#SheSpeaks

Poonam Vyas is a technology leader with over two decades of experience spanning software engineering, leadership, hiring, mentoring, and digital transformation. Having built her career across global organisations and smaller teams, she brings a thoughtful and deeply human perspective on resilience, reinvention, and what it means to keep moving forward in a changing industry.

In this episode, we explore Poonam’s journey into technology, her experience navigating redundancy and returning to work after a significant career break, and how that period became an opportunity for reflection, learning, and growth. We also discuss how hiring has changed in the age of AI, what candidates can do to show their value, and why confidence matters at every stage of your career.

Drawing on her personal journey to the UK, her experience as a mother, mentor, and technology leader, Poonam shares honest reflections on independence, representation, mental health, and the importance of creating more visible pathways for women and girls in tech.

Dr. Annalisa Arcella is an AI and Machine Learning leader with two decades of experience spanning computational science, data science, engineering, and AI transformation. From conducting cutting-edge research at MIT to leading global machine learning teams across government, consulting, media, and financial services, she brings a rare blend of scientific depth, technical leadership, and commercial perspective.

In this episode, we explore Annalisa's journey from academia into industry, what it really takes to build successful AI teams, and why continuous learning is the defining skill for anyone working in technology today. We also discuss AI in regulated industries, the future of engineering leadership, mentorship, and how to navigate a career in one of the fastest-moving fields in tech.

Drawing on her international career and passion for developing people, Annalisa shares practical advice on building meaningful careers, embracing change, and leading with both technical excellence and curiosity.

Tulsi Patel is a technology and product leader with extensive experience spanning product management, engineering, strategy, and digital transformation. Having built and led multidisciplinary teams across the technology sector, she's passionate about creating inclusive cultures where people can do their best work while delivering meaningful innovation.

In this episode, we explore Tulsi's career journey, what leadership really looks like behind the job title, and how she's navigated imposter syndrome, representation, and the pressures of succeeding in tech. We also discuss hiring, allyship, building diverse teams, and why creating a fulfilling career is about much more than collecting impressive company names on your CV.

Drawing on years of leadership experience, Tulsi shares thoughtful insights into leading with authenticity, supporting others to grow, and building technology teams where both people and ideas can thrive.

Meena Konidala is an Engineering Leader with 15+ years of experience spanning software engineering, data platforms, AI, and technology transformation. Passionate about helping engineers grow, she's built a career that combines technical excellence with people-first leadership.

In this episode, we explore Meena's journey from engineer to engineering manager, why mentorship plays such a critical role in career development, and how leaders can create environments where engineers thrive. We also discuss inclusive hiring, supporting women in tech, navigating uncertainty in the age of AI, and the leadership philosophy that has shaped her approach to building high-performing teams.

From mentoring young girls into STEM to leading global engineering teams, Meena shares practical insights on growth, leadership, and creating lasting impact through technology.

Jade Emmanuel is an AI and data strategist working at the intersection of technology, product, and commercial strategy, helping organisations turn complex data into clear direction and meaningful outcomes. Alongside advising enterprise organisations, she also works closely with early-stage businesses, helping them build intelligent systems and the foundations for scalable growth.

In this episode, we explore what it’s really like working in AI during such a fast-moving moment in tech, the realities of building a career in this space, and how leaders and organisations can navigate both the opportunity and uncertainty that comes with emerging technologies. Jade shares her thoughtful perspective on making AI practical, responsible, and genuinely valuable to the people and teams using it.

Grounded and refreshingly honest, this conversation is about clarity in complexity — and the skills and mindsets that matter most when technology and change move quickly.

Tavier Taylor is a Fractional CIO, Board Advisor, and transformation architect helping boards, CEOs, and investors govern AI and digital risk with clarity and confidence. As Chief Technology & Information Officer at the Chartered Management Institute and founder of TFM Innovations, Tavier works at the intersection of technology, governance, and cultural intelligence - ensuring transformation doesn’t just move fast, but moves responsibly.

In this episode, we explore what transformation leadership really looks like when you combine tech, people, and culture. Tavier shares how boards can regain visibility and decision ownership as AI accelerates, why governance must evolve alongside innovation, and where leadership teams often fall short when driving change.

We also dive into hiring for complexity, building resilient teams, and how cultural intelligence becomes a true competitive advantage in today’s digital landscape.

Insightful, practical, and grounded in real boardroom experience, this conversation is essential listening for leaders navigating AI, risk, and transformation.

Furkan Karayel is a multi-award-winning diversity & inclusion leader, author of Inclusive Intelligence, and founder of Diversein.com. With a background in software engineering across global tech organisations, Furkan brings rare credibility at the intersection of technical expertise and inclusive leadership, helping companies build workplaces that are both high-performing and deeply human.

In this episode, we explore her journey from engineer to global speaker, educator, and advisor, the realities of navigating tech as a woman and non-native professional, and why representation across culture, gender, neurodiversity, and ability is essential — not optional. Furkan unpacks what inclusive leadership actually looks like in practice, and how organisations can move beyond performative gestures to create meaningful, lasting change.

Grounded, incisive, and empowering, this conversation is a powerful reminder that inclusion is an action, not an intention — and that creating space for others often begins with owning your voice.

Violet Snell is a machine learning & AI leader whose career bridges rigorous academia and real-world impact. With an Oxford Engineering & Computer Science degree, a PhD in Computer Vision from Surrey’s CVSSP, and hands-on stints across research and software engineering, Violet pairs scientific depth with product pragmatism. She’s led AI for high-stakes domains — from medical imaging and fraud detection to road-safety systems that spot mobile use and seatbelt non-compliance — and brings a clear, ethical lens to how AI is built and deployed.

We dive into her Socratic leadership style; how to advocate for AI’s strengths and limitations inside the business; and practical playbooks for inclusive hiring (from job-ad language and panel design to smarter graduate pipelines). Violet unpacks why champions beat “distant role models” for getting girls into tech, what schools and universities can really do (hello, diamond schooling & Code First Girls), and how diverse teams spot — and fix — bias in AI. Thoughtful, candid, and refreshingly actionable.

Magdalene Amegashitsi is a trailblazing Data & AI strategist with 10+ years helping organisations turn complex data into clear strategy. With an academic foundation in econometrics and a career spanning advanced analytics, machine learning, and digital transformation, she pairs technical depth with a values-first lens. She’s also the founder of the Global Queens Community, focused on bridging the gap between the underrepresented and the thriving, and is also now launching her own data & AI venture!

We dive into her path from languages and econometrics into AI leadership; how to communicate technical truth when you’re the only dissenting voice in the room; and why “conscious, values-led” leadership is non-negotiable in AI. Magdalene unpacks her idea of “forever mentors,” the real difference between mentorship and sponsorship, and how to build legacy without burning out — all while balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood.

Meri Williams is the CTO at Pleo, a fintech scale-up reimagining how businesses manage spending across teams. With an impressive leadership track record at Monzo, Healx, and in government, Meri brings deep technical expertise and a bold, people-first approach to engineering at scale.

We explore their journey through fintech, medtech, and public sector innovation — from scaling platforms during hypergrowth to shaping what inclusive leadership really looks like. Meri also shares powerful insights on mentorship, sponsorship, and championing neurodiversity — and why representation at the top still matters more than ever.