She Talks Tech

Emerging Tech Voices Ep. 11: Career Growth and Boundaries She Talks Tech | Emerging Tech Voices Hosts Hlulani, Murendeni, and Nhlamulo sit down for a candid roundtable on what career growth actually looks like once you're in it, and why "boundaries" isn't just a buzzword but a survival skill. From imposter syndrome after a non-traditional entry into data science, to the real cost of overworking fo...

Age Should Not Hold You Back: Jacqueline Berger on changing careers at 35, from drilling engineering to AI and cyber defense What does it take to walk away from a career you've already conquered and start over? Hlulani talks to Jacqueline Berger, who spent six years as a directional driller on oil rigs, including a seismic field internship in the Sahara, before reinventing herself at 35 as a data...

63 - Hard Work and Focus: Silvia Gonzalez on 27 Years in Industrial Automation, Global Leadership, and Paying It Forward Silvia Gonzalez has spent 27 years in industrial automation, moving from her first role at GE Fanuc in Mexico City to her current position as Global Head of Software Business at Emerson, where she holds global P&L responsibility and sits on the board of directors of Progea S...

62 - Show Up and Do It Well: Sinah Legong on Ecosystems, mLab and Staying the Course Sinah Legong is someone Hlulani has known since the early days — back when they were both finding their footing at mLab in Pretoria, surviving on noodles and showing up to every event that had free food. Today Sinah is at the forefront of one of South Africa's most enduring tech ecosystem builders. She has opened...

Go to the Ground: Precious Lesupi on Accessibility, Neurodivergence and Building for the Margins Precious Lesupi is back. Cybersecurity specialist, accessibility advocate, BRICS gold medallist, and one of the most honest voices to sit across from Hlulani on this platform. This time they are in the same room, and the conversation goes everywhere. From getting dirty in a primary school in Welkom tea...

Systems Create Behaviour She Talks Tech In this episode, we sit down with Palesa Sibeko, co-founder of Better Work and Girls Invent Tomorrow, for a conversation that goes well beyond the buzzwords. Palesa has spent over a decade asking a deceptively simple question: what would it take to make work more human? From the digital agency frontier of early social media in South Africa, to building custo...

Finding Your Voice in Rooms That Make You Feel Small Have you ever walked into a room and immediately questioned whether you belonged there? In this episode of Emerging Tech Voices, your hosts Hlulani, Modeni, and Lanni get candid about the moments their voices trembled, faded, and eventually found their footing in professional spaces. From boardrooms to consulting firms, the trio reflects on the...

Creators, Not Consumers: Lisle Jenneke on the Future of AI in Africa and Beyond In this episode, we sit down with AI consultant and technology leader Lisle Jenneke, whose career journey spans continents, industries, and roles. From falling into tech by accident to founding Love Africa, Lisle brings a refreshingly human lens to one of the most rapidly evolving fields of our time. She shares her tho...

Guest: Inez Patel Episode theme: UX, inclusive design, leadership, and building communities that help women thrive in design and tech. Episode summary In this in-person conversation in South Africa, Hlulani sits down with UX leader Inez Patel to unpack her “accidental” path into UX, what UX really is beyond pretty screens, and how user research shapes better products. Inez also shares her leadersh...

Season 4, Episode 1 Season 4 of She Talks Tech begins here. In this opening episode, Hlulani reflects on the journey so far and shares what’s guiding the conversations this season. Season 4 continues the space built in previous seasons… honest, thoughtful conversations with women in tech. Follow and subscribe to stay up to date with new episodes. Also follow us on instagram @she_talks_tech_podcast...

In this episode, I sit down with my former classmate Matshidiso Tladi , now a Principal Technical Solution Architect , to retrace her journey from uncertainty after matric to leading high-stakes technology teams. She opens up about quitting nursing after a month, dropping psychology, and spending years feeling lost before a learnership finally introduced her to tech. From hardware support to softw...

In this episode, we sit down with Quetzalli Meza , a Security Technical Consulting Engineer at Cisco , whose journey from a small town in Mexico to one of the biggest names in tech is as inspiring as it is powerful. Quetzalli shares how her early curiosity for computers — and even hacking childhood games — led her into the world of cybersecurity. She opens up about growing up with limited resource...

