This is one of the most important interviews I've done.  It's a conversation with two brave individuals - Natalie Egan and Joseph Schneier - who talk openly and honestly about their experiences as male and female in tech and about their experiences after their transition to the opposite gender.  

It's a unique opportunity to put a lens to the effects of gender and gender identity on people's careers in technology, answering questions such as:

• What are the prevalent gender biases in tech and how to navigate them?
• Do women have to work harder at getting promoted or raising capital?
• How does biology influence our perception of power and decisions on who to promote / fund / listen to?
• Do women have to work harder and how to get ahead in an uneven playing field?
• How to create an inclusive environment that celebrates our uniqueness without triggering blame or fear?

Natalie Egan is an openly transgender, B2B software entrepreneur and a recognized thought leader living her life at the intersection of technology and Diversity & Inclusion.  Natalie has
over 20 years of experience driving digital change, developing high performing teams, building complex products, and selling enterprise solutions. 

Today, Natalie is the CEO & Founder of Translator, Inc., where she and her team are on a mission to scale empathy and equality through technology. Prior to founding Translator in 2016––and prior to her transition––she was CEO & Founder of PeopleLinx, a venture capital backed sales technology solution that was acquired in 2015. In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Natalie has also worked in sales leadership positions at large public companies like LinkedIn, Autonomy, and Ecolab.

Joseph Schneier is a serial entrepreneur who co-founded and exited two companies in the educational technology space. Following that, Jo worked with behavioral research scientists productizing their research with technology-based solutions for patient behavioral change, focusing on HIV drug adherence, health literacy, and addiction. In 2013, he co-founded Cognotion — a company solving the talent shortage of healthcare workers. In 2020, with James Firman, the former CEO of the National Council on Aging, Jo founded Bellage, a company empowering older adults in healthy choices.

In 2018, Jo founded Trusty.care, an InsurTech company that modernizes and simplifies health and Medicare insurance sales and the business processes that surround it so that agents and insurance carriers can focus on what matters most: beneficiaries. It’s Jo’s mission to make sure no one goes through bankruptcy because of out-of-pocket healthcare costs.