Queens of Tech Podcast | 100 Voices of Impact | Representation Matters!

Jasmine Moradi Harbou-Hals — from refugee to system shifter. Born in Iran, raised in Sweden, and now rebuilding the world from Cannes. Once a refugee girl navigating visible and invisible borders, she now dismantles them — turning every barrier into a blueprint for change.Redesigning the future through UX Research & Behavioral Science across MusicTech | TravelTech | Inclusive Innovation, Jasmine is the Founder of the Queens of Tech podcast and an author. Today, she is a Senior UX Researcher at Amadeus Nexwave, leading behavioral research to build TravelTech systems that are smarter, safer, and human-first.With studies in Media & Communication and Journalism, and degrees from Berghs School of Communication and the Stockholm School of Economics, her impact spans four groundbreaking MusicTech research studies with Spotify Business/Soundtrack Your Brand — read by over 70,000 people and shaping global industry standards. She is also the host of The Power of Audio + Science + AI, exploring how sound, branding, AI, and human behavior intersect with guests from neuroscience, MusicTech, and behavioral design, and the creator of the Queens of Tech podcast, sharing 100 untold stories from women, non-binary, and trans tech leaders across 27 countries and 70,000 listeners.Jasmine is the author of Jaz – A Unicorn Cat’s Song of Colors and Courage, a lyrical children’s book inspired by her refugee journey, which teaches the importance of belonging, empathy, and bravery.Through boardrooms and classrooms, podcasts and research reports, Jasmine’s mission remains constant: build tech that remembers who it’s for — and who it neglected. www.jasminemoradi.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jingjin is a trailblazing entrepreneur dedicated to advancing women's inclusion and social justice across Asia. As the Founder of ELEVATE with Uma Thana, she spearheads a dynamic group of companies committed to redefining societal, organizational, and individual norms to rebalance power and drive meaningful change for women at every stage of their professional journey.Jingjin's career is marked by her leadership in global product management, successful portfolio turnarounds in multinational corporations, and the establishment of thriving organizations in Germany, China, and Singapore. Prior to founding ELEVATE, she was the founder and CEO of ZaZaZu, a pioneering corporate education platform aimed at empowering one million professional women to master challenges both at work and at home.She also co-founded ASBO Drives Technology GmbH, which revolutionized agricultural practices in rural China by increasing crop yields and reducing vehicle downtime through advanced gearbox technology. This venture was successfully acquired by China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) in 2019.In the male-dominated automotive industry, Jingjin made history as the only Asian, the only woman, and the only senior director under 35 to serve as Global Marketing Director at WABCO. There, she oversaw portfolios worth up to $800 million, achieved remarkable revenue growth of over $200 million, and generated $5 million in sales for ASBO Drives.Driven by her profound passion for transforming the professional landscape for women, Jingjin continuously pushes boundaries and challenges societal norms to create an inclusive environment where women can thrive and embody their best selves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Solona is a problem solver and strategic thinker who is passionate about working with educators to create learning environments that allow all students to see themselves as life-long learners of science.Before joining Leading Educators, Solona worked with state, district, and school leaders to develop strategies and implement systems for increasing leader capacity and teacher effectiveness. Most recently, she supported the implementation of a state-wide coaching model.Before pursuing a career in education, Solona worked as a chemist and co-invented a commercially sold adhesive.Solona Hollis holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Dillard University and completed her education certification at Mercer University. An Atlanta native, she spends free time with her two sons and her dog, Layla. Solona works to promote autism awareness and advocacy in her local community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya is a TEDx speaker and founder of African Women in STEM, an organization empowering African women in STEM fields globally. With two decades of experience in engineering and energy, she has managed projects worth over half a billion dollars.As a catalyst for change, Adaeze speaks powerfully about cultural inclusion and community building. Her TEDx Talk challenges professionals to embrace their cultural identity as a key to innovation. Through her Leadership Development Program, she helps women in STEM design careers aligned with their values to maximize their potential. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arpita Vats is a Senior AI Engineer at LinkedIn, specializing in feed recommendation and large-scale machine learning models. She worked as a Research Scientist Intern at Meta and Amazon, focusing on Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI. With extensive experience in recommender systems, computer vision, and natural language processing, Arpita has authored multiple research papers and contributed to industry-leading AI advancements. Her work includes privacy-aware LLMs, a Mixture of Experts (MoE) scaling, and multimodal AI for video understanding. She has served as a reviewer for top-tier conferences such as CVPR, ICLR, KDD, ACM CSUR, and IEEE AI Multimedia. Arpita is also an active speaker at AI conferences, including Data Science Salon SF. