Guest Title: Julia Duran, Founder and CEO, South Geeks

What happens when you’re outvoted on naming your own company?

When you’re Julia Duran, you roll with it, because you trust that your team delivers such high quality work that it doesn’t matter what your name is. On today’s episode, we talk with Julia about what it’s like to work in an international space, how she became a solo CEO, and why she believes things are shifting, for the good, in the AI and technology spaces. We also hear about the routines, practices, and habits that have helped her build a company where she is not the only one working hard for its future.

Julia Duran is the CEO and founder of South Geeks, a technology company focused on building high-performance teams and long-term partnerships. With a background that includes roles at IBM, Verizon and Hewlett Packard, Julia combines enterprise-level rigor with a people-first, pragmatic approach to leadership. Originally from Argentina and shaped by years working in the United States, she is now based in The Netherlands, bringing a global perspective to her work connecting top tech talent with forward-thinking companies worldwide.

Guest Title - Michele Colucci, Founder & Managing Partner, DigitalDx Ventures

“It’s the inspiration to move mountains that moves mountains.”

Michele Colucci has always been a woman moving mountains, from being a single parent raising four children to building a venture capital firm with a focus on the intersection of AI and healthcare, she believes that inspired work is work that pays off. In this episode, we talk with Michele about how the current financial environment is impacting her business, the mentality needed for sound investing, and how we can pull more women into investing.

Michele is a venture capital thought leader, lawyer, investor, serial entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She has authored five patents in the technology space and founded companies in the legal, technology, retail, and entertainment spaces. Her extensive experience operating in highly regulated verticals has focused on issues from management to legal. As a venture capitalist focused on med tech, Colucci is committed to impacting the health field by investing in companies that enable doctors to make better diagnostic decisions through the application of AI and big data.

Guest Title - Helen McKeon, Founder, I’m All Out

Burnout. According to a McKinsey report, 43% of women leaders experience burnout compared to just 31% of men. Now, the fact that at least ⅓ of the population is experiencing burnout is a serious issue. But, for women, it’s becoming an epidemic.

Our guest today has experienced the fallout from burnout. From her time at lululemon in multiple markets across the globe to her experience in several start ups, she’s seen the impact of no boundaries, no compassion, no mercy. And she thinks there’s a better way.

Helen McKeon spent over 15 years leading culture, people, and community strategy at companies like lululemon, Rivian, and Rally Pickleball before founding I’m All Out—a consulting practice and evolving movement reimagining how we work, lead, and sustain ourselves. She’s passionate about helping women navigate high-performance environments without losing themselves, and about rebuilding how we work and live—through breathwork, connection, and creativity.