Women Disrupting Tech

Dirkjan Hupkes
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Women Disrupting Tech

In Women Disrupting Tech, host Dirkjan Hupkes gives the mic to women building bold tech companies. Each week, a founder shares how she tackles big challenges like climate, healthcare and inequality, and what it takes to lead. Their stories spark ideas, open doors, and show what’s possible when more women lead in tech. Whether you’re a founder, future entrepreneur, or someone who wants to see more women at the table, this show is for you. New episodes drop weekly on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. Subscribe now and join the growing force of women disrupting tech.

  1. How Umaversity Helps Women Reclaim Power, Pleasure and Health with Jo Sarah | Episode 108

    4D AGO

    How Umaversity Helps Women Reclaim Power, Pleasure and Health with Jo Sarah | Episode 108

    In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Jo Sarah, founder of Umaversity, shares how her platform is breaking taboos around women’s sexual and mental health. 🚨This episode contains open conversations about women’s sexual health and trauma. Listener discretion advised. We talk about: 03:55 Introduction to Jo Sarah and Her Mission 05:22 Understanding Women's Sexual Health and Education 08:00 Impact of Ignorance on Women's Lives 10:56 The Business Case for Women's Well-being 13:23 Breaking Taboos and Myths in Women's Health 16:08 The Importance of Education in Schools 20:31 Umaversity's Role in Empowering Women 22:19 Creating Safe Spaces for Discussion 25:19 Inclusivity in Women's Health Education 28:18 Addressing Sexual Trauma and Vulnerability 30:36 The Role of Self-Compassion in Leadership 34:10 The Importance of Self-Compassion in Leadership 35:34 Navigating Women's Health: A New Frontier 37:20 Empowering Female Founders Through Vulnerability 40:08 The Power of Curiosity in Leadership 41:27 Five Ways of Knowledge Exchange at Umaversity 44:34 Vetting Experts and Partnerships for Women's Health 47:55 Integrating Traditional and Modern Approaches to Women's Health 52:20 The Role of Allies in Women's Health Advocacy 56:02 Future Aspirations for Umaversity 59:38 Ensuring Unbiased AI in Women's Health Solutions 🎙 Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and Amazon. 🔗 Connect with Jo Sarah and Umaversity via the link in the show notes 👉 Please subscribe for more episodes.

    58 min
  2. How Corporate Volunteering Unlocks Leadership and Inclusion with Karlijn L'Ortye | Episode 107

    SEASON 5, EPISODE 107 TRAILER

    How Corporate Volunteering Unlocks Leadership and Inclusion with Karlijn L'Ortye | Episode 107

    Is there a business case for corporate volunteering? In episode 107 of Women Disrupting Tech, we explore how giving back can drive real business value. 🎙️ Meet Karlijn L’Ortye, serial entrepreneur, leadership coach, and founder of MO The Movement. She started her first company at 22 and has spent the last 15+ years coaching executive teams and building purpose-driven ventures. Now, she’s on a mission to revolutionize employee volunteering using AI and inclusive design. We talk about: 02:45 Introduction to Karlijn L'Ortye's Journey 06:42 Understanding Bankruptcy and Risk Management 09:44 Reflective Practices in Entrepreneurship 12:49 The Birth of MO the Movement 14:39 The Impact of Corporate Volunteering 17:49 Engaging Gen Z in Corporate Social Responsibility 20:49 Facilitating Effective Volunteering in Companies 23:55 Maturity Model for Corporate Volunteering 26:43 AI in Matching Corporate Volunteers with NGOs 29:38 Leveraging SDGs in Corporate Volunteering 33:41 The Importance of Privacy and Inclusivity in Volunteering 37:52 Matching Skills with Volunteer Opportunities 41:34 The Impact of Volunteering on Empathy and Workplace Culture 47:35 Navigating Corporate Philanthropy in Challenging Times 52:44 The Role of Supervisory Boards in Promoting Inclusion 58:41 Advocating for Women in Leadership 1:02:39 The Future of AI in Inclusive Practices Karlijn believes corporate volunteering isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a strategic tool that strengthens culture, reduces attrition, and even creates new business opportunities. ▶️ Ready to learn how corporate volunteering unlocks leadership and inclusion? Hit play and get inspired. 🔗 Find more information about the episode, Karlijn and MO the Movement on the blog.

    1h 1m
  3. Decoding Human Behavior in the Workplace with Kirsten Heukels | Episode 106

    JUN 19

    Decoding Human Behavior in the Workplace with Kirsten Heukels | Episode 106

    In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, complex communications expert Kirsten Heukels shares what she has learned from 25+ years of guiding people through complex communication, power dynamics, and team breakdowns. If you're building or backing a startup, this episode will help you decode human behavior in the workplace with more clarity, confidence, and connection. We talk about: 02:45 The Journey to Communication Expertise 05:02 Understanding the Complexity of Human Communication 10:03 Navigating Information Overload 14:33 The Role of Confidential Counseling in Society 18:00 Cultural Shifts and the Impact of the BOS Broadcast 22:13 Building a Culture of Trust and Reporting 27:52 The Importance of Policies vs. Human Connection 31:21 Generational Dynamics in the Workplace 32:28 Navigating Generational Differences in Leadership 40:20 The Impact of Hierarchy on Workplace Dynamics 49:17 Lessons from the World of Sports 52:30 Fostering Inclusivity in Society 58:07 Collective Responsibility for Change 🔗 You can connect with Kirsten via the links on the blog. 🙋🏻‍♀️ You can ask questions and leave comments with your observations. I do read all of them. 🙏🏻 Follow Women Disrupting Tech on Substack for episode insights.

    51 min
  4. Building Inclusion Into Capitalism with James Felton Keith | Episode 105

    JUN 12

    Building Inclusion Into Capitalism with James Felton Keith | Episode 105

    In episode 105 of Women Disrupting Tech, James Felton Keith, economist and founder of Inclusion Score, shares how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are reshaping corporate responsibility, insurance, and the future of finance. We talk about: 🔹 How the ISO 30415 standard helps companies audit and improve workplace culture 🔹 Why the rising cost of social inflation is driving up insurance premiums 🔹 How inclusive systems are becoming lower-risk — and more investable For more information on James Felton Keith, Inclusion Score and the ISO 30415 standard, check out the show notes: https://womendisruptingtech.blog/ep105 You can follow James via @InclusionScore on all social platforms. Subscribe for new episodes every week.

    1h 14m
  5. Mastering the Art of Authentic Leadership with Farshida Zafar | Episode 104

    JUN 5

    Mastering the Art of Authentic Leadership with Farshida Zafar | Episode 104

    Farshida Zafar shares how embracing her authentic self, sneakers, roots, and all, shaped her leadership journey and built a radically inclusive team culture at Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship. In episode 104 of Women Disrupting Tech, we explore: 1️⃣ How to succeed in leadership without losing yourself 2️⃣ Why inclusion is more than hiring for diversity 3️⃣ The challenges women in tech face when choosing authenticity over assimilation 4️⃣ Why swearing is a sign of intelligence and belonging. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or Amazon. ℹ️ For more information about Farshida and her work at Erasmus Center for Entrepreneurship, check out the show notes on the blog. 🗞️ Want early access to new episodes? Subscribe to my ⁠Substack⁠.

    1h 15m
  6. How Flouria Health is Healing Women and Shaping Workplaces with Anna Christie | Episode 103

    MAY 29

    How Flouria Health is Healing Women and Shaping Workplaces with Anna Christie | Episode 103

    Can personal pain lead to a platform that changes women’s health at scale? In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Anna Christie shares how her fertility journey and burnout led her to co-found Flouria Health — a FemTech platform reimagining women’s healthcare with empathy, innovation, and medically vetted information. We explore: Why women’s health is still seen as a niche How fertility, burnout, and workplace bias intersect in ways we don’t talk about What it really takes to find the right co-founders And why male allies are essential to creating systems that serve all of us This is a conversation about how we build better systems and who gets included in that process. 🎧 Listen to episode 103 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and Amazon. 📩 For more on Anna Christie and Flouria Health, check the show notes. 🗞️ Want early access to new episodes? Subscribe to my Substack.

    49 min
  7. How RVO Funds Inclusive Innovation with Merel Zimmerman & Bibi van Gijzel | Episode 102

    MAY 22

    How RVO Funds Inclusive Innovation with Merel Zimmerman & Bibi van Gijzel | Episode 102

    How can public funding drive inclusive innovation? In this episode, Merel Zimmerman and Bibi van Gijzel from RVO share how the Dutch government supports diverse, early-stage startups through Innovation Credit, Seed Capital, and a bold commitment to inclusion. They talk about the power of visibility, the value of non-technical perspectives, and how they build diversity into the funding decisions. Tune in to hear how RVO funds inclusive innovation and find links to connect with Merel and Bibi in the show notes on the blog. 🗞️ Want early access to new episodes? Subscribe to my ⁠Substack⁠.

    52 min
  8. How to Use Cultural Intelligence as a Leadership Superpower with Gwen Kolader | Episode 101

    MAY 15

    How to Use Cultural Intelligence as a Leadership Superpower with Gwen Kolader | Episode 101

    In this episode, Gwen Kolader joins me to explore how to use Cultural Intelligence as a leadership superpower. We discuss how understanding cultural differences, challenging bias, and building true inclusion can transform teams. From powerful lessons with the Maasai in Kenya to strategies that work inside global organizations, this conversation is a must for leaders ready to connect, grow, and lead with impact. Listen on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or Amazon. Check the show notes for more on Gwen Kolader and how to connect with her. And follow me on Substack for more Women Disrupting Tech.

    43 min
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About

In Women Disrupting Tech, host Dirkjan Hupkes gives the mic to women building bold tech companies. Each week, a founder shares how she tackles big challenges like climate, healthcare and inequality, and what it takes to lead. Their stories spark ideas, open doors, and show what’s possible when more women lead in tech. Whether you’re a founder, future entrepreneur, or someone who wants to see more women at the table, this show is for you. New episodes drop weekly on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. Subscribe now and join the growing force of women disrupting tech.

Information

  • Creator
    Dirkjan Hupkes
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dirkjan Hupkes
  • Show Website
    Women Disrupting Tech

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