In Her Ellement podcast

27:39

We want to hear from you! Email us at BCGInHerEllement@bcg.com with a voice memo describing your In Your Ellement moment. We might feature your story in an upcoming episode! *** What can ancient Greek myths teach us about modern leadership? Kirsten Rulf has spent her career at the intersection of tech, policy, and public service. In this episode, Kirsten shares how she found clarity in moments of uncertainty, why AI presents a major opportunity for the public good, and what it was like helping shape the EU’s landmark tech legislation. Kirsten is a Partner and Associate Director at BCG. Before joining BCG, she advised German Chancellor Angela Merkel and served as head of digital policy in the German government, playing a key role in negotiating Europe’s AI and data laws. [1:26] A Big Win, Then The Hard Work Follows [05:21] Potential of AI in Public Sector [08:56] Roots In Ovid’s Metamorphosis [12:09] From Journalism to CyberSecurity [14:14] A Phone Call from Angela Merkel [13:48] Navigating Career Changes and Mentorship [19:23] “Hope is not a strategy” [22:16] Reflections Links: Kirsten Rulf on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

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Discovering Your Leadership Style with WEX’s Karen Stroup 27:53

15 days ago27:53

27:53

We want to hear from you! Email us at BCGInHerEllement@bcg.com with a voice memo describing your In Your Ellement moment. We might feature your story in an upcoming episode! *** What happens when you bring startup lessons into the C-suite? This episode kicks off our mini series called Builders , where we talk with founders, product managers, and digital leaders about what drives their passion for building. In this episode, we speak with Karen Stroup, Chief Digital Officer at WEX. Karen leads the digital strategy behind WEX’s payment solutions, which support sectors like fleet management, healthcare, and travel. She opens up about her leadership style, why she’s optimistic about Gen Z’s approach to work, and how a formative startup experience shaped her career path. [01:41] AI Solutions to Longstanding Challenges [5:30] 99 out of 100 Hours to Define a Problem [9:47] Finding Your Leadership Style [12:37] “The Coach Wants to Win a State Championship” [13:37] Pivoting to A Startup [17:05] Motherhood, then a Promotion [18:47] The Gen Z Approach [21:33] Reflections Links: Karen Stroup on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Abril Villarreal Garcia on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Abril Villarreal Garcia is a first-year associate at BCG where she has done projects in Private Equity, Climate & Sustainability and Social Impact. She grew up in Monterrey, Mexico and lived for a few years in the Houston area. She studied International Politics at Georgetown University with a focus on culture. She is passionate about pursuing a career that gives her financial independence and stability while also making an impact. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

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Driving National-Scale Innovation with Pritha Mehra 27:51

29 days ago27:51

27:51

We want to hear from you! Email us at BCGInHerEllement@bcg.com with a voice memo describing your In Your Ellement moment. We might feature your story in an upcoming episode! *** Pritha Mehra is the Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President of the U.S. Postal Service, where she leads the digital transformation of a network that delivers more mail than any other postal service in the world. In this episode, Pritha shares with co-host Suchi Srinivasan how the USPS adopts cutting-edge technologies while staying true to its public mission. Pritha also explains why her colleagues call her “anti-complexity,” and how simplicity is often the key to scaling innovation. [01:21] The True Scale of the USPS [02:02] Anti-Complexity Approach [04:08] Encouraging Adoption of New Tech [06:07] AI at the USPS [08:28] Creating a Culture of Curiosity [12:14] Job Hopping Internally [15:10] Want a Promotion? Speak Up [19:47] Pritha’s Crowning Moment [22:39] Reflections Links: Pritha Mehra on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Abril Villarreal Garcia on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Abril Villarreal Garcia is a first-year associate at BCG where she has done projects in Private Equity, Climate & Sustainability and Social Impact. She grew up in Monterrey, Mexico and lived for a few years in the Houston area. She studied International Politics at Georgetown University with a focus on culture. She is passionate about pursuing a career that gives her financial independence and stability while also making an impact. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

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Steering Innovation Through Change with Coupa’s Leagh Turner 32:08

6 weeks ago32:08

32:08

We want to hear from you! Email us at BCGInHerEllement@bcg.com with a voice memo describing your In Your Ellement moment. We might feature your story in an upcoming episode! *** How do today’s business leaders balance performance with empathy in a changing world? Leagh Turner is the CEO of Coupa, a business spend management platform that manages trillions in spending for thousands of customers. In this episode, Leagh shares her perspective on where enterprise software and AI are headed next. She talks about leading through geopolitical uncertainty, how she’s driving innovation at Coupa, and why diversity, empathy, and humor matter just as much as results. She also shares how having a performance scorecard has shaped her career. [01:54] The Future of AI and SaaS [04:50] Impact of Geopolitics on Business [07:52] How AI is transforming the job market [11:12] Human Elements in Leadership [15:12] Diversity and “Spiky” People [23:06] Hard Work and Keeping Score [26:10] Reflections Links: Leagh Turner On LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

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Driving Innovation Through Open Source with Amazon’s Nithya Ruff 31:38

