Leadership & Solo Parenting in Tech with Karis Dorrigan

Send us Fan MailNavigating Career Growth, Leadership, and Work-Life Balance with Karis DorriganIn this episode, Karis Dorrigan shares her inspiring journey from early days in product management to leading innovations at Qantas and Freely. We explore themes of intentional career design, overcoming systemic workplace gaps for women and solo parents, and reimagining the future of work to foster greater inclusivity and wellbeing.Karis is a Head of Product in InsurTech, Coach and Solo Parent.  Karis has led companies to their first million dollars of revenue and led product billion dollar enterprises, shifting  organisations to customer-first, product-led and outcome driven. She is a coach for mid career women in product and tech, looking to step into senior roles. Her mission is simple - to help more women get into leadership roles on their terms. Holding ambition and life together. When we have more women at the top, systems change, customers win, the economy growsKey Topics:Karis’s background growing up as a solo parent and the systemic challenges women face in the workforceThe importance of persistence and learning from failures in career growthHow intentionality, networking, and self-promotion can accelerate your careerInnovating in large enterprises through customer-led thinking and continuous improvementLessons from launching digital initiatives at Qantas, including voice experiences and international check-insNavigating public speaking nerves and practicing for impactful presentationsThe systemic gaps faced by solo parents in workplaces post-COVID and advocating for flexible, inclusive work rolesTheory and practice of gratitude as a tool for mental wellbeing and maintaining ambitionPractical ideas for rethinking workplace design: asynchronous work, core hours, four-day work weeks, and role flexibilityAdvice for young professionals: building networks, choosing impactful work, and focusing on outcomes rather than busy workKaris’s upcoming project helping product managers elevate into leadership rolesTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction and Karis’s career overview02:05 - Personal background and systemic challenges for women and solo parents03:23 - How early career experiences shaped her approach to product management05:07 - Advice for those uncertain about their career path07:10 - Transition into travel at Qantas and key innovations09:06 - The power of persistence and dealing with rejection12:00 - Keys to career acceleration at Qantas13:54 - Networking, visibility, and self-promotion strategies16:04 - Overcoming public speaking nerves and practicing effectively18:11 - Solo parenting challenges and systemic gaps in workplaces20:07 - Post-COVID workplace redesign and flexibility solutions22:37 - The importance of inclusive role design to retain women in tech26:35 - Future of work: four-day workweek and impact-based pay models28:38 - Practicing discomfort and testing innovative ideas in the workplace29:57 - Cultivating gratitude and balancing ambition with mindfulness35:07 - Advice to young people entering tech and the importance of relationship-building36:01 - The value of focusing on impactful work over busywork37:13 - Upcoming initiatives and how to connect with KarisResources & Links:Karis Dorrigan on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdorrigan/Connect with Karis:LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdorrigan/https://www.ambitionandlife.com/ Some people thrive in sales. Others in systems. Some build fast, others build deep. The difference isn't discipline. It's design. MoneyCareer.app uses your Chinese Ba Zi chart and Psychometric profile to show you the career and money path you were actually built for.www.moneycareer.app Are you in tech, get equity in your compensation and tired tax shocks?Check out www.equitytax.ai Support the [email protected]