Women Talk Tech Marie Wiese

On this week of Women Talk Tech, Marie Wiese is joined by Producers of the podcast Maddie Yule and El Bush for a very special episode in honour of International Women’s Day. Join the Women Talk Tech Team for an exciting discussion about the “HER-story” of the technology industry and how we can forge a more equitable industry moving forward.

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-talk-tech-podcast/

Instagram: @womentalktechpodcast

Website: Womentalktech.co

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About the Podcast 🎙
In this special edition of Women Talk Tech, host Marie Weiss, alongside guests Elbush and Maddie Yule, delve into the 'herstory' of tech, covering the significant contributions of women from the pre-1960s era to the present day. They discuss the pioneering work of figures like Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper, the challenges women faced in the tech industry from the 1960s to the 90s, and the ongoing impact of technology on women today.

Key Takeaways 💡

Ada Lovelace is recognized as the first computer programmer, highlighting the foundational role of women in tech.
Grace Hopper's contributions to programming languages set the stage for modern computing.
The Eniac girls' work on the world's first electronic computer during WWII showcased women's critical role in early tech developments.
Societal biases in the 50s, 60s, and 70s discouraged women from pursuing tech careers, falsely claiming they weren't suited for the field.
"Bro culture" in the tech industry perpetuated the idea of tech as a male-dominated field, marginalizing women.
Emily Chang's book "Brotopia" exposes flawed data and stereotypes that have historically limited women's opportunities in tech.
The use of outdated criteria in job interviews and assessments continues to perpetuate gender biases in the tech sector.
The decline in the percentage of women in tech from the 60s to 2024 is attributed to factors like lack of interest, feeling boxed out, and hostile work environments.
The problematic use of a centerfold image in the development of the JPEG algorithm symbolizes the tech industry's historical exclusion of women.
The lack of diversity in tech, exemplified by the creation of Facebook, underscores the need for an overhaul of the sector's values and practices.
AI's potential impact on women and people of color raises concerns about accountability, representation, and ethical decision-making in tech.
Promoting gender parity in tech requires encouraging young girls to consider tech careers and challenging stereotypes about who can succeed in the industry.

On this week’s episode of Women Talk Tech: Blast From The Past, Marie Wiese is joined by Vanessa Vakharia, founder and director of the Math Guru. Tune in to hear this exciting episode, originally released in 2019, where Vanessa shares her insights on the power of creativity, and how technology is transforming various industries.

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-talk-tech-podcast/

Instagram: @womentalktechpodcast

Website: Womentalktech.co

Connect with Vanessa:

Instagram: instagram.com/themathguru

Twitter: twitter.com/themathguru

The Math Therapy Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4JjVoKMMfI1Azm4262l17h?si=a7d35fd4b71548a1

To kick off our Blast From The Past Series, Marie Wiese is joined by Rani Pendse, Partner Development Manager at Microsoft Canada. Tune in to hear this exciting episode, originally released in 2019, where Rani and Marie discuss the power of perseverance, the importance of unlearning, and the transformative power of doing good for others.

Stay Connected with Women Talk Tech:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-talk-tech-podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womentalktechpodcast/

Website: https://www.womentalktech.co/

Connect with Rani: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranipendse/

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About the Podcast 🎙
In this episode of Women Talk Tech, hosts Marie Wiese and Maddie Yule reflect on the podcast's five-year journey and introduce their new series, Blast from the Past. They discuss the origins of the podcast, aimed at advancing women in the tech sector, and invite guest Rani Pendse, a partner developer manager at Microsoft, to share her diverse journey into tech and her insights on diversity and inclusion in the startup ecosystem.

Key Takeaways 💡

Marie Wiese started Women Talk Tech out of frustration with the slow progress in advancing women in the tech sector, aiming to find a more empowering approach.
Rani Pendse, with a diverse background from India, the Middle East, and Australia, shares her journey from biotech to the tech industry, highlighting the versatility of tech careers.
Pendse emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in startups, suggesting that it leads to more innovative solutions and caters to a broader customer base.
Tech companies are encouraged to examine their recruiting practices, seek talent from unusual sources, and create a safe environment for employees to express ideas.
Diversity and inclusion extend beyond gender balance to include accessibility, allyship, and collective progress, with a focus on creating a supportive environment for women and people from different cultures.
Pendse's action item for 2020 is unlearning, aiming to challenge biases and preconceived notions about career paths to create the job she wants.
The discomfort of unknowing is discussed as an important aspect of growth, emphasizing the need to be comfortable with uncertainty.

On this week's episode of Women Talk Tech, Marie Wiese is joined by Anika Howard, Chief Executive Officer of WONDR NATION. Don’t miss out on this exciting conversation about promoting safety and responsibility in online gaming, why diversity is a competitive advantage in the tech sector, and how AI can be used ethically for action!

