From a Woman to a Leader

Welcome to Season 3 of ‘From a Woman to a Leader’!  In our first interview episode for season 3, “Mastering Job Offer Negotiation: Insights and Strategies from Michelle Merritt,” we dive into the art of negotiating job offers with seasoned expert Michelle Merritt. In this episode, Michelle shares invaluable lessons from her journey, starting with early influences and evolving into her current role...

In this special solo episode, I get real about my own journey with negotiations. From the chaos of moving to the US with newborn twins to landing crucial deals at work, I’ve learned that negotiation doesn’t have to be intimidating or confrontational. Instead, it can be genuine, collaborative, and true to who you are. What You’ll Gain from This Episode: • Personal Insights: Hear my candid stories a...

In the male-dominated tech world, being a woman of color often means facing systemic barriers and unconscious biases. But engineering leader Oge Opara-Nadi refuses to be a victim of these challenges. "You don't have to be somebody else. You are unique and special just the way you are. And that is what the world needs." In this candid conversation, Oge shares her powerful journey from...

You're an aspiring entrepreneur or woman in tech who dreams of making your dent in the universe - but the odds seem stacked against you. Where do you start? How do you push past rejection and doubt? In this episode, Limor talks to Denzil Eden, the coding prodigy-turned-founder who landed $2.5 million for her AI startup Smarty at just 30 years old. Denzil shares her incredible journey, from fal...

Are you a woman in tech feeling overlooked, discriminated against, or not taken seriously? Navdip Kaur Kalsi knows exactly what that's like.  As a female leader in the male-dominated tech industry, Navdip has faced numerous challenges and setbacks throughout her career - from being made redundant after returning from maternity leave to having her expertise disregarded by senior colleagues beca...

Join Limor as she sits down with Purni Siddarth, a trailblazing product leader whose career journey exemplifies the power of resilience, continuous learning, and an unwavering drive to create value. From her roots as a software engineer in India to her current role as Principal Product Manager for Payments at Peek, Purni shares her transformative story, shattering barriers along the way. In this c...

In this episode, I had the honor of reconnecting with my longtime friend and tech leader, Vidhya Narayanan. Vidhya and I go way back—we used to work together at Sun Microsystems. It was a profound experience catching up on how our careers have evolved over the years and the significant impact Vidhya has made in the tech industry. As a woman of color who has risen to executive leadership roles, Vid...

Join us on "From a Woman to a Leader" as we explore the transformative journey of Boomie Odumade, a dynamic Sr. Director of Engineering whose career spans critical roles in software development and leadership. In this episode, Boomie dives deep into the strategies that helped her thrive in the tech industry and how her experiences can guide other Black women aiming to carve out their own...

Step into the world of technology leadership with Limor Bergman Gross as she welcomes Anika Gersbeck, a senior software engineer with over 20 years of experience. In this insightful episode, Anika shares her transition from coding to architectural planning in tech projects, emphasizing the strategic role that women can play in shaping the future of technology. Learn how embracing diversity and col...

In this episode, we sit down with Padma Lalwani, a seasoned technology leader with a diverse background and an inspiring approach to career growth. Padma shares how her experience of growing up in different parts of India shaped her appreciation for diversity and adaptability - qualities that have been instrumental to her success. Padma candidly discusses her non-linear career path, moving between...

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Ariana Flores, a Latina woman who took a bold leap from her public relations background into cybersecurity. Prepare to be captivated as Ariana shares her unconventional path, breaking through barriers and defying stereotypes. You'll discover how Ariana taught herself SQL, and get her invaluable tips on gamifying the learning process to stay motivated...

In a candid and powerful conversation, trailblazing engineering leader Joya Joseph pulls no punches as she recounts the ugly discrimination, bad biases, and good self-belief she's experienced navigating the male-dominated field as a Black woman. From professors telling her she should be a janitor instead of an engineer to colleagues dismissing her ideas until a white male coworker repeated the...

