Tech in the Right Direction

Enjoy the replay:  Our next guest on our MENtors that Make a Difference segment is the co-founder of Kitcaster, Ryan Estes. He has owned a media and marketing agency for the last 10 years. For eight of those years he hosted the founders podcast Talklaunch. Consistently ranked in the iTunes "Top 100" podcasts. He has recorded 300+ interviews with more than a quarter million downloads, and attributes $1M+ in revenue as a direct result from podcasts. He loves podcasting, believes the medium possesses a giant opportunity for entrepreneurs, and is more than happy to discuss your prospects! Find out more about Ryan and Kitcaster at https://kitcaster.com/ Thank you for listening and we hope Ryan's story helps inspire others to grow their tech career.

This week on Tech in the Right Direction we follow Vanina Ivanova's journey in the Tech Industry and the extreme differences in digital marketing from when she first started her career to today. Vanina is currently the CMO at Adex Network, a blockchain powered system that is bringing full transparency to the digital marketing space through smart contract technology. She’s a cryptocurrency enthusiast herself, and is finding working for a blockchain company inspiring, empowering and overall – delightful. Join us as we dive into personal data, the lack of privacy in advertising, and what we can do to change this problem. Learn more about Adex Network here: https://www.adex.network/ Thank you - we hope Vanina's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.

This week's guest is Heather Doran, Chief of Staff for Business Applications Marketing & Global Industry at Microsoft. Heather is an enthusiastic leader with a proven record of implementing high-performing marketing, operations, and event strategies. She has an innate ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to successfully develop a vision based on customer-focused insights and data that delivers results. Today we talk about Heather's move into the tech industry and how she moved her way up through the ranks at Microsoft. We also talk about how women can find success and break down barriers in a male-dominated industry. Thank you for listening; we hope Heather's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.

Our next guest on MENtors that Make a Difference is award-winning researcher and author, Tom Tonkin. Tom holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with a focus on Leadership and Management and defines himself as a ‘recovering executive’. We discuss the fact that technology has outpaced our ability to acknowledge and accept it, and that we are experiencing a social revolution with women in the tech industry. Listen in to hear Tom’s perspective of how allies can support women in technology and how privilege plays into the discrimination so prevalent in the industry today. Thank you for listening; we hope Tom's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.

This week on Tech in the right Direction, we’re joined by Kalin McKenna who joined Microsoft in 2011 leading the marketing efforts for Windows Phone and Surface devices, and later transitioning to the AI and Sustainability Market Development Team. Listen in to hear about Kalin’s journey from working in politics to joining the tech world, and her thoughts on the employment, pay and culture gap in the tech industry, how the industry is moving forward, and how discrimination plays a role despite these positive changes.

This week's guest is Susan Sanders, the Founder and CEO of Spinderok - an IT Consulting Firm focused on helping companies harness the power of Microsoft 365 to deliver the ultimate employee experience.  Today we talk about Susan's career journey and what led her to become the Founder and CEO of Spinderock. We also discuss what it takes to be a leader in today's world and how we can help women forward in their careers. Listen to today's episode to learn more about Cynthia's remarkable story. Learn more about Spinderok here: https://spinderok.com/ Thank you - we hope Susan's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.

This week on Tech in the Right Direction we are joined by Ansley Fender, a serial entrepreneur, and Founder/CEO of Atlas. Ansley started out college as a classically trained violinist who had to switch her trajectory when she suffered a hand injury. In order to graduate on time, Ansley decided on a whim to major in Non-profit Management, and later attended grad school for public finance. When Ansley became a stay-at-home mom to her first born she found herself needing an outlet, so started bookkeeping and financial consulting for non-profits. This is where Ansley stumbled on a market where no one was providing services in her area, and thus her journey as an accidental entrepreneur began. Listen in to hear Ansley’s story and what she’s accomplished as a woman in tech. Learn more about Atlas Solutions here: https://www.getatlassolutions.com/ Thank you - we hope Ansley's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.  

This week dive into true leadership, authenticity, and radical inclusivity as we are joined by Ashleigh Wilson, a San Francisco-based, life-long entrepreneur. Listen in to hear about how Ashleigh went from cleaning homes, to founding her own business, how her motto ‘People Over Profit’ impacts her day to day, and how her struggles led her to where she is today.   Thank you - we hope Ashleigh's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.

