Episode guides
Read through our episode summary and descriptions to learn more about our guests and topics discussed in our past episodes.
040 - Innovating in personal care with Virtue Labs CEO Melisse Shaban
Sonia is back from Amsterdam! Colleen meets Karen Okonkwo, the Co-Founder of TONL—the destination for premiere diverse stock photos. Then, Colleen interviews Melisse Shaban, the Founder & CEO at Virtue Labs, a biotech company creating products to repair hair. Our hosts wrap with a Cutting Edge conversation about the correlation between a company’s ROI in building diverse teams and the larger cultural importance of diversity.
Guests: Karen Okonkwo, Melisse Shaban
039 - Fixing Gender Inequality in the Workplace with Candour Founder Ruchika Tulshyan
Our hosts kick off the show with a conversation about Black History Month. Colleen chats with Nancy McSharry Jensen, the CEO and Co-founder at The Swing Shift—the destination for women in career transition. Sonia interviews Ruchika Tulshyan, the CEO and Founder of Candour, an inclusion strategy organization. Live on Microsoft’s campus, they discuss Ruchika’s book, The Diversity Advantage. The show wraps with a conversation about Pixar’s new short film, Purl.
Guests: Nancy McSharry Jensen, Ruchika Tulshyan
038 - Designing alongside excluded communities with Mismatch.design Founder Kat Holmes
Sonia and Colleen share progress on their new YouTube show, Microsoft Unboxed. Colleen chats with Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Nuevo Foundation, Beatris Mendez Gandica about her work to inspire kids to be curious, confident, and courageous by discovering the world of STEM. Our hosts interview the Founder of Mismatch.design and the Author of Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design, Kat Holmes. The show wraps with a conversation about The Wing’s updated admissions policy.
Guests: Beatris Mendez Gandica, Kat Holmes
037 - Bring Your Human to Work with Workplace Strategist Erica Keswin
Our hosts kick off the show with rave reviews about the multi-level marketing investigative podcast, The Dream. Then, Sonia and Colleen play a round of Persist the Game with creators MaryBeth Pecha and Kathryn Ekloff. Sonia interviews bestselling author, workplace strategist, and Founder of The Spaghetti Project, Erica Keswin. Our hosts wrap with a conversation about entrepreneur Alexa von Tobel’s $200M capital raise.
Guests: Kathryn Eckloff, MaryBeth Pecha, Erica Keswin
036 - Exploring privilege and patenting with Mobile Device Architect Ginger Chien
Sonia and Colleen kick off 2019 by sharing their New Year’s resolutions. Our hosts chat with Edaena Salinas, the host of The Women in Tech Show podcast, about her show origins and how she sources great guests. Sonia interviews Mobile Device Architect, D&I Speaker, Rock Musician, Storyteller, and Science Wonk Ginger Chien about serial patenting and her commitment to greater workplace inclusion. Our hosts wrap the show with a look at how onscreen demographic trends translate at the Box Office.
Guests: Edaena Salinas, Ginger Chien
035 - Crowdfunding Beanie Babies with Girls’ Night In CEO Alisha Ramos
Sonia delivers a weekend debrief on ALPFA’s fundraising gala. We hear from Female Founder School Co-Founders Katie Doherty and Brittney Riley about their work to empower early stage founders with the skills and community to build successful companies. Colleen interviews Alisha Ramos, the Founder and CEO of Girls’ Night In, a community of women who’d rather stay in tonight. Our hosts wrap up with a conversation about Michelle Obama’s book tour comments on the strategy of leaning in.
034 - Shaping legacies with Tracie Group CEO Jill Tracie Nichols
Sonia recaps Dona Sarkar’s latest book, Spin Your Tale: The Fiction Writer’s Guide to Your Personal Brand. Colleen learns more about the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) from local Seattle leaders Carlos Ruiz and Lester Moses. Guest host Pamela Soberman interviews CEO of the Tracie Group and former Microsoft Chief of Staff to the CEO, Jill Tracie Nichols. Our hosts wrap the show with a conversation about how Britain’s Equal Pay Day highlighted the gender pay gap.
033 - Incorporating Inclusion Riders with Annenberg Inclusion Initiative Founder Dr. Stacy Smith
Colleen shares a debrief on her experience enrolling in a Dale Carnegie Immersion Seminar. Sonia connects with Microsoft employees Kristin Carr and Briana Roberts about Returnity, a program to support mothers reentering the workplace. Colleen interviews Dr. Stacy Smith, the founder and director of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and the originator of the concept of an inclusion rider. Our hosts take a look at how brands celebrated International Day of the Girl.
