Episode 79 – From Wakanda to Silicon Valley

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Stephanie Van Putten

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IG: @svputten

https://www.svpand.co/about

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State of DEI in Tech 

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Episode Description:

Stephanie Van Putten, a notable leader in tech and entrepreneurship, shares her journey from PG County, Maryland, to becoming a major force in Silicon Valley. She discusses her experiences at Microsoft and MIT, founding Blendoor, and creating Visible Figures, a platform enhancing visibility for women leaders of the African diaspora. With insights into navigating tech, raising venture capital, and fostering diversity, Van Putten reflects on challenges and the importance of community and networking. Join this enlightening conversation to explore the intersection of human capital, technology, and the push for more inclusive, equitable workplaces.

Key Takeaways:

• Stephanie Van Putten’s unique blend of family influence and professional experiences shaped her successful entrepreneurial journey in the tech sector.

• Blendoor was founded to address bias in the recruitment process and was developed into an influential platform helping companies improve workplace diversity.

• Visible Figures is spearheading efforts to support and amplify the presence and success of women leaders across the African diaspora.

• Stephanie is an advocate for learning through teaching, as she lectures and shares her expertise to help bring about impactful changes in tech and entrepreneurship.

• Community and networking are vital elements of professional success, a theme evident in both Stephanie’s personal journey and her inclusive ventures.

Stephanie’s Bio:-::

Stephanie Van Putten is a serial entrepreneur, investor, lecturer (MIT, HKS, Stanford GSB), and Fortune 40 under 40 award-winning ESG innovator. She has spent her 20-year professional career as a venture-backed founder, CEO, enterprise SaaS developer, data scientist, and internationally acclaimed thought leader on AI, ESG, people analytics, and bias. Stephanie currently serves as Executive Director of Visible Figures and on the board of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She holds a BS in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from MIT Sloan.

Episode 78 – More Degrees than a Thermometer

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Dr. Gloria Katuka

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IG: @asheeyah11

http://www.gloriakatuka.com/

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Episode Description:

Join hosts Kyla and Jeremy  as they welcome Dr. Gloria Katuka, an applied scientist at Microsoft from Zaria, Nigeria. Gloria shares her remarkable journey through academia, achieving four degrees in eight years, including a PhD in computer science. Discover her experience transitioning from Nigeria to the U.S., her passion for computer science education, and her impactful work in developing AI services. Gain insights into her unique career path, the challenges she overcame, and her current role at Microsoft, crafting AI solutions for customers.

Key Takeaways:

Gloria’s Bio:-::

Dr. Gloria Katuka is an Applied Scientist at Microsoft, where she develops and evaluates speech-related AI services on Azure AI platforms. She earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Florida (UF), where she conducted research on collaborative dialogue analysis, focusing on natural language understanding. She investigated approaches to improve dialogue act classification using state-of-the-art language models. She also holds an M.Sc. in Computer Science, an M.Sc. in Information Systems and Operations Management, and B.Sc. in Information Systems, all from UF. She is very passionate about broadening representation in the STEM, CS and AI careers. Prior to completing her Ph.D., she contributed to several CS/AI education projects, designing and developing engaging and collaborative learning experiences for youths in both formal and informal settings. She also had the opportunity to intern at Symantec (now NortonLifeLock), Intel, Coursera, and Microsoft. In her free time, She enjoys sci-fi, action, and comedy TV shows and books, including The Expanse, Reacher, and Abbott Elementary. She also loves watching basketball, football, and soccer.

Episode 77 – Get A Big Dog

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Dr. Valerie Taylor

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@drkyla

@jeremywaisome

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Episode Description:

Dive into an insightful conversation with Dr. Valerie Taylor, Director of Argonne National Labs’ Mathematics and Computer Science Division. Exploring her journey from a tech-infused childhood in Chicago to pioneering roles in academia and founding the organization, CMD-IT. Dr. Taylor shares personal stories about mentorship, navigating academia as a minority, and shaping the future of computing through inclusivity and research. Get a glimpse into significant milestones in industry and academia, accentuated by her leadership in the Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference.

