WomenWise

Send us Fan MailWhat does it take to build a career in tech as a woman — through career breaks, personal loss, and a global pandemic? In this episode of the Women Wise Podcast, host Kalina sits down with Nazrin, Head of IT Services and Business Transformation at Zurich Workplace Solutions, recording live from Dubai.Nazrin shares her remarkable journey from being the first female engineer in her family to leading large-scale enterprise transformation in financial services. She opens up about navigating two career breaks, re-entering the industry with persistence and purpose, and why she believes failure is just data waiting to be understood.They also dive into the future of AI, the critical role of governance in regulated industries, and what it really takes to build and lead high-performing teams.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailCuriosity is what separates teams that simply move fast from teams that solve the problems that matter.In this WomenWise Podcast episode, Kalina sits down with Manou Campbell, Head of Data and Information Systems at Medik8, to unpack what high-performing teams are really made of in fast-moving tech and data environments. Together, they explore how hiring choices shape team dynamics, why “fit” can become a limitation, and how leaders can balance delivery pressure with the conditions people need to think clearly and creatively.Manou shares why diverse teams can feel slower at first - but often outperform over time - and what it looks like to build psychological safety in a way that’s consistent, practical, and embedded in day-to-day leadership.If you’re building a team, leading one, or navigating high-stakes delivery in data and tech, this conversation offers grounded insights you can apply immediately.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the WomenWise Podcast, host Kavita Sharma speaks with Charlotte Frijns, CFO of Publicis Group, about ambition, timing, and making bold career moves before you feel fully prepared.Charlotte reflects on her journey from the Netherlands to London, starting out at PwC, moving into the media industry, and ultimately stepping into CFO leadership. She shares a defining moment when she took on a Finance Director role despite doubts - including voices around her telling her she wasn’t ready.The conversation explores navigating senior roles while raising young children, the guilt many women feel around flexibility, and how open dialogue and autonomy can keep women progressing rather than dropping out. Charlotte also reflects on why career development shouldn’t be paused indefinitely, even during busy life phases.An honest and grounding conversation about confidence, timing, and why growth often begins outside your comfort zone.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the WomenWise Podcast, Diya Badigar, WomenWise ambassador joined by Julie Brignac, Senior Vice President at Proxima, a leading procurement and supply chain consultancy.Julie shares her journey from starting out as an administrative assistant to becoming a senior leader - and what it really takes to grow a career as an underrepresented woman. We talk about networking, mentorship vs sponsorship, owning your career narrative, work-life balance, and why you should never wait for permission to take up space.An honest, empowering conversation for anyone figuring out their next move.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the WomenWise Podcast, host Charlotte Goodger sits down with Remi Iyun, Finance Director, to unpack a career journey that doesn’t follow a straight line - and why that’s not a weakness.Remi reflects on more than 20 years in finance, moving from accountant to Finance Director, navigating male-dominated environments, stepping back from progression while raising her children, and rebuilding confidence after years of staying in the same role. She speaks candidly about the realities of returning from maternity leave, the lack of flexibility early in her career, and the moment she questioned whether she was still “good enough” to move forward.This conversation goes beyond job titles. It’s about leadership through people, the power of allies and sponsors, learning to lead with empathy - and why taking a pause doesn’t mean losing momentum.A thoughtful and honest listen for anyone navigating ambition, caregiving, confidence, and long-term career growth.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailLast year, 60,000 women left the UK tech industry costing an estimated £3.5 billion.They didn’t just leave because of childcare or confidence. They left mainly because of culture, leadership, and a total lack of clear progression.In this episode of the WomenWise podcast, WomenWise founder Kalina sits down with Christina Lewis - former senior leader at Deliveroo and Bolt, and founder of Horizon - to unpack what’s really going on for women in tech, and why “fixing women” has never been the answer.Together, they explore:Why emotional intelligence is a commercial skill, not a “nice to have”The difference between performing confidence and genuinely owning your strengthsHow leadership styles and micro-behaviours push women out of tech rolesPractical, everyday things managers can do to retain and grow the women in their teamsWhat women can do for themselves without contorting into a mouldIf you’re a woman in tech wondering why progressing still feels so hard - or a leader who genuinely wants to keep and develop the women in your organisation - this conversation will give you language, data and concrete ideas to explore.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailIn this WomenWise episode, Azmina Airi, Group Financial Controller at Channel 4, shares the real story behind her career in global finance — the highs, the hurdles, and the moments that reshaped her perspective.From travelling the world in audit, to leading major finance teams, to navigating motherhood and working through a cancer diagnosis, Azmina opens up about what leadership truly looks like when life doesn’t go to plan.She reflects on choosing authenticity over fitting in, letting go of perfection, and learning to see work and life as one interconnected journey rather than a delicate balance.This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt stretched, overwhelmed, or unsure - and needed the reminder that you can still lead, grow, and thrive through life’s hardest moments.