8 weeks ago31:38

31:38

We want to hear from you! Email us at BCGInHerEllement@bcg.com with a voice memo describing your In Your Ellement moment. We might feature your story in an upcoming episode! *** Could open source be the key to building trustworthy AI? Nithya is Director of Amazon’s Open Source Program Office and also Chair of the Linux Foundation. With more than 30 years of experience in enterprise software, she’s helped shape how businesses approach open source across the tech industry. In this episode, we talk about the growing importance of open source in AI development, what motivates companies like Amazon to open source their tools, and how these decisions impact innovation. Nithya also shares a personal story about the role of CEO of the family—and what that taught her about leadership. [01:26] The Evolution of Open Source [03:52] Amazon’s Commitment to Open Source [09:04] Open Source, Trust, and AI [13:05] The Role of Dads [18:49] CEO of the Family [25:13] Reflections Links: Nithya Ruff on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

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Shaping the Future of Leadership with Praxis Lab’s Elise Smith 25:50

10 weeks ago25:50

25:50

What makes a great manager in today’s workplace? And how can AI help companies develop better leaders? Elise Smith is the co-founder and CEO of Praxis Labs, a startup using AI-powered immersive learning to train leaders at some of the world’s biggest companies. Praxis is shaping the future of workplace learning with clients like Google, Amazon, and Accenture. In this episode, Elise shares how her time at IBM Watson influenced her career, what she’s learned about effective leadership in today’s workplace, and her perspective on the evolving future of DEI initiatives. Elise was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her work on enterprise technology. [01:55] Kamila’s Mindset Shift with Praxis Labs [03:42] Adapting Leadership Training for the Modern Workplace [06:44] Navigating Generational Shifts [09:12] Green Flags for Job Seekers [10:44] People Don’t Leave Companies, They Leave Managers [13:28] The Future of DEI work [18:02] Finding the Right Co-Founder [21:40] Reflections Links: Elise Smith on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

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Special: Investing in a Better World with Cynthia Salicrup & Sandra Carrillo 33:39

12 weeks ago33:39

33:39

Here at In Her Ellement , we celebrate women leaders in business and tech all year long—not just on International Women’s Day. That’s why we’re excited to share an episode from our friends at Fintech Files , featuring insights from two women driving change in the fintech industry. In this special episode of Fintech Files , Cynthia Salicrup and Sandra Carrillo, partners at Environmental Resources Management (ERM) share how they built successful careers in sustainability and ESG. They also explore the challenges and opportunities in sustainable finance, the critical role banks and fintechs play in advancing sustainability, and how global disparities shape sustainability agendas. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out Fintech Files for more insightful discussions like this. Just search for it on your favorite podcast app. We will be back in two weeks with another inspiring conversation on In Her Ellement . See you then! About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

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Navigating Career Pivots and Grit with Milo’s Avni Patel Thompson 26:18

14 weeks ago26:18

26:18

How do you know when it’s time to make your next big career move? With International Women’s Day around the corner, we are excited to feature Avni Patel Thompson, Founder and CEO of Milo. Avni is building technology that directly supports the often overlooked emotional and logistical labor that falls on parents—especially women. Milo is an AI assistant designed to help families manage that invisible load more efficiently. In this episode, Avni shares her journey from studying chemistry to holding leadership roles at global brands like Adidas and Starbucks, to launching her own ventures. She discusses how she approaches career transitions, the importance of unpleasant experiences, and why she’s focused on making everyday life easier for parents. [01:26] Avni's University Days and Early Career [04:36] Non-Linear Career Paths [05:16] Pursuing Steep Learning Curves [11:51] Entrepreneurship and Safety Nets [15:22] Lived Experiences and Milo [19:55] Avni’s In Her Ellement Moment [20:03] Reflections Links: Avni Patel Thompson on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Ipsos report on the future of parenting About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

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Navigating Women's Health Tech with Journalist Marina Gerner 27:48

16 weeks ago27:48

27:48

Marina Gerner is an award-winning financial journalist and author. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Commerce & Culture at NYU Stern. In her new book, The Vagina Business , she explores the innovations shaping women’s health and the forces that have held the field back. In this episode, Marina shares some of the biggest success stories in health tech, as well as the innovations that have personally impacted her. She also explains how to navigate this rapidly growing space—and how to avoid what she calls “scam-tech.” Over her career, Marina has reported on health, technology, and finance for leading publications, bringing a critical lens to the intersection of business and innovation. [03:44] Women’s Heart Health and the Smart Bra [05:28] Birth Innovations [08:29] Challenges in Femtech Funding [14:36] Misinformation in Women’s Health [16:49] Adoption Barriers and Consumer Habits [19:28] Marina’s In Her Ellement Moment [21:44] Reflections Links: Marina Gerner's newsletter Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn The $32 Trillion Opportunity in Women-Focused Products and Services About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

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Driving Change with Magnify Ventures’ Pam Kostka 31:16

18 weeks ago31:16

31:16

What does it take to drive meaningful change in venture capital? Pam Kostka is an executive in residence at Magnify Ventures, a VC firm focused on transforming the care economy. She was also the founding CEO of All Raise, an organization dedicated to increasing representation of female and non-binary founders and investors. In this episode, Pam talks about why she thinks women are reaching a tipping point in the startup ecosystem. Plus, she discusses the impact of AI and demographic shifts on innovation, as well as what networking and your kitchen cabinet have in common. Over her 30-year career, Pam has led multiple companies and she currently holds an advisory role at several organizations. [01:41] The Importance of Health Tech and the Care Economy [02:36] Demographic Shifts and Their Impact on Work [05:51] Innovation from Lived Experiences [08:51] Tipping Point in Startups and Venture Capital [16:58] Networking and Your Kitchen Cabinet [20:57] The Power of Saying No [24:44] Pam's In Her Ellement Moment [26:42] Reflections Links: Pam Kostka on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Rynaa Chagti on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Rynaa Chagti is a student and BCG X Co-op. She grew up in Dubai. She is currently studying business and design at Northeastern University, where she is the public relations coordinator for IDEA, the university’s student-led venture capital accelerator. She is passionate about building a career that does not box her into one role or title and rather one that reflects who she is authentically. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

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Unlocking your superpower with Starshot Capital’s Zoe Samuel 25:26

20 weeks ago25:26

25:26

What would a career pivot reveal about your greatest strength? Zoe Samuel is a Venture Partner at Starshot Capital, where she supports climate-focused startups. Zoe traveled a unique path to get here, moving from a career as a writer and producer to becoming a co-founder at Anthropocene, Google’s largest internal climate solutions community. Today, she supports and invests in early-stage founders, helping them build startups aimed at reducing global emissions. In this episode, Zoe shares her perspective on how any job can be a “climate job,” and on the unique opportunities women can find in climate. She also reflects on some of the lessons that have served her well during her career in both the entertainment and tech sectors. Links: Zoe Samuel on LinkedIn A growing climate tech market Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Bringing Your Whole Self to Work with Port of Rotterdam’s Saskia Mureau 21:38

22 weeks ago21:38

21:38

People want to feel supported and safe at work – and inspired to innovate. What can people working at large corporations do to create this kind of environment? Saskia Mureau is the Director of Customer Digital at the Port of Rotterdam where she is harnessing digital systems to reduce emissions. She is passionate about creating inclusive workplaces where psychological safety and collaboration drive meaningful change. In this episode, Kamila sits down with Suchi to talk about why she chose to work at large corporations rather than startups. Saskia also reflects on her personal experiences, including navigating IVF while at work, and discusses how organizations can foster environments where employees feel empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Links: Saskia Mureau on Linkedin WHO infertility research BCG 2024 report on psychological safety in the workplace Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Throwback: Being Courageous with Element Bioscience’s Molly He 23:19

24 weeks ago23:19

23:19

Join us for this special episode from Season 3 with Molly He, CEO and Co-founder of Element Biosciences. Many expert women decide to take the plunge into entrepreneurship - but what are the realities of this decision? For Molly He, it was never her dream, but something she saw as a means of pushing the groundbreaking scientific work she was doing forward. Molly grew up in an economically disadvantaged village in rural China. She studied hard while at the same time developing her skills as a professional sprinter. At the end of high school, she decided to take a leap of faith and move to the US. In retrospect, Molly acknowledges that this was a courageous thing to do and that she used this courage and optimism throughout her career. Links: Molly He on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

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Throwback: Persistence and Bravery with Advent International’s Jaimee Michaud 23:16

26 weeks ago23:16

23:16

Join us for this throwback episode from Season 3 with Jaimee Michaud, Head of Portfolio Digital at Advent International, a global private equity firm. Making career decisions driven by fear can lead us astray. Instead, we need to be courageous and persistent, seizing new opportunities as they arise. This is the wisdom shared by today's guest, Jaimee Michaud. Jaimee's journey began when she moved from Seoul to the United States as a high school student, boldly embracing a new culture and language. She built a successful career in investment banking before transitioning to Shutterfly, where a trusted general manager saw her potential for a data-focused role. Despite her lack of coding skills, he believed her experience and attitude would ensure her success. Jaimee acknowledges that balancing career and personal commitments is challenging and rarely goes as planned. She emphasizes that making small, mindful decisions daily is more impactful than striving for perfection. Links: Jamiee Michaud on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Jumana Alnahdi on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

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Finding Meaning with Former CSO of IKEA Pia Heidenmark Cook 25:10

28 weeks ago25:10

25:10

Young professionals are increasingly seeking meaning in their careers—but what does that look like in practice? Pia Heidenmark Cook, former Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA, believes finding purpose in any type of work is possible. However, she acknowledges that working in fields as impactful as sustainability can sometimes lead to burnout. In this episode, Suchi sits down with Pia to discuss staying positive and motivated in her field. They also explore how leaders can support their teams in finding meaning at work while maintaining a healthy balance with life at home. Pia advises a diverse range of organizations—from healthcare to hospitality— on sustainability. In 2024, she co-authored Embedding Sustainability: How to Drive Organizational Transformation , a practical guide on integrating sustainability into an organization’s core operations. Links: Pia Heidenmark Cook on LinkedIn Embedding Sustainability: How to Drive Organizational Transformation Why young people worldwide want and need ‘meaningful work’ Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Jumana Alnahdi on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Jumana Alnahdi is a student and BCG X Co-op. She is originally from Bahrain—a small island in the Middle East. She came to the U.S. to study at Northeastern University, and while navigating a new culture far from home, Jumana leaned on the power of women’s communities and support systems to overcome challenges and find belonging. Jumana is passionate about highlighting the impact of young women in innovation. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Calculated Risk with Neythri.org’s Mythili Sankaran 28:20

30 weeks ago28:20

28:20

So many women in their early careers have an aversion to risk. How can they harness their confidence and begin building their risk profile? In this episode, Suchi sits down with Mythili Sankaran, CEO and co-founder of Neythri.org, a global community of professional South Asian women and the founding managing partner of the Neythri Futures Fund, a unique venture fund for and by South Asian women. In this conversation, Mythili shares her insight on the challenges women face in venture capital, how taking incremental risks is critical to success, and how cultural nuances affect the careers of South Asian Women. Links: Mythili Sankaran on LinkedIn Neythri Futures Fund Website Neythri.org Neythri Inaugural Gala Celebration & Member Summit Is marriage killing women's careers? World Bank report shows many South Asians pay 'marriage penalty' Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
What are the Most Important Issues Affecting Women in the Workplace? 29:32

32 weeks ago29:32

29:32

In this episode of In Her Element , hosts Suchi Srinivasan and Kamila Rakimova kick off season four by reflecting on the key themes and discussions from season three. They dive into issues shaping the workplace today, including economic volatility, the impact of AI on jobs, return-to-office mandates, and the status of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Throughout the episode, they provide tricks and tips to help early-career women overcome some of the challenges that branch off from these issues, including the importance of continuous learning and self-evaluation and how to avoid professional and personal burnout. They also share personal anecdotes and insights about how some of these issues have bubbled up in their own lives and careers. LINKS Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Navigating Silicon Valley with Autotech Ventures Ivy Nguyen Clearing Space for Yourself with BCG’s Adi Zolotov Being Courageous with Element Bioscience’s Molly He About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Welcome to Season 4 of In Her Ellement! 2:06

34 weeks ago2:06

2:06

In the last season of In Her Ellement, we took a deep dive into the world of AI. We also looked at the role of women in venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship. On this season we’re shaking things up again . As we launch Season 4, we want to reflect on the current work environment. There are so many topics affecting this context in the news: tech layoffs, DEI, and return to the office mandates. The list goes on. This season we’ll be bringing you guests who will dive into these and other important issues with us. All the while we’ll be staying true to our roots and talking about imposter syndrome, reskilling and upskilling, and how to balance caring responsibilities with the demands of work. We’ll also continue to cover top-of-mind tech developments as we go along. A lot continues to happen in software, AI, and design - it’s going to be an exciting season. And, as always we’ll be asking our guests about a time when they felt in their element About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in business, technology, and digital innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030.…

In Her Ellement

1
Throwback: Falling in Love with the Problem with Qunomedical’s Dr. Sophie Chung 19:32

36 weeks ago19:32

19:32

In this special episode, we’re taking you back to Season 2 for Corin Line’s conversation with Dr. Sophie Chung, Founder and CEO of Qunomedical an organization that helps patients navigate often complicated healthcare systems to get the treatment they need. Sophie may have started on the path to cardiology, but she decided to pivot into management consulting. In this role, she soon realized that she could create a digital solution for many of the problems that patients and hospitals face when allocating appropriate care and services. Sophie is candid about the challenges women face in becoming entrepreneurs and has a solid support network around her helping her to survive and thrive. Sophie's parents emigrated from Cambodia in the 80s to start a new life. She’s often asked if her parents were also entrepreneurs, and in a way, she says, they were. The most important thing she learned from them was hard work and determination, no matter what the circumstances. About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in business, technology, and digital innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Eclectic Career Paths with Microsoft’s Hayete Gallot 30:13

38 weeks ago30:13

30:13

How do you find the right career path with so many options available? According to Hayete Gallot, Corporate Vice President of Commercial Solution Areas at Microsoft, the key is experimentation—trying new things, figuring out what excites you, and identifying what doesn’t. In the final episode of Season 3, Hayete reflects on her eclectic career journey. She shares how her passion led her to frequently switch roles, gaining experience across diverse areas such as engineering, product management, marketing, sales, and business planning. Where does Hayete find the confidence to continually explore new paths? She credits her mom as a major source of inspiration. After becoming a widow at 32, she worked full-time while raising four young children. Her advice to Hayete was simple but powerful: always strive to be independent because life can be unpredictable. Hayete has a resourceful approach to balancing work and family life. When she became a mom, she developed a strict calendar management system to ensure she dedicated time to her children. This structure not only helped her be present with her family but also boosted her productivity within the time she allocated for work. About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in business, technology, and digital innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology. Mentioned in this episode: CEO Moments of Truth Before we hear from our guest on this week’s episode of In Her Ellement, I want to take a moment to highlight a fantastic new video series from BCG that I think you will really enjoy. It's called CEO Moments of Truth, and it’s hosted by BCG CEO and previous In Her Ellement guest, Christoph Schweizer. Join Christoph as he talks to top CEOs about the most difficult decisions they’ve faced so far—how they navigated them and how those moments shaped them into the leaders they are today. Visit bcg.com/mot to watch the series.…

In Her Ellement

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A Passion for Venture Capital with NewBuild Venture Capital’s Rohini Chakravarthy 22:44

40 weeks ago22:44

22:44

Spotting opportunities that others overlook is one of the most valuable skills in venture capital, and today’s guest, Rohini Chakravarthy, excels at this. Her passion for the field is driven by the chance to collaborate with extraordinary individuals who are eager to innovate and break new ground. Rohini began her journey at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, a prestigious university in Chennai, where she was one of only 10 women among 280 students in her electronics class. This unique environment fostered strong bonds between her and her peers, relationships that have endured to this day. She remains connected to her alma mater through her role on the board of the IIT Madras Foundation. Currently, Rohini is the Managing Partner at NewBuild Venture Capital, an early-stage enterprise and supply chain venture investment firm. Before this, she was a Partner at NGP Capital, NEA, and Intel Capital, where she served on more than 15 boards as an investor board member. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital technology and business.…

