What does it take to step into spaces where few people look like you - and then help create a pathway for others?

In this episode of the Tech Beyond Gender Podcast, Meena Satishkumar and Satish Kumar speak with Priyanca Radhakrishnan, New Zealand’s first minister of Indian origin, about her journey from growing up in Singapore and moving to New Zealand as an international student, to working in women’s rights and eventually entering Parliament.Priyanca shares how her early work supporting women experiencing domestic violence shaped her commitment to social justice, systemic change and inclusive leadership.

She also speaks openly about imposter syndrome, self-doubt, mentorship and the responsibility that comes with being the first.

Priyanca reminds us that being invited into the room is only the beginning. True inclusion means creating an environment where different perspectives, lived experiences and voices can genuinely influence decisions.

AI agents are already changing how we work, automate processes and solve complex problems. But how do they differ from generative AI, and how much autonomy should we give them?

In this episode of the Tech Beyond Gender Podcast, Meena Satish Kumar speaks with Jyothi Madan Lal, Solutions Architect at AWS, about the who, what and how of agentic AI.

They explore:

• How AI agents work
• Where organisations are using them today
• Data, integration and security considerations
• Hallucinations, observability and human oversight
• Who is accountable when an agent makes a mistake
• Whether agents will replace people
• How leaders can evaluate agentic AI investments
• The skills professionals need for an agent-powered future

Jyothi also demonstrates how she uses Kiro to support her daily work and how an AWS DevOps Agent can investigate application latency, identify a potential root cause and recommend remediation.

AI agents are here to stay. The question is not simply whether we should use them, but how we can use them responsibly.

Subscribe to Tech Beyond Gender for more conversations about technology, leadership and the future of work.

#AIAgents #AgenticAI #GenerativeAI #ResponsibleAI #AWS #FutureOfWork #TechBeyondGender

What does it take to build a fairer, more connected New Zealand?In this episode of the Tech Beyond Gender Podcast, Meena Satishkumar and co-host Satishkumar speak with barrister, author and Labour Party candidate Max Harris about the experiences and values that shaped his journey into politics.Max shares his thoughts on inequality, pay equity, gender equity, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, representation, AI, leadership and the importance of listening to people living in very different worlds. He also reflects on why meaningful change requires people working both inside and outside our systems.This is a thoughtful conversation about justice, values-driven leadership and the role each of us can play in creating lasting change.Subscribe to Tech Beyond Gender for more conversations with people challenging systems, amplifying unheard voices and creating meaningful impact.#TechBeyondGender #MaxHarris #PayEquity #GenderEquity #Leadership #NewZealand #SocialChange #Politics #Equality

What shapes a life devoted to service, leadership and community?

In Part 1 of this deeply personal conversation, Prabha Ravi takes us back to her extraordinary childhood in Chennai, growing up in a home shared with a spiritual guru and constantly filled with devotees, music, dance and service.She reflects on the lessons that grounded her, her transition from Chennai to Mumbai and then New Zealand, and how she built a career in international education before finding her path into governance and public service.Prabha also shares the challenges she faced as a migrant, the unexpected opportunities that shaped her career, and the persistence that eventually led to her appointment to the Education New Zealand board after 17 years of applying for public sector governance roles.Hosted by Meena Satishkumar, with Satish Kumar joining as co-host, this episode explores spirituality, resilience, migration, leadership and the power of seeing service in everything we do.This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation with Prabha Ravi.Subscribe to Tech Beyond Gender for Part 2 and more conversations with people creating meaningful change in our workplaces and communities.

What if self-doubt is not a fact, but simply a story you have been telling yourself?In this inspiring episode of the Tech Beyond Gender Podcast, Meena Satishkumar speaks with transformational coach, speaker and personal branding expert Aticka Dhandia about moving beyond fear, limiting beliefs and the feeling of not being good enough.Aticka shares her own journey from being afraid to speak to people to confidently facilitating programmes for students, corporate leaders and diverse audiences. She explains why confidence does not mean being fearless—and why even highly successful people can continue to experience self-doubt.In this conversation, we explore:✨ Why perfection can become a form of procrastination✨ How authenticity strengthens confidence and connection✨ The role of breathwork in managing stress and limiting beliefs✨ Why everyone needs time for silence and self-reflection✨ The seven levels of human existence✨ The connection between intention, attention and manifestation✨ The three Ps of leadership presence: Preparation, Presentation and Presence✨ How to take action even when you do not fully believe in yourself#BeyondSelfDoubt #confidence #AtickaDhandia #breathwork #personalgrowth #Leadership #authenticity #executivepresence #TechBeyondGender #womeninleadership

What does it take to build a thriving career in technology while navigating change, uncertainty, and self-doubt?In Episode 69 of the Tech Beyond Gender Podcast, I am joined by Hazra Ali, a technology professional with over 12 years of experience across banking, financial services, and technology transformation. Having built her career across Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia, Hazra brings a unique perspective on resilience, networking, community building, and continuous learning.As a Business Analyst, AWS Community Builder, mentor, and advocate for professional growth, Hazra shares practical lessons from her own journey—from stepping outside her comfort zone to building meaningful connections that have helped shape her career.In this episode, we discuss:🔹 What resilience really means in today's technology landscape🔹 Why networking is about building genuine relationships, not collecting contacts🔹 How volunteering and community involvement can accelerate career growth🔹 Rebuilding a professional network after moving countries🔹 Becoming an AWS Community Builder🔹 Learning new technologies and adapting to unfamiliar environments🔹 Managing imposter syndrome and building confidence🔹 The value of mentorship and giving back to the community🔹 Practical advice for graduates, migrants, and early-career professionalsOne of the key takeaways from this conversation is that success is not about knowing everything. It is about being willing to learn, showing up consistently, building authentic relationships, and having the courage to put yourself out there—even when it feels uncomfortable.If you've ever questioned whether you belong in the room, this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.#TechBeyondGender #Podcast #WomenInTech #BusinessAnalysis #CareerGrowth #Leadership #Networking #Mentorship #ImposterSyndrome #AWS #AWSCommunityBuilder #DiversityInTech #Inclusion #Technology #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #TechCareers #Resilience #WomenInLeadership #episode69

What happens when a learning designer with no coding background decides to build AI-powered solutions that put people first?In this episode of Tech Beyond Gender, Meena Satishkumar sits down with Lian Passmore — founder, ethical AI builder, researcher, self-taught developer, and mother of five — to explore her remarkable journey into technology.In just two years, Lian transitioned from organisational learning and facilitation into building AI products designed around care, inclusion, accessibility, and human connection. She shares how curiosity led her to teach herself coding, build conversational AI tools, and develop innovative projects focused on feedback systems, coaching, wellbeing, and family relationships.In this conversation, we explore:🔹 How Lian went from non-technical to building AI products herself🔹 The story behind her first conversational AI project🔹 Building AI coaches and relationship support tools🔹 Why ethics and safety must be designed into AI from the beginning🔹 Māori values and tikanga-led approaches to AI development🔹 AI literacy challenges in regional New Zealand🔹 The opportunities and risks AI creates for women in the workforce🔹 Why now is one of the best times to transition into technology🔹 Advice for women and gender-diverse professionals considering careers in techLian also shares powerful insights on creating technology that serves people, preserving cultural values in AI systems, and ensuring emerging technologies are accessible to communities often left out of the conversation.Whether you're curious about AI, considering a career transition, or interested in building technology that creates positive social impact, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration.🎙️ Tech Beyond Gender explores the experiences, challenges, and achievements of women, gender-diverse professionals, and allies in technology, while creating pathways for a more inclusive future.#TechBeyondGender #ArtificialIntelligence #EthicalAI #WomenInTech #DiversityInTech #MāoriInnovation #Leadership #CareerChange #Technology #DigitalTransformation #AI #Inclusion #TechCareers #WomenInLeadership #NewZealandTech #ConversationalAI #FutureOfWork #Innovation #LianPassmore #TechPodcast

What does it really mean to be a mentor?

In this episode of Tech Beyond Gender, Meena Satishkumar sits down with Sid Kumar to explore the art, craft, and joy of mentoring beyond buzzwords and frameworks.With over 25 years of experience across technology, finance, and leadership, Sid shares a refreshing and deeply human perspective on mentorship.In this conversation, we explore:-

- Why mentoring is a craft before it becomes an art

- The difference between mentoring, coaching, and training

- How real mentoring is like a dance not a script

- The importance of listening (and why it’s so hard)

- How mentoring helps break self-limiting beliefs and invisible barriers

- The role of mentoring in creating more inclusive workplaces

- Why you should never create a “mini version of yourself”

- And the powerful moments where true growth actually happens

“It is in that moment… when something clicks… that’s where the joy comes.”