When They Said the Job Was Too Big For Her Despite having all the right experience, Dr. Syreeta's manager blocked her from even interviewing for a promotion, telling her bluntly "I don't think you can handle it." In this candid interview, the boundary-breaking entrepreneur exposes the extra battles Black women face advancing in tech and corporate leadership. From condescending &q...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Nidhi Gupta , the founder of SheTO - a growing community accelerating women in engineering leadership roles. Nidhi shares the impactful story of what motivated her to start this crucial mission after realizing how few fellow women she knew in VP and CTO positions. We go behind the scenes of SheTO, exploring the immersive programs, empowering peer networ...

In this episode, we sit down with Prati, an engineering leader who is breaking down barriers in the world of AI. Despite facing obstacles from a humble background, Prati defied the odds to pursue her passion for computer science. She shares her inspiring journey - from working on AI research during her master's degree to founding a startup focused on video analytics. Prati opens up about women...

Want to Become a CPO? Do you aspire to land that coveted C-level chief product officer role someday? Tune into this episode featuring Navya Ragni Gupta to uncover the self-advocacy, visibility, and business acumen needed to get there. In an eye-opening account, Navya shares how she set her sights on the C-suite early on, proactively created her CPO position and mastered translating product impact...

Accomplished tech leader Julissa S. Germosen joins me to discuss the glaring but rarely talked about wealth and leadership gap for Latinas. In this raw conversation, Julissa shares her own inspiring journey navigating tech's difficult terrain as a minority woman and the personal challenges she faced. You'll hear surprising statistics about Latina representation in tech, cultural attitudes...

Nothing held Monica back from moving to become one of the influential Indian female tech leaders in Silicon Valley, today serving as a Vice President of Engineering at Okta. Monica Bajaj turned each of those barriers into her strengths. Born in the city of Sand Dunes, grew up in central India, and moving to the United States was a dream, but by no means was it smooth.  Tune into this empowering ep...

Want to learn how to negotiate and sell authentically?  In this episode, I spoke with Ritu Natkarni, a global healthcare executive with a rich tapestry of experience across three continents and various commercial functions in the biotech industry.  Ritu shares invaluable insights into the art of negotiation, emphasizing the importance of coming from a place of authenticity and genuine care. She un...

Overcoming ingrained gender biases that women must work twice as hard to prove themselves, Renu Motwani built a 20+ year career as a top software product executive.  Meet Renu Motwani, a product leadership powerhouse who shattered barriers from day one. In this raw conversation, Renu pulls back the curtain on being a woman of color rising through the ranks in the boys' club of Silicon Valley....

Join host Limor Bergman Gross in an enlightening episode of "From a Woman to a Leader" as she sits down with Lakshmi Baskaran, a dynamic leader with a remarkable journey in the tech industry. Lakshmi, a VP of Engineering, angel investor, and tech startup advisor, shares her insights on how women can prepare for executive roles and thrive in the world of technology. In this episode, you&#...

Revathi Pillai refused to let outdated norms or societal expectations define her path. As a leader in tech, she broke barriers and blazed trails while staying fiercely committed to her family. In this empowering episode, Revathi shares her incredible journey - from kickstarting her career while 7 months pregnant to rising into executive roles as a woman of color in tech. She shares how she gained...

In this episode, leadership coach Shauna Vassell shares her framework for navigating challenging leadership situations with empathy, openness, and clarity. We discuss specific strategies like taking emotions out of difficult conversations to understand others' perspectives, focusing on the facts, and finding common ground. Shauna provides examples of coaching leaders on improving communication...

In a world where high expectations and constant juggling between personal and professional responsibilities can take a toll, the Superwoman Syndrome is a challenge many women in leadership roles face. Join us in this insightful episode of "From a Woman to a Leader" as we delve into this topic with our distinguished guest, Sabine Gedeon, a seasoned Executive Career & Leadership Strate...

Join us in this inspiring episode of "From a Woman to a Leader" as we sit down with Zhe Scott, the extraordinary CEO of The SEO Queen, to explore her remarkable journey from homelessness to becoming a trailblazing entrepreneur and marketing expert. Zhe delves into her background in technology, drawing on her experience in the tech industry after graduating from MIT. She opens up about he...