Key Takeaways:

Valerie’s Bio:-::

Dr. Valerie Taylor is the Director of the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory. Before joining Argonne, she was Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering and a Regents Professor and the Royce E. Wisenbaker Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University.

In 2003, she joined Texas A&M University as the Department Head of CSE, where she remained in that position until 2011. Prior to joining Texas A&M, Dr. Taylor was a member of the faculty in the EECS Department at Northwestern University for eleven years. Her research is in the area of high performance computing, with a focus on performance analysis and modeling of parallel, scientific applications. She is also the Executive Director of the Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT (CMD-IT).

Dr. Taylor is an IEEE Fellow, ACM Fellow, and has received numerous awards for distinguished research and leadership, including the 2001 IEEE Harriet B. Rigas Award for a woman with significant contributions in engineering education, the 2002 Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni from the University of California at Berkeley, the 2002 CRA Nico Habermann Award for increasing the diversity in computing, and the 2005 Tapia Achievement Award for Scientific Scholarship, Civic Science, and Diversifying Computing.

Dr. Taylor earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1985 and 1986, respectively, and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1991.

Episode 76 – Building Community through Chaos

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

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@Dr_Kyla

@jeremywaisome

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Episode Description:

Ready for a journey that will inspire and empower? Join Dr. Kyla McMullen and Dr. Jeremy Waisome as they take you behind the scenes of their game-changing podcast and nonprofit, Modern Figures Inc., dedicated to advancing diversity in STEM. In this episode, they reveal the powerful story behind the podcast’s creation, emphasizing the crucial role of community, education, and safe spaces for underrepresented minorities in computing.
Hear how their transition to a nonprofit is creating a ripple effect, fostering mentorship, networking, and transformative opportunities for people of color in STEM. With fresh funding from the National Science Foundation and CRA UR2PhD, Modern Figures Inc. is set to roll out exciting new initiatives—including seminars, research projects, and high-impact events like the Microsoft roundtable in Atlanta—all designed to propel diversity and inclusion forward.
This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a call to action. Tune in for the premiere episode of Season 6!

Key Takeaways:

Bios:-::

Jeremy’s Bio–

Dr. Jeremy A. M. Waisome is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education. Her research focuses on effective mentoring strategies for underrepresented populations in Engineering. She earned her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida (UF), and now serves on the UF Ronald E. McNair Advisory Board. She is also a member of the Associate Provost’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee at UF. In 2018, she was awarded the Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year (Female) by the National Society of Black Engineers. In 2017, she was inducted into the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. In addition, Dr. Waisome was inducted into UF Hall of Fame (2010) and is a recipient of the UF Outstanding Leadership Award (2010).

Kyla’s Bio– 

Dr. Kyla McMullen is a tenured faculty member at the University of Florida’s Computer & Information Sciences & Engineering Department. Dr. McMullen has a personal commitment to encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in computing and other STEM fields, and is the leader of the SoundPAD Laboratory at the University of Florida, which focuses on the Perception, Application, and Development of 3D audio. Her current projects include: (1) psychoacoustic analysis of the quality of customized head-related transfer functions, (2) using 3D audio to sonify positional data for situational awareness, (3) discovering critical interface design techniques for developing virtual auditory environments, and (4) using 3D audio to increase immersion and realness in virtual and augmented reality.

Episode 75 – Dynamic Duo

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guests: Jennifer Otiano, Kowe Kadoma

Kowe’s coursera course – https://www.coursera.org/learn/algorithmic-fairness

Jennifer’s website: https://jenniferotiono.wordpress.com/

Twitter: 

https://twitter.com/__kkado

https://twitter.com/jihoema

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Episode Description:

In this insightful episode, listeners are introduced to the fascinating journeys of Jennifer Otiano and Kowe Kadoma, two emerging scholars in the field of Information Science. Their stories unravel against the backdrop of their shared passion for human-centered technology and their individual quests for understanding its socio-cultural implications. Diving deep into the heart of computing research, Jennifer and Kowe discuss their academic pursuits and personal growth, painting a vivid picture of resilience and innovation in a field that constantly evolves.