In Her Ellement

1
Navigating Silicon Valley with Autotech Ventures' Ivy Nguyen 22:52

42 weeks ago22:52

22:52

Silicon Valley often celebrates the meteoric rise of young entrepreneurs, but Ivy Nguyen, Principal at Autotech Ventures, believes that valuable and rewarding experiences can be found at any stage of our careers. Ivy's journey is shaped by her family's history: her parents arrived in the U.S. as refugees from Vietnam, taking on blue-collar jobs to support their family. She became the first in her family to attend college, a milestone that surprised her parents. Upon arriving at Stanford, Ivy recalls feeling as though she had " been dropped onto another planet ." Following the path of many of her peers, Ivy ventured into entrepreneurship, launching a water filtration business in Vietnam. When the business failed, she was faced with the challenge of picking herself up and determining her next steps. This pivotal moment ultimately led her to the world of venture capital. Join us for every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.…

In Her Ellement

1
Clearing the High Bar with Rashmi Gopinath 19:39

44 weeks ago19:39

19:39

Venture Capital revolves around risk and reward. How can we learn from this field and become more comfortable with uncertainty in our lives and careers? Rashmi Gopinath, General Partner at B Capital, suggests that we can begin by avoiding setting unattainably high standards for ourselves. Rashmi was born and raised in India before moving to the US. She worked in operations at Oracle and GE Healthcare before transitioning to venture capital. Her passion for cutting-edge technology eventually led her to Microsoft Ventures and Intel Capital, where she found fulfillment supporting visionary startups. According to All Raise VC , less than 15% of 'cheque writers' in venture capital in 2022 were women. Rashmi believes this disparity results from several factors, including bias in the recruitment process and internalized expectations. This conversation with Rashmi was conducted before she moved on from B Capital. Keep an eye on her LinkedIn to see what she’s planning next. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology Mentioned in this episode: B The Way Forward Hey, In Her Ellement listeners! Are you looking for a game-changing podcast? We want to tell you about a show we think you’ll like. On B The Way Forward, Brenda Darden Wilkerson, President and CEO of Anita B, dives into incredible chats with tech trailblazers like Arlan Hamilton and creative powerhouses like Janelle Monae. This isn't just another tech talk—it's your front-row seat to the minds shaping the future. Ready to drive change? Be part of the movement. Get plugged into B The Way Forward wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.…

In Her Ellement

1
Persistence and Bravery with Advent International’s Jaimee Michaud 23:00

46 weeks ago23:00

23:00

Making career decisions driven by fear can lead us astray. Instead, we need to be courageous and persistent, seizing new opportunities as they arise. This is the wisdom shared by today's guest, Jaimee Michaud, Head of Portfolio Digital at Advent International, a global private equity investment firm. Jaimee's journey began when she moved from Seoul to the United States as a high school student, boldly embracing a new culture and language. Quickly recognized for her mathematical prowess, she leveraged this reputation to build a successful career in investment banking. After several years in the industry, Jaimee transitioned to Shutterfly, where a trusted general manager saw her potential for a data-focused role. Despite her lack of coding skills, he believed her experience and attitude would ensure her success. Jaimee acknowledges that balancing career and personal commitments is challenging and rarely goes as planned. She emphasizes that making small, mindful decisions daily is more impactful than striving for perfection. Join us for each episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Diversity as a Superpower with Aily Labs’ Bianca Anghelina 19:04

48 weeks ago19:04

19:04

Running a global company is hard. But, it does give you an incredible opportunity to bring on board a diverse group of talent that can help shape your vision. This is something that today’s guest Bianca Anghelina is incredibly passionate about. Bianca co-founded the business development app Aily Labs hailed as the ‘Apple of AI’ in 2020 after she saw how hard it was for organizations to integrate AI across their entire workflow. She reflects that she has received conflicting advice from many sources on her founder journey. Her solution - critical thinking and intuition. Join us for each episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Passing the Baton with Smart Works' Boel Ferguson 20:46

50 weeks ago20:46

20:46

As your career evolves, so may your definition of success. For Boel Ferguson, success now means mentoring young executives and entrepreneurs navigating their path. Boel began her career without a clear focus, eventually finding her way into the media industry, where she enjoyed a career spanning over three decades. During her tenure at Disney, Boel witnessed and embraced significant changes, including the digital revolution. Today, Boel is involved in various initiatives aimed at helping young people, particularly young women, advance in their careers. She supports 25x25 , a non-profit organization dedicated to improving executive gender balance and sharing best practices within the broader community. Additionally, she is actively involved with Smart Works , a UK-based employment charity for women seeking employment. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology…

In Her Ellement

1
Throwback: Surviving and Thriving with Writer’s May Habib 20:09

52 weeks ago20:09

20:09

In this special episode, we’re taking you back to Season 2 for Suchi’s conversation with May Habib, CEO and Founder of Writer, an enterprise AI platform. May Habib has been a CEO for the past decade and always knew she wanted to build a company. As she juggles family and work, May acknowledges that her incredible support system allows her to thrive. May is truly a global citizen. She was born and raised in Lebanon and moved to Canada when she was little. She went on to study in the USA and has worked across the world. Her parents worked incredibly hard and May recognizes that they inspired her work ethic. May’s goal has always been single-minded; to build something that outlasts her and positively impacts the world. Writer is an operating system that tackles the unstructured nature of written content to comply with brand, compliance, and all the other elements that enterprises struggle to align on. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakimovha from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.…

