The STEM Career Coach

The real risk with AI isn’t sci-fi. It’s how we adopt it. In this final episode of The STEM Career Coach, we’re joined by Vered Shwartz (Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia) and author of Lost in Automatic Translation: Navigating Life in English in the Age of Language Technologies. We unpack where language AI is genuinely useful — and where using it to aut...

Erica Lockheimer shares her journey from VP of Engineering at LinkedIn to founder of Humanize Her. In this episode, she opens up about the power of vulnerability in leadership, the importance of inclusive culture, and how mental health shaped her approach to team building. From personal stories to practical advice, Erica offers a blueprint for leading with empathy and intention.🚀 Looking to get a...

What happens when leaders stop managing and start listening? In this episode, Andrew McMasters—actor, facilitator, and founder of Improv Mindset—shares how embracing the whole person at work transforms culture, boosts engagement, and drives bottom-line results.“Let’s make the whole person be a part of this organisation.”— Andrew McMastersFrom walking the four walls to listening without agenda, And...

What if the key to inclusive leadership isn’t grand gestures, but small, intentional actions that ripple through your team? In this episode, Jonathan Stutz shares the practical tools and mindset shifts that help leaders build cultures of belonging, one moment at a time. From the power of the “pause button” in meetings to the transformative impact of asking “Are you really okay?” and waiting in sil...

In this powerful episode of The STEM Career Coach, Dr Max Klau, founder of the Center for Courageous Wholeness and author of Developing Servant Leaders at Scale, joins Donnie Maclary to explore what it really means to lead with purpose. From confronting your shadow to crafting a personal leadership mission, Dr Klau shares hard-won insights from years in AmeriCorps, New Politics, and beyond. Whethe...

“How do I grow as a STEM leader?” In this special highlights episode of The STEM Career Coach, we answer that question with real advice from six standout guests: Telle Whitney, Sumesh Rahavendra, Salman Jaffer, Henry Maillet, Fergus Lopez, and Sabina Nawaz. You’ll hear how mentorship, sponsorship, mindset shifts, team empowerment, and listening can transform your leadership journey. Whether you're...

In this episode of  The STEM Career Coach , Sabina Nawaz joins Donnie Maclary to unpack one of the most overlooked truths in leadership:  pressure corrupts, not power . Drawing from her experience coaching CEOs across 20+ countries and leading executive development at Microsoft, Sabina shares how emotional pressure leads to “junk behaviour,” how power amplifies its impact, and how leaders can mana...

What does it take to lead a global aerospace team in Malaysia without losing your company’s DNA?When aerospace leader Fergus Lopez set up a new operation in Malaysia, he made one bold decision: staff it entirely with local talent. In this episode, Fergus reveals how he built a high performing team in a country where some technicians had never even flown before, and how he bridged cultural gaps wit...

What happens when a hospitality veteran launches a deep-tech lab—and starts hiring people based on grit, not degrees? In this episode, Henry Maillet, CEO of MultiPeak Global Innovation Lab, shares how he's disrupting startup incubation with a human-first, hardware-forward approach. From turning magnetic bedsheets into sleep tech to recruiting street-smart talent from developing nations, Henry’...

Salman Jaffer has built tech teams from London to Ho Chi Minh to Singapore—and he’s learned what actually makes them click. In this episode of The STEM Career Coach, Salman shares hard-won lessons from his global journey across telcos, fintech, and healthtech. From working with large corporates and early stage startups with successful exits, his path proves that creativity, curiosity, and courage...

In this episode of The STEM Career Coach, Donnie Maclary sits down with Sumesh Rahavendra, Chief Digital & Strategy Leader at Pos Malaysia, to reveal how you can stop waiting for promotion and start leading at the level you aspire to right now. You’ll discover: Why “thinking better” beats just “working harder.” Sumesh explains that as you climb, success depends less on effort volume and more o...

Ready to uncover the playbook for inclusive STEM leadership? In this episode of The STEM Career Coach, host Donnie Maclary sits down with Telle Whitney—co-founder of the Grace Hopper Celebration and veteran advocate for women in tech—to discover the “6 Cs” that drive high-performing, diverse teams. You’ll learn: - Creativity & Curiosity: How seeking out cognitive dissonance sparks breakthrough...

What does human-centered leadership look like in the age of AI?In this highlight reel from Season 2 of the AI to Z podcast, we bring together powerful moments from ten remarkable guests—executives, innovators, and thinkers reshaping the way we work, lead, and build trust with technology.🎙️ Featured Guests & Topics: - Julie Flowers on using AI to personalize hiring and put candidates first - Ca...

What does it take to lead in an AI-powered world? In this highlight reel from Season 1 of the AI to Z podcast, we bring together the most powerful insights from ten visionary guests. You’ll hear from executives, founders, technologists, and change agents on what it really means to navigate transformation—with AI, with people, and with purpose.🎙️ Featured Guests & Topics: - Hagen Wenzek on how...

In this episode, we explore how the digital breadcrumbs you leave behind—everything from your Instagram posts to your phone’s sleep data—can paint a surprisingly vivid picture of who you are. But how much of that picture are you even aware of? And what happens when others—researchers, companies, or algorithms—see it before you do? Join us as we dive into the science of human behavior through data,...

How can you capture clean, standardized data from any point-of-sale system—without ripping and replacing your tech stack? Our guest, Jakub Ruzicka, Chief Product and Technology Officer at EYOS, breaks it down. Drawing on his background in statistics, NLP, and scale-up leadership, Jakub shares how his team is solving one of retail’s messiest challenges: fragmented transaction data and limited visib...

What does it take to build a successful digital agency in Southeast Asia—without outside funding, in a market still catching up to digital? In this episode, Andrew Turner shares how he and a small team turned a shoestring SEO project into a full-scale digital agency in Malaysia that caught the attention of global network Dentsu. Along the way, he explains why timing, adaptability, and data-driven...

Quantum computing is beginning to reshape how STEM professionals work — and how entire industries think about innovation. In this episode, Donnie Maclary speaks with Raghu Koduvayur, former VP at IQM Quantum Computers, about how quantum computing is moving from labs into real-world applications. They explore what this means for current and future roles in science, engineering, and tech, as well as...

As AI reshapes global industries, fintech is leading the charge — and that means new opportunities for talent, businesses, and innovation. In this episode, Dmytro Voronenko, Co-Founder & CEO of TurnKey Lender, shares how automation and AI are making digital lending as easy as e-commerce, and what that means for companies, job seekers, and underbanked communities around the world.“Our reason wa...

Is AI transforming workplace learning or just making it more complicated? Are companies actually helping employees upskill, or are they stuck in outdated training methods? In this episode, David Yeo, founder of Kydon, reveals why companies need to rethink AI-powered learning—and how employees can stay competitive in a rapidly changing world. He shares how his company pivoted from traditional conte...

In this fascinating episode, we sit down with Joel Albertson & Suresh Subawickrama from Iris Engineering to explore how gaming technology, AI, and immersive visualization are revolutionizing the world of energy and engineering. What started as a hydrogen and renewables company quickly evolved into something groundbreaking. As Joel recalls, “We had to show our stakeholders what it looked like…...

In this episode, Daniel Darancou, Chief Designer at PACCAR, joins DataScienceDonnie to dive into the evolution of vehicle design, sustainability, and the impact of cutting-edge technology on the automotive industry. With a career spanning global markets—from California’s car culture to shaping electric and autonomous vehicles in China—Daniel shares his unique perspective on where the industry is h...

Jean-Bernard Boura, Founder and Managing Director of Pen Aviation, shares his incredible journey from private jets to ground breaking innovations in the drone industry. In this episode, he discusses how his team pivoted during COVID and why certification, safety, and automation are essential for the future of drones and logistics. "If we can’t find the right product, we’ll do it ourselves,&qu...

In this episode of the AI to Z Podcast , Donnie Maclary hosts Arvinder Gujral, Chief Revenue Officer at EnableX, to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping the sales landscape. Drawing from over 25 years of global experience, Arvinder delves into the transformative role of AI in lead generation, revenue optimization, and personalized customer engagement. He shares insights into how AI too...

In this episode of AI to Z, Anna Frazzetto sits down with Christine Sandman Stone, author of The Modern Management Mentor. With a pragmatic and deeply insightful approach, Christine tackles the realities of today’s leadership challenges—from navigating hybrid teams to managing AI’s influence on team dynamics. Christine reveals, “Managers are not born, they are built,” as she explains her hands-on...