Women Disrupting Tech

Esther Bisschop joins me to reveal how one cold LinkedIn message changed the trajectory of Th3rd, taking it from the brink of bankruptcy to an acquisition by Snap Inc.

We dive into the realities of startup life, from managing uncertainty to adapting to industry shifts and seizing unexpected opportunities. Esther also shares her experiences scaling in Europe, the growing startup scene in India, and why venture capital needs to do more to fund mixed teams.

Listen to episode 93 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and Amazon. And don't forget to check out the show notes on the Women Disrupting Tech blog.

How can we use biases to future-proof Venture Capital?

Sophie Heijenberg, investor at No Such Ventures, is on a mission to rethink how funding works. She has been the only woman on a trading floor, walked into meetings where she was mistaken for the assistant, and now makes investment decisions that challenge the status quo.

In this episode, we uncover:✅ Why bias in VC is not just a problem but part of the solution.✅ How smart investors look beyond the checklist to fund the best ideas.✅ The role of networks in shaping who gets funded and who doesn’t.

Sophie is proving that venture capital can and should be different. Ready to learn how?

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

Daphne Laan started her career in tech before most people had mobile phones. She spent nine years at Google, leading global deals and driving change. Now, she is building Planetir, an AI-powered platform that connects changemakers by fostering real human connection.

In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, we explore why intuition is a superpower in business, how real inclusion means making the room bigger instead of separate, and why creativity, especially art, plays a bigger role in tech than we think.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or Amazon. And don't forget to check out the show notes.

Join Victoria Lawson on Women Disrupting Tech as she reveals how she is using AI to build the future of supply chains for fast-moving consumer goods.

She also shares her experience as a solo founder and what she learned about fundraising and mindset.

Key takeaways from this conversation:• Why outdated processes in wholesale supply chains lead to costly errors and delays• The role of AI in making supply chains faster, more accurate, and less reliant on manual input• How shifting her mindset helped Victoria gain confidence in investor conversations.

Listen now to learn how Wholepal is transforming the future of wholesale.

You can find practical insights and magical moments from the show in the show notes on https://womendisruptingtech.blog/2025/02/26/how-wholepal-is-building-the-future-of-wholesale-with-victoria-lawson-show-notes-for-episode-90-of-women-disrupting-tech/

Femke Cornelissen wasn’t always sure tech was the right path for her.

Now, as Chief Copilot Officer, a Microsoft MVP, and the founder of Dutch Women in Tech, she helps companies navigate AI adoption while driving inclusion in cybersecurity and beyond.

In this episode, Femke shares how she built her career, overcame self-doubt, and became a visible leader in tech.

We learn why AI and cybersecurity need more women, how mindset shapes success, and that having a career in tech as a woman is not obvious everywhere.

Tune in to hear Femke’s journey and how she is paving the way for more women in AI and cybersecurity as Chief Copilot. And don't forget to check out the show notes for more information on the episode and links to connect with Femke.

Did you know that healthcare produces twice as much CO₂ as aviation? Most medical tools are designed for single use, creating massive waste, high costs, and supply chain risks.

Dieuwertje Drexhage saw this firsthand while working in a rural hospital in Kenya. She co-founded Layco to change that, starting with reusable vacuum extractors that make childbirth safer, more affordable, and more sustainable.

In this episode, we cover why most medical equipment isn’t designed for 70 percent of the world’s population, how reusable vacuum extractors can save both money and lives, and how Layco balances reusability with safety.

Plus, Dieuwertje and her male co-founder share how they use humor to challenge assumptions about who the technical founder is.

Tune in to learn how we can rethink healthcare for a healthier, greener future.

In episode 87 of Women Disrupting Tech, Hanneke Takkenberg shares her journey from cardiac surgeon to DEI advocate.

She reveals how gender biases in medicine affect both careers and patient outcomes.

By listening, you'll discover:

💡 The hidden gender gap in medical research and treatment

🏥 How shared decision-making can improve patient care

📉 The long-term financial impact of unequal pay in academia

🤖 Why AI and data in medicine must be more inclusive

So, tune in for a powerful conversation on breaking barriers in healthcare and leadership!

What if your gender never limited your career choices? And how do you get into tech and build a successful career without having early exposure to tech?

In this episode, Sara Leggese shares how she discovered tech without any early exposure, the role of mindset in breaking barriers, and why visibility matters for women in tech.

Plus, we explore the power of role models, career transitions, and what it really takes to make DEI in tech the new normal. Tune in now!

If you want to be part of the Women Disrupting Tech community, you can become a member here.

And make sure you follow the show on Spotify, Apple or YouTube for more inspiring role models.

Fixing the "supply side" of the talent market is essential to increasing diversity in tech, say Gaurav Gupta and Iris Bloemsma from the Blockverse Institute.

In Episode 85 of Women Disrupting Tech, they share their playbook for driving change, including:
🔍 Unlocking the untapped potential of women returning to tech after a career break
👩‍💻 Combining skills training with confidence-building for lasting success
📊 Using data to tailor education to meet the needs of women and employers

Tune into the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Are biases in AI and risk models more costly than we realize?

Carla Canino shares her journey building Kindlee, a company on a mission to create financial inclusion through fair and unbiased AI.

Discover:

1. How AI and machine learning influence financial inclusion
2. Why biases in risk models cost the financial industry $443 billion annually
3. How AI systems amplify inequities by magnifying flawed assumptions

Carla’s unique perspective as an outlier in tech, an immigrant solo founder with a disability, shines throughout this conversation.

Tune in to hear her inspiring vision for fair, unbiased, and profitable AI. Also, check out the show notes for a book tip and opportunities to connect with Carla and Kindlee.