Guests: Dr. Stacy Smith, Kristin Carr, Briana Roberts
032 - WorkPartying with Create & Cultivate Founder Jaclyn Johnson
Colleen and Sonia chat about WorkParty, a new book by Create & Cultivate Founder Jaclyn Johnson. Producer Lexi Swanson reports on Ready Set Raise, an accelerator program launched by the Female Founders Alliance. We hear from FFA Founder Leslie Feinzaig as well as members of the first accelerator cohort. Colleen interviews Johnson, and the show wraps with a conversation about the Geekwire profiles of 50 women VCs and angel investors in the Pacific Northwest.
031 - Celebrating Grace Hopper with AnitaB.org CEO Brenda Darden Wilkerson
Sonia returns from the launch event for four new Surface devices. Then, women of Microsoft share their stories from the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. Colleen speaks with the President and CEO of the AnitaB.org, Brenda Darden Wilkerson. Our hosts wrap with a conversation about the California state law that mandates female board directors.
030 - Amplifying inclusion at Microsoft Ignite with Startup Technical Advisor Claudia Galván
Our hosts are in Orlando, FL at Microsoft Ignite, a conference where IT pros are skilling up. Sonia interviews Microsoft Diversity & Tech Community Lead Shona Chee about the onsite activations promoting inclusion. Colleen interviews Silicon Valley startup Technical Advisor Claudia Galván about her commitment to getting more women into STEM.
029 - Achieving clarity through coaching with Tenshey CEO Maggie Chan Jones
Sonia returns from the Forbes Under 30 Summit in Amsterdam. Our hosts chat with Microsoft summer interns before they head back to school. Colleen interviews Tenshey founder and CEO Maggie Chan Jones about advancing gender diversity in the workplace through coaching programs. The show wraps with a conversation about information sharing across cultural boundaries.
028 - Becoming an unapologetic feminist mother with Chairman Mom CEO Sarah Lacy
Sonia and Colleen chat with SassyBlack, a singer, songwriter, and producer who composed a new set of songs for this show! Our hosts celebrate one year of podcasting with a live interview with the Founder of PandoMedia and Chairman Mom, Sarah Lacy. They wrap the show with recommendations on how to better support friends’ careers. Please subscribe, rate, and share the episode.
027 - Designing understanding with Chineasy Founder ShaoLan
Sonia and Colleen kick off the show at the Microsoft One Week Hackathon, the largest private hackathon on the planet. Colleen interviews teams at Imagine Cup, a global competition that empowers the next generation of computer science students to create new applications. Sonia interviews ShaoLan, the Creator and Founder of Chineasy.
026 - Connecting at Microsoft Inspire with Corporate Vice President Gavriella Schuster
Sonia and Colleen head to Las Vegas for Microsoft Inspire, the company’s biggest partner event. Global Chairperson Christine Bongard shares more about the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners Women in Technology community. Colleen interviews Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of the One Commercial Partner team, Gavriella Schuster.
025 - Delivering style and substance with Refinery29’s Piera Gelardi and Finola Austin
In episode 25, Sonia celebrates her first half marathon and Colleen learns about Women in Cloud, an organization empowering female tech entrepreneurs. Sonia interviews Piera Gelardi and Finola Austin of Refinery29, the leading global media company focused on young women. To end, both discuss a profile of Lauren Simmons, the only full-time female NYSE stockbroker.
024 - Committing to culture with Microsoft’s Chief People Officer Kathleen Hogan
We hear from writer, director, and producer Serena Schuler about her upcoming comedy TV series focused on a female founder, Makeshift Society (www.MakeshiftSociety.com). Our hosts interview Microsoft’s Chief People Officer Kathleen Hogan about the company’s culture transformation. We wrap with Procter & Gamble’s pledge to have women direct 50% of ads by 2023.
023 - Forging team and product inclusion with Glowforge CEO Dan Shapiro
Sonia and Colleen play Robot Turtles, a game that teaches kids about programming. We hear from attendees at a STEM Exploration Day coordinated by Young Women Empowered. Colleen interviews Glowforge CEO Dan Shapiro about building inclusive teams and products. Our hosts wrap with coverage of BCG’s recent analysis, “Why Women-Owned Startups are a Better Bet.”
022 - Defining work flexibility with Werk Co-CEO Annie Dean
Colleen and Sonia debrief after Seattle Business magazine’s Daring Women Seattle. The duo visits Lights, Camera, IGNITE!, a gala to support programming that introduces girls in grades 6-12 to STEM careers. Sonia interviews Werk Co-CEO Annie Dean about work flexibility. Our hosts discuss Backstage Capital’s $36M fund to invest in black female founders.
