Women Disrupting Tech

Femke Brouwer-Hobbelen joins Women Disrupting Tech to share why working harder isn’t the answer—and why real change in tech needs more than just women pushing the system forward.

We talk about:

• What it takes to build a culture that truly includes
• Why tech is still not a meritocracy
• Her own experience with the gender pay gap and unconscious bias
• The image of tech that still keeps women out
• How male allies in leadership can drive real change
• And why inclusion starts earlier than we think—at daycare, in school, and at home

This is a conversation about power, potential, and the systems that shape both.

If you’ve ever felt like doing all the right things still wasn’t enough, this episode is for you.

You can check out the show notes on the Women Disrupting Tech blog.

You can connect with Femke on LinkedIn.

Follow Women Disrupting Tech on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for regular updates.

Connect with host Dirkjan Hupkes on LinkedIn and Substack.

In episode 112, Cogensus co-founder Raju Joshi shares how AI can surface early signs of cognitive decline and help people stay connected, heard, and in control.

We talk about:

• Why loneliness hits women harder

• What Cogensus tracks that caregivers often miss

• How to build ethical AI that supports autonomy

• What mindset shift is needed to make inclusion the new normal in tech

🎧 For full show notes, including opportunities to connect with Raju and learn more about Cogensus, visit ⁠http://womendisruptingtech.blog/⁠

Join cybersecurity expert and She Unfolds co-founder Emily van Putten and host Dirkjan Hupkes for a powerful and deeply personal episode of Women Disrupting Tech.

Emily shares her story as a transgender woman navigating a traditionally masculine tech industry.

She offers a unique perspective on gender bias, leadership, and the silent challenges that drive high attrition rates among women in tech.

Discover:
- Why retention—not recruitment—is tech’s real gender equality problem
- How social media algorithms fragment identity and create what Emily calls the "digital closet"
- What inclusive leadership actually looks like when it’s tied to power, pay, and promotions.

🎧 Listen now and join us in creating the future of tech. One where everyone can thrive, grow, and belong.

You can connect with Emily and SheUnfolds via the links in the show notes.

For more Women Disrupting Tech, please follow the podcast here and subscribe to our Substack.

You can connect with host Dirkjan Hupkes on LinkedIn.

What’s keeping female founders from getting funded? Join me as we hear from FEM-Start co-founders Marian Spier and Simone van Bijsterveldt what needs to change and how their platform helps women raise capital confidently.

We talk about:

02:30 Founding FEM-Start

05:16 Navigating Challenges During COVID-19

08:23 Barriers for Female Entrepreneurs

11:31 The Importance of Visibility and Networking

14:18 Investor Bias and Its Impact

17:25 Educating Female Entrepreneurs

20:11 Confidence in Pitching

23:23 The Role of Bias in Investment Decisions

26:01 Changing the Narrative Around Female Founders

29:04 Myths About Female Entrepreneurs

32:03 The Future of Gender Diversity in Business

33:39 Gender Bias in Leadership and Promotion

36:13 Education Gaps for Women Entrepreneurs

42:07 The Role of FEM-Start in Entrepreneurial Growth

43:47 Personal Experiences Shaping Entrepreneurial Journeys

47:24 Understanding Financial Literacy for Entrepreneurs

52:45 Future Aspirations for FEM-Start

1:00:30 Advocating for Inclusion in Tech Funding

🔗 You can find links to connect with Marian, Simone and FEM-Start in the show notes.

❓ Leave your questions in the comments on Spotify, Apple or YouTube.

🗣️ Subscribe for more about each episode of Women Disrupting Tech on Substack.

In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I speak with Julia Jakimenko, founder of Cyberette. Her startup is building a platform to detect deepfakes across video, audio, and images, and restoring trust in the process.

Julia studied human rights law. Today, she’s leading a company that’s redefining how we respond to misinformation, AI-generated content, and digital safety.

We talk about:

Julia is building something that matters — not just for companies, but for all of us navigating a digital world shaped by AI.

🔔 Subscribe for more stories of women changing the future of tech.

📲 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen.

🗞️ Full show notes and bio on the blog.

In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Jo Sarah, founder of Umaversity, shares how her platform is breaking taboos around women’s sexual and mental health.

🚨This episode contains open conversations about women’s sexual health and trauma. Listener discretion advised.

We talk about:

03:55 Introduction to Jo Sarah and Her Mission

05:22 Understanding Women's Sexual Health and Education

08:00 Impact of Ignorance on Women's Lives

10:56 The Business Case for Women's Well-being

13:23 Breaking Taboos and Myths in Women's Health

16:08 The Importance of Education in Schools

20:31 Umaversity's Role in Empowering Women

22:19 Creating Safe Spaces for Discussion

25:19 Inclusivity in Women's Health Education

28:18 Addressing Sexual Trauma and Vulnerability

30:36 The Role of Self-Compassion in Leadership

34:10 The Importance of Self-Compassion in Leadership

35:34 Navigating Women's Health: A New Frontier

37:20 Empowering Female Founders Through Vulnerability

40:08 The Power of Curiosity in Leadership

41:27 Five Ways of Knowledge Exchange at Umaversity

44:34 Vetting Experts and Partnerships for Women's Health

47:55 Integrating Traditional and Modern Approaches to Women's Health

52:20 The Role of Allies in Women's Health Advocacy

56:02 Future Aspirations for Umaversity

59:38 Ensuring Unbiased AI in Women's Health Solutions

🎙 Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and Amazon.

🔗 Connect with Jo Sarah and Umaversity via the link in the show notes

👉 Please subscribe for more episodes.

Is there a business case for corporate volunteering?

In episode 107 of Women Disrupting Tech, we explore how giving back can drive real business value.

🎙️ Meet Karlijn L’Ortye, serial entrepreneur, leadership coach, and founder of MO The Movement.

She started her first company at 22 and has spent the last 15+ years coaching executive teams and building purpose-driven ventures.

Now, she’s on a mission to revolutionize employee volunteering using AI and inclusive design.

We talk about:

02:45 Introduction to Karlijn L'Ortye's Journey

06:42 Understanding Bankruptcy and Risk Management

09:44 Reflective Practices in Entrepreneurship

12:49 The Birth of MO the Movement

14:39 The Impact of Corporate Volunteering

17:49 Engaging Gen Z in Corporate Social Responsibility

20:49 Facilitating Effective Volunteering in Companies

23:55 Maturity Model for Corporate Volunteering

26:43 AI in Matching Corporate Volunteers with NGOs

29:38 Leveraging SDGs in Corporate Volunteering

33:41 The Importance of Privacy and Inclusivity in Volunteering

37:52 Matching Skills with Volunteer Opportunities

41:34 The Impact of Volunteering on Empathy and Workplace Culture

47:35 Navigating Corporate Philanthropy in Challenging Times

52:44 The Role of Supervisory Boards in Promoting Inclusion

58:41 Advocating for Women in Leadership

1:02:39 The Future of AI in Inclusive Practices

Karlijn believes corporate volunteering isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a strategic tool that strengthens culture, reduces attrition, and even creates new business opportunities.

▶️ Ready to learn how corporate volunteering unlocks leadership and inclusion? Hit play and get inspired.

🔗 Find more information about the episode, Karlijn and MO the Movement on the blog.

In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, complex communications expert Kirsten Heukels shares what she has learned from 25+ years of guiding people through complex communication, power dynamics, and team breakdowns.

If you're building or backing a startup, this episode will help you decode human behavior in the workplace with more clarity, confidence, and connection.

We talk about:

02:45 The Journey to Communication Expertise

05:02 Understanding the Complexity of Human Communication

10:03 Navigating Information Overload

14:33 The Role of Confidential Counseling in Society

18:00 Cultural Shifts and the Impact of the BOS Broadcast

22:13 Building a Culture of Trust and Reporting

27:52 The Importance of Policies vs. Human Connection

31:21 Generational Dynamics in the Workplace

32:28 Navigating Generational Differences in Leadership

40:20 The Impact of Hierarchy on Workplace Dynamics

49:17 Lessons from the World of Sports

52:30 Fostering Inclusivity in Society

58:07 Collective Responsibility for Change

🔗 You can connect with Kirsten via the links on the blog.

🙋🏻‍♀️ You can ask questions and leave comments with your observations. I do read all of them.

🙏🏻 Follow Women Disrupting Tech on Substack for episode insights.

In episode 105 of Women Disrupting Tech, James Felton Keith, economist and founder of Inclusion Score, shares how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are reshaping corporate responsibility, insurance, and the future of finance.

We talk about:

🔹 How the ISO 30415 standard helps companies audit and improve workplace culture

🔹 Why the rising cost of social inflation is driving up insurance premiums

🔹 How inclusive systems are becoming lower-risk — and more investable

For more information on James Felton Keith, Inclusion Score and the ISO 30415 standard, check out the show notes: https://womendisruptingtech.blog/ep105

You can follow James via @InclusionScore on all social platforms.

Subscribe for new episodes every week.

Farshida Zafar shares how embracing her authentic self, sneakers, roots, and all, shaped her leadership journey and built a radically inclusive team culture at Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship.

In episode 104 of Women Disrupting Tech, we explore:

4️⃣ Why swearing is a sign of intelligence and belonging.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or Amazon.

ℹ️ For more information about Farshida and her work at Erasmus Center for Entrepreneurship, check out the show notes on the blog.

🗞️ Want early access to new episodes? Subscribe to my ⁠Substack⁠.