💬 Show Notes: From the streets of Zimbabwe to leading conversations on inclusive innovation at Philips, Nancy’s story is one of audacity, purpose, and becoming. In this episode, Nancy shares how her early experiences during the HIV/AIDS crisis shaped her lifelong mission to bring equity into healthcare — and why she believes inclusion must be at the heart of innovation. We talk about career pivot...

Episode Summary What does it mean to grow up in a world that told you who you should be — and then choose to become yourself anyway? In this episode, Hlulani sits down with Cécile Deprez , a scientific researcher at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) working on Europe’s next-generation satellite systems . Cécile shares their journey from a childhood shaped by gender expectations in Belgium to a car...

Laid Off to Lift Off: How Julia Arpag Built Aligned Recruitment Episode Summary From being a shy bookworm to founding a thriving recruitment firm, Julia Arpag shares her journey into tech, navigating layoffs, and building Aligned Recruitment with faith, grit, and integrity. We dive into A-player teams, using AI wisely, and the skills every founder and job seeker needs today. Highlights Breaking ou...

In this episode of She Talks Tech , I sit down with Omotola E. Omotayo — a woman who turned her dream of becoming a doctor into a mission to build communities that transform tech. ✨ What you’ll hear in this conversation: How Omotola helped She Code Africa grow from 200 to 50,000 members Why she believes tech thrives in communities, not silos The pivotal moment she discovered her path in tech and...

In this episode of She Talks Tech , I sit down with Jessica Brieger , a bold voice in ESG, social impact, and AI. Jessica’s journey is anything but linear. From her early love of biology to a career spanning automotive, mining, sustainability, and advocacy for neurodiversity, she has embraced curiosity as her compass. We talk about what it means to grow up different, to discover her autism later i...

In this inspiring episode of She Talks Tech , I sit down with Marie‑Josée Turgeon , President & CEO of C2MI — Canada’s leading microelectronics and semiconductor innovation hub. From her early curiosity as a young girl who needed to understand how things work , to leading cutting‑edge teams shaping the future of sustainable tech, Marie‑Josée’s journey is a masterclass in purposeful leadership....

🎙 Episode Title: From Consulting to CEO: Tarnia Gonzo’s Journey to Human-Centered AI Episode Summary: In this episode of She Talks Tech , we sit down with the brilliant Tarnia Gonzo — founder of TNS Consulting — whose journey from Zimbabwe to the UK, from corporate consulting to building her own tech business, is packed with lessons, honesty, and inspiration. Tarnia’s career path hasn’t been conve...

In this episode of She Talks Tech , we sit down with Thoko Miya , a powerhouse in community-driven innovation and creative strategy. Thoko shares how she’s building ecosystems that centre people first — blending technology, youth empowerment, and purpose-driven leadership. We unpack how her work moves beyond code to create platforms that amplify voices, support local innovators, and rethink how we...

🎧 Show Notes In this heartwarming episode of She Talks Tech , we sit down with QA professional and lifelong learner Petronela Ramoleta . From growing up in Limpopo to navigating unexpected pivots in tech—from web development to quality assurance and now business analysis—Petronela shares what it means to lead with purpose, kindness, and curiosity. What we talk about: Making career transitions wit...

In this episode of She Talks Tech , we sit down with Rebecca Franks — an Android Developer Relations Engineer at Google, community builder, and advocate for women in tech. From her early days coding in South Africa to becoming a global voice in the Android space, Rebecca opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, finding joy in building, and the importance of showing up authentically in tech. 🎧...

🎙 Episode Title : Millicent Okumu: Growing the Future with Agri-Tech Welcome back to She Talks Tech with Hlulani , the podcast spotlighting women building bold, brilliant futures in STEM and technology. In this episode, I speak with Millicent Okumu , a rising force in agri-tech innovation and public service in Kenya. Millicent is on a mission to transform agriculture through technology—making food...

Welcome back to She Talks Tech with Hlulani, where we amplify the voices of women making waves in technology and STEM. In today’s episode, I sit down with Lydia Sebokedi, Acting Executive Director at the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI), to explore a powerful story of purpose, public service, and quiet transformation. Lydia's journey spans decades in South Africa’s public sector — from...

Welcome to She Talks Tech Season 3, where I profile women in technology and STEM careers. My aim is to elevate and amplify their stories and inspire more women to join these fields. Through detailed interviews with successful women in technology and STEM, I explore their career paths, challenges, successes, and advice for aspiring professionals. Join me as I celebrate the achievements of women in...