021 - Kicking off Microsoft Build with Corporate Vice President Charlotte Yarkoni
Recorded at Build, Sonia speaks with the Cloud Developer Advocates—a team empowering developers to do more with the cloud. Colleen talks to Nina Baliga, the CEO of <div>ersity, a Glassdoor-type website focused on diversity and inclusion. Colleen interviews Charlotte Yarkoni, the CVP of Growth and Ecosystems, to talk about the importance of STEM education.
020 - Navigating the Women in Tech Regatta with Cynthia Tee and Melody Biringer
Recorded at Seattle’s Women in Tech Regatta, Colleen and Sonia connect with the event creator, Melody Biringer to learn more about her motivation to curate a week of educational events, workshops, and conversations. Then, Colleen interviews Fethya Ibrahim, the secretary of the local professional chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. Sonia interviews Cynthia Tee, the former Executive Director of Ada Developers Academy and an Advisory Board Member for the WiT Regatta.
019 - Exploring accountability with Keita Williams and Steve Petitpas
Sonia recaps her recent experience at Beyond 98052: When the Customer Isn’t You, an event focused on inclusive marketing hosted by BlackLight, a community of black marketers at Microsoft. Then, Colleen chats with the Founder and Chief Strategist of Success Bully, Keita Williams, about the criticality of community in forming and achieving big goals. Sonia interviews GM of Microsoft Digital Stores and Microsoft.com Services Steve Petitpas about his role as a Co-Executive Sponsor of diversity and inclusion.
018 - Tackling maker spaces and hackathons with Xyla Foxlin
Colleen and Sonia reflect on an amazing Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day activities. Then, Colleen chats with Kate Sommer, the LocalLEVO Seattle leader and community manager about their monthly meetups. Sonia interviews Xyla Foxlin, the founder and CEO of Parihug and the host and producer of Beauty and the Bolt. Our hosts wrap up the show with a discussion about inclusion riders and NPR’s coverage of Frances McDormand’s Oscar acceptance speech.
017 - Taking the Better Together Pledge with Jonathan Sposato
Colleen shares an update on her exploration of sports and leadership after checking out the Seattle Ignited Women Project and an F Bomb Cocktail Club event. Then, Sonia has a conversation with Lauren Wesley Wilson, the Founder and President of ColorComm. Colleen interviews serial entrepreneur, investor, and author Jonathan Sposato about his book, Better Together: 8 Ways Working with Women Leads to Extraordinary Products and Profits. Our hosts wrap it up with a conversation about women in cryptocurrency.
016 - Celebrating International Women’s Day with CVP Toni Townes-Whitley
In this bonus episode, Sonia and Colleen celebrate a very special moment - International Women’s Day 2018! To mark the occasion, the hosts break from their typical show format to dive into the history of IWD & offer some ways that you can take part in the moment. Toni Townes-Whitley, Microsoft Corporate VP of Industry, joins Sonia in the studio for an incredible interview, where she covers topics like career majors and minors, her work-life balance philosophies, and the importance of representation
015 - Becoming the CEO of your dreams with Serrah Linares
Colleen and Sonia debrief on an event called #MeToo in Seattle Tech: What Men Can Do, a gathering where male allies learned more about how to support women at work. Then, Colleen talks all about the intersection of healthcare and tech, as well as the HIMSS18 conference with Serrah Linares, the Global Vice President of Sales and Commercial Operations at KenSci. To wrap it up, our hosts discuss the #MentorHer campaign launched by Sheryl Sandberg’s LeanIn.org.
014 - Caging confidence gremlins with UK Marketing Director Helen Tupper
Fresh from the Female Founders Alliance Champion Awards, Sonia chats with Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno of Ladies Get Paid about the takeaways from her Salary Negotiation 101 workshop. Then, Colleen interviews Microsoft Commercial Marketing Director for the UK market, Helen Tupper, who talks about managing “squiggly” careers and pursuing passion projects. Our hosts wrap it up with a look at Google’s 3D exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
013 - Rearchitecting the tech pipeline with Kal Viswanathan
Prepare to be inspired! Colleen sits down with Kal Viswanathan, a HoloLens Principal Software Engineer by day, and a philanthropist at her very own Kal Academy by…weekend. But before that interview, Sonia talks to Emily d’Andrea to learn about Women Think Next and the organization’s upcoming programs that our listeners can join. Finally, in Cutting Edge, Colleen and Sonia discuss an article about this year’s Consumer Electronic Show and the event’s lack of female keynote speakers.