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexandra David is an Enterprise Solutions Consultant at Figma with over a decade of experience in the SaaS industry. She specializes in Pre-sales Strategy and Solutions Consulting. Her extensive knowledge of go-to-market strategies and SaaS-driven innovation has significantly contributed to her expertise in technology solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cosima Meyer is a senior data scientist at SAP. In her previous role at IBM, she took machine learning products from concept to production. She was also a co-leader of IBM's Data Science Methods Community where she managed data science asset development. Cosima is passionate about building sustainable machine-learning products and creating relevant frameworks for working with and using AI. She won the “Innovate With Purpose Award” by IBM for a project using a modern NLP approach and was named a Futuremaker 2024 by Business Insider for her work on making the tech industry more diverse.Cosima has a PhD in conflict studies, and with a background in statistics and social sciences, she enjoys thinking about bias and how to mitigate it to build fair ML products. During her PhD, she co-founded Methods Bites, a data science blog that provides step-by-step tutorials on topics ranging from package development over statistical methods to teaching data science. At CorrelAid, a European non-profit data for-good organization, she worked on a data course that offers civil society actors a hands-on, project-based learning course in data handling, statistics, data visualization, and web application development.As a Women Techmakers Ambassador, Cosima is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. As an active member of PyLadies, R-Ladies Global team, and founder of R-Ladies Cologne, she is also involved in several community initiatives that support underrepresented groups in the coding world. To further increase the visibility of underrepresented groups in tech, Cosima developed Mastodon and Bluesky bots that regularly post content created by PyLadies and R-Ladies. Since the beginning of 2024, she has also launched the “Amazing Women in Tech” project, which highlights each week one woman in tech, highlighting her background, and her accomplishments to provide more role models for aspiring data enthusiasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nandeeta Seth has 20 years of experience spanning tech product and monetization roles at TikTok, Google, and management consulting. She holds an MBA in Finance & Strategy from Columbia University's Business School. Nandeeta has lived and worked on four continents, embracing a global perspective. She is a strong and relentless advocate for diverse teams and women in tech. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer Moore is a dynamic Chief Product Officer, business owner, and thought leader, renowned for her ability to drive innovation, growth, and cultural transformation in both global enterprises and local startups. As the founder of Strategies that Spark, Jennifer offers a suite of consulting services, including interim and fractional executive Product leadership, organizational design and talent strategy, executive coaching, and operational excellence solutions. She is passionate about helping organizations thrive while empowering individuals to craft fulfilling careers.Jennifer’s career highlights include senior leadership roles at Wells Fargo, Workfront, and Pluralsight, where she spearheaded transformative initiatives that scaled teams, optimized product portfolios, and accelerated company growth. At Workfront, her strategic leadership was instrumental in its $1.5B acquisition by Adobe. Similarly, at Pluralsight, Jennifer helped guide the company through significant acquisitions and its $3.75B transition into the Vista Equity Partners portfolio.Jennifer is a community builder at heart, angel investing in local Utah tech startups and serving as President of the Board of Directors for Product Hive, a 10,000-member nonprofit supporting product management, design, and research professionals. She actively mentors women returning to the workforce, product strategy students, and entrepreneurs in startup programs. Her dedication to empowering others and fostering community is central to her mission.A sought-after keynote speaker, Jennifer’s authenticity and infectious energy resonate with audiences. She holds a Bachelor's in English, Professional & Technical Writing from Brigham Young University, a Master's in Business Administration, and the Chief Product Officer certification from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. Jennifer lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rania Hoteit is a globally recognized entrepreneur, impact leader, and innovation strategist, celebrated for her outstanding contributions to business, technology, and sustainability. She has received prestigious honors from institutions such as The White House, the United Nations, and the United Kingdom Houses of Parliament, as well as accolades like the Global CEO Excellence Award. As a serial entrepreneur, Rania has successfully managed multiple ventures, guiding them from ideation to acquisition, and is a sought-after leadership consultant, executive coach, and board advisor for organizations worldwide.As the Founder and former CEO of ID4A Technologies, Rania led groundbreaking advancements in manufacturing that created a measurable environmental, economic, and social impact on a global scale. Under her leadership, ID4A earned accolades including recognition from the White House Office of Science and Technology, inclusion in the Inc. 5000 list of "America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies," and Real Leaders’ "100 Top Impact Companies" Award. Her efforts also garnered the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Citizens Award for "Best Economic Opportunity and Empowerment Program."Rania has been a vocal advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equality, spearheading initiatives that have closed leadership and education gaps while driving sustainable development. Her efforts have inspired over 2,000 businesses to adopt sustainable practices and improved the working conditions of more than 2 million industrial workers by addressing labor exploitation in global supply chains.Her insights and achievements have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, Huffington Post, Inc., and Thrive Global. Named alongside Oprah Winfrey in Disrupt Magazine’s "7 Disruptive Women Paving the Way for Success in 2022," Rania was also inducted into Marquis Who's Who in 2024 as an "Honoree Listee" among America’s most accomplished leaders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natia Kvaratskhelia is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at I Know, where she has