The Impact Room by Women@Tech

In the final episode of "The Impact Room," series 2, host Delfina Grossi chats with E-J Roodt, the founder of ePowar, an app that uses newly-patented technology to revolutionise women’s safety.E-J shares the "light bulb moment" that led her to create the app after a traditional rape alarm proved to be impractical. She realized that if wearable devices could detect heart attacks, they could also be used to detect physical attacks. This led her to partner with co-founder Maks to build an AI-powered personal safety app that monitors smartwatch data, including heart rate and body motion, to automatically sense distress and send an emergency alert.E-J also discusses the "double whammy of difficulty" she faced as a female founder building a product for women in a male-dominated tech industry. She explains that ePowar is free because she doesn't want to add extra burdens to women's lives. The app’s purpose is to provide a tool that gives women back a sense of "power and control" by automatically recording evidence and alerting contacts in the event of an attack, without the need for manual activation. Ultimately, E-J is on a mission to build tech-for-good and create a world where women feel safe and empowered. https://www.epowar.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of Career Corner, co-producer Abhi Morjaria steps into the spotlight to share her journey through two very different maternity leaves — and how motherhood reshaped her identity, mindset, and career path.Abhi opens up about the mental and emotional toll of postpartum, returning to work, and the unexpected professional growth that followed. With warmth and wisdom, she discusses the pressures working mothers face and why flexibility at work should be a right, not a reward.Whether you're planning for parenthood, currently on leave, or trying to balance deadlines with daycare pickups, this episode offers solidarity, perspective, and hope — plus practical advice on how to advocate for yourself, ask for help, and build a support system that helps you thrive at work and at home.We want to hear from YOU! ✨Career Corner is your chance to ask us about anything you’re facing at work – big, small, or anything in between. We’ve got your back! With insights from experts across the tech industry and our amazing Women@Tech community, we’re here to help you navigate whatever’s on your mind.Got a dilemma you’re not ready to bring up with colleagues? Or maybe you just need a fresh perspective? No worries – the Women@Tech community is here for you. 💪Reach out to us via email or our social channels. Just email your question to: [email protected] (make sure to put “Career Corner” in the subject line!). We’re excited to hear from you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this inspiring episode of The Impact Room, Mitali speaks with Hosanna Hali, founder of The Tech Corner and a powerhouse voice in tech advocacy. Hosanna shares her unique journey from business school to cybersecurity sales engineering, while growing an online community of over 170K women looking to break into and thrive in tech.The episode unpacks her experience on building a non-linear career, the importance of visibility and documentation in career progression, and how to make tech relatable and accessible—especially for women from underrepresented backgrounds.Expect candid conversations on salary transparency, life balance, moving from big tech to startups, and why Hosanna believes listening to the market is a career superpower. Whether you’re early in your tech journey or a seasoned leader, this episode is packed with practical insight and authentic wisdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Career Corner, tech professional Ariadna Puig Engel shares her inspiring career journey, from studying industrial engineering in Spain to working in product management at Samsung in the UK. She discusses her transition into partnerships and business development, and the pivotal moment when she decided to take a sabbatical to travel the world.Ariadna offers valuable insights on recognizing when you've outgrown a job versus experiencing burnout, and how to take the leap into a new career path without feeling like you're making a mistake. She emphasizes the importance of listening to your gut, seeking mentorship, and leveraging your existing skills in new industries.We want to hear from YOU! ✨Career Corner is your chance to ask us about anything you’re facing at work – big, small, or anything in between. We’ve got your back! With insights from experts across the tech industry and our amazing Women@Tech community, we’re here to help you navigate whatever’s on your mind.Got a dilemma you’re not ready to bring up with colleagues? Or maybe you just need a fresh perspective? No worries – the Women@Tech community is here for you. 💪 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode our host Mitali is joined by Lee Chambers. Lee is the chief psychologist and founder of Essentialise and Male Allies UK. After a diverse career, from corporate finance to building a tech company. he now focuses on supporting organisations to engage men in inclusion, accelerate gender equity and promote effective allyship. In this conversation, Lee shares his experiences as a Black autistic man, a stay-at-home dad, and his journey to walk again after acquiring a chronic illness - and how these experiences have shaped his work in male allyship. Mitali & Lee explore: How  we can close the gender gaps, reduce micro-aggressions and create more opportunities in an equitable wayThe prejudices Lee faced on pivoting to a purposeful career and how he challenged themHow individuals can open up their perspective, be curious and build a life skill The drivers of fear preventing men to get involved in inclusion How Male Allies works with organisations to grow allyship competency: including building skillsets with masterclasses and workshops.You can find more information about Lee's work here: https://www.maleallies.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Kristen Don, who has spent the past 8 years carving out her career at Uber. Kristen shares how taking ownership of her growth and embracing non-linear moves—like secondments, short-term projects, and lateral shifts—has helped her build new skills, gain diverse experiences, and expand her network. Kristen explores the notion that a career path isn’t always a straight ladder—it’s more like a climbing wall. Progress doesn’t always come from moving up or out; sometimes the best next step is sideways within your organisation and the power of mentors and sponsors in helping you achieve your goals. Kristen also opens up about relocating internationally from Scotland to San Francisco with her role, offering insight into the rewards and challenges of making bold career moves abroad.We want to hear from YOU! ✨Career Corner is your chance to ask us about anything you’re facing at work – big, small, or anything in between. We’ve got your back! With insights from experts across the tech industry and our amazing Women@Tech community, we’re here to help you navigate whatever’s on your mind.Got a dilemma you’re not ready to bring up with colleagues? Or maybe you just need a fresh perspective? No worries – the Women@Tech community is here for you. 