Lost in Tech

You've heard her navigating big tech, but now Mamuna is building her own AI startup! She takes us through the deeply personal journey of leaving her corporate role to become a founder and shares the highly technical, unique strategy she is using to build a sophisticated consumer health companion product completely by herself. 💡 We cover: Transitioning from corporate structure to unstructured...

Who really makes decisions in your company? Mamuna and Lola expose the silent power dynamics of the tech workplace, from the weaponization of personality tests (like Enneagram) to the strategic use of skip one-on-ones. Learn how to navigate the politics, avoid the "Yes Man" trap, and use your influence to spark necessary (but difficult) conversations without burning bridges. 💡 We cover:...

If you're stuck in a cycle of constant organizational reshuffling, you are not alone. Mamuna and Lola dive deep into why modern tech reorgs often fail, exposing the leaderswho promote their "yes men" over competent staff, leading to employee dissonance and accelerated burnout. This is essential listening if you're feeling unsettled at work. 💡 We cover: ·  Why frequent reorgs ignore the human cost...

You’ve earned the title but what happens next? Mamuna Oladipo shares the exhilarating, terrifying, and necessary decision she made to leave her VP level role in techwithout a job lined up. This episode explores the mental hurdle of breaking free from career expectations to make space for genuine growth and renewed energy. 💡 We cover: ·    The societal pressure to always be "doing" and the definit...

You've heard the buzzword, but "work-life balance" is a fantasy, it's about setting boundaries and managing expectations to protect your time and prevent burnout. Mamuna and Lola, recording IRL for the first time, unpack the mindset shift needed to prioritize output over presenteeism in the demanding world of tech. 💡 We cover: ·   Why asking about holiday policies in interviews...

Mamuna and Lola tackle the core misconception in engineering culture: the belief that the superior technologyalways wins the market. They break down why product packaging, user experience, and distribution often beat out technical perfection.   💡 We Cover: The fatal flaw: Being technicallysuperior does not mean being commercially successful. Why engineers default to asking for the "APILink&q...

You insist on being the face of every project, shielding your team from visibility in the name of "protection." Mamuna and Lola ask the hard question: Are you protecting your team, or secretly glory hunting and sabotaging their careers? 💡 We Cover: • Why the "I'll handle this one" mentality is a control and ego issue, not care. • The difference between the Ego Self and the...

After a layoff, the instinct is to panic and immediately apply for new roles, but this is a critical mistake. Mamuna and Lola discuss why the "post layoff pause" is non-negotiable for success and how to stop carrying old stress into your next interview. 💡 We cover: The UrgencyTrap and why panic sabotages your job search. How unprocessed grief makes you fail job interviews. Overcoming the emotiona...

We've all embraced AI for productivity, but what is it doing to us as humans? Mamuna and Lola dive into the critical work of Brené Brown to explore how AI is eroding our relational abilities and threatening the core skills needed for successful leadership. 💡 We cover: Brené Brown's warning: Why AI as your "BFF" erodes human connection. The augmentation vs. replacement trap and how AI is killing f...

DEI is being rapidly rolled back across corporate America, creating a toxic, hostile environment where the competence of minority leaders is constantly questioned. Mamuna and Lola share the unfiltered truth about being confronted with the "DEI hire" insult and why you must refuse to shrink to protect your career. 💡 We cover: The rapid rollback of DEI and why these conversations are &quo...

The same behaviors that earned you your current success will sabotage your attempt to reach the next level. Mamuna and Lola discuss the brutal truth of the "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" phenomenon, explaining why effective executive leadership requires a complete change in perspective and approach. 💡 We cover: Why your old behaviors will sabotage your next-level success. T...

OpenAI is opening its platform to verified adult users for erotic content, following its controversial "**treat adults like adults**" policy. Mamuna and Lola dive into the cold capitalist calculations driving this change and the complex safety and societal issues of bringing AI into our most intimate relationships. 💡 We cover: • The monetization pressure forcing OpenAI's pivot towar...

