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 In...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 107
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 Navi...
Jun 19, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 106
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...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 5Ep. 105
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. ...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 5Ep. 104
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 c...
May 29, 2025•49 min•Season 5Ep. 103
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 t...
May 22, 2025•52 min•Season 5Ep. 102
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 K...
May 15, 2025•43 min•Season 5Ep. 101
What does it take to become a true DEI champion? In Episode 100 of Women Disrupting Tech , Sacha Martina and Danielle Jiskoot from House of Inclusion break it down with honesty, energy, and clear steps. 🎯 Learn the five stages of DEI maturity 🎯 Discover why allyship belongs to everyone 🎯 Hear real stories of inclusion that go beyond policy 🎧 Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube ℹ️ Learn more about House of Inclusion and connect with Sacha and Danielle via the links in the sho...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 100
Laurie Lancee, Managing Director of The Angel Initiative, joins us to explore how angel investing can drive real change in startup funding. She shares how her own fundraising experience as a female founder led her to support other women in tech. We discuss how The Angel Initiative is making early-stage investing more accessible, why representation on both sides of the table matters, and how the initiative aims to fund 25 female-led startups in 2025. Whether you’re an investor, founder, or future...
May 01, 2025•40 min•Season 4Ep. 99
In episode 98, Sara Okhuijsen and Nima Salami share how they're building OASYS NOW , a platform that makes personalized medicine more inclusive, secure and accessible. From their unexpected first meeting at a student gala to winning Slush 100 and catching the attention of Google and NVIDIA, their journey shows how tech and trust can work together in healthcare. We discuss: Why most clinical trials fail to recruit the right patients How data bias limits who benefits from new medicine What it take...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 69
What does it take to drive change in tech when the system is built to resist it? In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, host Dirkjan looks at the trends shaping the future for female founders, leaders, and changemakers in tech. You'll hear how women continue to disrupt, from boardrooms to startups, even when the tide works against them. We cover: Why the DEI backlash is part of any real power shift. Key trends that are opening new doors for inclusive innovation. How women are building their o...
Apr 17, 2025•47 min•Season 4Ep. 97
Fashion brands talk about sustainability. But how do they prove it? In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, tex.tracer founder Jolanda Kooi shares how she is using verified data to build transparent supply chains that empower real change in the fashion industry. We talk about transparency as a competitive advantage, how data cuts through greenwashing, and what it takes to raise the bar for industry standards. Jolanda also opens up about the reality of fundraising as a female founder in tech. T...
Apr 10, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 96
In Episode 95 of Women Disrupting Tech, Natasha Syed shares how she is fixing hiring for sustainability jobs by closing the talent gap. She explains the role of skills-based learning, the realities of bootstrapping a startup, and what it takes to build a green talent pipeline. As a solo founder, Natasha also opens up about the challenges of building a business from scratch and shares advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Listen now on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. And check out the show notes on the...
Apr 02, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 4Ep. 95
In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Michelle Ter Laak shares her journey into venture capital, the role of diversity in decision-making, and the evolving landscape of B2B SaaS. We explore AI, cybersecurity, and impact investing, as well as the shift from traditional VC to a founder-first approach. Michelle also highlights how female investors can shape the future of funding and why we should be proud of the progress we've made in the past few decades. Listen now to gain insights into how V...
Mar 26, 2025•49 min•Season 4Ep. 94
Esther Bisschop joins me to reveal how one cold LinkedIn message changed the trajectory of Th3rd, taking it from the brink of bankruptcy to an acquisition by Snap Inc. We dive into the realities of startup life, from managing uncertainty to adapting to industry shifts and seizing unexpected opportunities. Esther also shares her experiences scaling in Europe, the growing startup scene in India, and why venture capital needs to do more to fund mixed teams. Listen to episode 93 of Women Disrupting ...
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Season 4Ep. 93
How can we use biases to future-proof Venture Capital? Sophie Heijenberg, investor at No Such Ventures, is on a mission to rethink how funding works. She has been the only woman on a trading floor, walked into meetings where she was mistaken for the assistant, and now makes investment decisions that challenge the status quo. In this episode, we uncover:✅ Why bias in VC is not just a problem but part of the solution.✅ How smart investors look beyond the checklist to fund the best ideas.✅ The role...
Mar 12, 2025•54 min•Season 4Ep. 92
Daphne Laan started her career in tech before most people had mobile phones. She spent nine years at Google, leading global deals and driving change. Now, she is building Planetir, an AI-powered platform that connects changemakers by fostering real human connection. In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, we explore why intuition is a superpower in business, how real inclusion means making the room bigger instead of separate, and why creativity, especially art, plays a bigger role in tech than...
Mar 05, 2025•52 min•Season 4Ep. 91
Join Victoria Lawson on Women Disrupting Tech as she reveals how she is using AI to build the future of supply chains for fast-moving consumer goods. She also shares her experience as a solo founder and what she learned about fundraising and mindset. Key takeaways from this conversation:• Why outdated processes in wholesale supply chains lead to costly errors and delays• The role of AI in making supply chains faster, more accurate, and less reliant on manual input• How shifting her mindset helpe...
Feb 26, 2025•53 min•Season 4Ep. 90
Femke Cornelissen wasn’t always sure tech was the right path for her. Now, as Chief Copilot Officer, a Microsoft MVP, and the founder of Dutch Women in Tech, she helps companies navigate AI adoption while driving inclusion in cybersecurity and beyond. In this episode, Femke shares how she built her career, overcame self-doubt, and became a visible leader in tech. We learn why AI and cybersecurity need more women, how mindset shapes success, and that having a career in tech as a woman is not obvi...
