Being a CISO these days feels straight out of Mission Impossible – stopping the Bad Actors - except there’s no self-destructing instructions, no fancy gadgets, and the dangers don’t wait for the dramatic music. While the stakes are sky-high, the task of keeping your organization secure can sometimes seem unimaginable. As AI rewrites the rules of business, security leaders are caught between shrinking budgets and exploding risks... and today, we’re getting advice from a PRO.  

In this episode, we cut through the noise with Shira Rubinoff, CEO of the Cybersphere Group, for a brutally honest look at what CISOs are truly up against. We talk about the real-world threats of deepfakes fooling even the experts, and the shadow AI tools your team is using without your knowledge. 

In this episode, Shira breaks down the essential truths of modern security: 

If you want to know what actually keeps CISOs up at night and how the best are fighting back, you can't afford to miss this. 

Connect with us!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirarubinoff/ 

Roses are red, partnerships are great, but TRUE tech alliances will seal your fate. Even though Valentine's Day has passed, who can’t use some relationship advice?  

Welcome to The STEMINISTS Podcast, where hosts Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams prove it's not just romance that calls for commitment. A thriving alliance can shape the future of your enterprise tech. In this episode, sit in on their sharp, spirited chat with Jennifer Edgell, Global Alliance Director for Cisco at NetApp, and hear what it really takes to build trust, keep your mission aligned, and make innovation stick. You'll walk away with actionable lessons on collaboration, customer focus, and how the smartest in tech turn partnerships into powerhouses. 

Here is what you can expect to learn this episode:  

Whether you are a tech veteran looking for relationship advice or just starting your journey and want to stay "cool and current," this is your source for professional development and industry trends. 

Team up with the best: https://www.netapp.com/alliances/ 

Connect with us!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjedgell/  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/ 

In the high-stakes world of cloud technology, the real villain isn’t just runaway budgets or complex software—it’s access management lurking in the shadows. A 2024 report says a staggering 65% of organizations admit that managing access is their top multi-cloud identity management challenge.  In this episode of The STEMINISTS, we plunge straight into the heart of the struggle with Cathi Allen, Senior Product Marketing Manager at NetApp. She shares her expertise on the complexities of access management and building a strategic blueprint to ensure security and efficiency, as organizations balance on-premises and cloud resources.  

Cathi and hosts Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams also shed light on how bringing in trusted partners can help organizations see the big picture, design effective policies, and maintain control while simplifying the management of modern, distributed infrastructure. As always, we round out the episode with our "Cool and Current" segment to get to know Cathi beyond the data. 

If you're looking for fresh insights and engaging discussions on the ever-evolving world of technology, you're in the right place. Remember to like, share, and follow The STEMINISTS podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 

Check out this blog to get a head start on simplifying your data access: 

https://www.netapp.com/blog/data-access-s3-access-points-fsx-ontap/ 

Connect with us! 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathiallen/  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/ 

Drowning in data and dazzled by digital smoke and mirrors? Today’s episode of The STEMINISTS podcast cuts through the noise and amplifies the power of Influence in business. Hosts Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams catch up with Ricarda Rodatus, NetApp’s VP of Influence and Insights, who tells us it’s not about shouting the loudest; True influence is about filtering out the hype, highlighting what’s real, and knowing exactly when to let AI crunch the facts—or when to trust your human gut.  

They break down the ultimate questions: With everyone talking, who should you listen to? Who deserves your trust? And when everything claims to be a signal, how do you spot the one that really matters? 

Ricarda doesn’t just ride the information wave—she steers it. She lays out her straightforward DIKAR playbook (Data, Information, Knowledge, Action, Results) for turning information overload into clear, decisive moves.  

If you’re tired of shiny trends and want to think sharper, Ricarda’s blend of worldwide tech experience and candid advice will help you make sense of the madness. Learn how to filter out the static, claim authority in any room, and leverage both data and authenticity in a world of endless buzz. 

Ready to understand what real influence can achieve? Tune in, follow and share with a friend. 

Better insights make for better decisions: https://www.netapp.com/thought-leadership/

 Sharpen your skillset with this read: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/noise/9781119553373/b04.xhtml 

Connect with us!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardarodatus/ 

In this special Super Bowl edition of The STEMINISTS, discover how a football game is more than just a game—it's a data powerhouse. Hosts Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams are joined by Michelle Rosar, Director of Partnership Marketing for the San Francisco 49ers, to go behind the scenes at Levi's® Stadium. 

Still think the magic stops at the end zone? Guess again. The wildest plays are running behind the scenes: Supersized data, dazzling 4K displays, lighting that snaps from zero to party mode, and enough storage muscle to host a Super Bowl and World Cup back-to-back. Michelle spills how scoring with NetApp wasn’t just a win, it’s a game-changer—ditching old storage and leveling up to tech that never fumbles. 

Here’s your highlight reel: 

Ready to crash the VIP booth of stadium tech? This episode is your all-access pass to the unsung brains and bold moves powering every epic game day. 

