Tech Queen: Sheryl Cababa – Chief Strategy Officer at Optimistic Design | Author of “Closing the Loop: Systems Thinking for Designers”

Natia Kvaratskhelia is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at I Know, where she has served since 2020, leveraging over 15 years of experience in finance and technology. Natia's career began in finance, progressing through roles from accountant to financial advisor, which equipped her with strong analytical and strategic skills. In 2014, she transitioned to IT, excelling in various positions such as software consultant, analyst, and team lead before assuming her current role.Natia holds a Bachelor's and Master's in Business Administration from Tbilisi State University and continually enhances her expertise through professional development, including courses in digital transformation, business analytics, and agile methodologies. Certified in ISO 9001:2015 as an internal auditor, she also has a background in organizational behavior, including enneagram frameworks.Her leadership philosophy emphasizes fostering new leaders and team growth. Known for her strategic thinking, results orientation, and commitment to ethical standards, Natia excels at seeing the big picture while focusing on crucial operational details. She is dedicated to driving operational excellence, supporting sustainable growth, and fostering an environment where both individuals and organizations thrive. Looking ahead, Natia aims to push boundaries in operational leadership and drive innovation in the tech sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Riley Coleman (they/them) is a seasoned expert in human-centered design with a rebellious spirit, dedicated to accelerating AI literacy with a focus on responsible, ethical innovation. With over 15 years shaping digital experiences, Riley brings a deeply empathetic approach, driven by the belief that technology should elevate human potential rather than replace it.Riley’s career is rich with impact, from establishing a UN-recognized harm reduction program at the Australian Red Cross to leading major digital transformations at Telstra. Most recently, as Director of Central Design at Epidemic Sound, they introduced groundbreaking research methodologies and facilitated customer co-design workshops on AI-driven music creation. At Taxfix in Berlin, Riley scaled the design team by 400% within a year, building the infrastructure needed for rapid, multi-country growth.Now, as the founder of AI Flywheel, Riley is democratizing AI knowledge through accessible, human-centered training programs for responsible AI implementation. Leveraging their extensive background in harm minimization, human-centered design, and service transformation, Riley is fostering a community of practice around ethical AI adoption, empowering professionals to engage with AI confidently while upholding human agency.Their broad experience reinforces a central belief: true innovation emerges when we blend technical skill with human insight, creating powerful AI-human partnerships that enhance, rather than diminish, our shared humanity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maeva Cecchi is currently a Lead UX at Amadeus, a company that powers the global travel and tourism industry. She leads the UX Competency Center for Amadeus Discover, where she is responsible for implementing UX strategy through cross-functional collaboration. Maeva also develops a "UX as a Service" approach for major clients, focusing on improving both conversion rates and user experience through data-driven insights.Maeva is also the co-lead of the Amadeus UX Community, dedicated to enhancing UX maturity and fostering a strong user experience culture among UX professionals and non-UX stakeholders alike.As a Diversity & Inclusion ambassador, she actively promotes digital accessibility, mentoring development teams to ensure compliance with accessibility standards.In addition, Maeva is involved with the association WHAT06, supporting initiatives that encourage women’s integration into the technology sector. Her contributions include co-organizing events like Girls Tech Day 2023 and developing a mentoring app for young women.Holding a Master’s degree in Psychology, specializing in Cognitive Ergonomics from Université Côte d’Azur, Maeva combines her UX expertise with a deep understanding of user needs. She has co-authored articles on designing for cognitive (dis)abilities and envisions a tech industry that fosters inclusive work environments, prioritizing diversity and accessibility. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kelly Evans is a seasoned entrepreneur and small business owner who grew her first company to $5MM in annual revenue within just three years, drawing on her deep expertise in marketing, sales, and digital development. With extensive hands-on experience across all facets of digital marketing, she appreciates the critical role of inbound marketing and online platforms in the growth and resilience of small to mid-sized businesses. A talented marketing strategist and project manager, Kelly has a proven track record of developing and executing creative, client-centric strategies that elevate growth, brand recognition, ROI, and revenue—including during her impactful tenure at Tripadvisor.Known for her high energy and fast-paced style, Kelly is a strategic Renaissance woman who has worn nearly every hat: from CEO, CMO, and CFO, to SEO, SEM, and SMM Specialist; Director of Operations, Website Developer, VP of Marketing, and even Delivery Driver, Packer, and Seamstress—always staying positive, motivated, and smiling every step of the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jen Morse (Iudice) leads the team responsible for foundational, conceptual, and tactical research insights that drive product development and refinement at Sonos. Her work informs and establishes essential parameters for human-centered design across various disciplines. Jen has been with Sonos since 2019. Before joining Sonos, she spent a decade at Teague, a global design consultancy at the intersection of technology and transportation. There, she led exploratory research for clients like Boeing, providing key insights to guide future innovation in user experiences.With over 25 years of experience, Jen has analyzed user experiences across industries including retail, software, home media, pharmaceuticals, and fast food. Prior to her time at Teague, she spent more than a decade at Doblin