Women Disrupting Tech

In this episode, Gwen Kolader joins me to explore how to use Cultural Intelligence as a leadership superpower. We discuss how understanding cultural differences, challenging bias, and building true inclusion can transform teams.From powerful lessons with the Maasai in Kenya to strategies that work inside global organizations, this conversation is a must for leaders ready to connect, grow, and lead with impact.Listen on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or Amazon.Check the show notes for more on Gwen Kolader and how to connect with her. And follow me on Substack for more Women Disrupting Tech.

What does it take to become a true DEI champion?In Episode 100 of Women Disrupting Tech, Sacha Martina and Danielle Jiskoot from House of Inclusion break it down with honesty, energy, and clear steps.🎯 Learn the five stages of DEI maturity🎯 Discover why allyship belongs to everyone🎯 Hear real stories of inclusion that go beyond policyIf you're building a more inclusive workplace, this episode is a must.You can find the episode on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube, and the show notes on the blog.And don't forget to like, share, and follow Women Disrupting Tech to help make inclusion the new normal.

Laurie Lancee, Managing Director of The Angel Initiative, joins us to explore how angel investing can drive real change in startup funding. She shares how her own fundraising experience as a female founder led her to support other women in tech. We discuss how The Angel Initiative is making early-stage investing more accessible, why representation on both sides of the table matters, and how the initiative aims to fund 25 female-led startups in 2025. Whether you’re an investor, founder, or future angel, this conversation offers insight into building a more inclusive future of tech.

In episode 98, Sara Okhuijsen and Nima Salami share how they're building OASYS NOW, a platform that makes personalized medicine more inclusive, secure and accessible. From their unexpected first meeting at a student gala to winning Slush 100 and catching the attention of Google and NVIDIA, their journey shows how tech and trust can work together in healthcare.We discuss:Why most clinical trials fail to recruit the right patientsHow data bias limits who benefits from new medicineWhat it takes to protect privacy while empowering people with chronic illnessHow Sara stepped into the CTO role and what they've learned about leadership, fundraising, and building a mission-led teamFor more information about the episode, please visit the show notes on the Women Disrupting Tech blog. And if you want to be among the first to learn about new episodes, subscribe to my Substack (it's free).

What does it take to drive change in tech when the system is built to resist it?In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, host Dirkjan looks at the trends shaping the future for female founders, leaders, and changemakers in tech. You'll hear how women continue to disrupt, from boardrooms to startups, even when the tide works against them.We cover:Why the DEI backlash is part of any real power shift.Key trends that are opening new doors for inclusive innovation.How women are building their own paths in healthtech, fintech and deep tech.If you're navigating a career or building a company in tech, this episode will give you insight, fuel, and proof that you’re not alone.You can find all the links to the role models that I mention as well as the books in the show notes on the Women Disrupting Tech blog.

Fashion brands talk about sustainability. But how do they prove it?In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, tex.tracer founder Jolanda Kooi shares how she is using verified data to build transparent supply chains that empower real change in the fashion industry.We talk about transparency as a competitive advantage, how data cuts through greenwashing, and what it takes to raise the bar for industry standards.Jolanda also opens up about the reality of fundraising as a female founder in tech.Tune in to discover how transparent supply chains are reshaping the future of fashion. And dont forget to check out the show notes for links to connect with Jolanda and tex.tracer.

In Episode 95 of Women Disrupting Tech, Natasha Syed shares how she is fixing hiring for sustainability jobs by closing the talent gap.She explains the role of skills-based learning, the realities of bootstrapping a startup, and what it takes to build a green talent pipeline.As a solo founder, Natasha also opens up about the challenges of building a business from scratch and shares advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.Listen now on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. And check out the show notes on the blog for links to connect with Natasha and SkilledIn Green.

In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Michelle Ter Laak shares her journey into venture capital, the role of diversity in decision-making, and the evolving landscape of B2B SaaS. We explore AI, cybersecurity, and impact investing, as well as the shift from traditional VC to a founder-first approach. Michelle also highlights how female investors can shape the future of funding and why we should be proud of the progress we've made in the past few decades.Listen now to gain insights into how VC is changing and how you can be part of the future.You can find the show notes, with Michelle's bio and links to connect on the Women Disrupting Tech blog.

Esther Bisschop joins me to reveal how one cold LinkedIn message changed the trajectory of Th3rd, taking it from the brink of bankruptcy to an acquisition by Snap Inc.We dive into the realities of startup life, from managing uncertainty to adapting to industry shifts and seizing unexpected opportunities. Esther also shares her experiences scaling in Europe, the growing startup scene in India, and why venture capital needs to do more to fund mixed teams.Listen to episode 93 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and Amazon. And don't forget to check out the show notes on the Women Disrupting Tech blog.

How can we use biases to future-proof Venture Capital?Sophie Heijenberg, investor at No Such Ventures, is on a mission to rethink how funding works. She has been the only woman on a trading floor, walked into meetings where she was mistaken for the assistant, and now makes investment decisions that challenge the status quo.In this episode, we uncover:✅ Why bias in VC is not just a problem but part of the solution.✅ How smart investors look beyond the checklist to fund the best ideas.✅ The role of networks in shaping who gets funded and who doesn’t.Sophie is proving that venture capital can and should be different. Ready to learn how?🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or Amazon.