The Women in Tech Show: A Technical Podcast

Sarah Bird, Engineering Lead at Microsoft talked about what responsible AI is and its main components and best practices. Sarah also explained what generative AI is and example metrics to evaluate systems that use it. At the end we talked about existing tools that can assist in developing AI systems.

Shruti Pathak, Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, talked about optimizing web applications by using Redis cache and things to consider to make it secure. Shruti also explained what in-memory databases are and how they improve performance. At the end we also talked about the program manager and her experience transitioning from a software development role.

Laura Jiang, Product Manager at Microsoft, talked about what DevOps is and security vulnerabilities in this area. Laura also explained how to dentify and address security threats within the GitHub ecosystem.

Kathleen has been writing software in .NET and other Microsoft technologies for over 20 years. We talked about how systems have evolved and how the process of developing software has improved. Kathleen also talked about different programming languages such as C#, F# and Visual Basic.

Mia Reyes, Director of Foundational Security at Microsoft started working in tech after several years of experience in foreign policy. We talked about how her past experience relates to her role in security product management. Mia also gave a general overview on what built in security is and examples of common vulnerabilities. Mia also talked about challenges she’s faced throughout her career and how she’s tackled them.

There are different roles related to the execution of a project. Some examples are: program manager, project manager, and product manager. Jhansi Reddy, principal technical program manager at microsoft, explained the differences between these roles. We also talked about how to transition from a developer role into a program manager role. Other topics that were covered are: conflict resolution and building trust with customers.

As technology evolves, more organizations across different industries are looking to adopt new technologies. Lara Rubbelke, Partner Engineering Manager at Microsoft, talked about how engineers at Microsoft collaborate with other organizations to build technical solutions. Lara explained that through customer engineering engagements, they are able to contribute to real world scenarios and help improve products. We also talked about her trajectory to a leadership role and career advice.

Open source software is behind a lot of systems we interact with. One example is Wordpress, a system that powers over 30% of the internet. In this episode Helen Hou-Sandi, explained what Wordpress is and how it’s used to create websites. We also talked about the characteristics of open source projects and best practices. Helen Hou-Sandí is Lead Developer at Wordpress and Director of Open Source Initiatives at 10up.

Technology changes the way we learn and engage with content. Throughout her career, Mickey Revenaugh has worked on bringing technological advancements to education. We talked about her experience in the 80s when computers were just starting to appear in classrooms. Mickey also talked about bringing the internet to schools in the 90s and how educational content has evolved. At the end we talked about how big data and artificial intelligence are used in education. Mickey is currently Vice President of Business Development in Global Online Learning at Pearson.

There are many paths to a career in technology. Shobana Krishnamoorthy, Senior Software Developer Lead at Microsoft, talked about her time growing up and learning to code with limited access to a computer. We also talked about her work and trajectory as a Software Developer Lead. At the end, we covered topics around the Grace Hopper Celebration, and open source mentorship.

Product management is a core area that helps us build software products. Tracy Mahnken, Vice President of Product at NerdWallet, explained the different areas of product management. We talked about product experimentation, cross-discipline collaboration and market research. Tracy also talked about important skills to have in product management and leadership positions.

Technology impacts the way we learn new languages. Maya Goodall, Senior Director at Rosetta Stone, explained how different technologies are used in language learning. We talked about Lingual Learning, a company she co-founded to help students learn English. Maya explained the challenges students face and the importance of embracing heritage languages and diverse backgrounds. We also talked about her current work at Rosetta Stone, and how they’re using Artificial Intelligence in tools for language learning.

Google’s main source of revenue is digital advertising. Sissie Hsiao, VP of Display, Video and App Advertising at Google, explained what digital advertising is and its workflow. We also talked about the role of Machine Learning in advertising and tackling invalid activity. Sissie then explained her path to a leadership role.

Intel Corporation is one of the largest semiconductor chip manufacturers in the world. Since then, it has expanded and built technologies in other domains. Huma Abidi, Senior Director of AI Software Products at Intel, talked about the semiconductor and microprocessor. We also talked about technologies developed in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. At the end, Huma explained her path to an Engineering Manager role.

