In this episode of the Tech Beyond Gender podcast, Meena Satishkumar speaks with Amanda Watson from Tech Women New Zealand about the evolving reality of women in the tech industry.Amanda shares insights from nearly 25 years in IT, highlighting the progress made and the challenges that still remain for women navigating technical careers, leadership pathways, and workplace bias.The conversation explores:• Why women still face barriers in technical roles and leadership• The impact of career breaks and fast-moving tech environments• Bias in hiring, progression, and workplace culture• The role of initiatives like ShadowTech and mentoring circles• How organisations can better support women returning to work• Generational shifts shaping the future of tech careersThis is an honest, grounded discussion on what it really takes to create inclusive, supportive environments for women in technology — and what needs to change next.If you're working in tech, leading teams, or passionate about gender equity in the industry, this episode will resonate deeply.

In this episode of Tech Beyond Gender, host Meena Satishkumar speaks with Victoria Vaughan, a global tech leader who has shaped some of the most influential narratives in the crypto and technology space.Born and educated in Russia, Victoria began her journey in a deeply technical environment before stepping into leadership roles at an unusually young age. At just 24, she became the CEO of Cointelegraph, helping grow it from a small startup into the world’s largest crypto media platform with over 18 million monthly readers. After leaving Cointelegraph, Victoria went on to build her own ventures, including a blockchain wallet startup and later founding B612 PR, a boutique tech PR agency now working with AI, biotech, and deep-tech founders across the US.A powerful, honest episode about confidence, courage, storytelling, and rewriting your own narrative in technology and life.

In this final episode of the Tech Beyond Gender podcast for 2025, host Meena Satishkumar speaks with Chetna Chaudhari, Delivery Manager for Data & Analytics at Fidelity Life, about her journey from growing up in a small village in India to building a successful technology career across two very different countries.Listen to Chetna's inspiring and heart warming story of her journey and real insignts into how to make the transition in tech from India to NZ smoother. #techbeyondgender #womenintech #MigrantInTech#speakingup #leadershipjourney

In this inspiring episode of the Tech Beyond Gender Podcast, Meena Satish Kumar sits down with Julia Bower — Co-Founder & CTO of Fractional Directory — to unpack her remarkable journey from failing high-school computer studies to leading one of APAC’s fastest-growing fractional talent platforms.Whether you’re a woman in tech, an aspiring founder, a parent navigating career transitions, or someone curious about fractional work and portfolio careers — this episode is packed with honesty, humour, and insight.Watch us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yFsHvanuZ8AwfSoSaZNPd?si=jySlPiJ3ShmEdNmXv80Tyw&nd=1&dlsi=c8432d2077754168Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-beyond-gender-talks/id1749944130Youtube: ⁨@TechBeyondGender⁩

What happens when quantum computing, brain-like AI, and neurobiology come together?

In this episode of Tech Beyond Gender, host Meena Satishkumar sits down with two extraordinary women:Dr. Helena Bahrami, AI & Machine Learning Lead Expert pioneering quantum-inspired models for neurodegenerative diseases, and Noor Syed, CTO for Health at Microsoft New Zealand.

Together, they take us on a journey that is equal parts scientific, visionary, and deeply human.From the complexity of dementia and the future of drug discovery to digital twins and personalized medicine, Dr. Helena explains how quantum-powered models could shrink a 12-year drug development cycle into hours — and why data access, ethics, and equitable healthcare matter more than ever.Noor brings an industry lens: how platforms like Microsoft Azure enable safe research environments, responsible AI, and secure collaboration at global scale.This is a mind-stretching, heart-opening episode about the future of healthcare, the emergence of quantum AI, and the importance of keeping technology rooted in human values.If you're curious about the next big leap after generative AI — this episode is your gateway.

Watch us on

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yFsHvanuZ8AwfSoSaZNPd?si=jySlPiJ3ShmEdNmXv80Tyw

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-beyond-gender-talks/id1749944130

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TechBeyondGender

In this inspiring episode of Tech Beyond Gender, host Meena Satishkumar sits down with Andrea Bald, a trailblazer whose tech career began by chance in 1985 and evolved alongside the telecom industry’s biggest transformations—from analog to digital, copper to fibre, and now cloud and 5G.

Andrea reflects on her accidental start as an engineering draftswoman at New Zealand Post Office, her rise to leadership in her 20s, and how she navigated bias, motherhood, and change through four decades in technology. She shares powerful lessons on building trust as a young leader, creating inclusive hiring practices, and the importance of curiosity and lifelong learning.

Tune in to hear Andrea’s thoughtful take on leadership, resilience, and what’s next for Telco in the age of AI — plus how yoga and even competitive pistol shooting shaped her focus and balance along the way.

#WomenInTech #Leadership #Inclusion #TechBeyondGender #Telecommunications #CareerStories

After facing unimaginable loss, Priya Mathur rebuilt her life and career with courage and conviction. From starting as a young data engineer in India to becoming the Head of Enterprise Data at Fidelity Life in New Zealand, Priya’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and leadership grounded in empathy.

In this inspiring conversation with host Meena Satishkumar, Priya opens up about:

• Navigating life as a migrant woman in tech

• Balancing motherhood and career growth

• The power of education and financial independence

• Finding purpose through community and governance roles

• How data and AI are shaping the future of leadership

A powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, you can rise, lead, and inspire others to do the same.

In this special episode of Tech Beyond Gender, host Meena Satishkumar is joined by Noor Syed and Rob Lonie from Microsoft, and Diksha Sandhu from the University of Auckland, for a powerful cross-generational conversation on gender equity in technology.

Together they explore what it really means to move from diversity to true inclusion, the unseen barriers women face from school to senior leadership, and how mentorship, allyship, and curiosity can change the game.

From Noor’s insights on inclusion, to Rob’s reflections on allyship and parenting, to Diksha’s honest university experiences, this episode is a heartfelt look at the pipeline problem — and what it takes to create real change in tech.

🎙️ Hosted by: Meena Satishkumar
🎧 Featuring: Noor Syed, Rob Lonie, and Diksha Sandhu
💬 Produced by: Tech Beyond Gender#TechBeyondGender #WomenInTech #DiversityAndInclusion #Allyship #MentorshipMatters #BreakingBarriers #FutureOfTech #GenderEquity #STEMInclusion #RepresentationMatters #Leadership #NewZealandTech #EmpowerHer #InclusiveInnovation