Group (now Deloitte), a design strategy firm in Chicago. During this period, she also studied at the Institute of Design, focusing on user research and design strategy, as well as at the University of Chicago, where she pursued anthropology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Courtney Hurley is the co-founder of Screws + Stilettos and the Market Like a CMO course. With 19 years of digital marketing experience, she has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to local daycares.An entrepreneur with a foundation in SEO, SEM, analytics, and web design, Courtney also holds a marketing degree from Bentley University. Her expertise has since expanded to include email marketing, social media management, e-commerce, CMS, and business development.Having worked with major players like Google, Amazon, and Wayfair, Courtney is skilled at helping businesses grow their online presence, increase brand awareness, boost ROI, and drive revenue through innovative strategic initiatives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sheryl Cababa is the author of Closing the Loop: Systems Thinking for Designers. As a design researcher and strategist, she serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Optimistic Design, a research and insights studio in Seattle dedicated to education. Her work emphasizes systems thinking and equity-centered design, and she has collaborated with a diverse array of clients, including the Gates Foundation, Microsoft, IKEA, and Khan Academy. Sheryl is passionate about leveraging design to help clients reimagine education.In addition to her practice, she teaches at the University of Washington's Human-Centered Design and Engineering program, where she introduces systems thinking to the next generation of designers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nikki Bass is a Senior Program Manager at Yahoo, specializing in Technical Learning and Development. With a strong focus on digital transformation and cloud strategy, Nikki leads cutting-edge training programs in emerging technologies such as Generative AI and cloud platforms. In addition to her corporate work, she is a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion, actively mentoring and developing the next generation of tech talent through her career coaching business and talent development initiatives.As a leader in the tech space, Nikki offers a unique perspective on how women and non-binary individuals can thrive in the fast-evolving technology sector, particularly in roles beyond traditional engineering and coding. Her innovative approach empowers underrepresented groups to find success in dynamic, non-traditional pathways within the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heather MacDonald is the Founder of Contemplating Life’s Choices, a coaching and leadership development practice dedicated to empowering high-performing diverse women and mothers who struggle with overthinking, people-pleasing, and perfectionism, all while striving to balance their careers and personal lives.In her role as a Principal Consultant at Pluralsight, Heather serves as a strategic thought partner across a global portfolio of industry-leading companies and academic institutions. She leverages organizational psychology, systems change, science-based leadership, and equity-focused practices to help clients implement sustainable, scalable, and adaptable programs.Heather is also a global speaker, panelist, and workshop host on leadership development, organizational change, workplace culture, talent mobility, community building, and lifelong learning.She currently serves as a founding member of the Technology and Data Committee for the World Innovation and Change Management Institute, co-leads the mock interview program for second-year students at the Center for Equity and Student Belonging at the University of Utah, and is an Inaugural Board Member for the Women’s Wellness Summit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bobbie Racette is a pioneering force in the tech industry, embodying innovation and advocating for social change as the Founder & CEO of Virtual Gurus and VG OnDemand. Her dedication to fostering inclusivity and equitable opportunities has revolutionized the remote work sector, especially for marginalized communities. With her unique perspective as a Métis-Cree, 2SLGBTQIA+ woman entrepreneur, Bobbie has turned Virtual Gurus into a leading Talentplace platform in North America, championing diversity and inclusion.This mission is deeply personal for Bobbie - she knows firsthand the challenges traditionally marginalized communities face in the workplace. She has seen how systemic barriers can prevent talented individuals from achieving their full potential, and her personal journey fuels her commitment to creating a more equitable future. Under her guidance, Virtual Gurus has built a vibrant community of over 800 professionals from diverse backgrounds,  powered by innovative technology that leverages algorithms, machine learning, and human expertise to match assistants with clients. Bobbie’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, earning her several prestigious awards such as the Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year in 2022, EY Winning Woman 2022, and the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year from the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business in 2023. Her influence extends beyond business, serving as a Board member for the Telus Friendly Future Foundation and as the inaugural Chair of the Board for the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation, where she continues to break barriers and inspire change.Bobbie gives back by sharing her journey and learnings as a successful woman entrepreneur in tech. She’s a sought-after speaker and thought leader who uses her platform to advocate for a more just and equitable future. Through her initiatives, Bobbie not only opens doors for diverse talent but also instills a belief that "no" is not an answer, paving the way for groundbreaking success.Additionally, Bobbie's dedication to empowering underrepresented communities and creating equitable opportunities that provide accessible, affordable, and reliable staffing solutions to help level the playing field for entrepreneurs who might otherwise struggle to compete; Bobbie Racette is changing the game for entrepreneurs and employees alike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.