Tech in the Right Direction

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

Enjoy this Replay:
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.
 

Investing in Yourself

This week's podcast is a replay of guest Jennifer O'Brien, the Founder of Accounting Business Solutions by JCS - a solution provider that focuses on the implementation, training, and technical assistance for accounting software.
Today we talk about Jennifer's career journey and how she dove headfirst into tech during the early part of her career journey. Jennifer's headfirst attitude developed because she knew she would see a return on the investment in herself. This investment in herself became a realization after Jennifer figured out that she could help small businesses with the accounting side of their organization, which led her to create Business Solutions by JCS.
Learn more about Accounting Business Solutions by JCS here: https://www.jcscomputer.com/
Thank you for listening; we hope Jennifer's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.
JCS Merged with SWK Technologies in November 2023.  Follow Jennifer O'Brien as she continues to lead the way for Women in Tech.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sage-50-sage-100-quickbooks/

How-to Take Ownership as a Woman in Tech

This week's guest is Jennifer Buchholz, the Founder of Excel and Flourish - a corporate technical training company. Jennifer helps organizations, teams, and individuals leverage their technology to save time, increase productivity, and reduce frustrations.
Today we talk about Jennifer's early experiences with technology and how her childhood helped shape her career path in tech training. We also talk about the importance of taking ownership as a woman in technology to accomplish the tasks at hand.
You can learn more about Excel & Flourish here: https://www.excelandflourish.com/
Thank you for listening; we hope Jennifer's story helps inspire others to seek or grow their tech career.
Follow Jennifer Buchholz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbuchholz/

Getting to know Shelley Copsey

Join Jennifer Didier as she has a lively conversation with Shelley Copsey.  They discuss Shelley career path and her goals to have a diversified workforce. Jennifer also adds a new place to travel on her bucket list.
More about Shelley Copsey: 
As the co-founder and CEO of FYLD, I lead a venture that empowers utilities field teams and managers to make data-driven decisions in real-time, leading to greater safety, productivity and quality assurance. I have over 20 years of experience in the intersection of physical infrastructure and digital technologies, as well as the human transformation required to deliver on the promise of emerging technologies. I have created and led multiple enterprise SaaS start-ups in this domain, including GeoSLAM, a world-leading geospatial company that transformed the way the real world was mapped (exited to Faro). I was a founding board member at Coviu, an award-winning telehealth platform that scaled from 400 to 25,000 consultations a day during the Covid-19 pandemic (on board through to completion of Series A). I also contributed to spinning out multiple companies from research powerhouse CSIRO, including drone technology company Emesent and regtech platform PaidRight.I have a strong background in finance, innovation, and commercialisation, having held senior roles at CSIRO's Data61, PwC, and KPMG. I am a Chartered Accountant and have undertaken executive education at MIT and Stanford on AI and corporate entrepreneurship. My roles have seen me hold numerous board positions and partner with scaling companies to achieve strong funding outcomes and exits, aligned to business strategy.
Connect with Shelley Copsey on LinedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleycopsey/

Conversation with Ally: Seth Earley

Seth Earley is an expert with 20+ years of experience in Knowledge Strategy, Data and Information Architecture, Search-based Applications, and Information Findability solutions. Seth has worked with a diverse roster of Fortune 1000 companies helping them to achieve higher levels of operating performance by making information more findable, usable, and valuable through integrated enterprise architectures supporting analytics, e-commerce, and customer experience applications. 
Seth Earley is a sought-after speaker, writer, and influencer. He is the author of "The AI-Powered Enterprise" from LifeTree Media which was released in April 2020. In 2021, the book received the Axiom Business Book Silver Medal in the Artificial Intelligence / Robotics / Algorithms category. 
His writing has appeared in IT Professional Magazine from the IEEE where, as a former editor, he wrote a regular column on data analytics and information access issues and trends. He has also contributed to the Harvard Business Review, CMS Wire, CEO World, TechTarget, eCommerce Times, and Analytics Magazine. Journal of Applied Marketing Analytics, and he co-authored “Practical Knowledge Management” from IBM Press. 
Reach Seth Earley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethearley/

How to Grow Your Career With a Global Perspective

This week's guest is Lisa Heite, a Partner Development Manager at Microsoft with a passion for helping others. Lisa's story revolves around living, studying, and working around the world. She gained a wide range of experience throughout her international travel and has used that to bring a unique perspective to the tech industry. Her ideas and approach give her an edge when it comes to solving problems and bringing people together.
While volunteering at an NGO, Lisa developed a digital strategy and saw how digital transformation could further women's rights and give them a voice throughout the world. This passion for women's rights led Lisa to the WIT Network, and she is now lending her skills to their cause.
Thank you for listening; we hope Lisa's story helps inspire others to grow their tech career. To learn more about the WIT Network, visit their site here: https://thewitnetwork.com/
To Reach Lisa Heite on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-heite/