This week's guest is Cynthia Meinke, a Senior Account Executive with New Era Technologies - a global managed technology solutions provider. They are trusted advisers to more than 9,000 customers worldwide and provide a seamless blend of solutions that securely connect people, places, and information in a rapidly changing digital world. Cynthia passionately embraces partnering with her clients to deliver an exceptional customer experience with every interaction through high-velocity and elegant innovation to push revenue growth up while driving costs down through improved business processes and operational excellence. Today we talk about Cynthia's career journey and how her early years in the foster system helped develop her into a strong-willed leader who wanted more in life. Cynthia saw that computers and technology could help her provide not only for herself but her family as well. She 'cut her teeth' early on by repairing various systems and eventually saw her opportunity in tech sales. Her career growth has led her to New Era, where she is a Senior Sales Executive. Listen to today's episode to learn more about Cynthia's remarkable story. Learn more about New Era Technology here: https://www.neweratech.com/us/ Thank you - we hope Cynthia's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.

This week's guest is Supriya Gupta, the General Manager of Recommendations and Head of Product at Credit Karma - a personal finance company helping individuals reach their financial goals. Supriya is responsible for personalizing the Credit Karma app experience for their 120 million customers. She has taken her department to the next level and their recommendation system now makes more than 35 billion model predictions every day.  Today we talk about Supriya's career journey and how she went from working on defense satellites to now managing an entire team within Credit Karma. We also discuss the importance of combining technical skills with soft skills and how strategy is key to creating success. The discussion continues with the challenges women face in today's business world and how to facedown imposter syndrome to reach new heights. Learn more about Credit Karma here: https://www.creditkarma.com/ Thank you - we hope Supriya's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.

This week on Tech in the Right Direction we are joined by Elizabeth Burstein, CEO and Co-Founder of Neura Health, who foundered this organization based on her personal journey with chronic pain and the challenges that came along with it. In this episode we discuss the lack of access, administrative burdens, and general struggles that exist within our healthcare system, how that affects quality of care, and how Neura Health helps solve these issues.   Thank you - we hope Elizabeth's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.

This week's guest is Eva Helén, the CEO of EQ Inspiration, Board Director at Vasion, and the Author of Women in Tech - a Book for Guys. Eva is a seasoned business executive and an experienced board member. She has over 20 years of experience in high tech, international business, strategy, operations, and finance. In addition, she has refined her expertise in developing shareholder value in high-growth companies, advising on business development and human capital. Today we talk about Eva's early years in Silicon Valley and how it led her to become a Co-Founder, CEO, Board Member, Speaker, and Author. We also discuss the significant role men can play in growing women's presence in the tech industry and the steps they can take to become more inclusive. This idea is at the center of Eva's book, Women in Tech - a Book for Guys. Listen to today's episode and learn more about Eva and her incredible story. Learn more about EQ Inspiration and Women in Tech - a Book for Guys here: https://eqinspiration.com/product/women-in-tech-a-book-for-guys/ Learn more about Vasion here: https://www.vasion.com/ Thank you - we hope Eva's story helps inspire others to grow their tech career.

This week's guest is Lauren Anderson, the Owner and Chief Recruiter for All-In Recruiting & Talent Boutique - an experienced Human Resources & Talent Acquisition Organization delivering exceptional hiring results with urgency. They specialize in Direct Placement Executive Search, placing Mid to Senior level Diverse Professionals in Hi-Tech & Technology fields. Today we talk about Lauren's career journey and how she found her passion in helping others grow their careers. We also discuss the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion and how it can drive positive results for organizations by showcasing the talent that otherwise wouldn't be acknowledged. We also cover how the hiring landscape has changed during the pandemic and what the future holds for the recruitment process. Learn more about All-In Recruiting here: https://www.all-inrecruiting.com/ Thank you for listening - we hope Lauren's story helps inspire others to grow their tech career.

This week's guest is Brandy Mayfield, the Chief Underwriting Officer at InShare - an insurance claims solution provider that focuses on services and solutions in Actuarial, Claims Operations, Claims Platform, Claims Process, Legal, Data Science, and Third Party Administration. Their focus on providing insurance within the gig economy is revolutionizing the industry and is filling gaps created by emerging technologies and apps. Today we talk about Brandy's career journey and how her goals and aspirations led her to a leadership position within InShare. We also discuss the ever-changing insurance industry and how InShare meets modern-day needs within the gig economy. We also cover women's influence on technology and how we can continue to encourage them to join the tech industry.  Learn more about InShare here: https://inshare.com/   Thank you for listening - we hope Brandy's story helps inspire others to grow their tech career.