Leadership in engineering is about driving product development, helping engineers elevate their careers, mentoring, managing conflict, among many other things. Kate Reading, Engineering Manager at Asana explained her path from Software Engineer to Engineering Manager. We talked about her experience in this role and its characteristics. Kate also explained the transition to a remote team because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also talked about her work in the Platform Integrations team at Asana.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, domestic violence against women and girls has increased. UN Women released a report with this information earlier this year. Lesley Nuttall, who works at IBM Security Labs, gave an overview of the statistics for domestic abuse. She also explained how technology is misused to intensify domestic abuse. Later we talked about her article “Five Technology Design Principles to Combat Domestic Abuse”. Lesley highlighted the importance of thinking about these concepts when we work on software and other technologies.

Digital journalism enables us to reach a wider audience that traditionally we might not have been able to reach. Brenda Salinas, Audio Content Strategist at Google explained what digital journalism is and its impact. We talked about advancements in audio technology particularly in podcasting. Brenda explained how artificial intelligence can be used to index podcast topics an allow people to discover content. We also talked about several software systems in podcasting and how the field has improved. Brenda also gave an overview about her trajectory in digital journalism.

Technology has a big impact in our society. Some examples from the last decades are, the internet, personal computers, smart phones, and social media. Kara Swisher, a Technology Journalist, has been covering tech since the 1990s. We talked about what the panorama was like when she was first starting out as a reporter back then in Silicon Valley. We also talked about the impact of technology in journalism. Kara also talked about the lack of underrepresented folks in tech, and observations she’s made throughout her career.

Fighting cyber criminals is a challenging task. Laura Mather, Cyber Security expert, talked about her time at eBay fighting cyber criminals in the early 2000s. Laura explained different attacks that she saw and how these were being tackled back then. We also talked about Silver Tail Systems, a company she co-founded in 2008 to build systems that other companies could use to fight cyber criminals. Laura also explained the challenges of getting funding and how the panorama is changing for entrepreneurs.

Flexible work environments provide an opportunity to be more inclusive to other people. Brea Starmer, Founder of Lions and Tigers, talked about building a company with a flexible work environment as a priority. We talked about how to maintain the company culture and sense of community and some of the challenges. Brea also talked about her trajectory in marketing in tech, and insights and learnings from early in her career.

Building software involves understanding our users. This helps us build better software and consider new things. Sarah Hall, Lead User Researcher at Crunchyroll, explained how insights from users can drive product development. We talked about different types of user research, and various examples of how a product can improve from this. Sarah also talked about the role of a Lead User Researcher and important skills for the job.

The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters on the planet. Maria Isabel Amorin, Founder and CEO of INDEQUI, explained the different types of pollution generated by these industries. We talked in detail about water pollution and about an affordable filter that she built to clean the water. Maria Isabel also explained the challenges of building a company in Guatemala and her path to raising funds. In 2019, María Isabel was recognized by the MIT Technology Review as an innovator in biotechnology.

Rebecca Parsons has been working in technology for over 30 years. Throughout her career, some of the things she’s worked on are system architectures, software design patterns, distributed systems and best practices. Having started programming at 13 years old, she has seen significant technological transformations. In this episode we talked about the evolution of technology and how that leads to changes in how we develop software. Rebecca is currently the CTO of ThoughtWorks.

Understanding how people use technology across cultures around the world gives us valuable insights. Genevieve Bell, Anthropologist and Distinguished professor at The Australian National University, talked about her work in anthropology and technology. Genevieve has been working in technology since the 1990s. We talked about her time working in silicon valley, particularly at Intel, where she was studying how different groups of people were using technology. Later on, we talked about how technology and mass surveillance are being used to fight COVID-19. Genevieve explained solutions we’re seeing in around the world and the trade-offs. In 2013 Genevieve was the recipient of the Women of Vision Abie Award for Leadership. Abie Awards are presented by AnitaB.org, a global nonprofit with a goal of reaching 50/50 gender equity in tech by 2025. Abie awards honor and celebrate women who have led technical innovations and made a notable impact on business or society through technology. This episode is part of a series of show that highlight the work of previous Abie Award Winners.

Advancements in technology have enabled us to share information much faster. We can start a blog, share information on social media, or create a podcast. Yasmin Alameddine, Founder and Host of the Witty Podcast explained why and how she started the show. We talked about the challenges and the things she learned from this. We also talked about data journalism and the intersection between technology and journalism. Yasmin studied Communication at Cornell University and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Journalism at Columbia University.

Throughout the decades we’ve seen numerous advances in artificial intelligence. In the late 1990s, Catherine Havasi invented crowdsourcing for artificial intelligence. This made it possible for a vast amount of data to be collected and used for the Open Mind Common Sense project at MIT. A project with a goal of teaching computers what we consider as common sense. Catherine Havasi is a Research Scientist that specializes in artificial intelligence. We talked about her work in this area. She also explained the intersection between research and the enterprise.

