Women Disrupting Tech

What if promoting people on merit is the easiest way to get more women into boardrooms?In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I’m joined by Tiffany Aude and Yoana Leushin, founders of Impowr, a coaching platform for ambitious women in male-dominated industries. We unpack why women leave tech before reaching leadership, how promotion decisions are shaped by perception rather than performance, and what founders and leaders can change to build workplaces where women can actually thrive.We talk about objective hiring, incentives that motivate diverse teams, the role of mindset and self-advocacy, and why allyship is not theory but action taken at the right moment. This conversation is for founders, leaders, women in tech, and allies who want to move beyond good intentions and design better systems.Chapters00:03:08 Personal Journeys and Career Paths00:08:15 The Impact of Gender Dynamics in the Workplace00:12:43 The Dynamics of Competition in Corporate Environments00:20:24 The Promotion Paradox00:26:56 Legislative Changes and Their Impact on Gender Equality00:29:01 The Business Case for Gender Equality00:37:17 The Impact of Job Descriptions on Diversity00:39:24 Creating Inclusive Interview Structures00:41:33 Building a Supportive Workplace Culture00:43:35 Strategies for Empowering Women in Tech00:50:07 Creating Inclusive Work Environments00:51:54 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Building Confidence00:55:09 Tools for Enhancing Self-Worth and Negotiation Skills01:02:00 The Role of Male Leaders in Supporting Women01:09:19 The Future of Gender Equality in the WorkplaceConnect with Tiffany, Yoana, and ImpowrTiffany Aude on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-aude-05a251158/Yoana Leushin on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoana-leusin/Impowr website https://www.impowr.coImpowr on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/impowr8Impowr on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/impowr.co/Read the Blog on SubstackIn-depth reflections, key takeaways, and behind-the-scenes insights from this episode are available on Substack: https://womendisruptingtech.substack.com/

If your strategy feels heavy, outdated, or too complicated to actually use, this episode will change the way you think about building and growing your company.In episode 131 of Women Disrupting Tech, I sit down with Dorit Roest, founder of Strategy Sprint Company, to explore why the best strategies are simple, agile, and aligned with your original purpose. Dorit shares how founders lose momentum when their personal and business goals drift apart, and how a strategy that fits on a post-it can help you reset your focus fast.We cover:• Why founders feel off-track and how to realign with your original why• The Zoom Out method for spotting real opportunities and threats• The Battery Check: time, money, energy• Why courage expands your ambition• The visualization exercise that unlocks long-term direction• How to design goals that stay flexible as your reality changesThis conversation is practical, honest, and full of tools you can apply today to build a strategy that actually works.Chapters:02:20 Dorit Roest's Entrepreneurial Journey 05:24 The Role of Entrepreneurship in Solving Global Issues 08:16 Aligning Personal and Business Goals 11:13 The Importance of Agility in Strategy 14:09 Simplifying Strategy for Modern Businesses 17:16 Zooming Out: Understanding the Bigger Picture 20:24 Addressing Global Challenges as Entrepreneurs 23:14 Mapping Opportunities and Threats 26:14 The Battery Check: Assessing Personal and Business Energy 29:09 Prioritizing Time, Money, and Energy 32:02 Lessons from the Past Year 43:33 Navigating Maternity Leave and Business Growth 46:05 The Unique Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs 48:09 Innovative Leadership and Team Management 50:47 Encouraging Ambition and Risk-Taking 52:18 Visualization Techniques for Goal Setting 58:40 Aligning Personal and Professional Goals 1:03:11 The Importance of Alignment in Success 1:07:13 Simplifying Goals and Accountability 1:12:20 Building Supportive Networks for Female Founders Connect with Dorit:Website: https://www.strategysprint.company/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doritroest/Connect with Strategy Sprint Company:Website: ⁠https://www.strategysprint.company/⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/doritroest/⁠Read the show notes on the blog.

In this episode, Andrea Cristancho shows how founders can turn stress into a source of clarity instead of chaos. We talk about pattern interrupts, wellbeing as a leadership skill, and a simple 10-second breathing practice you can use any time your mind starts to spin.Andrea Born-Christancho has built companies across Mainland China, South Africa, and Switzerland, and her work helps founders understand what their bodies are telling them so they can lead with more intention and less overwhelm.Chapters02:30 Andrea's Journey to Entrepreneurship and Health Coaching 05:35 The Impact of Burnout on Leadership 08:20 Wellbeing as a Foundation for Success 12:01 Integrating Wellbeing into Leadership 16:32 Managing Guilt and Prioritizing Self-Care 23:42 The Role of Pattern Interrupts in Daily Life 33:22 How Leaders Can Support Teams in Building Routines 37:41 Breathing Techniques for Better Focus 40:13 The Breathing Exercise 44:13 Stress as a Friend, Not the Enemy 49:45 The Role of Men in Supporting Women in LeadershipConnect with AndreaWebsite: https://www.andreacristancho.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreaborncristancho-impactstrategyconsultant/Connect with host Dirkjan HupkesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkjan-hupkesSubscribe to the Women Disrupting Tech NewsletterSubstack: https://womendisruptingtech.substack.comRead the full blog for this episodehttps://womendisruptingtech.blog

Gina Schinkel's founder career didn’t follow the straight line to being a founder. She built Driftawave and Leaderwave by choosing the world over the ladder and learning how travel, culture, and leadership shape each other. In this episode, we explore the power of workations, generous leadership, and what happens when you stop choosing one path and start integrating all the roads you’ve walked. Listen to episode 129 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.Chapters:03:43 Gina Schinkel's Journey to Driftawave and Leaderwave 06:12 The Intersection of Travel and Technology 09:09 Cultural Insights: Returning to the Netherlands 11:55 The Benefits of Team Retreats and Workations 14:20 Creating Connections: The Role of Workations in Team Dynamics 17:22 Navigating Remote Work and Office Mandates 19:55 Exploring Workation Locations and Experiences 22:52 The Evolution of Workations: Beyond Just Work 24:50 Workations and Startup Success: Attracting Talent 27:43 Measuring Success: KPIs for Workations 30:45 The Future of Work: AI's Role in Business 33:24 Leadership Trends and the Role of AI 35:09 Diversity and Inclusion in Work Culture 37:42 Building Trust and Connections in Business 47:32 Empowering Women in Tech 1:02:18 Closing the Funding Gap for Female Founders Links:Learn more about the episode on the blogConnect with Gina on LinkedInLearn more about DriftawaveLearn more about LeaderwaveFollow Women Disrupting Tech on Substack

What if feeling good about yourself was a precondition for being a good ally?In this episode, Salmaan Sana shares how allyship connects leadership, emotional health, and inclusion. A former medical student turned leadership facilitator, he explains why vulnerability matters, how overcompensation can repair old imbalances, and how small, human moments can drive real change.Listen to learn how men can become more effective allies for women in tech—starting with awareness, compassion, and action.🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.Chapters03:00 - Journey into Healthcare and Leadership10:30 - The Role of Medical Education in Leadership20:06 - Understanding Allyship and Its Importance31:45 - Men's Vulnerability and Emotional Health51:32 - Practical Steps to Become an Ally59:04 - Closing the Funding Gap for Female FoundersLinksYou can connect with Salmaan on LinkedIn or via his website.You can learn more about the episode on Substack.You can connect with host Dirkjan Hupkes on LinkedIn.