The STEM Career Coach

The real risk with AI isn’t sci-fi. It’s how we adopt it.

In this final episode of The STEM Career Coach, we’re joined by Vered Shwartz (Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia) and author of Lost in Automatic Translation: Navigating Life in English in the Age of Language Technologies. We unpack where language AI is genuinely useful — and where using it to automate decisions can go wrong, especially in high-stakes contexts like healthcare and law.

What you’ll learn in this conversation:

- Why automating “critical error” processes is where the risk lives

- How bias can show up through data and deployment, not “evil AI”

- Why language models can sound confident while still being unreliable

- How large language models are trained (in plain English)

- Why culture and context are hard for AI to get right

If you’re adopting AI at work, this is the mindset shift that keeps you safe and effective.

Resources:

- Vered’s book: https://lostinautomatictranslation.com/

- Vered at UBC: https://www.cs.ubc.ca/~vshwartz/

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Erica Lockheimer shares her journey from VP of Engineering at LinkedIn to founder of Humanize Her. In this episode, she opens up about the power of vulnerability in leadership, the importance of inclusive culture, and how mental health shaped her approach to team building. From personal stories to practical advice, Erica offers a blueprint for leading with empathy and intention.🚀 Looking to get ahead in your career?Sign up to our newsletter for expert advice, industry trends, and job opportunities: https://www.airswift.com/newsletter-s...✅ Explore our global jobs board: https://hubs.ly/Q02GXf-90🔔 Subscribe to Airswift’s YouTube: http://bit.ly/airswiftyoutube🌐 Learn more about us: https://www.airswift.com/about/👥 Join the Airswift family: https://www.airswift.com/employee/

What happens when leaders stop managing and start listening?

In this episode, Andrew McMasters—actor, facilitator, and founder of Improv Mindset—shares how embracing the whole person at work transforms culture, boosts engagement, and drives bottom-line results.“Let’s make the whole person be a part of this organisation.”— Andrew McMastersFrom walking the four walls to listening without agenda, Andrew reveals how small shifts in leadership presence can unlock massive impact.Topics covered: - How emotional check-ins build trust and agility - Why work-life harmony matters more than balance - The ROI of culture: 200% increase in discretionary effort - What improv teaches us about leadership and curiosityWhether you’re a manager, founder, or future leader—this episode will challenge how you show up and lead.

What if the key to inclusive leadership isn’t grand gestures, but small, intentional actions that ripple through your team?In this episode, Jonathan Stutz shares the practical tools and mindset shifts that help leaders build cultures of belonging, one moment at a time. From the power of the “pause button” in meetings to the transformative impact of asking “Are you really okay?” and waiting in silence, Jonathan reveals how empathy, listening, and vulnerability drive performance and trust.

Drawing on decades of experience at Microsoft and Amazon, and insights from his book The Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders, Jonathan explains why DEI is not a side initiative, it’s a business imperative. You’ll learn how to align inclusion with business goals, how to build trust in underrepresented communities, and how to lead with your ears, not your ego.

Whether you're a new manager or a seasoned executive, this episode will leave you with actionable ways to lead with care, conviction, and courage.

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In this powerful episode of The STEM Career Coach, Dr Max Klau, founder of the Center for Courageous Wholeness and author of Developing Servant Leaders at Scale, joins Donnie Maclary to explore what it really means to lead with purpose.From confronting your shadow to crafting a personal leadership mission, Dr Klau shares hard-won insights from years in AmeriCorps, New Politics, and beyond. Whether you're a young professional or a seasoned leader, this conversation will challenge you to reflect, grow, and take the right next step.Topics include: - The power of inner clarity and shadow work - Why mistakes are essential to growth - How to lead with integrity in high-stakes environments - Free tools and resources to start your leadership journeyDownload Dr Klau’s free workbook: https://courageouswholeness.org🚀 Looking to get ahead in your career?Sign up to our newsletter for expert advice, industry trends, and job opportunities: https://www.airswift.com/newsletter-s...✅ Explore our global jobs board: https://hubs.ly/Q02GXf-90🔔 Subscribe to Airswift’s YouTube: http://bit.ly/airswiftyoutube🌐 Learn more about us: https://www.airswift.com/about/👥 Join the Airswift family: https://www.airswift.com/employee/

“How do I grow as a STEM leader?”