Ever hit that point where you’re great at your job but… you just don’t care anymore? 😩 In this episode of Lost in Tech , Mamuna Oladipo and Lola Oyelayo-Pearson read a heartfelt listener letter from a mid-level PM who feels stuck — unsure if it’s burnout or a career mismatch — and unpack the universal experience of asking, “Is this still for me?” 💬 We cover: The fear of making a “step back” move...

$100M salaries? $50M in one year? Sounds wild — but what does it really mean when a tech company dangles huge packages? In this episode of Lost in Tech , Mamuna and Lola break down the reality of tech compensation: The Truth About Packages : Salary vs. stock vs. bonus vs. benefits — and why the top number is misleading. The Tax Trap : Why higher pay can sometimes leave you poorer after deductions....

You’ve worked hard, dreamed big, and earned that promotion. But now what? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna break down the critical mindset and strategy shifts you need to thrive after stepping into your new role. We explore: ✨ Celebrating your achievement (you earned it!) ✨ Why what got you here won’t get you there ✨ Understanding the “new bucket” you’ve entered — and how expectations change ✨...

We make room for anger and frustration at work, but rarely acknowledge hurt or sadness . Why? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dive deep into what it really looks like when emotions show up at work — and why pretending they don’t belong can hurt careers, teams, and culture. From personal stories to practical coaching, we unpack how to recognize, process, and use emotions constructively instead of...

When you’re finally on a break, should work still follow you? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna unpack the all-too-common dilemma of bosses who don’t respect boundaries — and how to handle it without burning bridges (or burning out).We break down:- 📵 Setting healthy work boundaries- ⚖️ How expectations shift for junior vs. senior roles- 🧠 The long-term cost of never truly disconnecting- 💡 Real s...

What is the line between building your brand and just… being annoying? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dive into the evolving world of LinkedIn — from professional resume archive to personality-powered feed. Whether you're quietly job hunting, loudly repping yourself, or silently judging other people’s posts, this episode is for you. We break down: 💼 Can you still get hired without a persona...

What does it actually take to stay employed and valuable in tech right now? In this episode, Mamuna and Lola unpack the new expectations for builders in the era of layoffs, lean teams, and AI-enhanced tooling. Spoiler: you can’t afford to say “that’s not my job” anymore. We break down: 🧩 Why job titles like “PM” or “Designer” no longer mean what they used to📐 How today’s most valued team members...

Everyone wants “a seat at the table.” But what’s actually going on in that room — and who gets let in? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dissect the mythology around “the room where it happens” (yes, Hamilton fans, this one’s for you). We explore why seniority often requires managing people, how individual contributors hit ceilings, and what it really means to grow in your career without chasing a...

What happens when your CEO and Chief People Officer end up on the kiss cam at a Coldplay concert? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna unpack the viral moment that put a unicorn tech company — Astronomer — at the center of internet gossip. But we’re not here for the tabloid drama. We’re here to talk about the real implications of workplace relationships at the highest level. We break down: 🧠 The powe...

What happens when satire hits too close to home? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dive into the HBO film Mountainhead —a dark, eerily accurate commentary on tech culture, ambition, and the moral compromises made in pursuit of power. The conversation unpacks the film’s portrayal of founders, intellectual elitism, and the ethical line (or lack thereof) in Silicon Valley’s highest ranks. They reflect...

This week, Lola and Mamuna tackle a big, under-discussed question: What does it mean to onboard a new tech intern in 2025? With layoffs still reshaping the industry and a more cautious work culture taking hold, how do we give interns—especially those without previous experience—a meaningful start? They reflect on a real-world scenario of a student entering the tech world for the first time and exp...

In this episode, Lola and Mamuna break down Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s hot take on AI and jobs from his recent appearance on the Acquired podcast—and let’s just say, we’re clapping 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. Huang argues that AI won’t eliminate jobs—it’ll create more. And the key reason? Productivity leads to prosperity, and prosperity leads to expansion. But only if your business isn’t out of ideas. We dig int...

You gave them everything—and they still didn’t promote you. In this episode of Lost in Tech , Mamuna Oladipo and Lola Oyelayo-Pearson sit down to deliver some real talk about the moment you realize your company is never going to give you what you deserve. Whether it’s that long-awaited promotion , a raise , or just recognition , this episode is for anyone who’s heard “just a little longer” one too...