 Gamaal harnesses the power of homemade food to bridge cultural differences.
🌈 the quest for more diversity in tech is similar to the suffragette movement about a century ago.Plus, you’ll discover how leaving out one letter from a word can make a world of difference in being a globally recognizable brand.
About Fatoumata
Fatoumata is the founder of Gamaal. She was born in West Africa, raised in Brussels, and now lives in London. She has a Master’s degree in Public Administration, and prior to starting Gamaal, she worked with NGOs and large corporations in the UK and Belgium.
You can learn more about Leonie and connect with her on LinkedIn.About Gamaal
Gamaal is a platform that brings the rich world of home-cooked dishes to foodies. The app is not just another food delivery app. It’s a community of culinary and cultural lovers. You can learn more by visiting their website and following their culinary adventures on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and/or Twitter/X.
What makes this episode magical🌟?
If you’re a fan of great storytelling, you will now be disappointed. Because Fatoumata is a natural storyteller who knows how to captivate an audience.
An excellent example of this comes toward the end of the podcast when we get to the question of how to make the podcast obsolete.
She starts by drawing up a comparison with the suffragette movement of about a century ago. Then, she gives me her recipe for transforming today’s battle for more diversity into stories of motivation for future generations:
🙋🏾♀️ Having an abundance of role models
🌠 Being able to transcend stereotypes
📚 Having educational narratives
🤝 Actively supporting and empowering female founders.
What’s coming up?
On International Women’s Day, we’ll learn how to recruit for a tech startup. Spoiler: this episode includes a career change, too.
Afterward, Arosha Brouwer will return to the show to share Quan’s journey that followed after she was my guest on episode 3. It’s an episode you do not want to miss.
Do You Want to Be a Male Ally
How do you get started with diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech when you’re a man?
Let me give you a few suggestions, courtesy of ChatGPT:
📚 Educate yourself about the topic.
👂🏻 Listen to underrepresented people and amplify their voices.
💪🏼 Support inclusive practices like fair compensation.
🫱🏼🫲🏾 Collaborate with DEI organizations and advocate for DEI within your company.By listening, you’re already ticking two of these boxes. And maybe you’re ready to do more.
About 18 months ago, I was in your shoes. So, I started a podcast to interview women working in tech. I wanted to learn why there are so few of them. This podcast is called Women Disrupting Tech.
Since I started, I’ve interviewed 44 women about topics ranging from founding a startup to managing intellectual property. My goal is to provide them with a platform so they can inspire other women to consider an education or a job in tech.
But my goal for 2024 is to have more men join the conversation as guests and members of the Women Disrupting Tech Community.
As a member, you’ll receive a free email every Friday. By reading it, you’ll learn something new about diversity in tech. Like how we can prevent the gender pay gap. Or how to start with DEI in a startup. The women I interview inspire you with their stories, help you understand their points of view, and advocate for them. Of course, I include links to the most recent podcast episode and the show notes for further reading and education.
So, it is an excellent way to start educating yourself. But reading the newsletter and listening to the podcast also ticks other boxes on the list. Because you can amplify their voices to other people in your network by sharing the articles. And with the wisdom these women share, you can support inclusive practices in your company.
Ultimately, that’s good for business and gets you karma points. All of that for free.
When you’re ready to join the Women Disrupting Tech Community, enter your best email address below.
Working on it…Yes! You're now a memberWhoops! Black Magic is blocking access. Please reload the page and try again.
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast
Unleashing the Magic: Women Disrupting Tech for a Better Planet
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast 