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B The Way Forward is coming back with all-new episodes featuring a slate of incredible guests, taking on some of the biggest issues! Including the one that’s central to activism - can we create real change by working within the system? Or do we need to break it to fix it?
Featuring conversations about voter’s rights and political representation, whether the current state of DEI is accomplishing its goals, how we can confront the enormity of climate change, and of course AI, this season is an even more urgent call to action than our last. Join host and AnitaB.org President and CEO, Brenda Darden Wilkerson, as she and her guests engage in the kinds of discussions that can generate ideas, spur creativity and hopefully make everyone think a little more about the perspectives of people outside their bubble.
Because whether you believe that our current systems can benefit us all, or if you think real progress demands a revolution, there’s one thing that’s clear. Sitting on the sidelines is not an option. -
Welcome to B The Way Forward: Interludes - a mini series of special episodes and conversations that stand apart from our regular season, but are just too good not to share.
Dr. Rebecca Anderson, Kendall Holbrook, and Supriya Gupta. All three are leaders within the technology, business and career development spaces. They are all working on truly innovative products, research, and technological solutions to pressing problems. We could do entire episodes with each of them individually about their work - and we just might! But in this episode, recorded live at Grace Hopper Celebration 2024, we’ve invited all three to talk about an important common thread, a shared passion they all have, and that we knowI know you do too if you’re listening. How do we drive innovation while also promoting inclusivity and equity?
Because we all know that those values contribute to more innovation, better outcomes, and thriving workforces… and that isn’t just vibes, there’s data that backs that up. A study by McKinsey and Company found that Tech companies with diverse workforces are 35% more likely to outperform their non-diverse counterparts. And yet, according to another study by Deloitte, women make up only 29% of senior management positions globally and the numbers are similar for historically minoritized individuals.
So can we change that? And how do their fields - human-centric AI, STEM career development, financial technology, and leadership, create opportunities for underrepresented groups and support sustainable, purpose-driven solutions in today’s rapidly evolving industries?
Listen in and find out!
"Stop asking women and non-binary folks to conform to a male gender ideal of leadership. And yet when then we conform to those male ideals, we are punished for acting in ways that are incongruent with our female presenting stereotypes. We're asked to be strong, confident, decisive, but if we do, then we're looked at as aggressive, leading beyond our competence, insensitive. This double bind of having to be both confident and decisive and yet warm and friendly is something we need to get rid of. And I think a lot of that does come from stepping into our acceptance and being really transparent with it." -- Dr. Rebecca Anderson
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
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Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Hosted and Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson.
Produced by Avi Glijansky
Associate Produced by Kelli Kyle
Sound design and editing by Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Additional Producing help from Faith Krogulecki
Operations Coordination for AnitaB.org by Quinton Sprull.
Creative Director for AnitaB.org is Deandra Coleman
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Frequency Machine
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell with Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
Fehlende Folgen?
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Welcome to B The Way Forward: Interludes - a mini series of special episodes and conversations that stand apart from our regular season, but are just too good not to share.
These days, the headlines can sometimes mostly focus on the challenges in tech - issues like AI ethics and data breaches. But in this special conversation, taped live at Grace Hopper Celebration 2024, Brenda wanted to shift gears!
Because Grace Hopper Celebration is about the belief that when used by the right people, for the right reasons, technology can be one of the greatest forces for good in the world. And that’s what this conversation is all about - the ways in which some of the best minds in tech are innovating, creating groundbreaking platforms and tech to address the most critical social issues of our time.
In this episode, Brenda brings together three friends of the pod - Jimmy Chen (Propel), Dr. Fallon Wilson (VP, Tech Policy, Multicultural Media and Telecom Internet Council), and Devshi Mehrotra (CEO, JusticeText) - to talk about how to leverage technology for good and how you do that ethically, while balancing purpose and profit. And most importantly, to highlight real-world examples of how these solutions make a real difference.
"I think we give for-profit businesses too much of a break and let them off easy and say 'it's just about making money' as opposed to caring about what impact they create on the world. And so if you work at a for-profit, if you are starting a for-profit, if you think about for-profits, hold them accountable to think about what is the impact that they create on the world, not just how much money do they make." -- Jimmy Chen
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Hosted and Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson.
Produced by Avi Glijansky
Associate Produced by Kelli Kyle
Sound design and editing by Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Additional Producing help from Faith Krogulecki
Operations Coordination for AnitaB.org by Quinton Sprull.
Creative Director for AnitaB.org is Deandra Coleman
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Frequency Machine
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell with Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
Welcome to B The Way Forward: Interludes - a mini series of special episodes and conversations that stand apart from our regular season, but are just too good not to share.
Last night was election night in America, and as we publish this episode today (November 6th, 2024) we can say that it was historic - but not because the US elected its first female president. Once again, the highest glass ceiling was cracked but not shattered.
Kamala Harris wasn’t the only woman on the ballot this election. According to the Center for American Women and Politics, 289 women ran for the House, Senate, and Governorships and hundreds more ran in state and city elections. And yet, CAWP’s analysis shows that women made up only about 27% of candidates this cycle. That’s actually down 2% from 2020.
How can our government represent us all when 51% of the population isn't equally represented in public office? And in our current era of intense polarization and heated political rhetoric, how do you even convince women that running for office is worth it?
On this episode of B The Way Forward, Brenda sits down with She Should Run Founder and CEO Erin Loos Cutraro to unpack those questions. They talk about the forces stacked against women who might otherwise run, how they can be overcome, and how to respond to the bad faith arguments leveled at attempts to diversify public office.
“I couldn't get over the fact that the research, and it's still true today, shows that when women run for office, they win at the same rate as men. And I couldn't stand the fact of knowing there were so many women who weren't even in this space to consider their own leadership and that we just needed some kind of effort that would speak to them.”
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Hosted and Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson.
Produced by Avi Glijansky
Associate Produced by Kelli Kyle
Sound design and editing by Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Additional Producing help from Faith Krogulecki
Operations Coordination for AnitaB.org by Quinton Sprull.
Creative Director for AnitaB.org is Deandra Coleman
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Frequency Machine
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell with Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
The B The Way Forward team is hard at work on Season 2, premiering in December 2024. But you won't have to wait until then for more of the the honest, insightful, and inspiring conversations you’ve come to expect from this feed.
Introducing B The Way Forward: Interludes - special episodes and conversations that stand apart from our regular season, but are just too good not to share.
First up, two interludes focused on ways that our democracy is working at a time when many of us are scared it's on the verge of becoming irreversibly dysfunctional.
The first is a special conversation - taped live at Grace Hopper Celebration 2024 - with the United State’s Chief Information Officer of the White House, Clare Martorana and the Senior Advisor to the Chief Information Officer, Noreen Hecmanczuk [Heck-min-zek]. Clare and Noreen share how the OFCIO is using technology to transform the way we interact with our government, and make it easier for citizens to participate.
Then, a conversation with Erin Loos Cutraro the founder and CEO of She Should Run, a national non-partisan organization working to drastically increase the number of women considering a run for office.
And this first min-series of Interludes wraps up with two more episodes taped live at GHC24. Both focuson how we can create innovation that makes the world a more equitable place - and despite what some folks may say - do it while also creating successful businesses.
So if you haven’t already, follow B The Way Forward wherever you listen, or watch video versions of these episodes at anitab.org/podcast. -
Welcome to B The Way Forward: Interludes - a mini series of special episodes and conversations that stand apart from our regular season, but are just too good not to share.
A lot of things probably spring to mind when you hear the words “Federal Government.” “Innovation, understanding, adoption, and regulation of new technology” is likely not one of them. More likely, citizen-facing government technology brings to mind websites that feel outdated - like something still stuck in the era of dial up.
But in this special episode of B The Way Forward, recorded live at Grace Hopper Celebration 2024, Brenda speaks to two incredible leaders working to change that - Clare Martorana, the President’s Federal Chief Information Officer and Noreen Hecmanczuk, the Senior Advisor to the Federal Chief Information Officer. Together with the rest of the staff of the OFCIO, Clare and Noreen are doing so much more than merely pushing for the adoption of new technology. They’re working to save taxpayer dollars, make sure that it’s easier for all of us to interact with our government, and streamline citizen participation.
In this conversation, Clare and Noreen talk about the challenges and opportunities of driving digital transformation in government, from navigating complex agency processes to ensuring AI governance. Plus, how they harness talent - maybe even talent like you - to deliver more efficient, secure, and user-friendly government services.
“We have federal employees doing extraordinary things. We not only need to meet our federal employees and make it easier for them to do their jobs, but we also owe it to the American public for us to be able to use the incredible technology - that we've mostly invented in America - to benefit the public. Like that is the most simple thing. So to me, digital transformation is just inherently American. And it is something that we can continue to advance and streamline. But what it takes, is people like you joining.”
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
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Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Hosted and Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson.
Produced by Avi Glijansky
Associate Produced by Kelli Kyle
Sound design and editing by Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Additional Producing help from Faith Krogulecki
Operations Coordination for AnitaB.org by Quinton Sprull.
Creative Director for AnitaB.org is Deandra Coleman
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Frequency Machine
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell with Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
On this episode of “B The Way Forward,” host Brenda Darden Wilkerson is joined by AI and digital technology expert, Suchi Srinivasan. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Suchi is extremely sought after for her expertise and knowledge and is currently managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group. Suchi sits at the helm of the artificial intelligence space where she is passionate about using technology to solve some of the world’s most complex problems. Suchi tells Brenda about her personal career journey and how her own engineer father inspired the path she’s on today. Together, they chat through their tech industry experiences and why we need more representation in the building of AI technology.
Suchi gives listeners critical advice for familiarizing yourself with new AI technology and how she keeps an optimistic view for the future of emerging technologies. Brenda and Suchi also reminisce on their shared experiences as podcast hosts and the importance of sharing these stories. You can find Suchi co-hosting Boston Consulting Group’s “In Her Ellement” Podcast, showcasing women at the vanguard of business, digital, and technology.
“Tech has to make our human existence better. It's not the other way around. And it's really important for us to remember that and bring that perspective into whatever our job is. Whether we're a designer, whether we're a software engineer, whether we're a business decision maker, it doesn't matter. But it's all in service of humanity.”
For more, check out Sushi and Boston Consulting Group...
On LinkedIn - /boston-consulting-group & /bcg-X
On X - @BCG & @bcgx_
On Instagram - @bcg & @bcgx_
On Facebook - /BostonConsultingGroup
And listen to Suchi's podcast, In Her Ellement
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
---
Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
On this episode of “B The Way Forward,” host Brenda Darden Wilkerson talks with multi-tasker extraordinaire Trishala Pillai. Outside of Trishala’s day job as senior product manager of supply chain innovation and automation at Walmart, she also serves as a board member at AnitaB.org and a producer at the media company she founded called Jugaad Community. Together, Brenda and Trishala talk through how to bring creativity to your career and how to find new opportunities in emerging technologies. Their conversation is sure to get your creative juices flowing and Trishala offers helpful advice for anyone looking toward the next chapter of their career.
“A lot of the time, it's not that you don't have the skills to be impactful in a new role, it's that you don't know the story to tell around your experiences and your career so far. So, when I speak with folks who reach out to me for conversations, the second thing I tell them after orienting themselves and understanding what the landscape looks like is: connect the dots in your own experience, and not just your professional experiences, but also your personal experiences.”
For more, check out Trishala and her work...
On LinkedIn - /trishalapillai
On Instagram - @_trishalapillai
One YouTube -@_trishalapillai/videos
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
Devshi Mehrotra and Leslie Jones-Dove join host Brenda Darden Wilkerson on this inspiring episode of “B The Way Forward.” Devshi and Leslie are the CEO and CTO, respectively, and co-founders of JusticeText, an MIT and Google-backed startup that is building technology to better improve the criminal justice system. They talk Brenda through the mission of their company – to hold law enforcement accountable and ensure that low-income criminal defendants get their chance at an equal and fair trial. JusticeText started as a college capstone project and has now grown into a successful California-based startup.
Devshi and Leslie explain how their program takes media files and evidence and creates transcriptions that help public defenders analyze data before trials. They share personal and emotional stories with Brenda about the positive impact that JusticeText has had on public defenders, their clients and families. Plus, they share business insights into how they started their company and what it’s been like to fundraise, work with investors, and build their brand. Devshi and Leslie’s passions to improve the criminal justice system shine through this episode and you will leave the conversation feeling motivated to pursue dreams that can make the world a better place.
“I think there's no excuse in this day and age for our government systems to be relying on such inadequate technology systems. So, I think there's a lot for us to be wary of when it comes to facial recognition, gang databases, things like that, but I think we should also just focus on: how do we build tools for the people who are advocating for everyday people?”
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
Host Brenda Darden Wilkerson is joined by speaker, author, founder, and DEI advocate, Yai Vargas, in this episode of “B the Way Forward.” Yai’s big belief that “women are the heart and soul of an organization” rings true in everything she does and stands for. Yai tells Brenda about her personal journey as a woman from the Dominican Republic who immigrated to the United States at an early age and realized quickly how important it was to connect with her Latin roots. After landing what she thought was her dream job, Yai opens up about her disappointment when noticing the gap of diversity in her workplace. She tells Brenda that executive roles need to be more representative of the US population – only about 5% of corporate board positions are held by Hispanics.
This experience led Yai to make a professional career change, pivot entirely to the world of DEI, and build “The Latinista,” a national network for professional Latinas and women of color invested in skills development and career mobility. Yai is known as the “LinkedIn Networking Ninja” and together, Yai and Brenda discuss the importance of community and how to use your own network to bring people together.
“We all start from somewhere. And even though some corporations have been around for 150 years, it's our journey of figuring out how our business is evolving with the inclusion of what demographic is going to work with us, in our community.”
For more, check out Yai and the Latanista ...
On LinkedIn - /yaivargas
On the Web - www.TheLatinista.com | www.YaiVargas.com
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
On this episode of “B The Way Forward,” host Brenda Darden Wilkerson has a powerful conversation with Susie Jaramillo, an Emmy nominated director, artist, storyteller and entrepreneur who uses the power of media to introduce diverse cultures to children. Influenced by her Venezuelan roots, Susie noticed a lack of inclusive representation in storytelling for her two young kids. According to the US Census, Gen Alpha will be the most diverse generation in history, yet they remain severely underrepresented in the media.
Susie hopes to change that as the Co-founder and CEO of Encantos, a children’s entertainment company that tells purpose-driven stories inspired by cultures all over the world. Encantos features books, puzzles and games, and an app called Canticos, which allows children to learn both English and Spanish through vibrant storytelling and songs. As the first Latina CEO of a children’s entertainment company, Susie shares how storytelling can inspire, teach and help us understand other cultures. Through her work, Susie is encouraged to unite families through culture, and draw together communities.
“It's so rich. It's so fun. It's the spice of life. And so, I kind of have made it my mission to really just showcase how gorgeous all the different aspects of our culture are and to use that in media, and in children's media.”
For more, check out Susie and her work on...
Instagram - @sujaramillo & @canticosworld
X - @sujaramillo & @canticosworld
TikTok - @sujaramillo & @canticosworld
LinkedIn - /susanjaramillo
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
On this episode of “B The Way Forward,” you’ll receive a master class in soft power strategies with Forbes Columnist and leadership expert, Penny Abeywardena. Penny introduces us to her new company, Soft Power Strategies, and tells host Brenda Darden Wilkerson why the use of soft power is beneficial on a variety of issues. As the former Commissioner for International Affairs of the city of New York, Penny talks about her experiences leading the agency and what it was like to serve the largest diplomatic corps in the world. Penny’s successful career spans across philanthropy, non-profit, government, and more. She and Brenda talk about their personal journeys facing up against certain power dynamics and Penny offers advice on how to strategize and combat those situations. In this episode, you’ll learn how to identify strategies of influence and persuasion when there is little or no perceived power. Plus, Brenda and Penny discuss the importance of registering to vote and how you can prepare to vote meaningfully in this election year.
“These are conversations we need to have with our friends, with our religious community, with whoever you feel you can talk to. But do not think that there's nothing you can do. There is a way to activate and it's up to us to help you get there. And I hope you keep these channels of information open so that you can see and align yourself with how you want to be the change you want to see.”
For more, check out Penny and her work on...
X - @PAbeywardena
Instagram - @pabeywardena
LinkedIn - /pennyabeywardena
On the Web - pennyabeywardena.com | softpowerstrategies.com
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
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Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
On this episode of “B The Way Forward,” Host Brenda Darden Wilkerson is joined by Beena Ammanath, an executive, author, advocate, AnitaB.org board member, and nonprofit founder, who aims to increase awareness on the use, risks, and benefits of artificial intelligence, all while promoting diversity in this niche tech space. Beena is the Executive Director at the Deloitte Global AI Institute, where she helps companies and businesses learn how to leverage AI in the most practical and safe ways possible. Through this conversation, Beena offers listeners insight on how to utilize AI in every aspect of business and in our own personal career paths. As a computer scientist by trade, there was nothing in Beena’s education or curriculum about ethics in the AI space, which led her into forging her own unique path to incorporate them into her career.
Beena penned Trustworthy AI, a book that bridges the gap for readers on ethics and AI, and Zero Latency Leadership, which looks at other new emerging technologies that are on the horizon. Through all of this work, she also became an advocate for women and minorities in the AI realm, knowing that in order for AI to be successful, it needs to have diverse voices at the table. Brenda and Beena discuss how more people can become “AI Fluent”, why diversity in technology is crucial, and how to raise your voice to make the best use of these technologies.
“Diversity has so many different angles. It's the culture, the experience, the education, age, the geographic location you come from. There are so many nuances to diversity, and for your AI products to be robust, you have to factor in. Start with the largest demographic, but try to bring in as much diversity to your AI teams as you can, because it's only going to make your product better and make more profit.”
For more, check out Been and Delloitte...
On LinkedIn - /bammanath | /delloitte
On the Web - https://beenammanath.com/ | Deloitte AI Institute - AI Insights
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
In this episode of “B The Way Forward,” host Brenda Darden Wilkerson is joined by Girls Who Code CEO, Tarika Barrett. Tarika took over the helm at Girls Who Code in 2021 and has been the driving force behind the nonprofit that aims to close the gender gap in technology careers by inspiring, educating and equipping students with computing skills to take on 21st century opportunities. Since Girls Who Code was launched in 2012, they have reached over 600,000 young people with their educational programming - and Tarika is continuing to expand that reach.
A proud daughter of Jamaican immigrants, Tarika’s mother instilled values of equality and positive change in her life. Since then, Tarika’s career has been dedicated to addressing education inequities, in terms of race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Brenda and Tarika discuss the importance of diversity in the tech space and why giving equal representation inspires the next generation to see themselves in the tech industry, too. With women comprising only roughly 25 percent of computing roles, and Black and Latinx women just a little over 5 percent of that, Tarika and Girls Who Code are working to change those statistics.
“When we see our women, our girls, our people of color seek out tech jobs, they become the creators and the change makers. They can advocate for the kinds of tech that keeps our needs and our safety and our interests top of mind.”
For more, check out Tarika and her work...
On LinkedIn - /tarikabarrett & /girlswhocode
On X - @DrTarikaBarrett & @GirlsWhoCode
On Instagram - @GirlsWhoCode
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
In this episode of “B The Way Forward,” host Brenda Darden Wilkerson speaks with Chelsey Glasson about pregnancy discrimination in the workplace and why your voice matters. Chelsey, author of, “Black Box: A Pregnancy Discrimination Memoir,” gives us an inside look at how companies may perpetuate harassment in the workplace, and offers tools and resources to navigate these scenarios.
In this conversation, Chelsey explains the pregnancy discrimination that she faced at a large tech company and shares advice for people who may find themselves in similar situations. Now, Chelsey is on her healing journey and shares how her experience led her to become a writer, advocate and future attorney. Together, Brenda and Chelsey hope that sharing more of these stories will inspire others to speak out against these types of injustices.
“You have to do what's right for you in terms of healing. And it's okay to prioritize that. And for me, the right thing is to transition away from tech. But, because I went through this journey, because I'm a researcher and I love being in the space of innovation, I realize all of these opportunities within the legal system to better support people who have experienced workplace misconduct.”
For more, check out Chelsey and her work...
On LinkedIn - /chelsey-glasson
Watch the Book Trailer for her memoir, Black Box, and find out more at blackboxthebook.com
Read Chelsey's most recent Op-Ed on Pregnancy Discrimination at Fast Company.
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
On this episode of “B The Way Forward,” host Brenda Darden Wilkerson is joined by Linda Kamau, Founder & Executive Director of AkiraChix, a Kenya-based company dedicated to providing training, mentorship and outreach programs to increase the number of skilled women in technology. As a champion for women in tech, Linda hopes to bring more women to the center of the growing technology ecosystem in African communities and beyond. When women come together to participate in AkiraChix programs like CodeHive and CodeHiveX, they not only learn more STEM skills, but they also create a sisterhood and strong community. Linda tells Brenda that so far, AkiraChix has graduated 485 young women and 80% of them are employed and earning money. They also discuss the development of soft skills, barriers that women continue to face in Africa and why having hands-on experience is so important. Linda challenges more companies to focus on inclusion and invest in the talented pool of women in tech. This conversation will leave you feeling inspired and optimistic by the work Linda is doing across the world.
“There's still some parts, even in our country, that don't advocate for girls' education. And so, pushing back on that and being able to show them that when you educate a young woman, our whole society changes. And so being able to do that really, really means that we can get more young women in tech.”
For more, check out Linda and AkiraChix on...
X - @lkamau | @akirachix
Instagram - @lkamau | @akirachix
Facebook - /AkiraChix
LinkedIn - /linda-kamau-a5288125 | /akirachix
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Carolyn Schneller and Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
On this episode of “B The Way Forward,” host Brenda Darden Wilkerson is joined by Mariana Carvalho, a computer scientist, author, career mentor, DEI advocate and so much more. Mariana is a great example of the success that comes from networking and finding community for women in tech – She’s a Grace Hopper Celebration Scholar, a Systers Pass it On Award winner, an AnitaB.org scholarship reviewer and mentor. She’s used her successful experiences to empower other women through sisterhood, self advocacy, and her career mentorship programs.
As the Co-Founder of Brazilians in Tech, Mariana tells Brenda about her career journey into technology and how she found her footing in the corporate world. Brenda and Mariana also do a mini career mentor session, where listeners can gain insight on how best to approach the job market, network, interview, and more. Mariana, who was named the Mentor of the Year in 2023 by the WomenTech Network, is also an author and the Editor in Chief of Women in Technology Publication. Together, Brenda and Mariana share how their personal passions drive their careers and offer advice for listeners who might be looking to make an impactful change.
“You feel that you are alone, but when you close your laptop, just know that you have your community behind you. They are going to be there for you. You might feel that you are alone, but you are not. You need to remember that every single day.”
For more of Mariana and her work check out...
LinkedIn - /mari
Instagram: @hellomariworld
X - @hellomariworld
Threads - @hellomariworld
On the Web - hellomariworld.com
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Carolyn Schneller and Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
On this episode of “B The Way Forward,” host Brenda Darden Wilkerson sits down with career coach and DEI professional, Aaron Fung, to talk about balancing your personal passions with your career goals. Aaron’s career coaching business, CoachingAF, helps people find a career path that actually resonates with them. As someone who moved around jobs and industries in the past, Aaron hopes to help others feeling the same way he did – stuck or lost – to find their true passions.
Brenda and Aaron open up about the valuable information they’ve both gleaned from trying work in different spaces that didn’t suit their personal goals. Plus, Aaron shares some of his career coaching advice like the powerful questions he asks to get his clients thinking more deeply: “How did you get into your first job?” “What do you really want from work?” Aaron, who once thought he’d be working in financial planning forever, also talks about his latest role at startup company, Crew, where he focuses on coaching operations and business development. Brenda and Aaron also discuss how personal family experience impacts what they do in the workplace. Aaron was previously a diversity and inclusion manager at Pinterest, and he’s passionate about bringing inclusivity into all the new work that he does.
“If you can have some perspective to help people who are in a different identity segment, you are establishing your character as recognizing that there are differences in the ways people are perceived. And, we should do better to open the doors wider. So that more underrepresented founders can have that chance to get funded because their idea really could be world changing.”
For more, check out Aaron...
On LinkedIn - /aaronlfung, /coachingaf and /inclusionaf
On Instagram - @goseetheworldfung/
On the Web - coachingaf.com and aaronfung.me
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Carolyn Schneller and Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
On today’s episode of “B The Way Forward” we’re busting some common menopause myths with Dr. Mary Claire Haver. Host Brenda Darden Wilkerson sits down with Dr. Haver who not only is a board-certified OB/GYN, physician, and entrepreneur but she’s also amassed over 3 million followers on her social media platforms. Dr. Haver uses her voice as a resource for women to better understand both perimenopause and menopause symptoms and solutions for improved health. She’s also founder of the “Pause Life,” a comprehensive approach to menopause education and founder of “The Galveston Diet,” a nutrition program for women in menopause.
Brenda and Dr. Haver talk about the shocking misconceptions and cliche symptoms – hot flashes, weight gain – that don’t always complete the big picture for every woman. Their conversation hopes to bring attention to and normalize conversations around women's health. Plus, Dr. Haver opens up about all the wrong information she was once taught and why that inspired her to become a resource for women everywhere. Dr. Haver’s second book, “The New Menopause,” is out now.
“I'd go digging, digging, digging in the research and find, oh my gosh, there is a connection here and no one's talking about it. So, I start talking about it just so I can educate others so we stop being gaslit and feel so crazy with no explanation of how we went from healthy to suffering with no answers.”
Find more of Dr. Haver and her work...
On TikTok - @drmaryclaire
On Instagram - @drmaryclaire & @the.galveston.diet
On Facebook - /drmaryclaire
On YouTube - /@maryclairehavermd8473
On LinkedIn - /the-pause-life
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Carolyn Schneller and Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org -
On this episode of “B The Way Forward,” host Brenda Darden Wilkerson and guest Jhillika Kumar discuss her passion to empower the neurodivergent community. Jhillika’s list of accolades started at a young age including the AnitaB.org Student of Vision Award, her inspiring Ted Talk and Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition. Jhillka is the CEO and founder of Mentra, an employment network committed to matching neurodivergent individuals with employers. From a young age, Jhillika was inspired to build an inclusive world and place for her non-speaking, autistic brother to thrive. Now, she’s offering advice and guidance to communities of students and neurodivergent individuals and helping them find opportunities in the workforce. Jhillika’s company has found great success so far with around 44,000 neurodivergent job seekers on their platform today and an investment from OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman. Jhillika and Brenda discuss why it’s important for hiring managers to understand intersectionality and learn how people can have differences ranging from life experiences, cultures, gender identities, and more. Plus, Jhillika offers her advice for other young entrepreneurs looking to make a change in the world.
“Our company serves as Mentors to both job seekers, because we empower them through the journey to find a job, to navigate interviews and all the executive functioning involved in that complicated process, to mentoring the recruiters on how do you communicate with someone who's neurodivergent and thinks differently? How do you evaluate talent? How do you overcome the bias that you might have because someone behaves a certain different way or speaks differently?”
For more of Jhillika and her work check out:
LinkedIn - /jhillika
Instagram - @jhillika
X - @Jhillika
Facebook - /jhillika
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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson
Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine
Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Carolyn Schneller and Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org - Mehr anzeigen
