Leading Without Illusions

In the latest episode of Athena’s Lifting While Climbing podcast, host Holly Smithson, Athena’s President and CEO, welcomes Sarah Hassan, Head of Global Diversity & Inclusion at ResMed. Sarah shares her inspiring journey from working in refugee camps to leading DE&I initiatives at global tech giants like Amazon, Qualcomm, and ResMed.

The conversation dives into the challenges of breaking into male-dominated industries, the importance of mentorship, and the resilience needed to navigate career transitions. Tune in to hear how Sarah’s core values of

impact and giving back have shaped her illustrious career and how she’s lifting others along the way!

In this episode of Athena's "Lifting While Climbing" podcast, Holly Smithson, the President and CEO of Athena, speaks with Kyla Pavlina, Chief People Officer at Scipher Medicine. Kyla, whose career spans roles in law, litigation, and the medical device industry, shares insights into her work and the evolving role of Chief People Officers.

Kyla discusses her approach to addressing gender and pay gaps through data-driven compensation structures, emphasizing the importance of transparency and fairness. She highlights the growing influence of data platforms in creating equitable pay practices and the significance of super allies—men in powerful positions who support gender equality in meaningful ways.

The conversation also touches on the cultural dynamics of the medical device industry, where Kyla notes the value of clear, data-focused communication with scientists. Reflecting on her career transition from law to HR, Kyla recounts how a supportive mentor helped her find her true calling in people operations.

Kyla's experiences underscore the importance of values-driven leadership and the potential for change when organizations and their leaders commit to equity and transparency. She expresses optimism about the future, citing increasing female representation in education and industry as signs of progress.

The June edition of Athena's Lifting While Climbing podcast, hosted by Holly Smithson, President and CEO of Athena, celebrates International Women's Engineering Day with an insightful interview featuring Apparna Ramadoss, executive engineer at Intuit.

Apparna emphasizes the critical need for young, diverse minds in engineering to drive innovation and ensure product relevance. She discusses the importance of support networks for those facing challenges and highlights the collaborative nature of technological advancement.

Listen as Apparna shares her passion for the value of the mentor/mentee relationship and learn from her inspiring journey and leadership. Don't miss this engaging and motivational conversation.

For more from Apparna, Read her blog post: Five Steps to Finding a Great Mentor (https://medium.com/@apparna/power-of-great-mentors-and-how-to-seek-them-5d3ce7076d01)

Athena’s Lifting While Climbing podcast kicks off our summer with Rebecca Driscoll, CEO & Founder of Cancer Help Desk. Rebecca’s inspiring journey is a revealing showcase of what an unbreakable spirit and purpose-driven leadership looks like in 3-D.

Rebecca shares the genesis of Cancer Help Desk- a nonprofit dedicated to patient navigation in the complex world of cancer care- and describes the unconventional career path that drove her to fill a widely unmet need. Her journey is one of defiance against the norms and driven by a deep-seated belief in the need for neutral, patient-centric cancer care.

Rebecca’s journey is a potent reminder that effective leadership requires action, resilience, and staying true to the mission. Her story inspires and encourages listeners to find clarity in their purpose, push through those inevitable challenges, and always keep your eye on your North Star.

Tune into this inspiring episode and experience the intricacies of purpose-driven leadership.

We're thrilled to have Kassandra Castillo, Partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, joining us this month. As a highly successful corporate partner, providing counsel to life sciences and technology companies at every stage of development, Kassandra shares a unique perspective, and delivers a wealth of concrete strategies and actionable insights including:

Listen for valuable tools that will propel your career journey forward.

We're wrapping up Women's History Month with a powerful message in the Lifting While Climbing studio with Colleen Cormier, Vice President of Enterprise Sales at Commvault.

Lighting the pathway for her "big, bold career in tech," Colleen attributes her sponsors and mentors as paving the way to unleash her confidence and ambition.

When considering a new career opportunity she explained, "I thought I'd die at Dell." Colleen's career success prominently features three characteristics including curiosity, passion, and a willingness to exit her comfort zone. Hear these insights that will no doubt inspire all those resistant to the unknown market opportunities awaiting those that seek them.

Athena's honoring Black History Month In this captivating podcast with La Keisha Landrum Pierre, Co-founder and General Partner of Emmeline Ventures.

Join us as we unpack La Keisha's journey, from Harvard Business School to launching Sahara Media Company across Africa, to founding a venture capital fund. Tune in for an enriching conversation with a trailblazer who is shaping the future of entrepreneurship and social change.

La Keisha shares insights from her groundbreaking VC fund dedicated to championing emerging female founders focused on women’s health, wealth, and well-being. Discover La Keisha's unconventional approach to business challenges, blending analytical prowess with a deeply spiritual mindset to driving sustainable change as she helps reshape the landscape of venture capital.

As Athena pursues its global expansion efforts to help more STEM women rise up and realize their ambitions, RippleNami serves as a prominent channel partner by empowering women in Africa. In Athena's new Lifting While Climbing Podcast, we'll learn from Jaye Connolly-LaBelle, Chairman & CEO @ RippleNami as she showcases her 10-year journey of creating economic opportunities throughout Africa from hiring, educating, and mentoring tech women in the areas of big data and traceability.

Tune in to gain intimate access to Jaye's pioneering path as she levels-up tech women across sub-Sahara Africa. RippleNami's core values of hiring only locals enables these underrepresented populations to enter the digital economy while mitigating corruption with traceability through blockchain.

Don't miss out on this transformative case study that embodies Athena's vision of what's possible when we lift others while climbing.

Athena is GOING GLOBAL in 2024, launching new products, programs, and member benefits! We're excited to share this sneak peek at the all new Lifting While Climbing (LWC) podcast. The new format amplifies the voices and experiences of women and allies in STEM, delivering actionable strategies, tactics, and techniques to the Athena community. 

Hosted by Holly Smithson, Athena CEO, the LWC podcast serves as a beacon of inspiration for those seeking or seeking to provide mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship. 

With a blend of storytelling, expert interviews, and practical advice, this new podcast creates a virtual mentorship space where listeners gain inspiration, guidance, and a deep sense of community. Whether you're a seasoned leader, a student aspiring to enter STEM fields, or simply passionate about fostering equity and inclusivity, Athena's new Lifting While Climbing podcast is a B-12 shot for all those committed to advancing more women leading in STEM.