Key Takeaways:

Bios:-::

Jennifer Otiono (she/they) is a Ph.D. student in Information Science broadly interested in Human-AI Interaction (content creators perception of AI) through a mixed-methods approach. She is a member of the Citizen’s and Technology (CAT)🐾 Lab, where she is advised by J. Nathan Matias.

Prior to Cornell, she received an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from Wellesley College. Her work has been supported by the National GEM Consortium and the Mellon Foundation.

Kowe Kadoma is a PhD student in Information Science focusing on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and AI Ethics. She uses mixed-methods to understand how AI practitioners incorporate ethical principles into their work and develop evaluation frameworks and design interventions to create equitable experiences for users of language technologies. Prior to Cornell, she received an undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering from Florida A&M University. Her work is supported by a GEM Fellowship and DLI Fellowship.

Episode 74 – The Oprah of Tech

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Linda Calvin

https://www.transcendent-talks.com/

Twitter: 

twitter.com/lcalvin65

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Episode Description:

In this episode, Linda Calvin, the Chief Impact Officer for Reboot Representation, shares her experiences growing up as the only Black woman in her family, church, and school. She discusses the challenges she faced and how she used her love for writing and creativity to navigate those situations. Linda also talks about her journey in the IT sector, her decision to go back to school as a non-traditional student, and her transition to law school. She emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and the value of understanding coding as a foundation for leadership in the tech industry.

Key Takeaways:

Linda’s Bio:-::

Linda Calvin is the Chief Impact Officer for Reboot Representation where she collaborates with Reboot Tech Coalition partners to create and support cultures that retain, attract and advance Black, Latina and Native American (BLNA) women in tech. Before joining Reboot Representation, Linda was the IT Sector Vice President for the School of IT at Ivy Tech Community College.

Linda is a 20+ year veteran of the private IT sector where she has led global teams to implement digital and mobile application strategy, data privacy and social media policy. In these roles, she has demonstrated her expertise in communication, law, and global tech leadership. Linda, a first-generation college graduate, graduated in 2001, cum laude from Butler University earning her bachelor’s in journalism. In 2008, she earned her Juris Doctor from Indiana University School of Law. In 2016, Linda earned a scrum master certification.
Linda has served on several Indiana nonprofit boards, including the Indiana Youth Group (IYG), an organization serving the needs of LGBTQ youth, and Child Advocates. She current serves as a Board Member and the Executive Women’s Forum Director for Women & Hi Tech, the largest female in STEM organization in Indiana. She is also serves as a member of the Digital Fluency Advisory Council for Franklin College, the Six Sigma Racial Equity Institute of Indianapolis, the United Way of Central Indiana Technology Committee, Rooted School Indianapolis, a public charter technology high school which seeks to lay the groundwork for closing the financial wealth gap for black students, with a focus on technology. Linda regularly speaks on panels about tech equity, the tech talent gap and mapping passion to tech.

Episode 73 – Ctrl+Alt+Empower

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Dr. Robin Brewer

robinbrewer.com

Twitter: 

https://twitter.com/_rnbrewer

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Episode Description:

Dr. Robin Brewer, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, shares her journey in computer science and human-computer interaction. She discusses her research experiences, including internships at Facebook and Microsoft Research, where she focused on designing technologies for older adults. Dr. Brewer inspires the next generation of researchers and challenges preconceptions about Black women in computing. Her current work centers around designing technologies for older adults and people with disabilities, including voice and AI technologies. She also emphasizes the importance of getting research outside of academia and into the real world.

Key Takeaways:

Robin’s Bio:-::

Dr. Robin Brewer is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan, School of Information.

Episode 72 – Start Where You Are

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Dr. Valamere Mikler

www.sherantech.org  www.cyberpsychcode.com

Twitter: 

@worktechconnect

Dissertation: Career Motivation in Millennials and Generation Z as Predictors of Turnover Intention and Organizational Commitment

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Episode Description:

Dr. Valamere Mikler, an advocate for equitable spaces in DEI, shares her journey from criminal justice to industrial organizational psychology. She discusses her work with Girls Who Code and her initiative, SheRanTech, which educates and empowers girls and women on internet safety and securing STEM careers. Dr. Mikler also explores the motivations of millennials and Gen Z in the workforce and the importance of technology in advocating for women in tech. 

