Hey Trailblazers, we’re back with another powerful episode of Women in Tech Trailblazers, and this one is a whole mindset shift. Tiffany Benitez sits down with Dr. Astha Purohit, Director of Product at Walmart and an absolute force in AI and retail tech. From medicine to McKinsey to machine learning, Astha’s career path is anything but typical, and that’s precisely what makes it so real.

Astha also talks about why so many women struggle to take up space in rooms they've already earned the right to be in. She gets real about staying quiet in meetings early in her career and the advice that changed everything. "Why are you assuming everybody knows what you're working on if you don't say anything?" One mentor's comment flipped the whole script.

She further breaks down how building confidence isn’t about flipping a switch. It’s reps. “Celebrate the reps more than the wins. The output will show up when it has to.” This is for every listener who’s ever doubted themselves after a tough week or a quiet meeting.

Here are the key takeaways:

(2:45) What authenticity really looks like

(3:54) Women, support, and staying grounded

(6:41) Redefining analytical thinking and people skills

(9:51) Fear of pivoting: why it holds so many back

(11:41) What gender equality means

(15:00) Why confidence isn’t bragging

(18:43) Building confidence: the small steps that work

(22:21) Motivation: how to keep going when you’re tired

(23:54) Measure your input, not the outcome

So here’s the question: What would it look like if you were having fun while building the career you want? Tune in to hear how Astha built hers step by step and why kindness is her most significant leadership flex. Share this one with a friend, and don’t forget to subscribe, because the next move mindset might just be yours too.

About Astha Purohit

Dr. Astha Purohit is the Director of Product Management at Walmart, leading digital identity and privacy initiatives powered by AI and machine learning. She holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and previously worked as a consultant at McKinsey. Astha has advised Fortune 500 companies on innovation in retail and technology. She also serves on the boards of the MIT Alumni Association and Emory Rollins School of Public Health.

Connect with Astha:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Connect with Host:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be taken as something other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

Today’s episode is short, but it’s full of heart. Jordan is stepping back from the mic, and we wanted to have an honest conversation about why.

It’s not easy to walk away from something you care deeply about, but sometimes it’s exactly what’s needed.

We talk about seasons, grace, boundaries, and what it means to support one another when things shift. This space has always been about authenticity, and that doesn’t stop here.

The podcast continues, and Jordan’s presence will always be felt. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

About Tiffany Benitez & Jordan Franklin

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Jordan Franklin, CEO of Gumption and Stratice, is revolutionizing the job market with behavioral AI, making talent acquisition efficient. For three years, she's been celebrated as a top staffing influencer.

Connect with Hosts:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-benitez-csm-safe-itil-65ba64126/

Jordan’s LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-franklin-841a223b/

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be taken as something other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

Welcome back, Trailblazers! Tiffany and Jordan, here and today’s guest is a serious force. Meet Hagan Kappler, founder of Daisy, and someone who knows exactly what it means to build something from scratch and mean it. This episode is all about doing business your way, even when the world tries to hand you a script.

We dive into Hagan’s wild and winding career journey from history major to McKinsey to CEO and how none of it was planned, but all of it mattered. She’s been in rooms where her ideas were dismissed until a man said them three weeks later, and she’s also raised 35 million as a first-time founder in a male-dominated industry. “I felt like I had to Google my way through half my roles,” she laughs, and honestly, we’ve all been there.

Hagan doesn’t shy away from talking about motherhood in business, but she’s also very clear that it’s often used against women in ways that are never applied to men. Her take, “Nobody asks my husband how he does it with four kids,” is the kind of honesty that makes this conversation so refreshing.

This episode unpacks what happens when you finally stop following someone else’s rulebook and decide to create your own. Hagan opens up about the moment she chose not to take another high-paying role and instead said yes to a risky idea with her co-founder. That risk paid off big, and it’s the reason Daisy exists today.

Here are the key takeaways:

(2:39) What authenticity really means at work

(4:29) The unexpected path to entrepreneurship

(8:25) Turning gender bias into negotiation strength

(12:23) Do you cook? And other gendered questions

(14:16) Mentorship that changed everything

(19:41) Saying no to the next obvious CEO role

(23:20) Kids, identity, and entrepreneurship

(24:46) The real cost of overthinking risk

(25:57) Laughter, friends, and staying balanced

(29:46) Don’t settle. Build your own thing

So if you’ve been questioning whether you’re ready to take the next step, this one’s for you. There’s no perfect time, no perfect playbook, just your gut, your experience, and your voice. Tune in and let Hagan’s story push you to think bigger about what’s possible.

About Hagan Kappler

Hagan Kappler is the co-founder and CEO of Daisy, a national company focused on smart home technology services. She previously led Threshold Brands, ServiceMaster Clean, and Merry Maids. Her background includes roles at Starbucks, Ingersoll Rand, McKinsey, and Goldman Sachs. She holds a BA from Williams College and an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.

Connect with Hagan:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez & Jordan Franklin

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Jordan Franklin, CEO of Gumption and Stratice, is revolutionizing the job market with behavioral AI, making talent acquisition efficient. For three years, she's been celebrated as a top staffing influencer.

Connect with Hosts:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Jordan’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be taken as something other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.