Tech in the Right Direction

Creating Progress Through Leadership, Mentoring, and Strategy

Enjoy this podcast replay.
This week's guest is Evelyn Sheahan, Director of Business Programs for Azure Cloud and AI at Microsoft. Evelyn has a background in technology, business management, and marketing. In addition, she has a wide range of corporate and field experience and has worked in sale-enablement programs developed to drive multi-million-dollar sales with increased efficiencies.
Today we talk about Evelyn's early years in technology and how it eventually grew into a number of different roles at Microsoft. We also cover Evelyn's involvement in mentorship programs and why they are crucial for creating real change in the industry. We continue this conversation by talking about the slow climb women and minorities face while growing their tech careers and how a DEI strategy can help organizations, employees, and communities change for the better.
Thank you for listening - we hope Evelyn's story helps inspire others to grow their tech career.
Professional updates:
Technology business management & marketing professional with a range of corporate and field experience. Sale-enablement programs developed to drive multi-million dollar sales with increased efficiencies. MBA graduate with broad business experience and proven track record working with a variety of customer audiences. Prosci Change Management. Learning & Development.Specialties: Creativity & Innovation; Collaboration across diverse groups to drive results!International Experience – Strong awareness of areas of cultural sensitivity.

How-to Navigate Today‘s Challenges as a Woman in Technology

This is a Replay:
This week's guest is Sarah Currey, a Cloud Security Consultant at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Sarah works closely with AWS customers to architect, implement, and deploy AWS Cloud Security solutions. Additionally, Sarah is a strong advocate for underrepresented individuals in the cloud security space and serves on several committees to help push for more inclusion in the industry.
In today's episode, we talk about Sarah's early years in tech and how her career evolved into working within the IT security space. We also talk about the gaps being created for women in tech and how the pandemic has created further problems. We then cover how to navigate these gaps and how women can work together to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
Thank you for listening; we hope Sarah's story help inspire others to grow their tech career.
Career update:
As the AWS Global Services Security Excellence Leader, I bring a strategic, visionary approach to protecting and empowering our customers and internal builders. Reporting directly to the VP of AWS Global Services Security, I drive key security initiatives on our senior leadership team. With deep expertise in AWS security services and a passion for collaborative innovation, I work hand-in-hand with C-suite stakeholders to seamlessly integrate security into our business planning and decision-making. My mission is to foster a culture of fearless security, where our builders can innovate without fear, empowered by psychologically safe, high-performing cloud security teams. I'm committed to making a transformative, future-focused impact through emotionally intelligent, security-first leadership. This includes writing narratives and research to anticipate - and exceed - the evolving security needs of our customers, in close collaboration with AWS customer CISOs and security leaders.

Mentors That Make A Difference - Josh DeTillio

Listen in as Jennifer Didier and Josh DeTillio talk about the opportunities in the medical industry for Women. 
More About Josh DeTillio:
A highly professional healthcare leader with over 20 years of experience in investor-owned, public, faith-based, and non-profit companies. Demonstrated success in collaborating with and leading boards and physicians to drive growth, improve culture, and deliver results on stated metrics in highly competitive markets. Accomplished leader in company strategic planning, health system operations, patient safety, and business development tactics. Engaging relationship builder with proven success in building highly effective leadership teams and developing a culture of teamwork and accountability.

Global Perspective: How-to Grow Your Organization

Podcast Replay:
This week's guest is Leonie Moos, the Head of Program at Grace - Accelerate Female Entrepreneurship. Leonie previously worked at a fintech company in the e-commerce industry and a venture capitalist firm. Her global industry experience has allowed her to become an expert on how to grow a business with worldwide capabilities.
Today we talk about how a global perspective can help organizations improve and grow a worldwide presence. We also discuss the importance of promoting female entrepreneurs and some advice for females’ entrepreneurs just starting.
Thank you for listening; we hope Leonie's story helps inspire others to grow their tech career.

Are Four Year Degrees Necessary? How to Land Your Dream Job by Getting Uncomfortable…and Being Human!

Podcast Replay:
This week on Tech in the Right Direction we start off talking with full stack web developer and technical trainer Jenna Beckett. Jenna began her career in construction management but eventually found herself in a bootcamp to become a developer. After a few years in the field she returned to bootcamps, but this time as a trainer helping others learn as she did and helping them enter the tech field. Listen in to hear Jenna’s views on taking the ‘non-traditional’ route into technology, why she doesn’t believe four-year degrees should be a requirement in the tech industry, and when certifications are most valuable.