In Her Ellement

1
Throwback: Growing in Tech with Women Who Code’s Alaina Percival 20:55

1 year ago20:55

20:55

In this special episode, we’re taking you back to Season 1 for Andrea Gallego’s conversation with Alaina Percival, CEO and co-founder of Women Who Code—the largest and most active community for technical women worldwide. Alaina shares her career path; she’s run niche products for Puma in Germany, led developer outreach for a technical recruiting company in San Francisco, and taught herself to code. As the CEO of Women Who Code, she works to inspire women to thrive in the tech industry. Alaina shares how she navigates the always near and dear imposter syndrome; if you aren’t feeling it—you may have been in your role too long. There should always be 40% that you don’t know. She also emphasizes the importance of community and support; don’t be shy to reach out and share your goals—there is a very accessible and supportive community willing to help. Visit Women Who Code to access free resources & workshops, browse job & scholarship opportunities, and engage with an amazing network of technical women across the globe. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakimovha from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.…

In Her Ellement

1
Defying Expectations with Scribe’s Jennifer Smith 23:39

1 year ago23:39

23:39

As an entrepreneur, you sometimes have to go against the grain and defy expectations. But how can you keep yourself motivated? For Jennifer Smith, founder and CEO of Scribe, it’s the pride of building an amazing product that keeps her going through the difficult moments. When Jennifer first started her career in consulting, she had no idea that one day she would end up in tech. As she flew across the country and worked at multiple organizations, she saw a gap in the market for a tool that helped document processes, knowledge, and expertise. That's how Scribe was born. Jennifer has been underestimated in her journey as a founder. She believes that she is the one who can push herself the furthest and has been told by well-meaning people in the past that her ambitions were not achievable. Join us for each episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Imposter Syndrome as a Super Power with Cable’s Natasha Vernier 19:45

1 year ago19:45

19:45

Imposter syndrome, or self-doubt, is something that we all experience in our lives and careers. But how can we turn this often negative experience into a positive one? Natasha Vernier believes you can make it your superpower and has used it to build her own business. Natasha is the co-founder and CEO of Cable, a financial crime compliance platform. Before founding Cable in 2020, Natasha was the Head of Financial Security at Monzo, the fastest-growing bank in UK history. In that role, she was able to seize new opportunities and accelerate her career growth rapidly. After a grueling period of IVF, Natasha and her wife welcomed their first child into the world. However, it just so happened that she was about to embark on her entrepreneurial journey. In this conversation, she talks us through that life-changing experience and how it influenced her approach to her business. Join us each episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Being Courageous with Element Bioscience’s Molly He 24:06

1 year ago24:06

24:06

Many expert women decide to take the plunge into entrepreneurship - but what are the realities of this decision? For today’s guest, Molly He, CEO and co-founder of Element Biosciences, it was never her dream, but something she saw as a means of pushing the groundbreaking scientific work she was doing forward. Molly grew up in an economically disadvantaged village in rural China. She studied hard while at the same time developing her skills as a professional sprinter. At the end of high school, she decided to take a leap of faith and move to the US. In retrospect, Molly acknowledges that this was a courageous thing to do and that she used this courage and optimism throughout her career. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Introducing Fintech Files from BCG Platinion 33:48

1 year ago33:48

33:48

This week on In Her Element, we're bringing you Fintech Files , a podcast from BCG Platinion. A show where we delve deep into the dynamic landscape of Fintech, NeoBanks, and the Digital Banking world, sparking insightful conversations with industry disruptors from around the globe. In this episode, we ask the question: “How many globally lack access to banking?” Astonishingly, one in three. In this insightful conversation, Vera Futorjanski, former Head of Communications at Rocket Internet and founding member of Dubai Future Accelerators, shares her journey. Emphasizing the transformative role of technology, she explores challenges and strategies to enhance accessibility and diversity in finance through education and innovation. About Fintech Files: So, what are the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech, and how will they impact your financial world? Fintech Files takes an accessible approach to technology. We break down complex topics and have our guests explain them in a relatable "explain it to your grandma" style. In every episode, we focus on real-world stories of how financial technology operates, demystifying complex concepts and making them relatable for both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals. The Hosts of Fintech Files: Fintech Files is hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East. Our hosts specialize in IT strategy, modern tech architecture, and state-of-the-art banking. In their work, they've collaborated with some of today's most innovative Fintechs to transform their organizations; including supporting generative AI use cases. With their unique blend of tech expertise and passion, they bring you stories that capture the essence of the evolving Fintech landscape. This season, we're thrilled to introduce Bianca Lopes. Originally from Brazil and currently based in Denmark, Bianca is an entrepreneur and economist with a remarkable background in digital identity and biometrics. Throughout her career, she has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, reshaping their approach to technology, reimagining identity, and driving innovation agendas. We Want to Hear from You! Reach out to us at fintech-podcast@bcgplatinion.com with your questions, guest suggestions, or topics you'd like us to explore. Or just drop in to say hi! Visit our website at https://bcgplatinion.com/insights/podcast-fi/ and follow us on social media for updates and additional content. We’ll be back next week with a new episode of In Her Ellement with your hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG, where we’ll hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital, technology, and business.…