💪Reach out to us via email or our social channels. Just email your question to: [email protected] (make sure to put “Career Corner” in the subject line!). We’re excited to hear from you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode our hosts Mitali and Delphine are joined by two undisputed leaders driving change for working parents, carers and guardians. Jessica Heargran is ex Financial Services Director, mother of four, award-winning CEO and founder of Careers After Babies. Jess is also the author of landmark report Careers After Babies, the report that went viral in 2023 for disclosing the truth about being a working parent in the UK. Jess now works with organisations transforming them into world-class employers of working parents through their transformative accreditations.Han-Son is the founder of DaddiLife. With a background across brand development, research and strategy across a number of the world's leading brands, Han-Son personally led the research programmes into the modern day dad - The Dad Index and The Millennial Dad at Work, His work has been profiled in the likes of The Financial Times, Daily Telegraph and Huffington Post.This conversation explores Jessica’s and Han-Son’s personal experiences after becoming parents -  and how these experiences drove them to challenge the status quo for working parents. Sharing powerful stories and insights, Jessica and Han-Son demonstrate how organisations can make simple changes that benefit working parents with dramatic results. If you have time please complete the latest Careers After Babies Survey. They would love to hear from under-represented groups, non-typical family units and Dads!  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F7ZYXLR Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Career Corner from The Impact Room, Keran welcomes Alpa, the UK and Ireland co-lead for Women at Cisco, who has been with Cisco for over 15 years in various roles. Alpa is known for her work supporting women in tech and her passion for colour consultation and personal styling. The discussion centres around the concept of personal branding, which Alpa defines as embodying who you are as a person, including your values, strengths, and skills. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring that your personal brand aligns with how you want to be perceived at work and in the communities you engage with. Alpa explains the process of colour consultation, which involves identifying the right shades and tints that suit an individual's skin undertone. She highlights how wearing the right colours can enhance confidence and authenticity, positively affecting personal and professional interactions. The episode also includes listener messages and questions about personal branding and colour consultation, with Alpa providing advice on building and maintaining an authentic personal brand. Throughout the conversation, Alpa shares practical tips on reflecting on your values, strengths, and skills, and using colour strategically to enhance your personal brand. She encourages listeners to be true to themselves and explore colours that make them feel confident. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of workplaces accepting diverse personal brands and embracing individuality and authenticity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this compelling episode, host Mitali is joined by Joy Burnford, founder of Encompass Equality, to tackle one of today’s most pressing workplace challenges: retaining women in the workforce and redefining leadership for a more inclusive future.The conversation explores the systemic barriers that drive women to leave their roles, revealing surprising factors like workplace culture, ineffective line management, and burnout—problems that go far beyond personal circumstances. Joy shares her personal journey, from her entrepreneurial roots to becoming a champion for equity, including candid reflections on building confidence later in life.Together, Mitali and Joy unpack actionable strategies to break the cycle, spotlighting solutions like sponsorship programs, adaptive leadership practices, and fostering cultural change. They challenge traditional workplace structures, discussing the risks of rigid return-to-office mandates and why women-only programs may fall short of driving systemic change.Key themes include:Reframing Networking: Building genuine connections over self-promotion.Fixing Systems, Not Women: Why workplace structures must evolve for true gender equality.Inclusive Leadership Programs: How mixed-gender initiatives empower all employees.The Role of Innovation: Leveraging AI to de-bias hiring, monitor meeting dynamics, and foster equity.The Growth Mindset for Leaders: Practical tips to step out of comfort zones and create workplaces where everyone thrives.This episode is packed with insights, personal stories, and practical advice for leaders, allies, and change-makers. Tune in to explore the intersection of leadership, gender equality, and workplace innovation—and learn how to build a future where everyone can thrive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're excited to introduce Career Corner, a bi-weekly short series of our podcast, The Impact Room, where we tackle career dilemmas raised by our listeners. 💡Career Corner is your chance to ask us about anything you’re facing at work – big, small, or anything in between. We’ve got your back! With insights from experts across the tech industry and our amazing Women@Tech community, we’re here to help you navigate whatever’s on your mind. 💬In this first episode, our amazing hosts and chairs of Women@Tech, Mitali Gohel, Delfina Grossi & Laura Perrott, dive into three challenges that so many women face at work: 👩‍💻 Struggling to find a mentor? Learn how to handle rejection and keep going.👀 Feeling like an imposter? We've got advice to help you own your worth.👥 Dreading networking? It doesn't have to be scary - we'll show you how to start small!You can find out more about Women@Tech at https://www.womenattech.com/Please submit your questions to [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.