Diva Tech Talk Podcast

In this episode of Diva Tech Talk we speak with digital leader, Marina Reyna, a senior IT project manager at Optum Technology, subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. Supervising an 8-person team, Marina is passionately interested in the healthcare market, and a strong advocate for managing career in a dynamic fashion.

Marina’s undergraduate B.A. was in marketing and communications. Her career roles spanned numerous agencies (Young & Rubicam, Mars, Wunderman/Team Detroit, Doner and BrandLabs). It was at Wunderman/Team Detroit, she made the leap into the digital field. These diverse stints prepared her for her current career.

Marina shares with us the following:

• How she first got into the world of digital technology;
• The importance of a strong communication style;
• How she leads her tech team;
• How her Mexican American ethnicity influences her works style;
• How her mother, a migrant worker, inspired her to have strength and integrity

Make sure to check us out on online at www.divatechtalk.com on Twitter @divatechtalks, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/divatechalk.

In this episode, we hear from Linda Lynch, president of KI Technology Group, an IT services provider that helps small and medium-sized businesses grow through the best use of appropriate, cost-effective technology.

A software programmer, by training, Linda held developer positions at Consumers’ Energy and Burroughs Corporation before joining KI in 1986. She acquired an ownership interest in the company in 1990 and has been president since 1992.

Linda discusses with us:

• Her beginnings in the coding world;
• How she managed Ki’s transition from a software company to a full service company;
• The top three trends changing IT;
• How to avoid “techspeak” with clients;
• Publishing a book for trouble free IT;
• Her values for building a strong company and career

Make sure to check us out on online at www.divatechtalk.com on Twitter @divatechtalks, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/divatechalk.

At Cisco Headquarters in San Jose, Ca., the Digital Divas sat down with engineer rockstar Shraddha Chaplot, who sees the world through “tech-colored glasses.”

At Cisco, Shraddha has worked in many positions, using her innate ability to innovate. She began as a member of the accessibility team at Cisco. Then, she moved to an energy efficiency and green standards team and was part of the first EnergyStar test labs at Cisco, that qualified over 20 products. Now, she is combining several of her passions with the Internet of Everything (IoE) and college specialization in machine intelligence in a new role.

Shraddha share with us:

• How to see the world through “tech-colored glasses;”
• The importance of IoT today;
• Her work at Cicso with Iot and Raspberry pi;
• IoE and the future of STEM Careers;
• Networking and other personal advice for growth

Make sure to check us out on online at www.divatechtalk.com on Twitter @divatechtalks, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/divatechalk.

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In this episode we hear from Sue Schade, CIO of the University of Michigan Hospitals & Health Centers. We share Sue's inspiring story.

We spoke with Sue Schade, CIO of the University of Michigan Hospitals & Health Centers. Sue has spent over 30 years in the world of technology. She began as a developer before finding herself traveling down the path to become CIO of a major health system.

Sue shares:

• Her passions in the area of tech
• How Sue took the leap into the world of management
• Crucial management tips for women

Make sure to check us out on online at www.divatechtalk.com on Twitter @divatechtalks, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/divatechalk.

In this episode we interview Co-founder Carrie Thorpe of Sizzle Pig. Carrie shares her story about getting into technology and launching Sizzle Pig's new and very effective image sharing tool.

Carrie Thorpe's first professional mission focused on what was then the "hot" new world of digital advertising. She was the pioneer digital traffic professional for Ogilvy & Mather, a large global ad agency. In 2009, she left to start her own agency and noticed a massive problem with image editing and sharing from their own experience.

Carrie describes how the idea for Sizzle Pig's cloud-sharing image tool was conceived, and why it saves creative teams 90% of their precious time. She discusses why the product is revolutionary and has radically changed the way we now approach image editing and sharing.

Carrie shares with us:

• When to know it's right to pursue a new product idea;
• How to stay focused through the challenges;
• The values of building a great partnership and work culture;
• Why everyone needs a mentor.

