Leading Without Shrinking: Identity, Power, and Growth in Tech (S1 E12)

In this episode of Femmegineering: Podcast, our host Hanna Abdel Hamid is joined by Elaine Montilla — technology executive, author, TEDx speaker, and founder of 5xMinority.Elaine shares her journey from starting in IT at the help desk to leading large-scale transformations as a CIO and CTO. The conversation explores what it means to build a career strategically, invest in yourself, and grow into leadership without losing your identity. They discuss inclusive leadership, navigating bias, sponsorship versus mentorship, personal branding, and why psychological safety and representation matter in tech.This episode is an honest, grounded conversation about confidence, visibility, and leading with empathy — especially for women and underrepresented voices shaping the future of technology.