served since 2020, leveraging over 15 years of experience in finance and technology. Natia's career began in finance, progressing through roles from accountant to financial advisor, which equipped her with strong analytical and strategic skills. In 2014, she transitioned to IT, excelling in various positions such as software consultant, analyst, and team lead before assuming her current role.Natia holds a Bachelor's and Master's in Business Administration from Tbilisi State University and continually enhances her expertise through professional development, including courses in digital transformation, business analytics, and agile methodologies. Certified in ISO 9001:2015 as an internal auditor, she also has a background in organizational behavior, including enneagram frameworks.Her leadership philosophy emphasizes fostering new leaders and team growth. Known for her strategic thinking, results orientation, and commitment to ethical standards, Natia excels at seeing the big picture while focusing on crucial operational details. She is dedicated to driving operational excellence, supporting sustainable growth, and fostering an environment where both individuals and organizations thrive. Looking ahead, Natia aims to push boundaries in operational leadership and drive innovation in the tech sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Riley Coleman (they/them) is a seasoned expert in human-centered design with a rebellious spirit, dedicated to accelerating AI literacy with a focus on responsible, ethical innovation. With over 15 years shaping digital experiences, Riley brings a deeply empathetic approach, driven by the belief that technology should elevate human potential rather than replace it.Riley’s career is rich with impact, from establishing a UN-recognized harm reduction program at the Australian Red Cross to leading major digital transformations at Telstra. Most recently, as Director of Central Design at Epidemic Sound, they introduced groundbreaking research methodologies and facilitated customer co-design workshops on AI-driven music creation. At Taxfix in Berlin, Riley scaled the design team by 400% within a year, building the infrastructure needed for rapid, multi-country growth.Now, as the founder of AI Flywheel, Riley is democratizing AI knowledge through accessible, human-centered training programs for responsible AI implementation. Leveraging their extensive background in harm minimization, human-centered design, and service transformation, Riley is fostering a community of practice around ethical AI adoption, empowering professionals to engage with AI confidently while upholding human agency.Their broad experience reinforces a central belief: true innovation emerges when we blend technical skill with human insight, creating powerful AI-human partnerships that enhance, rather than diminish, our shared humanity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maeva Cecchi is currently a Lead UX at Amadeus, a company that powers the global travel and tourism industry. She leads the UX Competency Center for Amadeus Discover, where she is responsible for implementing UX strategy through cross-functional collaboration. Maeva also develops a "UX as a Service" approach for major clients, focusing on improving both conversion rates and user experience through data-driven insights.Maeva is also the co-lead of the Amadeus UX Community, dedicated to enhancing UX maturity and fostering a strong user experience culture among UX professionals and non-UX stakeholders alike.As a Diversity & Inclusion ambassador, she actively promotes digital accessibility, mentoring development teams to ensure compliance with accessibility standards.In addition, Maeva is involved with the association WHAT06, supporting initiatives that encourage women’s integration into the technology sector. Her contributions include co-organizing events like Girls Tech Day 2023 and developing a mentoring app for young women.Holding a Master’s degree in Psychology, specializing in Cognitive Ergonomics from Université Côte d’Azur, Maeva combines her UX expertise with a deep understanding of user needs. She has co-authored articles on designing for cognitive (dis)abilities and envisions a tech industry that fosters inclusive work environments, prioritizing diversity and accessibility. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kelly Evans is a seasoned entrepreneur and small business owner who grew her first company to $5MM in annual revenue within just three years, drawing on her deep expertise in marketing, sales, and digital development. With extensive hands-on experience across all facets of digital marketing, she appreciates the critical role of inbound marketing and online platforms in the growth and resilience of small to mid-sized businesses. A talented marketing strategist and project manager, Kelly has a proven track record of developing and executing creative, client-centric strategies that elevate growth, brand recognition, ROI, and revenue—including during her impactful tenure at Tripadvisor.Known for her high energy and fast-paced style, Kelly is a strategic Renaissance woman who has worn nearly every hat: from CEO, CMO, and CFO, to SEO, SEM, and SMM Specialist; Director of Operations, Website Developer, VP of Marketing, and even Delivery Driver, Packer, and Seamstress—always staying positive, motivated, and smiling every step of the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jen Morse (Iudice) leads the team responsible for foundational, conceptual, and tactical research insights that drive product development and refinement at Sonos. Her work informs and establishes essential parameters for human-centered design across various disciplines. Jen has been with Sonos since 2019. Before joining Sonos, she spent a decade at Teague, a global design consultancy at the intersection of technology and transportation. There, she led exploratory research for clients like Boeing, providing key insights to guide future innovation in user experiences.With over 25 years of experience, Jen has analyzed user experiences across industries including retail, software, home media, pharmaceuticals, and fast food. Prior to her time at Teague, she spent more than a decade at Doblin Group (now Deloitte), a design strategy firm in Chicago. During this period, she also studied at the Institute of Design, focusing