Lost 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.

Everyone wants “a seat at the table.” But what’s actually going on in that room — and who gets let in?

In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dissect the mythology around “the room where it happens” (yes, Hamilton fans, this one’s for you). We explore why seniority often requires managing people, how individual contributors hit ceilings, and what it really means to grow in your career without chasing a title.

We break down:

🏛️ What “the room” is and who usually gets in
👥 Why ICs often hit a ceiling — and why that’s not necessarily bad
📊 Why people management is the currency of leadership in most orgs
🎤 How to ask for growth without asking for a promotion
🎭 What Hamilton’s Aaron Burr teaches us about entitlement and access

This one’s part coaching, part clarity. If you’ve ever wondered why your title didn’t get you into the big strategy meeting, this is your backstage pass.

👀 For ambitious ICs, new managers, and anyone wondering what’s behind the closed doors — listen in.

What happens when your CEO and Chief People Officer end up on the kiss cam at a Coldplay concert?

In this episode, Lola and Mamuna unpack the viral moment that put a unicorn tech company — Astronomer — at the center of internet gossip. But we’re not here for the tabloid drama. We’re here to talk about the real implications of workplace relationships at the highest level.

We break down:

• 🧠 The power dynamics between CEOs and Chief People Officers

• 🛡️ The role of HR: protecting people vs. protecting the company

• ⚖️ Ethics, accountability, and what really happens when the top breaks the rules

• 📈 What the board should (or shouldn't) do during a reputational crisis

• 🎯 How companies might spin scandal into spotlight — and what that says about tech culture

This one’s spicy, but grounded. It’s not about them, it’s about us: what we normalize, how we lead, and who gets held to which standards.

👀 Whether you're in tech, HR, or just love real talk about leadership and accountability — this one’s for you.

💡 We made this show for YOU! Got a tech challenge? Need career advice? Send your dilemmas to [email protected] or DM us on @LostInTechPodcast on Twitter.👍 Like, Subscribe & Follow for real conversations about tech, career growth & everything in between!

What happens when satire hits too close to home?

In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dive into the HBO film Mountainhead—a dark, eerily accurate commentary on tech culture, ambition, and the moral compromises made in pursuit of power. The conversation unpacks the film’s portrayal of founders, intellectual elitism, and the ethical line (or lack thereof) in Silicon Valley’s highest ranks.

They reflect on:

• The cult of tech genius and how timing often trumps talent

• The dangers of unchecked ambition and performative ethics

• The “locker room energy” dominating tech leadership and VC culture

• Why some leaders mistake prosperity for progress—and who really pays the price

Whether you’ve seen Mountainhead or not, this episode will leave you questioning how we measure success, who we idolize in tech, and what it actually means to build for the greater good.

📽️ Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27cN2_k0JF0

Watch, listen, and ask yourself: Would you fall for it too?

This week, Lola and Mamuna tackle a big, under-discussed question: What does it mean to onboard a new tech intern in 2025? With layoffs still reshaping the industry and a more cautious work culture taking hold, how do we give interns—especially those without previous experience—a meaningful start?They reflect on a real-world scenario of a student entering the tech world for the first time and explore:- What has changed about internship culture?- How should companies rethink their internship programs?- What signals support vs. exploitation in tech learning environments?- And how can young talent gain traction in a field still recovering?This is a thoughtful, real talk episode about designing better early-career experiences, especially in a hybrid or remote context.💬 Have your own challenge or internship story? Email us at [email protected] or DM us on X @LostInTechPodcast.