012 - Getting started with community builder Megan McNally
In Episode 12, Colleen travels to the inaugural Lady Bosses Gala to interview Dr. Alysondra Duke, the founder of Lady Bosses, a community that promotes women’s empowerment and unapologetic badassery. Later in the episode, Sonia meets another badass, Megan McNally, a serial entrepreneur who is creating almost faster than we can record. Then in Cutting Edge, we discuss whether AI can improve the human condition or if it might sustain cultural biases.
011 - Engineering the team with Star Treknical Goddess Laura Butler
Colleen sits down with Microsoft Vice President and Star Treknical Goddess, Laura Butler. Sonia visits the inaugural launch of Tech Ladies Seattle, and learns more about the value of bringing the community to the west coast. In the Cutting Edge segment, Sonia and Colleen discuss Ellen Pao’s Medium post on the importance of measuring diversity and inclusion program data. Please subscribe, rate, and share the episode. Send any and all feedback to WIBT@microsoft.com or tweet @MicrosoftWomen.
010 - Ambika Singh offers infinite style
Sonia and Colleen aren’t playing games in this episode, but Colleen chats with two coordinators of Women in Gaming, a community focused on celebrating women in the interactive and entertainment tech industry. Sonia talks to Ambika Singh, the CEO of Armoire, about how she is helping women take time back by offering a curated wardrobe subscription service. In the Cutting Edge segment, Colleen and Sonia discuss the impact of emotional labor.
009 - Driving innovation with Accessibility Architect Mary Bellard
In this episode, Colleen speaks with Microsoft Senior Accessibility Architect Mary Bellard to learn more about how to incorporate accessibility into product development processes. Colleen and Sonia network over beers to support Techbridge Girls, an organization dedicated to advancing opportunity for girls in STEM. Our hosts wrap the show with a discussion about representing jobs in the tech industry that don’t require technical skill sets.
008 - Julia White’s journey to the cloud
In this episode, Colleen heads to a day-long coding camp at Code Fellows, and Sonia has a great conversation with Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Cloud Platform, Julia White. Have you ever wondered why men are more supportive of gender parity in private than in public? Sonia and Colleen discuss a Harvard Business Review article that points to some answers in social psychological processes.
007 - Revolutionizing retail with Fitcode’s CEO
In this episode, Sonia interviews Rian Buckley, the Co-Founder and CEO of Fitcode, a tech company aspiring to make it easier for women to shop for jeans. But first, we check in with attendees of the Grace Hopper Celebration—the largest gathering of women technologists in the world. Lastly, Colleen and Sonia discuss Women in the Workplace 2017, a report released by Lean In and McKinsey & Company.
006 - Journey to the C-Suite with Marimekko’s CEO
In this episode Sonia shares her experience at the Lean In Seattle chapter’s monthly event, and we hear from some of the attendees. Then, Colleen goes in-depth with Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko about her journey to the C-Suite at Marimekko, a renowned global design company. In the Cutting Edge segment, Colleen and Sonia discuss how the normalization of remote work could help solve tech’s gender gap.
005 - Live from Microsoft Ignite!
We are live from Microsoft Ignite, where we joined more than 20,000 IT professionals in Orlando Florida. In an interview with Information Security professional and author Tarah Wheeler, she gives us insight into her book, Women in Tech, and teases a few upcoming projects. We also get to hear from the force behind the Women in Business & Technology track at Microsoft Ignite, Dawn Conner. We wrap up the show with a discussion on the cultural sensitivity around name pronunciation.
004 - Strategies for Male Allies and Advocates
In this episode, Sonia and Colleen head to the Create & Cultivate conference and speak with attendees about the criticality of community in building a career. We then meet male advocate Scott Hanselman, who shares his best practices on building inclusive teams and “lending his privilege” to communities that are underrepresented in technology.
003 - How can a leadership coach help you?
In this episode we learn where you can be part of a supportive community and how a professional coach can help you. First, Sonia gets insights on the community building company, Janes of Digital. Second, Colleen shares her conversation with insightful leadership coach, Carrie George. Her insights can help you move forward and understand how to take down barriers.
002 - Unboxing the future of STEM
In this episode, Colleen and Sonia unpack the future of STEM by hearing from a scientist-turned-entrepreneur about her passion for developing the next generation of steminists. You will also learn how to build your community in advance of and at events by leveraging the power of LinkedIn. Finally, Sonia and Colleen reflect on the importance of making women role models in STEM more visible to young girls.
001 - Microsoft Ignite plus Dona Sarkar
In episode one we get to meet our hosts Colleen O’Brien and Sonia Dara for the first time and learn about the Women in Business & Technology Podcast. At Microsoft Ignite, Women in Business & Technology will have its own track and guess speakers. It will be a great time to learn and connect. But the star of this episode is author, fashion blogger and tech leader, Dona Sarkar. Listen, learn and be inspired to achieve more.