How-to Lead the Way for Positive Change in Technology

This is a replay.
This week's guest is Sherlaender (Lani) Phillips, the VP of US Channel Sales for Microsoft. Lani brings over 20 years of experience in managing transformation in technology and inclusive leadership. As a recognized member of Microsoft leadership, Lani has been a driving force behind creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce which in turn has made Microsoft a centerpiece for positive reform within the tech industry. Lani's story of creating positive change is an inspiration to everyone facing the challenges in today's tech culture. Lani credits her success to her personal experiences, the people she's surrounded herself with, and the education she’s sought out. She also credits a few books that have helped her along the way:
Inclusive Leadership: The Definitive Guide to Developing and Executing an Impactful Diversity and Inclusion Strategy: - Locally and Globally
Inclusive Leadership: From Awareness to Action
THRIVE: The Facilitator's Guide to Radically Inclusive Meetings
Lani's work and story will continue to leave an indelible mark on the world of technology. You can continue to follow her story when her book arrives in 2021. We want to thank you for listening and we hope that Lani's story inspires you to be a part of the transformative change that is taking place in the world of technology.
Guest update:
Lani Phillips embodies the essence of empathetic leadership—a seasoned executive whose journey is not just about personal accolades, but about uplifting others to reach their highest potential. With over 25 years of experience at Microsoft Corporation, Lani has honed her skills as a transformational leader, earning recognition for her commitment to empowering teams and driving tangible results. Discover firsthand testimonials on her profile's "Recommendations" section to glean insights into the profound impact of her leadership philosophy.Now, as she embarks on a new chapter with FullCircle Leadership Group (FCLG), Lani's passion for nurturing tomorrow's leaders shines brightly. She understands that leadership is about people, where shared wisdom and empathy pave the way for leadership excellence.At FCLG, Lani's mission is crystal clear: to illuminate the path for others, transforming obstacles into opportunities for growth. In today's corporate landscape, where the heartbeat of success lies in the synergy between management and teams, FCLG stands out by cultivating human-centered leaders who prioritize the well-being and purpose of every individual.FCLG's approach bridges the gap between traditional management styles and the evolving needs of modern businesses. By championing human-centered strategies, Lani and her team equip leaders with the tools to navigate the complexities of today's world while staying true to their core values.Join us in shaping the future of leadership. Explore our mission and approach at www.fullcircleleadershipgroup.com, and together, let's inspire a new generation of compassionate and impactful leaders.

MENtors that make a difference Featuring Breno Araujo

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Meet Breno Araujo from BOTO as he discusses with Jennifer Didier how the hiring practices of BOTO pursues qualified women for Technology jobs. Breno shares his unique ideas on how to maintain the candidates they hire.
A little more about Breno Araujo:
Breno Araujo is the Founder and CEO of BOTO, a no-code platform that allows anyone to build and share automation. Before BOTO, Breno was head of Revenue Intelligence for Ripple and has been in the blockchain space since 2016.
Breno has been coding since he was 12 years old, and has an MBA from INSEAD and a BSC in Mechatronics Engineering from PUC-Rio (Brazil).

How a Treehouse set the course of New Innovation

Join Jennifer as she speaks to Katy Rose about entering the age old business of insurance and developing new ways to process and service customers.
A little information about Katy Rose: PINS CEO
The youngest on her block and in her family, a very competitive Katy Rose bemoaned to her father, Marshall, that the big kids didn’t want to play with her. His response, “Build something that they’d want to be part of, and they’ll come to you…” One treehouse later, Katy and all the older kids were now playing together.
 
That same philosophy and action applies today, with the company that Marshall founded, and the one which Katy is now CEO. PINS Advantage is a San Diego-based SaaS company that helps businesses track certificates of insurance. And like the treehouse, the big kids are coming to PINS, with clients like Enterprise Car Rental, LAX and the City of Glendora. Katy recalls making 30 cold calls, into 10 different offices to close Enterprise. She’s tenacious and passionate about the business her father created and leads with a visionary mindset.
 
A graduate of University of Boulder, Katy also received her coding boot camp certificate from UCSD. She’s an avid long-distance runner and is not afraid to put in the miles, as proven by her outstanding and unwavering efforts to close Enterprise.
Today PINS has clients across multiple industries, including airports, cities, rental car companies, property management and more. Check out www.pinsadvantage.com and see how we can help build your business.