In Her Ellement

1
Throwback: Staying Open with Michigan State University’s Professor Anjana Susarla 24:08

1 year ago24:08

24:08

In this special episode, we’re taking you back to Season 2 for Suchi’s conversation with Professor Anjana Sursala, Professor of Responsible AI at Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of Business In this episode, she talks about her journey to becoming one of the leaders in her field, her work advocating for more inclusive AI models, and how she successfully juggled family and work during the pandemic. Anjana’s story is truly remarkable. After suffering financial hardship, Anjana’s parents moved her family to a village in rural India, away from their home in Kakinada. She had dreams of studying in the US and eventually made them happen through talent and persistence. Anjana’s academic career has put her on the very cutting edge of AI research. She believes that one of the ways we can tackle bias in AI is to recruit more women into the creation and coding of AI. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakimovha from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.…

In Her Ellement

1
Data and Impact with Starbucks Coffee Company’s Emily Miner 22:08

1 year ago22:08

22:08

Leadership puts you in the spotlight. Others will scrutinize everything you do, and you must challenge yourself to remain honest and authentic throughout. This is something that today’s guest, Emily Miner, learned by trial and error. Emily is Vice President of Partner Science and Business Operations at Starbucks Coffee Company. She started her career in the academic world as an anthropologist. However, an early career experience switched her on to the idea of large data sets being a force for great impact in the world. In Emily’s first leadership role, she struggled to find her groove. She tried to copy the management style she’d seen from her male peers and found that it didn’t work for her. Once she started leaning into her authentic voice and ways of working, she found management to be a much more rewarding experience. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Flexibility in Tech with Juniper Network’s Sharon Mandell 21:22

1 year ago21:22

21:22

A career in technology isn’t usually associated with flexibility. But Sharon Mandell, CIO of Juniper Networks has managed to carve out an incredible career that has allowed her to also spend time with her family. But how did she do this? Sharon almost became a professional ballet dancer but switched suddenly to a degree in computer science. Her father might not have been happy, but it was the start of a career that took her across several high-profile organizations and roles. Her advice to anyone looking to work with AI is that you should never be afraid to ask questions. Even with all her talent, Sharon still felt like an imposter at times. Her advice to others in this position is to follow your passion. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Clearing Space for Yourself with BCG’s Adi Zolotov 20:31

1 year ago20:31

20:31

Adi Zolotov began her career in astrophysics as an academic but decided to broaden her horizons by transitioning to the private sector. In her current role as managing director and partner at BCG X, Adi focuses on building AI and digital solutions that unlock value and insights in aerospace, defense, and the public sector. There have been many times in Adi’s career where she has been the only woman in the room. However, when faced with this situation now, she focuses on bringing her wealth of expertise to the table. Adi has had many influential mentors in her career, one of whom was Dr. Beth Willman, whom Adi interviewed in Season 2. She believes that it's important for mentees to give back to their mentors in any way they can. If you want to revisit Adi’s conversations from Seasons 1 and 2, you can find them below. Sita Sonty Dr. Beth Willman Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Role Modelling Vulnerability with Kensho’s Bhavesh Dayalji 25:36

1 year ago25:36

25:36

We need more allies at all levels in tech. But what does allyship mean if you’re in a leadership role? Sometimes it’s about being honest and vulnerable. Bhavesh Dayalji is the CEO at Kensho Technologies, an artificial intelligence solutions provider. Bhavesh also has a second role - Chief AI Officer at S&P Global. So how does he balance all of this with his family life? Bhavesh says that it’s hard. The truth is, very few people find the right balance for them. But he’s learning and describes himself as a “husband and father” before anything else. Bhavesh started his career at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Switzerland. However, he joked with his colleagues that he was more interested in how the business owners in the city were utilizing technological solutions. This led him to management consulting and, eventually, Kensho. Bhavesh believes that a culture that encourages women to bring their authentic selves to work can help them feel comfortable and achieve their full potential. He also stresses that the route to inclusive hiring might take more time, but that diversity of thought is critical in the expanding AI space. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital technology and business.…

In Her Ellement

1
Meet the Host Kamila Rakhimova 20:55

1 year ago20:55

20:55

In this episode, we're excited to introduce our new co-host, Kamila Rakhimova, managing director, and partner at BCG. Kamila takes us on a journey from her native Tajikistan to the USA and through a career that she has mapped out on her terms. Every few years, Kamila gets the itch to try something new. Back in her home country, her proficiency in English and her qualifications in international relations made her an asset in her field. She quickly discovered that microfinance could have a significant impact on underprivileged communities. This niche brought her to the US and eventually to Amazon. At Amazon, she spearheaded the Amazon Alexa Fund, which supported founders in creating innovative businesses. For her, the most meaningful part of the program was being able to launch the careers of underrepresented founders. When Kamila first moved to the US, she followed what she thought was the playbook for success. She quickly discovered that a one-size-fits-all approach didn't work for her. Now, she listens carefully to her inner voice and does things her own way. Join us for every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.…

In Her Ellement

1
Developing Confidence with Icertis’ Deanna Lanier 26:00

1 year ago26:00

26:00

Our confidence levels can change over time. They can also be influenced by " life events ": the stuff that happens outside of our career that we have no control over. Despite her years of experience, today’s guest, Deanna Lanier, CSO of Icertis, doesn’t feel confident all the time. Deanna began her career in technology in sales. When she moved into a leadership role, she would often find that she was the only woman in the room. This can be an isolating experience for anyone, and Deanna acknowledges that it can create a confidence barrier for early-career women. Indeed, Deanna is active in her support for early-career women. She has said that: “Newly hired women CSOs have the opportunity and important responsibility to support and advance other women in pursuing leadership roles like the CSO title.” Icertis is a contract management company that has been leveraging AI for its clients since 2018. Join us for every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Holiday Throwback: The Unconventional Path with The Alan Turing Institute’s Dr. Erin Young 20:42

