In Her Ellement

Making career decisions driven by fear can lead us astray. Instead, we need to be courageous and persistent, seizing new opportunities as they arise. This is the wisdom shared by today's guest, Jaimee Michaud, Head of Portfolio Digital at Advent International, a global private equity investment firm.Jaimee's journey began when she moved from Seoul to the United States as a high school student, boldly embracing a new culture and language. Quickly recognized for her mathematical prowess, she leveraged this reputation to build a successful career in investment banking. After several years in the industry, Jaimee transitioned to Shutterfly, where a trusted general manager saw her potential for a data-focused role. Despite her lack of coding skills, he believed her experience and attitude would ensure her success.Jaimee acknowledges that balancing career and personal commitments is challenging and rarely goes as planned. She emphasizes that making small, mindful decisions daily is more impactful than striving for perfection.Join us for each episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Running a global company is hard. But, it does give you an incredible opportunity to bring on board a diverse group of talent that can help shape your vision. This is something that today’s guest Bianca Anghelina is incredibly passionate about. Bianca co-founded the business development app Aily Labs hailed as the ‘Apple of AI’ in 2020 after she saw how hard it was for organizations to integrate AI across their entire workflow. She reflects that she has received conflicting advice from many sources on her founder journey. Her solution - critical thinking and intuition. Join us for each episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

As your career evolves, so may your definition of success. For Boel Ferguson, success now means mentoring young executives and entrepreneurs navigating their path.Boel began her career without a clear focus, eventually finding her way into the media industry, where she enjoyed a career spanning over three decades. During her tenure at Disney, Boel witnessed and embraced significant changes, including the digital revolution.Today, Boel is involved in various initiatives aimed at helping young people, particularly young women, advance in their careers. She supports 25x25, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving executive gender balance and sharing best practices within the broader community. Additionally, she is actively involved with Smart Works, a UK-based employment charity for women seeking employment.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technologyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this special episode, we’re taking you back to Season 2 for Suchi’s conversation with May Habib, CEO and Founder of Writer, an enterprise AI platform.May Habib has been a CEO for the past decade and always knew she wanted to build a company. As she juggles family and work, May acknowledges that her incredible support system allows her to thrive.May is truly a global citizen. She was born and raised in Lebanon and moved to Canada when she was little. She went on to study in the USA and has worked across the world. Her parents worked incredibly hard and May recognizes that they inspired her work ethic. May’s goal has always been single-minded; to build something that outlasts her and positively impacts the world. Writer is an operating system that tackles the unstructured nature of written content to comply with brand, compliance, and all the other elements that enterprises struggle to align on.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakimovha from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this special episode, we’re taking you back to Season 1 for Andrea Gallego’s conversation with Alaina Percival, CEO and co-founder of Women Who Code—the largest and most active community for technical women worldwide. Alaina shares her career path; she’s run niche products for Puma in Germany, led developer outreach for a technical recruiting company in San Francisco, and taught herself to code.  As the CEO of Women Who Code, she works to inspire women to thrive in the tech industry.  Alaina shares how she navigates the always near and dear imposter syndrome; if you aren’t feeling it—you may have been in your role too long.  There should always be 40% that you don’t know.  She also emphasizes the importance of community and support; don’t be shy to reach out and share your goals—there is a very accessible and supportive community willing to help. Visit Women Who Code to access free resources & workshops, browse job & scholarship opportunities, and engage with an amazing network of technical women across the globe. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakimovha from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