In this special highlights episode of The STEM Career Coach, we answer that question with real advice from six standout guests: Telle Whitney, Sumesh Rahavendra, Salman Jaffer, Henry Maillet, Fergus Lopez, and Sabina Nawaz.You’ll hear how mentorship, sponsorship, mindset shifts, team empowerment, and listening can transform your leadership journey.Whether you're just stepping into leadership or already managing teams, this 10-minute episode is packed with actionable insights and career-changing perspectives.🚀 Looking to get ahead in your career?Sign up to our newsletter for expert advice, industry trends, and job opportunities: https://www.airswift.com/newsletter-s...✅ Explore our global jobs board: https://hubs.ly/Q02GXf-90🔔 Subscribe to Airswift’s YouTube: http://bit.ly/airswiftyoutube🌐 Learn more about us: https://www.airswift.com/about/👥 Join the Airswift family: https://www.airswift.com/employee/

In this episode of The STEM Career Coach, Sabina Nawaz joins Donnie Maclary to unpack one of the most overlooked truths in leadership: pressure corrupts, not power. Drawing from her experience coaching CEOs across 20+ countries and leading executive development at Microsoft, Sabina shares how emotional pressure leads to “junk behaviour,” how power amplifies its impact, and how leaders can manage it through courage, micro habits, and blank space. If you’ve ever struggled with leading under stress, this episode is your toolkit for showing up with clarity, compassion, and strength.

What does it take to lead a global aerospace team in Malaysia without losing your company’s DNA?When aerospace leader Fergus Lopez set up a new operation in Malaysia, he made one bold decision: staff it entirely with local talent. In this episode, Fergus reveals how he built a high performing team in a country where some technicians had never even flown before, and how he bridged cultural gaps without compromising on safety, quality, or global excellence. From teaching “airport culture” to embedding respect and empowerment into everyday work, Fergus shares the practical leadership lessons any STEM professional can apply to build trust, adapt to new environments, and achieve world class results.Whether you are expanding into new markets, managing cross border teams, or looking to grow your career in STEM, this conversation delivers a blueprint for leading across cultures while staying true to your company’s core values.🚀 Looking to get ahead in your career?Sign up to our newsletter for expert advice, industry trends, and job opportunities: https://www.airswift.com/newsletter-s...✅ Explore our global jobs board: https://hubs.ly/Q02GXf-90🔔 Subscribe to Airswift’s YouTube: http://bit.ly/airswiftyoutube🌐 Learn more about us: https://www.airswift.com/about/👥 Join the Airswift family: https://www.airswift.com/employee/

What happens when a hospitality veteran launches a deep-tech lab—and starts hiring people based on grit, not degrees?In this episode, Henry Maillet, CEO of MultiPeak Global Innovation Lab, shares how he's disrupting startup incubation with a human-first, hardware-forward approach. From turning magnetic bedsheets into sleep tech to recruiting street-smart talent from developing nations, Henry’s innovation playbook is anything but typical.You’ll learn:• Why prototyping always starts with on-the-ground problems—not ideas• How Henry assesses cultural fit across global teams• The surprising reason he asks his team to leave after two years• Why academic credentials don’t matter nearly as much as resilience and curiosityWhether you're building a career, a company, or the next great idea—this one will challenge how you think about innovation, hiring, and leadership.🚀 Looking to get ahead in your career?Sign up to our newsletter for expert advice, industry trends, and job opportunities: https://www.airswift.com/newsletter-s...✅ Explore our global jobs board: https://hubs.ly/Q02GXf-90🔔 Subscribe to Airswift’s YouTube: http://bit.ly/airswiftyoutube🌐 Learn more about us: https://www.airswift.com/about/👥 Join the Airswift family: https://www.airswift.com/employee/

Salman Jaffer has built tech teams from London to Ho Chi Minh to Singapore—and he’s learned what actually makes them click. In this episode of The STEM Career Coach, Salman shares hard-won lessons from his global journey across telcos, fintech, and healthtech. From working with large corporates and early stage startups with successful exits, his path proves that creativity, curiosity, and courage matter more than degrees. You’ll hear why some of his best developers came from economics and journalism, how he balances human connection with technical leadership, and why “a few oddballs” might be the secret to your next great team.If you lead people, mentor talent, or want to pivot into STEM—this conversation will change how you think about teams, growth, and what truly drives innovation.🚀 Looking to get ahead in your career?Sign up to our newsletter for expert advice, industry trends, and job opportunities: https://www.airswift.com/newsletter-s...✅ Explore our global jobs board: https://hubs.ly/Q02GXf-90🔔 Subscribe to Airswift’s YouTube: http://bit.ly/airswiftyoutube🌐 Learn more about us: https://www.airswift.com/about/👥 Join the Airswift family: https://www.airswift.com/employee/