Queens of Tech Podcast | 100 Voices of Impact | Representation Matters!

Shannon Almeida has a wealth of work experience, beginning in 2011 when they served as a Financial Coordinator for the Women's Resource Center. Shannon then took on a role as a Junior Analyst for the Finance and Investment Club in the same year. In 2012, they became a Corporate Finance Intern for TATA Power and a Consultant for the BU Urban Business Accelerator Program. In 2013, they were an Associate for the Nu Chapter Consulting Group and an Executive Board Member for the Boston University Consulting Group. In 2019, they became a Co-Founder of Benefactory, and in 2020, they took on the same role for Volv Media.

Shannon Almeida began their educational journey in 2000 at Narsee Monjee Educational Trust's - Jamnabai Narsee School, where they attended until 2008. Shannon then attended Questrom School of Business, Boston University from 2010 to 2014, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Economics. In 2013, Shannon participated in a summer program at Berklee College of Music, focusing on Music Business. From 2015 to 2018, Shannon attended the University of Mumbai and earned a Bachelor of Laws - LLB. Shannon also participated in an Accelerator Program at Yellow.

Volv captures the zeitgeist of this generation. A Snapchat-backed super app that gives you a personalized stream of content in 9-second reads using AI. From niche newsletters to breaking news, to Youtube snippets. Users have read over 35 million stories so far.

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Abbey has over 20 years of international experience climbing the corporate ranks in companies like Microsoft, KPMG, and Yara International. In her last role, she was the Chief ESG and Integrity Officer of a publicly listed company located in 45 countries, responsible for global risk, compliance, and sustainability. In 2019 she co-founded Oslo.AI, one of the largest non-profit communities of AI Enthusiasts, as well as Ethical AI Resources which was transferred to NORA.AI in 2023. She is now the Founder of Fortifai, an ESG Regulatory technology company making it easier for companies to implement sustainability and compliance in their organization, no matter the size or budget.

Abbey is from California and is a mother of 3. She holds a master's degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and a double bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

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Kate is the Founder & CEO of Fair HQ, deeply driven by the convergence of pioneering science and technology with the evolving needs of the private capital sector. Her journey is fueled by a vision to unleash the power of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as catalysts for transformative change and unparalleled financial success.

With a background in HR, Kate's commitment lies in empowering private equity firms & VCs to fully leverage DEI's potential. Through Fair HQ's innovative platform, she offers real-time insights, actionable guidance, and streamlined reporting, elevating DEI from a mere buzzword to a strategic business imperative that delivers tangible, measurable outcomes.

Her previous company, SheWins.co, focused on reducing the gender pay gap while empowering women to negotiate effectively. With renowned clients such as Sky, Spotify, Dell, PwC, and Deliveroo (all inbound), Kate recognized a fundamental truth: diversity and inclusion cannot improve solely through individual efforts. Rather, they are systemic issues that require comprehensive solutions from the companies themselves.

This venture marks Kate's fourth in the business world. She began her career as a Head of HR, leading her team to an acquihire by a Silicon Valley startup. Her previous company, SheWins.co, focused on reducing the gender pay gap while empowering women to negotiate effectively. Recognizing that diversity and inclusion require systemic solutions, Kate launched Fair HQ to provide businesses with the tools and resources necessary to foster a truly inclusive environment where all employees can thrive.

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Embark on the professional journey of Elizabeth Snower, a seasoned individual with a wealth of diverse experiences that have unfolded over several dynamic years. Presently holding the role of Chief Operating Officer at ICONIQ, Elizabeth is a recent co-founder of the company, which is the driving force behind the well-known virtual influencer, Kuki AI.

Before her current endeavor, Elizabeth made impactful contributions as the Director of Product Management for Global Fashion Brands at TechStyle Fashion Group, showcasing her expertise at the intersection of fashion and technology. Before this, she served as the VP of Growth for The Americas at Haptik, leaving an indelible mark on strategic expansion efforts.

A true entrepreneur, Elizabeth co-founded CONVRG, an AI-powered voice and messaging platform, which garnered attention through its acquisition by Haptik in 2019. Her professional journey also includes roles as a Solutions Lead at Kik Interactive, a Digital Content Strategy Consultant at Guthy|Renker, and as the Editor in Chief for the DermStore Beauty Group at Target.

The roots of Elizabeth’s illustrious career trace back to her beginnings as an Assistant Supplements Editor and Event Assistant at the Orange County Business Journal. Her educational pursuits led her to California State University, Fullerton, where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in English Language and Literature/Letters.