As an entrepreneur, you sometimes have to go against the grain and defy expectations. But how can you keep yourself motivated? For Jennifer Smith, founder and CEO of Scribe, it’s the pride of building an amazing product that keeps her going through the difficult moments. When Jennifer first started her career in consulting, she had no idea that one day she would end up in tech. As she flew across the country and worked at multiple organizations, she saw a gap in the market for a tool that helped document processes, knowledge, and expertise. That's how Scribe was born.Jennifer has been underestimated in her journey as a founder. She believes that she is the one who can push herself the furthest and has been told by well-meaning people in the past that her ambitions were not achievable. Join us for each episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Imposter syndrome, or self-doubt, is something that we all experience in our lives and careers. But how can we turn this often negative experience into a positive one? Natasha Vernier believes you can make it your superpower and has used it to build her own business.Natasha is the co-founder and CEO of Cable, a financial crime compliance platform. Before founding Cable in 2020, Natasha was the Head of Financial Security at Monzo, the fastest-growing bank in UK history. In that role, she was able to seize new opportunities and accelerate her career growth rapidly.After a grueling period of IVF, Natasha and her wife welcomed their first child into the world. However, it just so happened that she was about to embark on her entrepreneurial journey. In this conversation, she talks us through that life-changing experience and how it influenced her approach to her business.Join us each episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Many expert women decide to take the plunge into entrepreneurship - but what are the realities of this decision? For today’s guest, Molly He, CEO and co-founder of Element Biosciences, it was never her dream, but something she saw as a means of pushing the groundbreaking scientific work she was doing forward.Molly grew up in an economically disadvantaged village in rural China. She studied hard while at the same time developing her skills as a professional sprinter. At the end of high school, she decided to take a leap of faith and move to the US. In retrospect, Molly acknowledges that this was a courageous thing to do and that she used this courage and optimism throughout her career. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

This week on In Her Element, we're bringing you Fintech Files, a podcast from BCG Platinion. A show where we delve deep into the dynamic landscape of Fintech, NeoBanks, and the Digital Banking world, sparking insightful conversations with industry disruptors from around the globe.In this episode, we ask the question: “How many globally lack access to banking?” Astonishingly, one in three. In this insightful conversation, Vera Futorjanski, former Head of Communications at Rocket Internet and founding member of Dubai Future Accelerators, shares her journey. Emphasizing the transformative role of technology, she explores challenges and strategies to enhance accessibility and diversity in finance through education and innovation. About Fintech Files: So, what are the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech, and how will they impact your financial world? Fintech Files takes an accessible approach to technology. We break down complex topics and have our guests explain them in a relatable "explain it to your grandma" style. In every episode, we focus on real-world stories of how financial technology operates, demystifying complex concepts and making them relatable for both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals.The Hosts of Fintech Files: Fintech Files is hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East. Our hosts specialize in IT strategy, modern tech architecture, and state-of-the-art banking. In their work, they've collaborated with some of today's most innovative Fintechs to transform their organizations; including supporting generative AI use cases. With their unique blend of tech expertise and passion, they bring you stories that capture the essence of the evolving Fintech landscape. This season, we're thrilled to introduce Bianca Lopes. Originally from Brazil and currently based in Denmark, Bianca is an entrepreneur and economist with a remarkable background in digital identity and biometrics. Throughout her career, she has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, reshaping their approach to technology, reimagining identity, and driving innovation agendas.We Want to Hear from You!Reach out to us at fintech-podcast@bcgplatinion.com with your questions, guest suggestions, or topics you'd like us to explore. Or just drop in to say hi! Visit our website at https://bcgplatinion.com/insights/podcast-fi/ and follow us on social media for updates and additional content.We’ll be back next week with a new episode of In Her Ellement with your hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG, where we’ll hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital, technology, and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this special episode, we’re taking you back to Season 2 for Suchi’s conversation with Professor Anjana Sursala, Professor of Responsible AI at Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of BusinessIn this episode, she talks about her journey to becoming one of the leaders in her field, her work advocating for more inclusive AI models, and how she successfully juggled family and work during the pandemic.Anjana’s story is truly remarkable. After suffering financial hardship, Anjana’s parents moved her family to a village in rural India, away from their home in Kakinada. She had dreams of studying in the US and eventually made them happen through talent and persistence. Anjana’s academic career has put her on the very cutting edge of AI research. She believes that one of the ways we can tackle bias in AI is to recruit more women into the creation and coding of AI.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakimovha from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Leadership puts you in the spotlight. Others will scrutinize everything you do, and you must challenge yourself to remain honest and authentic throughout. This is something that today’s guest, Emily Miner, learned by trial and error.Emily is Vice President of Partner Science and Business Operations at Starbucks Coffee Company. She started her career in the academic world as an anthropologist. However, an early career experience switched her on to the idea of large data sets being a force for great impact in the world. In Emily’s first leadership role, she struggled to find her groove. She tried to copy the management style she’d seen from her male peers and found that it didn’t work for her. Once she started leaning into her authentic voice and ways of working, she found management to be a much more rewarding experience.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

A career in technology isn’t usually associated with flexibility. But Sharon Mandell, CIO of Juniper Networks has managed to carve out an incredible career that has allowed her to also spend time with her family. But how did she do this?Sharon almost became a professional ballet dancer but switched suddenly to a degree in computer science. Her father might not have been happy, but it was the start of a career that took her across several high-profile organizations and roles. Her advice to anyone looking to work with AI is that you should never be afraid to ask questions.Even with all her talent, Sharon still felt like an imposter at times. Her advice to others in this position is to follow your passion.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Adi Zolotov began her career in astrophysics as an academic but decided to broaden her horizons by transitioning to the private sector. In her current role as managing director and partner at BCG X, Adi focuses on building AI and digital solutions that unlock value and insights in aerospace, defense, and the public sector. There have been many times in Adi’s career where she has been the only woman in the room. However, when faced with this situation now, she focuses on bringing her wealth of expertise to the table. Adi has had many influential mentors in her career, one of whom was Dr. Beth Willman, whom Adi interviewed in Season 2. She believes that it's important for mentees to give back to their mentors in any way they can. If you want to revisit Adi’s conversations from Seasons 1 and 2, you can find them below.Sita SontyDr. Beth WillmanJoin us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

We need more allies at all levels in tech. But what does allyship mean if you’re in a leadership role? Sometimes it’s about being honest and vulnerable. Bhavesh Dayalji is the CEO at Kensho Technologies, an artificial intelligence solutions provider. Bhavesh also has a second role - Chief AI Officer at S&P Global. So how does he balance all of this with his family life? Bhavesh says that it’s hard. The truth is, very few people find the right balance for them. But he’s learning and describes himself as a “husband and father” before anything else.Bhavesh started his career at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Switzerland. However, he joked with his colleagues that he was more interested in how the business owners in the city were utilizing technological solutions. This led him to management consulting and, eventually, Kensho.Bhavesh believes that a culture that encourages women to bring their authentic selves to work can help them feel comfortable and achieve their full potential. He also stresses that the route to inclusive hiring might take more time, but that diversity of thought is critical in the expanding AI space.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital technology and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this episode, we're excited to introduce our new co-host, Kamila Rakhimova, managing director, and partner at BCG. Kamila takes us on a journey from her native Tajikistan to the USA and through a career that she has mapped out on her terms. Every few years, Kamila gets the itch to try something new. Back in her home country, her proficiency in English and her qualifications in international relations made her an asset in her field. She quickly discovered that microfinance could have a significant impact on underprivileged communities. This niche brought her to the US and eventually to Amazon.At Amazon, she spearheaded the Amazon Alexa Fund, which supported founders in creating innovative businesses. For her, the most meaningful part of the program was being able to launch the careers of underrepresented founders. When Kamila first moved to the US, she followed what she thought was the playbook for success. She quickly discovered that a one-size-fits-all approach didn't work for her. Now, she listens carefully to her inner voice and does things her own way.Join us for every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Our confidence levels can change over time. They can also be influenced by "life events": the stuff that happens outside of our career that we have no control over. Despite her years of experience, today’s guest, Deanna Lanier, CSO of Icertis, doesn’t feel confident all the time.Deanna began her career in technology in sales. When she moved into a leadership role, she would often find that she was the only woman in the room. This can be an isolating experience for anyone, and Deanna acknowledges that it can create a confidence barrier for early-career women.Indeed, Deanna is active in her support for early-career women. She has said that: “Newly hired women CSOs have the opportunity and important responsibility to support and advance other women in pursuing leadership roles like the CSO title.” Icertis is a contract management company that has been leveraging AI for its clients since 2018.Join us for every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this special holiday episode, we’re taking you back to Season 2 for Corin Lines’ conversation with Dr Erin Young, Research Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute.How do you carve out a way to follow your passions in your own way? Dr. Erin Young has followed her professional interests across disciplines, and the world. As a Research Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute in the UK, Erin co-leads the Women in Data Science and AI project, examining AI and gender bias.Starting her career officially as a cabaret dancer in school, Erin went on to study classical Greek and Latin at Cambridge University. From there, she moved on to a range of organizations including The United Nations (IIEP-UNESCO) in Paris, Kantar in London, and Thomson Reuters in New York City. She has also flourished in her academic career and completed a Ph.D. in the socio-technical practices of interdisciplinary research and development projects building new technologies in 2019.The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence. The Women in Data Science and AI project seeks to help policymakers and key stakeholders take action to tackle the inherent bias present in AI. Erin is passionate about making AI more equitable and admits that she’s both “excited and terrified” at the prospects of its future.She believes strongly that the only consistency in life is change, and that, by preparing yourself, you can succeed in any career. She also rejects the idea of a ‘non-tech background’, and thinks that we’re looking at the idea of a multi-faceted, multidisciplinary skillset in the wrong way.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

What do you do when you don’t have a big-picture goal in mind? You ‘micro-optimize’ and follow your passions wherever they take you. Cat Miller has built an amazing career off the back of micro-optimizations and now works as the CTO of Flatiron Health.Cat began her technology journey at MIT. One of her modules centered around AI and how it can be used to problem-solve. Throughout her career, Cat never knew exactly what she wanted to do, but was always comfortable following her interests to see where she ended up. Eventually, this brought her to the healthcare space, and to Flatiron, where she oversees the technology that the company builds. Flatiron Health is a technology company that uses data and machine learning to help clinicians, researchers, and regulators care for cancer patients.This episode references a statistic included in the December 4th CHRO Daily Newsletter, created by Fortune: Annual performance reviews are outdated, and they’re probably hurting your company.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Sometimes we doubt ourselves, and forget to trust what our inner voice is telling us. Charlotte Degot wishes she had begun listening to hers earlier in her career, but believes the journey to this understanding takes time. Charlotte is the CEO and founder of CO2 AI, an AI platform that helps the world's largest organizations successfully manage their end-to-end net-zero journeys. She started her career at BCG and rose to the level of managing director. When she discovered the boundless application of AI, she decided to return to university to learn more about it. That's when CO2 AI was born. It was a significant risk, but she knew it was worth taking. Charlotte invites us to ask the question - “what is risk really?” How can accepting risk help us grow and expand, and what are the actual consequences of failure? Charlotte also lectures at the same institutions where she studied, providing a new generation of entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to thrive. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

If you raise your hand, what's the worst that can happen? You'll either get a yes or a no. Naba Banerjee is Airbnb’s Head of Trust and Safety, and she has made it her mission to raise her hand and put herself forward for all the opportunities she can.Naba was born and raised in India and has a father who encouraged her to apply for an engineering course as soon as she was able. Naba moved to the US after her graduation and began working for Walmart in various roles.At Airbnb, Naba is best known for her party ban algorithm. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Airbnb saw a rise in properties being booked for one-night parties, something that is prohibited in its terms and conditions. The introduction of Naba's algorithm resulted in a significant reduction in party bookings and an increase in the banning of those who continuously broke the rules.Naba has five teenage children, and she believes that AI will play a fully integrated role in their future careers.Join us for every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.Mentioned in this episode:About Fixable On the new TED podcast Fixable, Francis Frei and Anne Moriss have helped leaders at some of the world's most competitive companies solve all kinds of problems. On their show, they'll pull back the curtain and give you the type of honest, unfiltered advice they usually reserve for top executives. Maybe you have a co-worker with boundary issues or you want to know how to inspire and motivate your team. Give them a call at 234-Fixable (that's 234-349-2253) to leave Anne and Frances a voicemail with your workplace problem. They'll help you solve the problems you're stuck on. Find Fixable wherever you listen.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy