“I don’t need to be an expert on any of these topics… that’s what I have my colleagues for.” — Izzy Sayers

What if the real obstacle for female founders isn’t a lack of knowledge, but the idea that they have to know it all themselves?

This episode is for female founders and women in tech who want to scale without needing to know everything themselves.

Host Dirkjan talks with Izzy Sayers, who leads the Emerging Giants team at KPMG Netherlands. Izzy helps startups and growing companies tackle tricky challenges like tax, finance, risk, and expanding internationally—areas that can make a big difference to a company’s success.

Izzy didn’t follow a typical path into tech. Her history degree turned out to be her “secret weapon”—not because it made her a technical expert, but because it taught her to ask good questions, connect ideas, and bring the right people together. This approach also helped her handle imposter syndrome, focusing on where she adds value instead of trying to know everything.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why knowing when to outsource is one of the most underrated founder skills

• How to recognize the moment when complexity starts slowing you down

• What post-COVID networking has cost the startup ecosystem, and how to bring serendipity back

• Why women in tech often stay in the facilitator role, and what it takes to step forward

• How safe spaces help female founders ask the questions that actually move them forward

Izzy also talks about getting ready for motherhood while working in a fast-paced environment, and how this change is teaching her to manage her energy, be more selective, and think long-term.

Chapters:

00:00 — Introduction

05:17 — The history degree as a secret weapon

08:12 — Techstars NYC and the intensity of New York

11:20 — Transitioning from TNW to KPMG

14:05 — Overcoming imposter syndrome in a new role

16:18 — When and what to outsource as a founder

22:12 — How networking became transactional after COVID

25:04 — Strategies for better event attendance

33:22 — Safe spaces for women in the startup ecosystem

36:21 — Why women stay in the facilitator role (and how to step forward)

41:07 — Navigating motherhood and the startup world

46:30 — What makes a meaningful connection

Connect with Izzy Sayers and KPMG Emerging Giants

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-sayers/

KPMG Emerging Giants: https://kpmg.com/nl/en/home/industries/private-enterprise/emerging-giants.html

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