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

Karen Dolva serves as the CEO and co-founder of No Isolation, an Oslo-based startup established in October 2015. Driven by the mission to alleviate involuntary social solitude, the company's inaugural product, AV1, is a physical avatar designed to empower children and young adults facing extended periods away from school due to illness. AV1 enables them to maintain a presence in the classroom, communicate with friends, and foster social connections.

Karen's academic journey led her to study Computer Science and Interaction Design at the University of Oslo, recognized as Norway's premier institution for education and research. While pursuing her studies, Karen initiated her career at StartupLab Oslo and later co-founded UX Lab, a user experience consultancy focused on user testing and the design of digital user experiences.

During the early stages of her career, Karen recognized the need for No Isolation after meeting Anne Fi Troye, a mother who had lost her teenage daughter to cancer. Inspired by Anne Fi's tireless efforts to enhance the lives of hospitalized children based on her daughter's experience of social solitude, Karen leveraged her expertise in user experience and computer science to develop a tech-based solution.

Speaking about the critical role of No Isolation, Karen emphasizes, "What we've seen is that children with long-term illnesses can't stay connected with their lives. They are told to focus on their health, but the healthiest thing for them would be to stay connected with their friends. Going back to school after a long period isn't easy, and for those who suffer from chronic illness, the loneliness never really stops."

No Isolation has successfully raised a total of €20 million and holds two patents. Karen Dolva's impactful contributions have earned her recognition on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in Europe in the Social Entrepreneurs category and the European Top 50 Women In Tech List in 2018. Additionally, she received the 2018 EU Women Innovator Award as a Rising Innovator.

In 2020, Karen was named to the BBC's 100 Women list. Her commitment to addressing social challenges through technology is underpinned by her background in computer science from the University of Oslo.

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Merete Medle’s journey began on a remote island in the sea of western Norway, growing up with two siblings. Today, she is a dedicated professional and mother of five-year-old twins following a separation.

With a diverse career spanning telecoms, home alarms, and various startups/scaleups, Merete has honed her skills primarily in insight and analysis. Boasting over 15 years of experience as a CX (Customer Experience) and CS (Customer Success) practitioner, she brings a wealth of expertise in leadership, commercial strategy, and customer journey management.

Merete has a proven track record in establishing customer insight programs and excels in both strategic and operational aspects of CX, Support, and Customer Success. Her passion for diversity and people, coupled with a robust commercial, growth, and digital mindset, underscores her belief that prioritizing people, both customers and employees, leads to remarkable results.

Currently, as the Head of Customer Journey at Peab, Merete extends her influence as a Board Member of Brilliant Future and as the host of the CX Podden podcast. Beyond her professional pursuits, she shares her love for music, having worked as a professional DJ, and serving as a spinning instructor at Sats.

Merete Medle is known for her distinctive approach, guided by a heart-led philosophy and a commitment to putting people first in all aspects of her life.

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Cuky Pérez stands out as an accomplished economist and data scientist, boasting two decades of experience in applied statistics and technology, primarily in Silicon Valley. Her academic journey culminated in a Ph.D. and Master’s degree from the prestigious Stanford University.

Initially serving as a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, Cuky made a strategic career shift after three years, seeking fresh challenges. This decision led her to Airbnb, the world's largest lodging technology platform, where she became an integral part of the data science team. Over a remarkable six-year tenure, she not only led diverse teams but, in her final role, helmed the Platforms team. This team played a crucial role in standardizing all business units, contributing to the efficiency required for Airbnb's successful IPO.

Post the IPO, Cuky Pérez transitioned to Shopify, a Canadian startup renowned for providing digital services to entrepreneurs, including e-commerce and online payments. This experience deepened her expertise in the dynamic field of e-commerce.

Currently, Cuky is in Chile, dedicating her efforts to support initiatives aimed at empowering women to venture into the tech sector in her home country. With an impressive track record and a commitment to fostering diversity in technology, Cuky Pérez continues to be a prominent figure in the ever-evolving landscape of data science and e-commerce

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Beverly Clarke stands as a distinguished figure in education, recognized as a TechWomen100 Award winner, and a dedicated leader. Formerly a teacher, she has seamlessly transitioned into various roles, assuming the roles of an education consultant, published author, ambassador, board member, coach, mentor, speaker, and trustee. Beverly is committed to elevating educational outcomes for all by fostering an understanding of and access to technology.

With a wealth of experience in both national and international computing education, Beverly is a trailblazer in her field. She has received acclaim as an #SBS small business Sunday award winner through her engaging children's book series, "The Digital Adventures of Ava and Chip." This series aims to make technology concepts exciting, relatable, and easily understandable for young readers.

Beverly is also the author of the published book "Computer Science Teacher," which offers valuable insights into the computing classroom. Released in 2017, this work is designed to attract new talent to the computing teaching profession. Through her multifaceted contributions, Beverly Clarke continues to shape the landscape of education and technology.

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Azra Osmancevic stands as the co-founder of legal tech startup Justic and holds the position of Head of Business Development at Viaplay Group, a globally acclaimed streaming company experiencing rapid growth. Beyond her executive roles, Azra is an engaged angel investor, a board professional, and the visionary force behind Femtorship, a mentoring initiative tailored for young women.

With a background as a lawyer at Mannheimer Swartling and as the General Counsel at Qryptone Music Group, Azra brings a wealth of legal expertise to her multifaceted career. Recognized for her impactful contributions, she has been honored as the #12 Female Leader Of The Future 2022 by Ledarna, Sweden's principal organization for managers.