Stay Connected with Women Talk Tech:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-talk-tech-podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womentalktechpodcast/

Website: https://www.womentalktech.co/

Connect with Anika Howard:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wondrnation

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About the Episode 🎙️
In this episode of Women Talk Tech, host Marie interviews Anika Howard, president and CEO of Wonder Nation, an online gaming and entertainment company. They discuss Anika's journey into the gaming industry, the importance of diversity and inclusion in tech, and the role of responsible gaming. Anika shares insights into combining her creative and tech skills, the impact of technology on society, and the evolution of the gaming industry towards more diversity.

Key Takeaways 💡

Anika Howard's passion for technology and games led her to become the CEO of Wonder Nation, despite initial skepticism about online gaming.
Wonder Nation, owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, aims to reimagine gaming by incorporating unique experiences and amplifying diverse voices.
The importance of education and responsible gaming is emphasized to mitigate potential negative impacts on mental health and society.
Anika acknowledges the broader impact of technology on society, including social media, and aims to address these challenges in gaming.
Diversity and inclusion are seen as competitive advantages in the gaming industry, with financial benefits from having a diverse workforce and leadership.
Efforts are being made to increase diversity in gaming conferences and include female and minority characters in video games.
Anika expresses interest in utilizing AI for data analytics and decision-making in the gaming industry, while also considering the ethical implications.
Anika encourages individuals to invest in themselves, learn, and not be intimidated when breaking into the technology space.
The evolution of the gaming industry over the past 15 years has seen a shift towards recruiting and retaining women and people of color.

On this week's episode of Women Talk Tech, Marie Wiese is joined by Liz McGlennen, Executive Director at TechFluent and the Co-Host of the Dynamics Hotdish Podcast. Tune in to hear Marie and Liz dicuss the exciting work being done at TechFluent, how to embrace discomfort, and the importance of filling your cup!

Stay Connected with Women Talk Tech:

Website: Womentalktech.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-talk-tech-podcast/?viewAsMember=true

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womentalktechpodcast/?hl=en

Connect with Liz: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-mcglennen/

TechFluent: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techfluentacademy/

The Dynamics Hotdish Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/75644826

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About the Episode 🎙️
In this episode of Women Talk Tech, host Marie Weiss interviews Liz McLean, founder of Tech Fluent, to discuss Liz's journey into the tech sector, her commitment to reducing income inequality through tech education, and the challenges and motivations of being a trailblazer in the industry. They explore Liz's background, the inception of Tech Fluent, and the importance of diversity and mentorship in tech.

Key Takeaways 💡

Liz McLean founded Tech Fluent to address income inequality by providing mentorship and training in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, despite not initially seeing herself in a tech career due to her background in fine arts and extracurricular activities.
Becoming a Microsoft MVP and co-hosting the podcast 'Hot Dish Dynamics' with Ashley Steiner, Liz has expanded her influence within the tech community.
Liz's motivation to start Tech Fluent stemmed from observing a lack of diversity in the tech industry and the challenges of finding diverse talent as a hiring manager.
Despite the challenges of starting and running a nonprofit, including managing volunteers and maintaining work-life balance, Liz remains committed to her mission of bringing more diverse voices into tech.
Liz's experience as a virtual teacher and consultant highlighted the challenges of student engagement and interaction, influencing her approach to creating more inclusive and engaging training opportunities.
The birth of Tech Fluent and the 'Hot Dish Dynamics' podcast during the pandemic showcases Liz's ability to innovate and adapt to changing circumstances.
Liz's involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement reflects her commitment to creating training opportunities for underrepresented demographics in the tech industry.
Liz aims to enroll 100 people in Tech Fluent's program and offer specialized tracks for different areas of expertise, highlighting her goals for the future and the expansion of the organization.
Being a trailblazer involves starting something new, addressing unsolved problems, embracing discomfort, and balancing personal needs with the commitment to solving a problem.
Listeners can support Tech Fluent's mission by providing job opportunities for program participants, making financial contributions for certification vouchers and equipment, and volunteering in various roles.
Liz encourages others to follow their passion and take risks, emphasizing that the worst outcome is simply returning to the starting point, which underscores the importance of trying.

On this week’s episode of Women Talk Tech, Marie Wiese is joined by Nadia Carta, Head of Data Transformation at Google and the founder of Spark Your Zeal. Tune in to hear Marie and Nadia discuss, the power of coaching and being coached, being a TedX speaker, and how to spark your zeal.

Connect with Women Talk Tech:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-talk-tech-podcast/ 

https://www.instagram.com/womentalktechpodcast/

Connect with Nadia:

https:/www.linkedin.com/in/nadiacarta/

https://www.instagram.com/nadiacarta/