on user research and design strategy, as well as at the University of Chicago, where she pursued anthropology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Courtney Hurley is the co-founder of Screws + Stilettos and the Market Like a CMO course. With 19 years of digital marketing experience, she has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to local daycares.An entrepreneur with a foundation in SEO, SEM, analytics, and web design, Courtney also holds a marketing degree from Bentley University. Her expertise has since expanded to include email marketing, social media management, e-commerce, CMS, and business development.Having worked with major players like Google, Amazon, and Wayfair, Courtney is skilled at helping businesses grow their online presence, increase brand awareness, boost ROI, and drive revenue through innovative strategic initiatives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sheryl Cababa is the author of Closing the Loop: Systems Thinking for Designers. As a design researcher and strategist, she serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Optimistic Design, a research and insights studio in Seattle dedicated to education. Her work emphasizes systems thinking and equity-centered design, and she has collaborated with a diverse array of clients, including the Gates Foundation, Microsoft, IKEA, and Khan Academy. Sheryl is passionate about leveraging design to help clients reimagine education.In addition to her practice, she teaches at the University of Washington's Human-Centered Design and Engineering program, where she introduces systems thinking to the next generation of designers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kwanesia Bass is a Senior Program Manager at Yahoo, specializing in Technical Learning and Development. With a strong focus on digital transformation and cloud strategy, Kwanesia leads cutting-edge training programs in emerging technologies such as Generative AI and cloud platforms. In addition to her corporate work, she is a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion, actively mentoring and developing the next generation of tech talent through her career coaching business and talent development initiatives.As a leader in the tech space, Kwanesia offers a unique perspective on how women and non-binary individuals can thrive in the fast-evolving technology sector, particularly in roles beyond traditional engineering and coding. Her innovative approach empowers underrepresented groups to find success in dynamic, non-traditional pathways within the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heather MacDonald is the Founder of Contemplating Life’s Choices, a coaching and leadership development practice dedicated to empowering high-performing diverse women and mothers who struggle with overthinking, people-pleasing, and perfectionism, all while striving to balance their careers and personal lives.In her role as a Principal Consultant at Pluralsight, Heather serves as a strategic thought partner across a global portfolio of industry-leading companies and academic institutions. She leverages organizational psychology, systems change, science-based leadership, and equity-focused practices to help clients implement sustainable, scalable, and adaptable programs.Heather is also a global speaker, panelist, and workshop host on leadership development, organizational change, workplace culture, talent mobility, community building, and lifelong learning.She currently serves as a founding member of the Technology and Data Committee for the World Innovation and Change Management Institute, co-leads the mock interview program for second-year students at the Center for Equity and Student Belonging at the University of Utah, and is an Inaugural Board Member for the Women’s Wellness Summit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bobbie Racette is a pioneering force in the tech industry, embodying innovation and advocating for social change as the Founder & CEO of Virtual Gurus and VG OnDemand. Her dedication to fostering inclusivity and equitable opportunities has revolutionized the remote work sector, especially for marginalized communities. With her unique perspective as a Métis-Cree, 2SLGBTQIA+ woman entrepreneur, Bobbie has turned Virtual Gurus into a leading Talentplace platform in North America, championing diversity and inclusion.This mission is deeply personal for Bobbie - she knows firsthand the challenges traditionally marginalized communities face in the workplace. She has seen how systemic barriers can prevent talented individuals from achieving their full potential, and her personal journey fuels her commitment to creating a more equitable future. Under her guidance, Virtual Gurus has built a vibrant community of over 800 professionals from diverse backgrounds,  powered by innovative technology that leverages algorithms, machine learning, and human expertise to match assistants with clients. Bobbie’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, earning her several prestigious awards such as the Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year in 2022, EY Winning Woman 2022, and the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year from the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business in 2023. Her influence extends beyond business, serving as a Board member for the Telus Friendly Future Foundation and as the inaugural Chair of the Board for the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation, where she continues to break barriers and inspire change.Bobbie gives back by sharing her journey and learnings as a successful woman entrepreneur in tech. She’s a sought-after speaker and thought leader who uses her platform to advocate for a more just and equitable future. Through her initiatives, Bobbie not only opens doors for diverse talent but also instills a belief that "no" is not an answer, paving the way for groundbreaking success.Additionally, Bobbie's dedication to empowering underrepresented communities and creating equitable opportunities that provide accessible, affordable, and reliable staffing solutions to help level the playing field for entrepreneurs who might otherwise struggle to compete; Bobbie Racette is changing the game for entrepreneurs and employees alike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.