Carpe Datum

• Global Engagement & Leadership: Her work across global orgs like UN Women UK and Code.org is driven by a commitment to inclusive tech leadership and creating accessible entry points for women in STEM.
  

• Lowering Barriers with Visual Tools: Using AppInventor’s visual programming allows beginners to grasp coding concepts without fear, often creating functional apps in their very first session.
  
• Representation on the Global Stage: Being the only Bosnian participant at the Digital Citizenship Forum was a proud moment of advocacy, underscoring the need for underrepresented regions to help shape digital education policy.
  
• Leading with Impact at KiberOne: As CEO of KiberOne Banja Luka, she’s building a legacy of youth-centered digital transformation, aiming to reshape educational access and opportunity for the next generation.
  
• Bridging Gaps in Leadership Access: Staying involved in multiple initiatives is her way of countering limited access to leadership opportunities, especially for young women and those in overlooked communities.

• IT Support Misconceptions: She shares the surprising fulfillment and common misconceptions about working in IT at IKEA.

• Women in Tech: She explains why women-centered tech spaces still matter and how they empower community in 2025.

• Event Impact: She reflects on the feedback and moments that make hosting events like Tech Trivia Night worthwhile.

• Data-Driven Mindset: She discusses how real business outcomes at Costa Coffee reshaped her approach to problem-solving.

• Purposeful Multitasking: Running both a coffee brand and a creative/engineering career requires finding shared values that guide work across disciplines.

• Pivoting with Purpose:The shift from physics to analytics was driven by curiosity and a desire for real-world impact, revealing unexpected similarities like problem-solving and system thinking.

• Creative Data Vision: Creativity plays a powerful role in identifying patterns in data where intuition can complement analysis.

• Cross-Functional Shift: Transitioning from production to a cross-functional role meant learning to balance hands-on expertise with broader team coordination and communication.

• Lessons from a year of transformation: After a year of meeting over 1,000 people, Manik reflects on the most surprising personal and professional lessons that shaped his growth and leadership.

• Scaling beyond courses: Shares how insights from the “Anyone Can Build a Community” course helped him grow Girls Leading Tech from just 5 participants to over 1,900 members, and how intentional community-building fueled that exponential growth.

• Redefining what it means to work in tech: Taking a ‘nontraditional’ path with confidence.

• Creating space and pushing for equity: Through organizing speaker events and mentorship sessions, he offers powerful advice for men seeking to be better allies.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/girlsleadingtech/

• Teen Skill Gaps: Teens often struggle most with self-doubt and direction bridging that gap means building confidence through exposure and mentorship, not just hard skills.

• Leadership vs. Creativity: True collaboration thrives when structured leadership is balanced with space for creativity and diverse thinking styles.

• Resumes & Communication: A standout resume quietly tells a story, and confident public speaking starts with authenticity, not perfection.

• Online Student Guidance: Offering advice online helps build an ecosystem of peer learning, reminding us that education is communal and constantly evolving.

• Real-World Spark: Early exposure to how data can uncover hidden patterns in social issues inspired a passion for using it as a tool for change.

• Building Carpe Datum: Starting the podcast and community stemmed from a desire to humanize data science.

• Leading as a Student: A key challenge was listening first and leading with empathy.

• Data for Tough Topics: Data gives young people a credible voice to explore hard conversations like mental health, making abstract issues harder to ignore.

• For the Unsure: Data science isn’t just for coders; it’s a creative, problem-solving space anyone curious about the world can grow into.

• Inside the Northwestern Prison Education Program: Mena shares her role as a volunteer, what it’s like teaching inside correctional facilities, and how data could help evaluate or improve such programs.

• Founding Women in Statistics at Northwestern: The story behind launching the group, how it created community, and how it led to her regional ambassador role with Women in Data Science (WiDS) Chicago.

• Why Statistics?: A personal look into what drew her to pursue a Ph.D. in statistics especially in relation to social impact, health, and criminology.

• Accessible Data Education: Reflections on teaching statistics and data visualization to visually impaired students key takeaways on making data truly inclusive.

• Data Science with Heart: How Mena connects data science to real-world issues, community service, and education and why those connections matter now more than ever.

  
  

  Link to WiDS Chicago: https://widschicago.org/

In this special Season 3 recap of Carpe Datum, we revisit 12 inspiring conversations with women who are shaping the future of data science. From AI innovation and healthcare analytics to digital storytelling, career reinvention, and advocacy in STEM, each guest brought unique insights and impact. Join us as we celebrate their journeys and reflect on the powerful themes of growth, mentorship, and making data meaningful.

• Building Professional Relationships: Insights into how Maheen has built strong professional connections, leading to numerous recommendations on LinkedIn, and tips for fostering meaningful professional relationships.

• Volunteering in Data Science: Advice for data professionals on leveraging their AI/ML expertise in volunteer work, making a meaningful impact, and transitioning into the volunteer space effectively.

• Navigating Challenges in Healthcare Data: Lessons learned from working on statistical modeling for health insurance clients, strategies for addressing privacy concerns, and training teams to apply machine learning to real-world problems.

• Mentorship and Impactful Projects: Highlights of the most impactful AI/ML project Maheen has worked on, and strategies she employs during Topmate meetings to mentor and guide others in the fast-evolving AI/ML field.

• Balancing Multiple Projects: Discusses strategies for managing excitement and challenges in multiple tech initiatives.

• Importance of Digital Presence: Emphasizes the value of having an interactive portfolio and advice on building one.

• Excelling in Academics and Tech: Tips on staying focused and motivated while balancing a demanding academic schedule with tech fellowships.

• Diverse Internship Experiences: Insights on how various internships have shaped perspectives on the tech industry.

Website: https://red-dune-0cd91cf0f.4.azurestaticapps.net/#home