Read more about the unseen MVP of the NFL Season: https://www.netapp.com/customers/nfl-super-bowl/

Connect with us! 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rosar/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/ 

What really separates AI hype from AI results? Here’s the million-dollar question at the heart of this episode: What makes a successful AI ecosystem? If you think it’s just about the latest tech, think again. Hosts Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams team up with Jessica Yeck, SVP of AI Data and Apps at TD Synnex, to decode what it takes to build a thriving, sustainable AI landscape. 

Tune in as Jessica tells you why the best AI outcomes don’t come from solo innovation, but from skillful orchestration and relentless collaboration. From leveraging frameworks like Destination AI to connecting vendors, partners, and teams across the industry – This conversation shows you exactly how seamless cooperation and sharp strategy are the secret sauce behind transformational AI. 

In this episode, you’ll discover: 

Curious about the real keys to building or scaling your own AI ecosystem? Hit play to get hands-on guidance, insider perspective, and a fresh look at what makes AI truly successful. 

Develop your AI Strategy:

https://www.netapp.com/forms/ai-readiness-assessment-registrationpage/?internal_promo=dmai-aiml-multi-all-ww-webc-spp-aihub_to_ai_wokrshop_com-1732647420856

Connect with us! 

Think your cloud budget is “bullet proof?” Spoiler alert: It’s not! If your so-called “optimized” spend still leads to a mild panic every month (what nobody tells you about your cloud budget!), you’re part of the 94% club. Relax—you’re in good (and smart) company. 

On this lively episode of The STEMINISTS, Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams bring a special guest to the mic for a candid conversation about your cloud budget realities. Enter Tanissa Feit, CDW’s Specialized Engineer—and the person you want in your corner when you’re fighting off runaway cloud costs and waste that multiplies faster than you can say “unused test environment.” 

Tanissa gets real about those sneaky costs hiding in your budget: forgotten instances, licenses you forgot you’re still paying for, surprise bills for workloads no one’s touched in months. Turns out, roughly 30% of your cloud spend is just flat-out wasted—and it’s not all your fault! Buckle up for sharp insights into true optimization, smarter data visibility, and the genius (yes, genius) of getting engineers and finance folks to actually talk to each other. 

Faulty reserved instances? Overzealous backups? About to get walloped by another “budget surprise”? We’ve got you. This episode is your crash course in saving money without blowing up your stack. 

Hit play and never let your cloud budget embarrass you again! 

Transform your Cloud AND stay on budget: https://www.netapp.com/cloud-services/ 

Connect with us! 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanissa-feit-5a73726/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/ 

How does a business bounce back after a crippling ransomware attack?  In Part 2 of this gripping conversation, discover how the Port of Seattle faced the ultimate challenge: Rebuilding its entire infrastructure from the ground up. Katherine Schwarzauer, Senior Windows Server Engineer, joins hosts Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams to share the inside story of a recovery mission that rewrote the rules. 

You’ll hear how fear turned into fuel, old playbooks went up in flames, and split-second decisions sparked bold innovation. Katherine reveals the game-changing moves—revived backup systems, ironclad security, and years of upgrades compressed into mere months. But the impact didn’t stop at tech: team dynamics shifted, alliances strengthened, and resilience became the new norm. 

Ready for the ultimate survival guide? This is a story of grit and transformation—proof that even the worst cyber nightmare can become a launchpad for building stronger, smarter, and more secure than ever before. 

If you enjoyed this episode, follow and share to help others learn how to fight back and win. 

Get a head start on disaster recovery: 

https://www.netapp.com/data-services/disaster-recovery/ 

Connect with us!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherineschwarzauer/ 

Imagine getting that call you’ve ALWAYS DREADED – Your company is under attack. Ransomware has locked down your systems and cybercriminals are demanding a ransom.  In those first frantic moments, what do you do? All those conversations about resilience and data recovery are suddenly real. 

To kick off 2026, The STEMINISTS brings you an unfiltered, firsthand account of a ransomware attack from Katherine Schwarzauer, Senior Windows Server Engineer at the Port of Seattle. She lived through the chaos:- every second, every decision, every lesson learned. She takes us deep into the forensic reality of a major cyber-attack at a major international airport. 

If you’ve ever wondered what happens after the worst-case scenario hits, this is your chance to learn from someone who’s been there. But make sure you stick around for part two of this conversation when we hear what happens next. When Katherine and her team had to rebuild nearly everything, from storage to backups to security controls and all the lessons in-between that allowed them to build back stronger.

As always, make sure you tune in weekly and to hit follow for more STEMINIST conversations. 

Protect your workloads: 

https://www.netapp.com/cyber-resilience/

Connect with us! 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/ 

This week on The STEMINISTS Podcast, there’s no formal episode as Phoebe and Mekka take a holiday break. Instead, they’re here to wish everyone a joyful holiday season and share a sneak peek of their 2026 kickoff episode on surviving a ransomware attack.

Happy holidays and see you in the new year!