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Have you ever looked at a business beyond their visual branding and thought about who they are and what they stand for, and who the owners are and what they stand for? Branding is more than just an aesthetic. It's about connection.

Join us as we speak with Ari Krzyzek, CEO and Head of Strategy of Chykalophia about Ari's journey to creating her own brand agency, the potential of FemTech to change the narrative around women's health, and why knowing your 'why' can help you to succeed.

About Ari Krzyzek

CEO and Head of Strategy at Chykalophia (read: see-ka-lo-fia), Ari Krzyzek helps FemTech, DTC, and women-led brands transform their website into a platform that unlocks business opportunities. She is co-author of one of the Top 3 Best Sellers book in web design, Made to Sell: Creating Websites that Convert. She serves as a branding, UX consultant, and professional peer in support of fellow female entrepreneurs through the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world, 1871 Chicago, and Chicago’s global healthcare startup incubator, MATTER. She’s the co-host of Halo Femtech Podcast, a podcast that honors disruptive innovators and change-makers advancing women’s health.

Furthermore, she helps women in tech and design break into the industry and succeeds in it by mentoring them for personal branding, career advancement, and entrepreneurship through Interaction Design Foundation, Chicago Innovation and ADP list.

Instagram: @ari.krzyzek LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/arichykalophia

Chykalophia Website: http://chykalophia.com Chykalophia Instagram: @chykalophia Chykalophia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2329060/

Watch or listen on your favourite platform.

Show Notes

[00:00:57] Ari's journey to visual communication design. [00:03:00] The gap between design and business strategy. [00:06:29] The superficial way in which we view branding. [00:07:25] On your mission and culture. [00:09:05] Ari's motivations for starting her agency. [00:10:09] Business identity vs individual identity. [00:13:13] Starting a business is a journey of self-discovery. [00:14:11] Everyone should have a personal philosophy. [00:15:46] What is your 'why'? [00:16:59] Giving back because of the support she received. [00:18:25] There's so much available to help you to succeed. [00:20:13] How to find your niche. [00:21:42] The focus on tech and FemTech. [00:24:05] Trends in FemTech beyond medical. [00:24:49] Awkward Essentials - Dripstick (Content Warning: Sexual health, may be TMI for some). [00:25:33] The burgeoning space of FemTech in lifestyle and wellness. [00:26:33] Solutions for quality of life as well as sustainability, because women's bodies and our needs are always changing. [00:27:55] The point of connection. [00:30:23] The significance of building connection in FemTech. [00:32:09] The challenges of marketing FemTech begin with education (or a lack thereof). [00:34:50] The potential scope of FemTech's role in public education. [00:37:45] Women can thrive in tech. [00:39:47] How to position yourself as the solution. [00:42:10] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [00:43:36] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [00:44:43] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

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If you can't decide between two career paths, try exploring both. Krithika Chandramouli found bioengineering to be a sweet spot between health sciences and technology and was able to explore both pursuits before she found her way to software engineering. Join us as we speak about Krithika's path to software engineering, contributing back to the community through her work and mentorship, and going from a love-hate relationship with running to completing a half-marathon.

About Krithika Chandramouli

Krithika is a Software Engineer at Meta. She comes with over 8 years of experience working in a range of industries like video streaming services, fintech, and social media. She is an expert on JS and full stack engineering, and is a technical and thought leader. She thrives when she is working on solving complex people problems that lead to innovation in products. She mentors young professionals, especially women, in the areas of career development in the tech industry. Outside work, Krithika is a runner, rows crew, practices Vipassana for mindfulness, a Veena player and an aspiring writer!

Medium: https://krithika-chandramouli.medium.com/

Watch or listen on your favourite platform.

Show Notes

(00:00:56) Biomedical engineering is the sweet spot between health sciences and technology when deciding whether to pursue med or tech. (00:03:30) The opportunity to study a broad range of subjects. (00:04:33) Bioengineering and nano drug delivery. (00:06:28) Being drawn to wearable medical technology. (00:09:05) Krithika's path to computer science through wearables. (00:09:50) Crowdsourced labelling and gamification of medical images. (00:11:38) Observations of the human element of crowdsourcing data. (00:14:10) A desire to use her skills to give back to the community. (00:16:16) Building tools to help build communities at Meta. (00:18:58) Buy Nothing groups and the importance of community in times of crisis. (00:21:26) Krithika's passion for mentoring and career development. Wanting to pay it forward. (00:22:43) Finding mentors. (00:26:59) Nerdy Girl Success. (00:27:43) Becoming a mentor or advisor in organisations like Nerdy Girl Success. (00:31:34) Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? (00:31:38) Running and marathons. (00:34:39) With a love/hate relationship with running, why a half-marathon? (00:38:02) Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? (00:38:14) "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini and reflections on who and where we are in this world. (00:40:53) Kumar, R. (2022, Nov 1). The enduring sexism of India’s tech industry. Rest of World. (00:42:58) Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? (00:43:03) Advice for Life: Be bold. (00:45:08) Reflect on your own qualities, skills, and objectives, and be intentional about it. (00:49:56) Finding out more about Krithika.