Liz Snower’s influence extends beyond her roles in various organizations. As the co-founder of ICONIQ, she played a pivotal role in the creation of Kuki AI, a virtual influencer making waves in the industry. The journey continued with the co-founding of CONVRG, a B2B voice and messaging platform, and during her tenure at Kik, where she delved into building conversational products for prominent brands. Since 2015, Liz has been a sought-after speaker at events such as The FQ Equality Lounge at SXSW, YMS NYC, Fashion Digital NYC, and AdWeek X.

Her insights and expertise have not gone unnoticed, with quotes featured in publications like The Washington Post and Ad Age. Liz’s work has been covered extensively by media outlets including Forbes, Yahoo, BBC, VICE, Vogue, and Harvard Business Review. Join us as we explore the impactful career and innovative contributions of Liz Snower, a trailblazer in the realms of technology, business, and artificial intelligence.

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Richa is an emerging leader with over nine years of experience in operations, engineering, supply chain, and management. An engineer by background and a businesswoman at heart, she is a strong advocate for women's leadership in engineering and technology.

Richa Bansal, the founder of Pinkcareers, started this initiative with a mission to address the underrepresentation of women in engineering and technology. Despite being the only woman in various professional settings, including an undergraduate class in India, an oil rig in Malaysia, and an engineering management role, she aspires to change the narrative.

Throughout her journey, Richa has faced challenges common to many working women – from proving her worth in a male-dominated industry to balancing career and motherhood. She is determined to challenge stereotypes and create a more inclusive environment for women.

As a coach and mentor, Richa has been helping individuals perfect their resumes, improve interview skills, and navigate their career paths. However, she believes that her voice needs to be louder, and by sharing her experiences with the Pinkcareers community, she aims to inspire and empower more women to excel in their careers.

Richa's personal experiences, including pursuing an MBA while raising two children, have fueled her commitment to breaking societal norms and expectations placed on working women. With a track record of achieving promotions, transitioning to high-paying roles, and building a successful business, she is proof that a purpose-driven, strategic approach can lead to a fulfilling and remarkable career.

Her mission is clear – to help high achievers stop underselling themselves, land high-impact leadership roles on their terms, and achieve purpose, freedom, and financial success. As a brown immigrant mother with extensive experience in the Energy and Tech industries, Richa brings a unique perspective to her coaching, aiming to empower others to build their careers on their terms.

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Nicole Trick Steinbach, the Founder of Trick Steinbach LLC and host of the Celebrate Brave podcast, is an International Bravery Coach dedicated to empowering professional women to cultivate the skill of bravery. Her mission is to guide women in reducing stress, working less, and achieving greater financial success.

Nicole's coaching revolves around the framework of clarity, momentum, and accountability. She helps her clients set meaningful goals and cultivates the mindset necessary for sustained success. By encouraging women to perceive successes, mistakes, and failures as equal stepping stones, she empowers them to build a brave life and career.

In her journey, Nicole understands the struggle of appearing successful externally while grappling with inner misery. Her past experiences of exhaustion, loneliness, and unhappiness in the tech industry prompted a transformation. Realizing the lies she believed about her worth, she embarked on a path to build her bravery.

As an International Bravery Coach, Nicole shares her story of overcoming the pressure to work harder and longer. Instead, she advocates for finding balance, asking questions, and pushing back when needed. Nicole's coaching approach is rooted in her revelation that building bravery involves taking care of oneself, cultivating hobbies, and working smarter, not just harder.

Nicole's extensive career includes serving as a Global Senior Director for a major software company, driving impactful global transformational programs in over 25 countries. After 13 years in Germany, she relocated to Denver, Colorado, to align with her family's dreams while elevating her career.

Her journey also involves healing from childhood abuse, recovering from disordered eating, and embracing her humanity as a mother of two. Nicole transitioned from her executive corporate career to entrepreneurship, achieving six figures in her first year. Now, as an International Bravery Coach, she guides women globally in building their own brave lives.

In essence, Nicole's story is a testament to her ability to build bravery, leading to a life where stress is minimized, work is purposeful, and financial success is abundant.

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Aarti is a driving force in AI-led growth and business innovation. As CEO of Shreem Growth Partners, with over 20 years in the field, she is known for scaling organisations globally and driving strategic growth in both, established and emerging tech sectors.

Aarti has launched category-defining AI products, including predictive text input, face biometric verification, and AR surgical simulations, humanising technology to solve real problems. A prominent speaker and media commentator, she frequently shares her expertise on channels like the BBC, offering insights on Artificial Intelligence technology.

An alumna of Durham University, Aarti holds an honours degree in Mathematics.

