What does it really take to build a social impact business in tech? In this episode, I sit down with Chelsea Slater to talk about women in tech, diversity, leadership, AI, inclusion, and why “hope” might be one of the most underrated leadership skills. Chelsea shares her journey from North Wales to Liverpool’s tech scene, how she founded Innovate Her UK, and her mission to get girls ready for the tech industry. while also getting the tech industry ready for girls. Chelsea also explains how companies can partner with Innovate Her, become ambassadors, and help inspire the next generation into technology careers. If you’re interested in tech, leadership, startups, diversity & inclusion, AI, social impact, or building meaningful businesses, this episode is packed with insight. ▶︎Follow Chelsea Slater on LinkedIn and learn more about Innovate Her UK https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-slater-ab548131/ https://www.innovateher.co.uk/ ▶︎Subscribe for more conversations on Agile, product, and delivery https://www.youtube.com/ @EverydayAgile ▶︎Our Newsletter https://substack.com/@betweenthestandups ▶︎ Chapters 00:00 – Intro & meeting Chelsea Slater 00:39 – Why “hope” matters in leadership 01:37 – The book that inspired Chelsea’s thinking 02:08 – Running a social impact business is hard 03:08 – The reality of leading a small social enterprise 04:23 – Chelsea’s “folder of joy” mindset 05:42 – Chelsea’s route into tech from North Wales 06:25 – Creativity, media studies & early work ethic 07:09 – Discovering the Liverpool tech scene 08:38 – Why tech felt inaccessible growing up 09:42 – The spark behind Innovate Her 10:52 – From Liverpool Girl Geeks to Innovate Her 11:57 – “Get girls ready for tech, and tech ready for girls” 12:20 – How Innovate Her works as a social enterprise 13:19 – Teaching AI, cyber security & tech skills in schools 14:12 – Why office visits change young people’s perspectives 15:18 – The hidden tech careers inside football clubs 16:26 – Using sport, music & fashion to inspire girls into tech 17:31 – What companies are getting right about inclusion 18:10 – Why Co-op stands out on diversity & inclusion 19:15 – Monzo, Channel 4 & open-source workplace policies 20:32 – Where organisations still need to improve 21:13 – The diversity problem in AI & Silicon Valley 22:17 – Why diversity of thought creates better products 23:20 – Being the only woman in the room 24:22 – What men can do better in meetings 24:49 – The importance of facilitation & inclusion 26:44 – Why structure helps quieter voices contribute 28:07 – Why Liverpool’s tech community is special 29:34 – Creativity, culture & the Baltic Triangle 30:50 – How people can support Innovate Her 31:17 – Partnerships, ambassadors & tech education 32:24 – How to get involved with Innovate Her 33:38 – Final thoughts & outro