Key Takeaways:

Valamere’s Bio:-::

Valamere Mikler (she/her) holds a PhD in industrial organizational psychology, a specialization in organizational diversity / social change, and teaches college-level courses in the social sciences, business, and general education. She is the founder of She Ran Tech, Inc, a digital privacy and technology education initiative, educating and empowering girls and women on internet safety and securing STEM careers, especially for those who identify as a person of color. Dr. Mikler is no stranger to being a change agent. Her work has been developed through social sciences research, advocacy/volunteerism, creating activist digital toolkits, calls to action, and curating resources. Over the past few years, she has been participating in social and civic engagement initiatives. With these opportunities, she has applied equitable solutions that advances racial, economic, gender, climate change, and social justice. Also, she serves as the principal investigator for the CyberPsych and Code Research Project, where the mission is to recruit minority women students into cyberpsychology programs and increase representation in STEM. When she is not advocating for equitable spaces, you will find her working on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging committees, enjoying family and friends, outdoor activities, or trying out the newest bakery, café, and Boba tea shops.

Episode 71 – Welcome to the Mushroom Queendom

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Dr. Shana T. Bryant

Twitter: 

@mushrooQueendom  @terribleallies

http://shanatbryant.com/  theMushroomQueendom.com

terribleallies.com 

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Episode Description:

In this episode of Modern Figure’s podcast, Dr. Jeremy Waisome and Dr. Kyla McMullen interview Shana T. Bryant, an executive producer at Oculus Game Publishing. Shana shares her journey in the gaming industry, from her early passion for video games to her diverse roles in companies like EA and Microsoft. She discusses the importance of communication and teamwork in game development and challenges the notion of the “gamer” identity. Shana also delves into the lack of diversity in the industry and the slow progress being made. Join the conversation and be inspired by Shana’s insights and experiences in the world of gaming.

Key Takeaways:

Shana’s Bio:-::

Producer and 21-year industry veteran, Shana T. Bryant has had a hand in crafting some of your favorite videogames (and might’ve even canceled a few!). From Devil May Crys and Resident Evils to Outer Worlds and even HoloLens, Shana has produced and developed profound experiences, spanning generations of platforms, genres, and media. Shana is a published author and avid comic artist, expounding ideas with a spoonful of charm and a touch of snark. Her literary contributions include Game Devs & Others: Tales from the Margins (2018, edited by Tanya DePass) and Women in Games: 100 Professionals of Play (2018, edited by Meagan Marie). She won’t stop talking about inclusivity in design, and she mentors on career management for underrepresented professionals. Shana is a steering committee member of the International Game Developer Association’s Women in Games SIG and supports Black in Gaming. She is also a director on the Board of Trustees at Art Bias, a non-profit artist co-op that seeks to promote art and artists in the Bay Area.

Episode 70 – From Lagos to UX: Dr. Aishat Aloba’s Journey in Computing

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Dr. Aishat Aloba

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Episode Description:

In this episode, Dr. Aishat Aloba joins hosts Dr. Jeremy Waisome and Dr. Kyla McMullen to discuss her journey as a Black woman in computing. Dr. Aloba shares her experiences growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, and the misconceptions about Africa. She talks about her initial interest in computer engineering and how she discovered her passion for computer science. Dr. Aloba also highlights the importance of community and the role it played in her transition to studying in the United States. She shares her experiences at the University of Mississippi and the opportunities she had to get involved in research. The episode concludes with Dr. Aloba discussing her decision to pursue a PhD and her current work in user experience research.

Key Takeaways:

Aishat’s Bio:-::

Dr. Aishat Aloba is a User Experience Researcher at Meta, where she dedicates her expertise to advancing product equity and responsible AI development. In her role, she focuses on making sure that products are built to meet the needs and motivations of diverse user populations, especially those from historically underserved communities. She received her PhD in Human-Centered Computing from the University of Florida, where she pioneered research on tailoring motion recognition algorithms to children’s motion qualities and has published in top HCI conferences. She received her M.Sc and B.Sc in Computer Science from the University of Florida and University of Mississippi respectively.