Women Disrupting Tech

AI implementations rarely fail because of the technology. They fail because of people, incentives, fear, and organizational blind spots.In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I talk with Sophia Zitman, Director of AI Projects at Kickstart AI, about what actually makes AI work in real organizations. From starting with the why instead of the tech, to navigating politics, resistance, and design choices that determine whether AI ever makes it to production.This conversation is for founders, operators, and leaders who want to move beyond AI hype and build systems that are useful, ethical, and adopted.Follow Women Disrupting Tech for more conversations like this.In this episodeWhy humans, not technology, cause most AI failuresHow to design AI around real organizational goalsWhy resistance is often a signal, not a blockerWhat founders underestimate about AI infrastructureHow AI can lower the barrier to building companies and accessing educationChapters:01:23 Why most AI strategies fail in practice04:23 Sophia Zitman and building AI that delivers value11:13 The real reason AI projects break down17:33 Designing AI around people and workflows23:38 When politics derail even good AI projects32:23 What successful AI implementation looks like47:08 AI as an advantage for startups and founders56:53 AI as an equalizer and building inclusive techConnect with Sophia Zitman:Sophia Zitman on LinkedIn.Support the podcast:Subscribe on SubstackFollow the podcast on SpotifyFollow the podcast on Apple PodcastsFollow the podcast on YouTube

In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Valerie Hirschhauser explains why following the startup playbook often leads to founder burnout, hustle culture as a system glitch, and how founders can build a sustainable business without sacrificing their well-being.We talk about hustle as a coping mechanism, why being busy often replaces making real progress, and how profit can act as oxygen for impact instead of undermining it. This conversation is for founders who wonder whether working harder is really the path to success, and who are looking for a more sustainable way to build.Inside this conversation:- Why hustle is often a system glitch, not a lack of ambition- How burnout shows up long before founders stop functioning- Why intuition belongs in leadership and boardroom decisions- How energy management beats time management- Why profit can act as oxygen for impact, not a compromise- What changes when founders reclaim agency over their choicesChapters:02:20 Valerie Hirschhauser's journey and the search for freedom in tech05:11 Debunking the illusion of hustle culture for founders08:07 The invisible impact of burnout on tech founders11:10 Strategies for navigating the modern startup landscape13:50 The role of mentorship and support for female founders16:49 Addressing double standards for women in entrepreneurship19:26 Rethinking investment expectations and VC relationships22:22 Why energy management beats time management for leaders25:27 Cultivating worthiness, balance, and self-belief in STEM32:45 How to choose agency over autopilot in your career35:41 Balancing purpose and profitability in a sustainable business39:17 Why hustle is not a sustainable business strategy45:34 How location and environment influence work-life integration48:43 Making leadership development accessible for women in tech51:25 Leading from the heart: Combining empathy and strength55:09 The role of trust and investor support in startup success57:52 Building inclusive and stronger founder ecosystemsConnect with Valerie Hirschhauser: Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriehirschhauser/The OneMillionWomen Website: https://www.onemillion-women.com/

In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I talk with Carolina Bongers, founder of Jungle the Bungle.Carolina is building a language learning app for children aged two to eight that makes learning feel like play. Her ambition goes far beyond vocabulary. As she puts it: “We’re not teaching words, we’re unlocking worlds.”We talk about how being raised bilingual shaped her optimism and problem-solving mindset, why fun is not optional when it comes to learning, and how Jungle the Bungle removes the idea of right and wrong answers to keep children curious and engaged.We also explore her nuanced view on screen time. Children are using screens anyway, so the real responsibility lies in offering content that helps them learn responsibly. Carolina shares how she validated her idea in an unexpected way by first writing children’s books, why interest came from schools and libraries rather than parents, and what she learned from crowdfunding. Including how asking for money became easier once she saw it as inviting people into a shared success.We close with her advice to founders. Build things that are intuitive. Assume your users have very little headspace. And when in doubt, design with the simplicity of a two to eight-year-old in mind.Listen to episode 134 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.Chapters02:05 Introduction to Jungle de Bungle04:47 The Power of Bilingualism07:36 Creating Engaging Educational Content09:58 Addressing Screen Time Concerns12:36 Fun and Effective Learning Methods15:39 Transitioning from Books to Apps18:25 Adapting for Schools and Educational Needs21:06 Future Growth and Expansion Plans23:46 Crowdfunding and Community Engagement26:42 Lessons Learned and Overcoming Challenges29:40 Vision for the Future of Jungle de BungleLinks & resources🗞️ Show notes: https://womendisruptingtech.blog/2026/01/08/episode-134/ 🌍 Jungle the Bungle: https://www.junglethebungle.com📲 Download the Jungle The Bungle from the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/jungle-the-bungle-talen-app/id1571784582📲 Download the Jungle The Bungle from the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.junglethebungle.app2

What does it take to build a sustainable career in tech? Simone Mink shares how learning, leadership, and boundaries shaped her journey at Mendix.In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I speak with Simone Mink, Head of Portfolio Management at Mendix, about building a career in tech without a predefined path. We talk about agency, agility, and bouncebackability, and about what happens when resilience quietly turns into burnout.Follow Women Disrupting Tech for more conversations about building careers and companies in tech without losing yourself.Chapters02:26 - From Leisure Management to Tech Leader 05:17 - The Journey of Learning to Code 08:08 - Transitioning Roles at Mendix 11:02 - Pitching Yourself. The Art of Self-Advocacy 16:12 - Embracing Uncertainty and ADHD 24:49 - Navigating Challenges in HR Management 30:47 - Lessons from Burnout and Resilience 37:37 - Resilience and Boundaries 39:08 - Graciousness Towards Oneself 43:24 - The Importance of Exercise 45:11 - Navigating Hormonal Changes 46:47 - Current Role and Responsibilities 52:25 - AI's Role in Decision Making 57:00 - Change Management and Accountability 01:00:44 - Driving Change Through Positivity 01:03:27 - The Power of Communication 01:07:19 - Addressing Bias in AIConnect with Simone Mink.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonemink-keynotespeaker-unlimitedgrowthmindset/Website: https://www.simonemink.comLearn more about Mendix.Website: https://www.mendix.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mendix/

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 Leusin, 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/