DEI is being rapidly rolled back across corporate America, creating a toxic, hostile environment where the competence of minority leaders is constantly questioned. Mamuna and Lola share the unfiltered truth about being confronted with the "DEI hire" insult and why you must refuse to shrink to protect your career.

💡 We cover:

• The rapid rollback of DEI and why these conversations are "radioactive."

• Why the "DEI Hire" insult is a coded attack on your competence.

• The data proving diversity drives profitability (and why it's ignored).

• The essential need to reclaim your narrative and prioritize self-loyalty.

• (Bonus) The irony of "decentralized" Web3 services failing during a cloud outage.

🎙️ Hosts: Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson

📩 Email us your letters: [email protected]

💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod

❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.

Show Notes: • Subscribe to Lost in Tech: Letters - https://open.substack.com/pub/lostintechletters/p/coming-soon?

The same behaviors that earned you your current success will sabotage your attempt to reach the next level. Mamuna and Lola discuss the brutal truth of the "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" phenomenon, explaining why effective executive leadership requires a complete change in perspective and approach.

💡 We cover:

• Why your old behaviors will sabotage your next-level success.
• The shift from individual "micro mindset" to strategic "macro impact."
• Learning to "show up different" to command executive authority.

OpenAI is opening its platform to verified adult users for erotic content, following its controversial "**treat adults like adults**" policy. Mamuna and Lola dive into the cold capitalist calculations driving this change and the complex safety and societal issues of bringing AI into our most intimate relationships.

💡 We cover:

• The monetization pressure forcing OpenAI's pivot toward high-yield adult content.

• The "anti-human" reality of banning sex, a core human drive

• How tech must prevent real human photo abuse for non-consensual content

.• Why relational experts are needed to design AI with boundaries and a "training simulator" function.

🎙️ Hosts: Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson

📩 Email us your letters: [email protected]

💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod

❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.

Ever hit that point where you’re great at your job but… you just don’t care anymore? 😩
In this episode of Lost in Tech, Mamuna Oladipo and Lola Oyelayo-Pearson read a heartfelt listener letter from a mid-level PM who feels stuck — unsure if it’s burnout or a career mismatch — and unpack the universal experience of asking, “Is this still for me?”

💬 We cover:

• The fear of making a “step back” move

• Redefining success beyond job titles

• The courage to pivot — even when it looks risky

• Why curiosity and purpose are your real career compasses

• Practical ways to reconnect with what fuels you

✨ Whether you’re in product, design, or leadership, this episode will hit home if you’ve ever questioned your path.

🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: [email protected]💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.

$100M salaries? $50M in one year? Sounds wild — but what does it really mean when a tech company dangles huge packages? In this episode of Lost in Tech, Mamuna and Lola break down the reality of tech compensation:

• The Truth About Packages: Salary vs. stock vs. bonus vs. benefits — and why the top number is misleading.

• The Tax Trap: Why higher pay can sometimes leave you poorer after deductions.

• Negotiation 101: The best time to negotiate (hint: before you sign) and practical ways to push for guaranteed cash.

• Global Perspectives: How pay packages differ across the US, UK, Europe, and beyond.

• Survival Tips: Avoiding rookie mistakes like ignoring student loans or relying on “play money” stock.

Whether you’re landing your first tech role or stepping into a senior leadership position, this episode will arm you with the tools to negotiate smarter and protect your financial future.

👂 Got a salary negotiation story or a tip from your region? We’d love to hear it — email [email protected] or DM us on @LostInTechPod.

👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if this episode gave you something to think about!

You’ve worked hard, dreamed big, and earned that promotion. But now what? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna break down the critical mindset and strategy shifts you need to thrive after stepping into your new role.

We explore:
✨ Celebrating your achievement (you earned it!)
✨ Why what got you here won’t get you there
✨ Understanding the “new bucket” you’ve entered — and how expectations change
✨ The books every newly promoted leader should read: The First 90 Days & The Leadership Pipeline
✨ Why connecting your role to the company’s business model is non-negotiable in today’s tech economy
✨ Practical ways to align with your manager and advocate for yourself

Whether you’re a first-time manager, a senior leader, or about to step into a new role, this episode is your guide to setting yourself up for success.