Make sure to check us out on online at www.divatechtalk.com on Twitter @divatechtalks, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/divatechalk.

In this episode we chat with Christina Mathes, Vice President of Client Experience for Rocket Fiber. Rocket Fiber is Detroit's exciting, new Gigabit Internet provider serving residents and businesses with up to 1,000 times faster Internet speeds.

Christina started in a position in mortgage banking at Quicken Loans, where her career evolved over the past 15 years. About four years ago she moved to the Mouse Trap team, the “innovation arm” of Quicken Loans, and then this year to the startup: Rocket Fiber.

Christina shares with us:

• How corporations can build innovative cultures
• How Quicken Loan’s Mouse Trap team works to develop new ideas
• What Gigabit Internet is for residents and businesses
• How Rocket Fiber is improvement customer service
• How Christina was able to build her career through the nonprofit “We Build Character” program

Make sure to check us out on online at www.divatechtalk.com on Twitter @divatechtalks, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/divatechalk.

In this episode, we speak with Rosemary Bayer, co-founder and Chief Inspiration Officer for ardentCause L3C --- the first low profit, limited liability corporation in the state of Michigan (“a for profit company with a nonprofit soul”).

Co-founding ardentCause in 2009, as one of the few women-founded and women-owned technology companies in the Midwest, Rosemary and her team have exclusively served major nonprofit agencies, funders, and educational groups. ardentCause helps nonprofits measure their impact, utilizing online data solutions to achieve better outcomes, through innovative software for data collection, analysis, visualization and communication of information. With a background that includes product invention for major computer companies, and leading large business operations, Rosemary is ardentCause’s primary force behind the invention and implementation of innovative technology solutions to help nonprofits succeed.

Rosemary shares with us:

• How she first entered the world of technology
• Taking the leap into “entrepreneurship”
• How data can help nonprofit leaders make smarter decisions
• Four practical pieces of advice for women entrepreneurs

Make sure to check us out on online at www.divatechtalk.com on Twitter @divatechtalks, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/divatechalk.

Diva Tech Talk interviews Jane Sydlowski, Founder and CEO of AMI Strategies (www.amistrategies.com). Jane is quite unique with an engineering background and proven track record as a Founder of a company thriving for over over 24 years. How did she make it through some of the toughest times for the industry and come out ahead? Find out as she tells her story and shares more resources for women in technology.

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Full Story on this episode and more Digital Divas Stories: http://www.divatechtalk.com/blog/ep4

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Couldn’t make it to SXSW 2015? In this episode, we’ve got the scoop on leading ladies in technology. Host Amanda Lewan attends SXSW 2015 to capture exciting interviews with women in technology.

This short podcast features three diverse discussions with women focusing on Large Scale 3D Printing, The “Internet of Everything” Bra & “Detected, the Movie”, and even a new startup focused on .CLUB domain name extension.

We discuss in this episode:

• Launching a company in the Startup Chile program
• 3D printing and reusable materials
• The Internet of Things and Cicso’s support in the industry
• How the “IT Bra” detects breast cancer
• A look at the domain world, and .CLUB’s approach

Make sure to check us out on online at www.divatechtalk.com on Twitter @divatechtalks, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/divatechalk.

In this episode, Digital Entrepreneur Monica Wheat shares her story of leaving the corporate automotive world to launch a non-profit helping girls learn to code.

Monica shares why she started Digerati Girls, a training program for young girls and teens, partnered with corporations like Google. She is also the Detroit Lead for Pipeline Fellows, training women to be investors. A lot of women entrepreneurs don’t get the funding they need because of what Monica explains “pattern matching.” Pipeline Fellows is helping break this pattern across the country and right here in Detroit, creating more opportunity for women in technology.

Monica discusses:

• The world of digital media and marketing
• Why she started Digerati Girls and how it works
• “Pattern matching” in investing, and getting more women in tech investing
• Advice for women in the technology field

Make sure to check us out on online at www.divatechtalk.com on Twitter @divatechtalks, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/divatechalk.