A workplace can become a safe space for employees in many different ways. One of them is by enabling conversations around mental wellness. Beth Anne Katz, Program Manager at Microsoft talked about her struggle with depression and the importance of an accepting work environment. We talked about mental wellness and things that a workplace can do to be more welcoming. Beth Anne also talked about her initiatives to raise awareness around mental health, one of them is the podcast Katzbe Fights Depression. Note: If you would like to connect with a crisis counselor in the united states, you can text HOME to 741741. Thank you.

Providing opportunities to migrants can help them integrate to society and add value. In 2017 Marcela Torres founded HolaCode, a startup with a goal to integrate migrants in Mexico by teaching them software engineering skills. With these skills, they’ll have access to more jobs and opportunities. Marcela explained the challenges that migrants face and how they tackled them. We also talked about the tech scene in Mexico and in other parts of Latin America.

Designing technology with accessibility in mind is about making sure that your product can be used by a wide range of individuals. This includes people that have disabilities such as visual, speech, motor, among others. Jhillika Kumar, creator of Mentra talked about why she and her team built a hiring platform for people with autism. Jhillika explained the challenges people with autism face when looking for a job and how technology can help solve them. We also talked about her experience building a company while studying at Georgia Tech.

Startups can get funding in different ways. Susan Preston, Managing Partner at SeaChange Fund explained how startups can get funding from angel investors and venture capital. We talked about what the differences are and to evaluate companies before deciding to invest in them. Susan also talked about her first investments in the 90s and what she has learned throughout the years.

There are many ways in which organizations share their message and build a brand. One of them is through social media and social networking. Lauran Driver, Senior Client Partner at Twitter, explained the difference between Social Media and Social Networking. We talked about how digital media strategies are built by leveraging these tools. Lauran also explained her workflow for working with clients and partners in this space.

People that work in tech adapt to new technologies, learn new skills, and can work in different roles throughout their career. Asya Kamsky, Principal Developer Advocate at MongoDB, started her career in the late 80s. We talked about her experience working in software development, systems architect, product management, and most recently in developer advocacy. Asya gave advice about navigating a career in technology. We also talked about her work at MongoDB in measuring the performance of databases.

Behavioral science and artificial intelligence can enable recruiters and candidates to find a job that matches their skills and potential. Frida Polli, CEO and Founder of Pymetrics explained how behavioral science can be used to get insights from a candidate that we would not get from a resume. We talked about how games based on neuroscience can help candidates find a job. Frida also explained ways in which a recruiting can function like a recommendation engine.

Natural language processing is used across many different systems that people interact with. It can help us extract information and get insights from data. Thamar Solorio, Associate Professor at the University of Houston explained what Natural Language Processing or NLP consists of. We talked about how systems use it and different approaches of implementing it. Thamar explained how NLP is used to determine the author of a text and some applications for this system. Note: AnitaB.org was formerly known as Anita Borg Institute. Grace Hopper Conference refers to Grace Hopper Celebration.

Cybersecurity is about protecting systems, networks and programs. Jen Easterly, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley explained the core ideas behind cybersecurity. We talked about understanding and assessing threats and about the importance of understanding the adversary. Jen also explained what cybersecurity in financial services consists of and different roles in this domain.

Many applications we use are distributed systems. Some examples are ATM systems, social media and currency trading. Depending on the type of application, we might need to process system events in a logical order also known as causal order. Aly Cabral, Lead Product Manager at MongoDB, explained how causal order is implemented in a database system. We talked about several design implementations that she and her team at MongoDB considered. Aly explained concepts like distributed systems, clock synchronization and dependency tracking. MongoDB is a sponsor of the show.

Nimmi Ramanujam is developing technology to improve women’s health and well-being. While in graduate school, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Her experience with this diagnosis led her to develop a portable cervical cancer screening device. Nimmi explained how the device works and the process of designing it. We also talked about existing structural, emotional and cultural barriers present in women’s healthcare.

Design is a fundamental component for building technology. Heather Winkle, started her career in design in tech in the 90s. We talked about the panorama of the tech industry when she was first starting out and about some of the areas that she worked on. We also talked about leadership roles in design, designing financial products and the impact of design in an organization. Heather is Head of Design at Capital One.