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Marita Cheng, recognized as the youngest Member of the Order of Australia in 2019 and named one of Forbes' Top 50 Women in Tech in 2018, is a prominent technology entrepreneur and advocate for women in technology. As the founder and CEO of Aubot (formerly 2Mar Robotics), she leads the development of Teleport, a telepresence robot designed to facilitate education for children with cancer, enable individuals with disabilities to attend work and provide monitoring and companionship for the elderly.

Under Marita's leadership, Aubot has gained global recognition, receiving accolades such as Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in 2016 and being hailed as "the coolest girl at CES 2014" by VentureBeat magazine. Marita has presented innovative Teleport technology at various international conferences, including the M.A.P. International CEO Conference in the Philippines, MIT Technology Review EmTech Singapore, and the World Entrepreneurship Forum in Lyon, France.

In addition to her contributions to Aubot, Marita attended Singularity University's Graduate Studies Program in 2015, where she co-founded Aipoly. Aipoly developed an application using convolutional neural networks to recognize objects in real time on smartphones, assisting individuals with visual impairments. The app, launched in 2016, has been downloaded over 500,000 times and is available in 23 languages.

Marita's commitment to promoting diversity in engineering led her to found Robogals Global, for which she received the title of Young Australian of the Year in 2012. Robogals conducts workshops and community activities worldwide to encourage young women to pursue engineering. Marita's achievements extend to board positions in organizations like Robogals Global, the Foundation for Young Australians, and RMIT's New Enterprise Investment Fund. She is also involved in the Clinton Health Access Initiative's Tech Advisory Board.

Born in Cairns, Queensland, Marita overcame financial challenges to excel academically, graduating in the top 0.2% of the nation. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronics) / Bachelor of Computer Science from the University of Melbourne and is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Japanese. Beyond her professional endeavors, Marita enjoys reading, traveling, and daydreaming.

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Elham Binai currently holds the position of Global Senior Vice President at Cognite, serves as the Founder of Binai Group, and is a Board Member of Plan International.

Elham is a globally recognized, visionary, and transformational leader with a proven track record in driving commercial success. With extensive experience spanning various domains, She excels in defining strategic initiatives, crafting change journeys, and implementing new Target Operating Models (TOMs) across diverse organizational functions.

As a highly results-oriented and innovative thinker, Elham has demonstrated a unique ability to solve complex challenges. Her leadership style is characterized by a focus on innovation and the capacity to build effective teams that not only perform but also undergo transformative processes.

Elham brings a wealth of experience from multinational organizations, where she has been actively involved in transformation, verticalization, outsourcing, and managing complex organizational structures and governance. Additionally, her tenure in start-ups, particularly in the IT/Tech and Recruitment sectors, reflects her commitment to fostering growth ambitions, establishing sales cultures, and overseeing marketing, branding, and HR functions.

With a diverse board experience spanning NGOs, start-ups, and consulting, Elham has showcased her ability to contribute valuable insights across different sectors. Her global work experience, having lived and studied in the UK, Canada, Nordics, Middle East, and South America, has equipped her with a unique perspective and the ability to navigate complex cultural environments. Fluent in several world languages, Elham is adept at communicating in diverse settings.

Elham's leadership skills, team-building acumen, and ability to drive sustainable change have earned her recognition. She is known for establishing collaborative cultures, coaching leaders, and successfully leading large functions and cross-functional teams across countries, functions, and business units.

Elham Binai's sectorial expertise spans Tech, Energy (Oil/Gas), HR/Recruitment, Shipping, Media, Politics, NGO, and Academia. Her educational background includes a Global Executive Leadership Program & Financial Management from Harvard Business School, an MA in Journalism (Broadcasting-BBC) from Brunel University London, an MSc in Business and Organizational Psychology from the University of Surrey, and a BSc in Psychology from the University of East London. Elham also holds a foundation degree in Philosophy and Social Science from the Universitetet i Oslo (UiO).

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Jona Repishti currently serves as the Head of Global Gender Programs at Digital Green. In this capacity, she leads efforts to implement evidence-based gender-sensitive programs and products, mainstream gender considerations throughout the organization, and offers thought leadership to various stakeholders. Previously Jona worked as a Senior Gender Advisor at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), where she assisted multinational corporations, foundations, and development finance institutions in incorporating gender perspectives into their operations and supply chains. She also played a role in developing strategies and programs with a focus on gender inclusivity.

Jona's experience also includes leading MIT D-Lab's global entrepreneurship programs, where she supported startups and innovators working to address global poverty challenges through market-based solutions. Her primary passion is leveraging co-creation and technology to amplify the voices of women, local leaders, and marginalized communities, with the goal of translating intentions into practical, inclusive solutions.

Jona Repishti holds a bachelor's degree from Middlebury College and a master's degree from Princeton University.

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