1 year ago20:42

20:42

In this special holiday episode, we’re taking you back to Season 2 for Corin Lines’ conversation with Dr Erin Young, Research Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute. How do you carve out a way to follow your passions in your own way? Dr. Erin Young has followed her professional interests across disciplines, and the world. As a Research Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute in the UK, Erin co-leads the Women in Data Science and AI project, examining AI and gender bias. Starting her career officially as a cabaret dancer in school, Erin went on to study classical Greek and Latin at Cambridge University. From there, she moved on to a range of organizations including The United Nations (IIEP-UNESCO) in Paris, Kantar in London, and Thomson Reuters in New York City. She has also flourished in her academic career and completed a Ph.D. in the socio-technical practices of interdisciplinary research and development projects building new technologies in 2019. The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence. The Women in Data Science and AI project seeks to help policymakers and key stakeholders take action to tackle the inherent bias present in AI. Erin is passionate about making AI more equitable and admits that she’s both “excited and terrified” at the prospects of its future. She believes strongly that the only consistency in life is change, and that, by preparing yourself, you can succeed in any career. She also rejects the idea of a ‘non-tech background’, and thinks that we’re looking at the idea of a multi-faceted, multidisciplinary skillset in the wrong way. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.…

In Her Ellement

1
Micro-Optimizations with Flatiron Health’s Cat Miller 23:52

1 year ago23:52

23:52

What do you do when you don’t have a big-picture goal in mind? You ‘micro-optimize’ and follow your passions wherever they take you. Cat Miller has built an amazing career off the back of micro-optimizations and now works as the CTO of Flatiron Health. Cat began her technology journey at MIT. One of her modules centered around AI and how it can be used to problem-solve. Throughout her career, Cat never knew exactly what she wanted to do, but was always comfortable following her interests to see where she ended up. Eventually, this brought her to the healthcare space, and to Flatiron, where she oversees the technology that the company builds. Flatiron Health is a technology company that uses data and machine learning to help clinicians, researchers, and regulators care for cancer patients. This episode references a statistic included in the December 4th CHRO Daily Newsletter, created by Fortune: Annual performance reviews are outdated, and they’re probably hurting your company. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Trusting your Inner Voice with CO2 AI’s Charlotte Degot 20:21

2 years ago20:21

20:21

Sometimes we doubt ourselves, and forget to trust what our inner voice is telling us. Charlotte Degot wishes she had begun listening to hers earlier in her career, but believes the journey to this understanding takes time. Charlotte is the CEO and founder of CO2 AI, an AI platform that helps the world's largest organizations successfully manage their end-to-end net-zero journeys. She started her career at BCG and rose to the level of managing director. When she discovered the boundless application of AI, she decided to return to university to learn more about it. That's when CO2 AI was born. It was a significant risk, but she knew it was worth taking. Charlotte invites us to ask the question - “what is risk really?” How can accepting risk help us grow and expand, and what are the actual consequences of failure? Charlotte also lectures at the same institutions where she studied, providing a new generation of entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to thrive. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

In Her Ellement

1
Raising Your Hand with Airbnb’s Naba Banerjee 22:00

2 years ago22:00

22:00

If you raise your hand, what's the worst that can happen? You'll either get a yes or a no. Naba Banerjee is Airbnb’s Head of Trust and Safety, and she has made it her mission to raise her hand and put herself forward for all the opportunities she can. Naba was born and raised in India and has a father who encouraged her to apply for an engineering course as soon as she was able. Naba moved to the US after her graduation and began working for Walmart in various roles. At Airbnb, Naba is best known for her party ban algorithm. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Airbnb saw a rise in properties being booked for one-night parties, something that is prohibited in its terms and conditions. The introduction of Naba's algorithm resulted in a significant reduction in party bookings and an increase in the banning of those who continuously broke the rules. Naba has five teenage children, and she believes that AI will play a fully integrated role in their future careers. Join us for every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business. Mentioned in this episode: About Fixable On the new TED podcast Fixable, Francis Frei and Anne Moriss have helped leaders at some of the world's most competitive companies solve all kinds of problems. On their show, they'll pull back the curtain and give you the type of honest, unfiltered advice they usually reserve for top executives. Maybe you have a co-worker with boundary issues or you want to know how to inspire and motivate your team. Give them a call at 234-Fixable (that's 234-349-2253) to leave Anne and Frances a voicemail with your workplace problem. They'll help you solve the problems you're stuck on. Find Fixable wherever you listen.…

In Her Ellement

1
Welcome to Season 3 of In Her Ellement! 1:52

2 years ago1:52

1:52

We’re back for Season 3 of In Her Ellement , a podcast from BCG! We’re going to be doing something a little different this time. We’re spending a little time at the start of Season 3 talking to women leaders at the forefront of the AI revolution. Join AI and digital expert Suchi Srinivasan and product lead Corin Lines for more meaningful and vulnerable conversations with women leaders and allies in who live AI in business, digital, and technology. Episode 1 of In Her Ellement Season 3 is out now. Listen on your favorite podcast app.…

In Her Ellement

1
Introducing Our AI Mini Series 16:31

2 years ago16:31