🎧 Tune in to hear Azmina’s insights on:Leading with empathy and humanityRedefining success after personal adversityWhy authenticity is a leadership strengthNavigating career growth while raising a familyThe importance of credible, value-driven leadershipPart of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Kalina Tomova, Founder of WomenWise, sits down with Shraddha Nayak, Head of Engineering, who quite literally planned her tech career at 10 years old.Shraddha and Kalina talk about how a shy girl in an all-girls engineering college became the kind of leader who runs global teams, shapes engineering strategy, and still leads with heart, curiosity and intention. She shares honestly about the times she didn’t get leadership right, what she learned from failing in front of her team, and how she shifted from command-and-control to seeing herself as a coach.We also get into:what it really means to build a career in tech on purposehow all-girls education gave her a voice and planted the first seeds of leadershipthe difference between mentorship, coaching and sponsorship (and why all three matter for women in tech)her take on diversity quotas, inclusion, and what actually helps women progresshow self-advocacy isn’t optional and how she’s still practising it nowIf you’re a woman in tech stepping into leadership (or you manage women who are), this conversation will give you both reassurance that you’re not alone and a nudge to be a bit bolder, more intentional, and kinder to yourself on the way up.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Sophie Engwell, Head of Financial Control at Grosvenor, opens up about the power of speaking up and finding confidence at work. From overcoming self-doubt as a young manager to challenging moments of bias, Sophie shares why your voice matters — and how to use it effectively.She also reflects on balancing ambition with life changes, including motherhood, and why kindness, listening, and courage are essential traits for leadership today.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailWelcome to our Finance Series!In this episode, Tejal Maniar, former Managing Director at BT One Phone, shares how she built confidence, found her voice in male-dominated industries, and learned to balance career success with wellbeing. From embracing discomfort to discovering your superpower, Tejal’s story is full of lessons on growth, resilience, and authentic leadership.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailIn this WomenWise Podcast episode, clinical psychologist Dr Ellie Hambly joins host Kalina Tomova to explore burnout, resilience and the power of emotional alignment. Drawing from her own experience of burnout and years of work supporting parents and families, Ellie shares practical insights on how to recognise stress, reconnect with your values and build balance in a world that glorifies hustle. She also discusses the role of AI in therapy and what workplaces can learn from parenting about creating emotionally supportive environments. 🔗 And if you’re a parent feeling close to burnout, Ellie’s created a free Parent’s Reset Guide... simple steps to help you calm your mind, reset your energy, and feel more like you again. Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Natasha Minter, founder of Model Me and Events by Tash, opens up about her personal journey from body dysmorphia and imposter syndrome to self-acceptance and purpose. Through her experience in the modelling industry and her work empowering others, Natasha shares how she learned to challenge negative self-talk, protect her wellbeing, and nurture a stronger sense of self-worth.Her message is clear: growth starts from within. This conversation will leave you reflecting on your own inner dialogue - and how tending to the ‘garden of your heart’ can transform your life.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailMaike Currie joins Kalina Tomova to unpack why women save more but invest less—and how we can change that. From the gender pension gap to starting with just £25/month, this episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to take control of their financial future.Maike is starting a course called MPowered Investor - MPowered Investors | 6-Week Online Investing Course for Women. Make sure you check it out!Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the WomenWise Podcast, Kalina Tomova sits down with Marta Bukala, Head of Digital at Bayer Consumer Health, to explore how curiosity - not coding - has shaped her journey through digital transformation, AI, and innovation.From growing up in Poland with a traditional approach to success, to leading cutting-edge tech initiatives without a technical degree, Marta opens up about:Why trusting your intuition can be your greatest tech superpowerWhat it really takes to lead during uncertaintyHow to switch from a fixed to a growth mindset when it matters mostThe true environmental cost of AI - and why we need to start asking better questionsWhy design thinking, not just data, must shape the future of healthtechThis is a story of reinvention, bold thinking, and building human-centred innovation in a world obsessed with performance. Whether you're stepping into your first leadership role or shaping strategy at scale, this episode will remind you to stay curious, stay brave, and lead with impact.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the WomenWise Podcast, Kalina Tomova speaks with Amy Combrinck - a seasoned coach, trainer, and former Google leader - who now empowers individuals and teams to have the conversations that matter most.Together, they unpack:The biggest myths around negotiationWhy women often don’t ask - and what happens when they doThe science of anchoring in salary discussionsThe difference between emotion and passion in high-stakes conversationsHow leaders can create safer cultures for open dialogueWith nearly 20 years in digital media and tech, Amy brings a refreshing, people-first approach to negotiation - one that’s less about the “win” and more about connection, clarity, and long-term impact.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Women Wise Podcast, we sit down with Lina Mikolajczyk, Director of Data Science and Engineering at Bumble, to explore her inspiring career journey from medicine to data science. Lina shares her bold career pivots, the importance of taking risks, and how women can overcome imposter syndrome to advocate for themselves. She also discusses leadership, transparency, and how to empower others to take more creative risks. Tune in for valuable insights on growth, self-confidence, and redefining success in tech.Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!

Send us Fan MailIn celebration of Women’s History Month, we're launching the WomenWise Podcast and featuring Joanne Biggadike, a leader in data governance. Joanne shares her unconventional journey into tech, highlighting the importance of transferable skills, mentorship, and leadership. She discusses how women can break barriers in the industry and succeed by focusing on their own growth, not comparison.🎧 Listen now to hear Joanne’s inspiring advice on owning your space in tech!Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.Keep in touch and find out more about WomenWise!