This week's guest is Sandra O'Sullivan, the Chief People Officer at Curriculum Associates - an organization focused on creating innovative solutions for the education space. Based in North Billerica, Massachusetts, and with offices and remote employees throughout the United States, Curriculum Associates has been awarded many recognitions as a top employer. Their team of more than 1,500 employees is comprised of lifelong learners who stand behind their mission, working tirelessly to serve the educational community with world-class programs and support every day. Today we talk about Sandra's career journey and how she went from a Web Designer to becoming a C-Level Executive. We also cover how diversity and inclusion can help organizations grow and thrive in today's world. We also discuss the challenges women face throughout different industries and how we can help them overcome obstacles and create success through education and training. Learn more about Curriculum Associates here: https://www.curriculumassociates.com/ Thank you for listening - we hope Sandra's story helps inspire others to grow their tech career.

This week's guest is Jayme Ambrose, the CEO of Adobe Care & Wellness - an integrated health care solutions company utilizing innovative proprietary software with in-person wellness care to assess, track and improve outcomes and quality of life. They are the only health care company in the U.S. utilizing an integrative model for proactive and preventative care that successfully reduces ER visits and hospital readmits while increasing member retention and satisfaction. The company now provides healthcare solutions and services to more than 40,000 people. Today we talk about Jayme's career journey and how her work as a nurse eventually led to her becoming the CEO of Adobe Care & Wellness. We also cover how healthcare is changing and how tech is helping fill healthcare gaps for those in need. We then dive into the challenges women face in the tech industry and how to overcome them. Learn more about Adobe Care & Wellness here: https://adobecw.com/ Thank you for listening - we hope Jayme's story helps inspire others to grow their tech career.

This week's guest is Lori McColl, the CEO and Founder of Whim-Detroit, a technology startup and digital transformation group that focuses on implementing agile solutions. She is passionate about sharing her experience in the tech industry and growing a new business. Lori has been a guest speaker at several events, including the future of retail and social movements at the Women's Convention, Social Media Week, Planet M IoT Connect, and Detroit Start-up Week. Lori has taken a customer-focused approach to growing her business. This focus on client needs has allowed her to build trust, which gives her the ability to innovate and develop projects quickly. This approach has been central to the culture of Whim-Detroit and has allowed them to grow into the successful business they are today. To learn more about Lori and Whim-Detroit, visit their site here: https://www.whim-detroit.com/ Thank you for listening; we hope Lori's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.

This week's guest is Jane Wiseman, CEO of the Institute for Excellence in Government. This consulting services organization helps state and local government clients with strategy development, policy analysis, program implementation, and performance management. Jane is a seasoned government innovation and data analytics thought leader, strategy consultant, and experienced board member for social enterprises and non-profits. Today we talk about Jane's move into the tech industry and how she became an executive-level leader within her organization. We also talk about how women can drive change in male-dominated industries by overcoming their self-doubt and knocking down obstacles. Thank you for listening; we hope Jane's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.

Enjoy this previously recorded Podcast.  An update on Dr. Antoine. In March 2023 she joined the Capgemini team.  Her new role is EVP, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer in Europe.  Congratulations on being a rising star for Women In Technology everywhere.  This week's guest is Dr. Cara Antoine, Managing Director Digital Transformation IG&H - a leading independent business consulting firm based in the Netherlands. IG&H is a market leader in complex end-to-end digital transformation and has focused its work across five industries: retail, healthcare, banking, insurance, and pensions. In today's episode, we talk about Dr. Cara's journey from fixing radios as a young child to the head of IG&H's Digital Transformation team. We also discuss the difficulties women currently face in the technology industry and what we can all do to help grow their presence. Lastly, we discuss creating a more accessible business and how organizations can help create opportunities for anyone and everyone to gain access to products, services, and solutions. You can learn more about IG&H here: https://www.igh.com/ We hope Dr. Cara's story helps inspire others to grow their tech career.  

This week's guest is Whitney Cathcart, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at 3DLOOK. This AI-first technology company has built a patented mobile body scanning technology that measures fully dressed people with the highest precision of accuracy in seconds. Their fit-tech solution is allowing the fashion and apparel industry to catch up with modern times. Today we talk about Whitney's move from the applications space into the fit-tech industry and how 3DLOOK is helping modernize fashion and apparel. We also talk about how women are becoming a driving force in technology and how staying curious can keep this drive going. Thank you for listening; we hope Whitney's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.