Azra is an influential keynote speaker, addressing topics such as business development, fostering an inclusive mindset in leadership and entrepreneurship, and emphasizing the critical role of energy management in effective leadership. Moreover, she co-authored the book "69 anledningar att bli advokat" (69 reasons to become a lawyer), showcasing her commitment to sharing insights and knowledge within the legal profession.

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Pernilla Vinneby serves as the CEO of Knowit Experience Stockholm, a prominent digital agency counted among the largest in the Nordics. Renowned as a seasoned business developer specializing in digital solutions and e-commerce, she brings a customer-centric approach to her leadership role. Pernilla's career is marked by exceptional ambition, a relentless drive for continuous improvement, and a dedication to the empowerment of individuals and teams.

With a profound interest in human psychology, Pernilla actively seeks out opportunities to collaborate with individuals who complement her skills and expertise. Her professional journey has encompassed various business development roles, where she has not only managed companies from the CEO's perspective but has also provided valuable insights from a board perspective.

Pernilla holds an MBA from Luleå University and is currently pursuing an EMBA at Stockholm Business School. Her commitment to excellence is evident in her participation in course examinations at prestigious institutions such as Yale and Stanford. This educational journey reflects her dedication to staying at the forefront of industry knowledge and trends.

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Growing up with a rich blend of Welsh and Nigerian heritage in diverse locations such as the Philippines, the United States, Tunisia, and the UK, her fascination with people and cultures blossomed from an early age. This curiosity deepened as she pursued her studies, earning a BSc in Psychology from the University of Manchester and an MSc in Gender, International Development and Globalization from the London School of Economics and Political Science, specializing in human behavior and gender dynamics.

Embarking on her professional journey, she commenced her career as an entry-level researcher at a prominent 500-person research firm. Within her first year, she earned promotions to project manager and eventually head of HR, setting the stage for my multifaceted career.

Her subsequent focus on marketing, diversity, and inclusion has led her to deliver over 500 workshops on these critical subjects. Notable platforms such as Amazon, Airbnb, Snapchat, Stella McCartney, NHS, Prince’s Trust, Pioneer DJ, Resident Advisor, and the Black Young Professionals Network have benefited from my expertise. She is resolutely committed to unraveling the barriers to building truly inclusive teams, leveraging privilege as a force for good, and leaving the workplace in a better state than we found it.

Outside of her professional pursuits, she immerses herself in reading multiple books each week, mentoring young individuals of color venturing into the workforce, and actively participating as a panelist and speaker at various events and podcasts. Serving as a board member for charities like Beyond Equality and My Pickle, she channels her passion into engaging men and boys in conversations about gender, addressing harmful aspects of masculinities, and promoting well-being.

During her leisure moments, you will find her wandering London's Victoria Park, seeking the joy of petting the next dog or cat, and savoring the beautiful birdsong of parakeets.

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Suvi Lindfors stands as the visionary founder of Lumoa, a distinguished Finnish SaaS enterprise dedicated to empowering companies worldwide with profound insights into enhancing their customer experiences. As a seasoned leader, Suvi boasts an illustrious career managing customer experience teams and spearheading projects at renowned organizations like Telia, Nokia, and Microsoft.

Her exceptional leadership skills have been recognized at Microsoft, where she was honored for embodying a growth mindset. Suvi's strengths lie in her resilience, passion, and unwavering persistence, qualities that have consistently driven her success in the dynamic realm of customer experience.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Suvi thrives in a blended family environment, sharing her life with three children and a supportive spouse. While actively engaging in her kids' soccer training, she also finds solace in creative endeavors such as flower arrangements and crafts. In her commitment to harmonious living, Suvi embraces the principles of Marie Kondo, ensuring that her living space reflects joy and purpose.

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Sophia Matveeva is the visionary CEO and founder of Tech For Non-Techies, a dynamic education and executive coaching company. Renowned for her insights, Sophia has made notable contributions to prestigious publications such as the Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, The Guardian, and Forbes, sharing her expertise on entrepreneurship and technology trends. In addition, she hosts the highly acclaimed Tech for Non-Techies podcast, offering valuable insights into the intersection of business and technology.

At Tech for Non-Techies, Sophia spearheads initiatives to empower non-technical professionals with the skills to navigate and excel in the Digital Age. Through corporate and individual training programs, she enables professionals to master the language of technology and thrive in the evolving digital landscape.

Sophia's influence extends to academia, where she has shared her knowledge as a guest lecturer at esteemed institutions such as the University of Chicago, London Business School, and Oxford University. She played a pivotal role in leading the Blackstone x Techstars accelerator at the University of Texas, showcasing her commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

A distinguished alumna of Chicago Booth with an MBA and a graduate in Politics from Bristol, Sophia is fluent in English, Russian, and French. Her dedication to educational and professional growth is further evidenced by her role on the Board of the University of Chicago’s Alumni in the UK.

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Auriole Prince BA MMAA, a registered medical illustrator and forensic artist trained at the FBI Academy Quantico, is the founder of Change My Face. Her expertise lies in providing age progression imaging services through innovative apps and software, particularly for health campaigns and the aging of long-term missing individuals. Auriole's professional journey includes collaborating with the Missing People Charity while honing her forensic art skills.

As the head of Change My Face Ltd., Auriole has spearheaded impactful projects such as the Smoking Time Machine software for Smoke-Free Lincolnshire and Dorset Health Authority. Additionally, she has developed popular apps like Drinking Mirror and Drinking Time Machine for the Scottish Government, accumulating over 500,000 downloads within six months.

Auriole's commitment and achievements in the field have garnered recognition, as evidenced by her Gold and Silver awards in the Best Business Women Awards 2020. She received accolades in the categories of STEM Female Founder and Best Business, underscoring her significant contributions to the intersection of art, science, and

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