👂 Listen now, and share with someone who’s just been promoted!
💌 Got a tech career dilemma? Email us at [email protected] or DM us at @lostintechpod.
📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can join the conversation.

We make room for anger and frustration at work, but rarely acknowledge hurt or sadness. Why? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dive deep into what it really looks like when emotions show up at work — and why pretending they don’t belong can hurt careers, teams, and culture.

From personal stories to practical coaching, we unpack how to recognize, process, and use emotions constructively instead of suppressing them. Whether you’re a new manager, a senior leader, or navigating your own career, this conversation will help you rethink how you show up and how you support others.

We cover:

• 🧠 It’s normal, not weakness — why emotional reactions don’t make you “unprofessional”

• 🔎 Recognizing triggers — and why sometimes it takes time to realize you’re having a response

• ⏸️ Pausing before you react — tools to slow down and reset

• ⚠️ The cost of suppression — how bottling things up leads to burnout & toxic cultures

• 🪞 Role vs. self — learning that feedback is often about the role, not you personally

• 🗣️ Practical scripts you can use in the moment:

  • “I need a moment before I respond.”

  • “This is hitting me harder than I expected — let’s regroup.”

• 👩🏽‍💼 Leaders set the tone — how empathy and emotional honesty build trust & safety

• 💡 Pro Tip: Empathy always wins as a leader

✨ Like, Subscribe & Share!
We want to hear from you: email us at [email protected] or DM us on Twitter @lostintechpod with your own dilemmas. Your challenge might feature in a future episode!

Let’s get real, let’s get human, and let’s stop pretending emotions don’t belong at work.

When you’re finally on a break, should work still follow you?In this episode, Lola and Mamuna unpack the all-too-common dilemma of bosses who don’t respect boundaries — and how to handle it without burning bridges (or burning out).We break down:- 📵 Setting healthy work boundaries- ⚖️ How expectations shift for junior vs. senior roles- 🧠 The long-term cost of never truly disconnecting- 💡 Real strategies to protect your time offWhether you’ve been there or you’re heading into your next vacation, this one’s for anyone trying to balance ambition with actual rest.💬 **Your turn:** Would you speak up… or keep the peace? Email us at [**[email protected]**](mailto:[email protected]) or DM us on X (**@lostintechpod**).📌 **Subscribe & follow** on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts so you never miss the real talk about tech careers, leadership, and the messy human side of the industry.

What is the line between building your brand and just… being annoying?

In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dive into the evolving world of LinkedIn — from professional resume archive to personality-powered feed. Whether you're quietly job hunting, loudly repping yourself, or silently judging other people’s posts, this episode is for you.

We break down:

💼 Can you still get hired without a personal brand?
🔍 What hiring managers really look at on LinkedIn
🧠 Why representation ≠ oversharing (but a little celebration never hurts)
🤖 The AI arms race: job screeners are crawling your LinkedIn — are you ready?
🔥 When LinkedIn posts go too far: trolls, tone, and getting yourself fired
🌍 Cultural tensions in showing off: British modesty, Nigerian pride, American hustle

Whether you're posting to be seen, scrolling to learn, or staying silent and strategic — your LinkedIn is saying something. Are you telling the story you want?

What does it actually take to stay employed and valuable in tech right now?

In this episode, Mamuna and Lola unpack the new expectations for builders in the era of layoffs, lean teams, and AI-enhanced tooling. Spoiler: you can’t afford to say “that’s not my job” anymore.

We break down:

🧩 Why job titles like “PM” or “Designer” no longer mean what they used to📐 How today’s most valued team members operate horizontally🛠️ The rise of the product/design/eng hybrid — and the tools enabling them📊 Why some roles are quietly disappearing — and how to avoid being next🦄 Whether the new bar is reasonable… or if we’re describing unicorns

This episode is a wake-up call and a pep talk. The bar is high — but the tools are everywhere. The question is: are you learning how to use them?

👀 Whether you're a new grad or a seasoned product leader, if you're trying to stay sharp and stay relevant — this one's for you.