Since 1994 hundreds and now thousands of women in technology gather for the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. Just this last year, 2019 it attracted 25,000 attendees from all over the world. The Grace Hopper Celebration, also known as GHC is organized by AnitaB.org, a global non-profit helping women in tech succeed. Kety Esquivel Vice President Head of Marketing and Communications at AnitaB.org explained the different goals they have to help reach gender equity in the tech industry. Kety also talked about AnitaB.org’s mission, GHC, and other programs that they organize throughout the year.

Space exploration allows us to understand our place in the universe. Natalya Bailey, CEO and Founder at Accion Systems, is on a mission to accelerate the exploration of space. We talked about satellite propulsion and advancements to make it more accessible. Natalya explained the different types of propulsion technologies: chemical propulsion and electric propulsion. We also talked about the process of developing a hardware product for space.

Data protection is a fundamental component in software systems across different domains. Ana-Maria Calin, Systems Engineer at Paybase explained what data protection is and the role of a Data Protection Officer. We talked about compliance and the General Data Protection Regulation, also known as GDPR. Ana also talked about Financial Technology and the challenges in this area.

As technology continues to be an important driving force in many industries, we still see a lack of representation from various minority groups. Having diverse teams building technologies that impact all of us is important to account for different perspectives or things that we otherwise wouldn’t have thought of. Robin Máxkii, a Native American technology activist and software engineer, talked about growing up in an Indian Reservation in the United States and her path to a career in technology. We also talked about her work running the first national Native American collegiate hackathon. Robin also explained different ways in which companies can be more inclusive.

Enabling people from various backgrounds to build technology can help us create better products and include different perspectives. Mehul Smriti Raje, Software Engineer at Google, talked about her involvement in getting more women into the tech industry. We talked about her time as an undergraduate student and her experience in participating in programming contests. Mehul explained how she saw a gender gap and why it was important to address it. We also talked about her trajectory in tech and various projects she has built.

Cryptography is fundamental to providing privacy and security over the internet. Tal Rabin, Head of Research of the Algorand Foundation, explained what cryptography is and the main ideas behind it. We talked about the building blocks of cryptography and how these can be used to build protocols and systems that provide privacy and security.

Mastercard is an American multinational financial services corporation founded in 1979. Dana Lorberg, Executive Vice President of Operations and Technology at Mastercard, joined the company in 1987 and was part of a team that programmed and designed some of the early systems at Mastercard. We talked about how software was developed throughout her career and about examples of technical constraints that influenced how software was designed and implemented with performance and availability in mind. Dana also talked about leadership, management and building a good working culture.

Advancements in hardware allow us to get better measurements and insights about our body movement. Nan-Wei Gong, CEO at Figur8 explained how we can obtain useful measurements about our body movements and how these can help us improve our health. We talked about the concept of movement intelligence and the technical components that are used for it. Nan-Wei also explained how she and her team are building a digital health platform and how they collaborate with people across many disciplines. At the end, we talked about entrepreneurship.

Technology is used across many different industries. This is one of the reasons why there are many opportunities for people working in tech. One of these areas is sales. Merrie Williamson, Vice President of Azure Apps and Infrastructure at Microsoft gives an overview of careers in sales within the tech industry. We talked about the advantage of having a technical background when working in technical sales. Merrie also explained what a transition path looks like from engineering to sales. At the end we talked about leadership, and career growth.

Design in tech is a collaborative process. Angela Guzman, Designer and Entrepreneur based out of Silicon Valley, explained how designers can work together to create unified designs. We talked about her work designing the first set of Apple emoji in 2008. Back then emoji were still in the early days and there were challenges in designing small icons. Angela also explained what diversity and inclusion in design means. At the end we talked about different areas of design that people in tech can focus on and about leadership positions.

Cloud computing is an area where we are constantly seeing new patterns and best practices emerge, especially around the Kubernetes ecosystem. One example is GitOps. Yvonne Radsmikham and Samiya Akhtar, Software Engineers at Microsoft, explained what GitOps is and how it changes the way applications are deployed to a Kubernetes cluster. We talked about different ways of deploying applications and the challenges that GitOps addresses.

The way software companies operate and develop software has changed dramatically in the last decades. Lisa Reeves, Senior Vice President of Product at Zenefits, started her career in technology in the early 90s. We talked about her time at SAP, a company that builds enterprise software since the 1970s and how software was developed at the time Lisa was there. Lisa also talked about her role as CEO of GridCraft, a software company that was acquired by Workday. At the end we discussed software solutions in Human Resources, and how she operates as SVP at Zenefits.