Feb 19, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 89
Did you know that healthcare produces twice as much CO₂ as aviation? Most medical tools are designed for single use, creating massive waste, high costs, and supply chain risks. Dieuwertje Drexhage saw this firsthand while working in a rural hospital in Kenya. She co-founded Layco to change that, starting with reusable vacuum extractors that make childbirth safer, more affordable, and more sustainable. In this episode, we cover why most medical equipment isn’t designed for 70 percent of the world...
Feb 12, 2025•48 min•Season 4Ep. 88
In episode 87 of Women Disrupting Tech, Hanneke Takkenberg shares her journey from cardiac surgeon to DEI advocate. She reveals how gender biases in medicine affect both careers and patient outcomes. By listening, you'll discover: 💡 The hidden gender gap in medical research and treatment 🏥 How shared decision-making can improve patient care 📉 The long-term financial impact of unequal pay in academia 🤖 Why AI and data in medicine must be more inclusive So, tune in for a powerful conversation ...
Feb 05, 2025•39 min•Season 4Ep. 87
What if your gender never limited your career choices? And how do you get into tech and build a successful career without having early exposure to tech? In this episode, Sara Leggese shares how she discovered tech without any early exposure, the role of mindset in breaking barriers, and why visibility matters for women in tech. Plus, we explore the power of role models, career transitions, and what it really takes to make DEI in tech the new normal. Tune in now! If you want to be part of the Wom...
Jan 29, 2025•41 min•Season 4Ep. 86
Fixing the "supply side" of the talent market is essential to increasing diversity in tech, say Gaurav Gupta and Iris Bloemsma from the Blockverse Institute. In Episode 85 of Women Disrupting Tech , they share their playbook for driving change, including: 🔍 Unlocking the untapped potential of women returning to tech after a career break 👩💻 Combining skills training with confidence-building for lasting success 📊 Using data to tailor education to meet the needs of women and employers Tune int...
Jan 23, 2025•46 min•Season 4Ep. 85
Are biases in AI and risk models more costly than we realize? Carla Canino shares her journey building Kindlee, a company on a mission to create financial inclusion through fair and unbiased AI. Discover: How AI and machine learning influence financial inclusion Why biases in risk models cost the financial industry $443 billion annually How AI systems amplify inequities by magnifying flawed assumptions Carla’s unique perspective as an outlier in tech, an immigrant solo founder with a disability,...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 4Ep. 84
Psychotherapy hasn't improved its effectiveness in 40 years, and therapists are burning out. But what if AI could change that? In Episode 83 of Women Disrupting Tech, Diana Oganesian shares how her family's decade-long search for therapy after an earthquake inspired her to create Sestive, a platform using AI to make therapy better for everyone. Discover: 📊 Why therapy's effectiveness has stagnated. 🤖 How AI makes therapy more human. 🔒 How Sestive keeps sensitive health data safe. 🎧 Curious a...
Jan 09, 2025•54 min•Season 4Ep. 83
In Episode 82 of Women Disrupting Tech, I sit down with systemic change expert Karim El Oteify to rethink how organizations approach Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Together, we uncover why a systemic perspective is essential for lasting, meaningful change. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 🔎 The Branding Problem of DEI: How to bridge the gap between communication and real-world implementation 💡 Moving beyond the blame game: Why shifting from fault-finding to systemic solutions is...
Dec 26, 2024•58 min•Season 4Ep. 82
In episode 81 of Women Disrupting Tech, journalist, writer and LGBTQ+ advocate Pim Blom is my guest as we discover the power of storytelling to create an inclusive workplace. In this episode, Pim shares how storytelling can reshape workplace culture, why LGBTQI+ representation matters, and the surprising ways inclusivity benefits everyone. He even pushes me to examine my own biases in a powerful, reflective moment. Listen to the episode now, or use the links in the show notes to connect with Pim...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 81
How do you create a sustainable travel business in an industry often seen as unsustainable? And how do you navigate entrepreneurship when your environment doesn’t support your dream? In Episode 80 of Women Disrupting Tech, Virginia Scheele, founder of Life of Gini and MATI, shares her inspiring journey from microbiology to entrepreneurship. Learn how she turned 65 rejections into motivation, built two travel platforms redefining inclusion and impact, and why maximizing profit for good is at the ...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 80
In the Netherlands, 60% of households are financially unhealthy. And the effects of financial stress can spill over into the workplace. But how do you help your employees reduce financial stress as an employer? In the Dutch-spoken episode 79 of Women Disrupting Tech , I sit down with Astrid Bruinsma-Eggink. She's the founder of Sofie , a social fintech startup on a mission to help 100 million Europeans reduce financial stress and live more sustainably. Together, we discuss: What financial health...
Dec 05, 2024•59 min•Season 4Ep. 79
In episode 78 of Women Disrupting Tech, we're talking to Katty Hsu, a global changemaker on a mission to make entrepreneurship more inclusive. Born in Taiwan, raised in South Africa, and now shaping change in Rotterdam, Katty brings a unique perspective to the Women in Tech conversation. In this episode, you'll learn: 📊 Why good data is the backbone of driving diversity and inclusion 💬 How universities can reshape entrepreneurial education to reflect real-world diversity 🤝 Why collaboration a...
Nov 28, 2024•50 min•Season 4Ep. 78