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Bias and discrimination are everywhere. It's something we as a society are generally trying to improve. But when it comes to solutions, there is nuance in terms of cultural and social context, personal perceptions, and privilege that can complicate matters.

Join us as we speak with Raksha Kumar, an award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker with a focus on land, forest, and human rights issues. We speak about Raksha's investigative work into the layered and complex issues of caste and sexism in India's tech industry, and elsewhere too.

About Raksha Kumar

Raksha Kumar is an award-winning journalist, with a focus on land and forest rights. Her work highlights human rights abuses by the State, thereby holding the powerful to account. Since 2011, she has reported from twelve countries across the world and a hundred districts in India for The New York Times, BBC, The Guardian, Foreign Policy, among others. Additionally, Kumar studied media freedoms in India in great detail and wrote reports for the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Federation of Journalists, and PEN International.

Kumar graduated from the Journalism School, Columbia University, and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights Law. She is also a documentary filmmaker and a Chevening Fellow and has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for Leadership Development.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rakshakumar Twitter: https://twitter.com/Raksha_Kumar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raksha_kumar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raksha.kumar

Watch or listen on your favourite platform.

Show Notes

(00:02:11) Raksha's focus on human rights in journalism. (00:02:39) People are interesting, and each person matters. (00:05:03) The impetus for writing about sexism in India's tech industry. (00:05:11) Writing about caste in India. (00:05:47) India's caste system. (00:06:33) A court case in the US raising outside awareness to caste discrimination. (00:07:08) Equality Labs. (00:07:35) The case was covered in India, but there was no discourse around caste in the Indian tech industry. (00:09:22) When discrimination was raised in the investigation, gender kept coming up. (00:10:24) Everyone talks about gender discrimination in tech. What makes India different? (00:12:40) "Tech came with a promise of a flatter world." (00:13:12) The privilege of being blind to discrimination. (00:14:09) The implicit threat to remain silent for fear of repercussion. (00:15:14) The varied reasons for remaining silent, and the individual interpretations of discrimination. (00:16:52) Privilege and discrimination are not mutually exclusive. (00:18:19) Awareness of our individual privileges and the affect of our intersectionality. (00:20:50) Observations: There hasn't been any research in caste discrimination in the Indian tech sector, and the more you delve into gender discrimination the more layers there are to investigate. (00:23:56) The drivers behind a high percentage of women in tech in India. (00:25:03) An open economy and upward mobility. (00:28:45) The subconscious awareness of your career 'expiry' as a woman. (00:29:41) The two-body problem in a different context. (00:30:57) The issues aren't unique to tech, but the way they manifest can be. (00:32:40) Intense, and potentially exploitative, work environments. (00:32:51) Wrong paper, I meant: Becker, SO., Fernandes, A., Weichselbaumer, D., 'Discrimination in hiring based on potential and realized fertility: Evidence from a large-scale field experiment', Labour Economics, vol 59, 2019, pp 139-152. (00:34:10) What makes some of these issues uniquely tech. (00:37:22) Women's visibility. (00:38:56) The support structure around women and careers. (00:41:06) The need for bi-directional support. (00:43:04) Do you know how much work it takes to make something look effortless? (00:44:01) Well meaning policies which become unintentionally discriminatory. (00:46:12) Law needs to take culture into consideration. (00:49:01) The need to incorporate the humanities into science and technology education. (00:51:45) Science is about questioning. The questioning should be about all aspects of the work, not just the science. (00:55:18) Raksha's observations from her investigations. (00:58:21) The journey between knowledge and realisation.

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Compassion in healthcare is about operating with respect in more ways than one. We've spoken previously about the cultural side of medicine and the program Operating With Respect, but today I speak with Leah Elson about developing technology and procedures that can create psychologically and physiologically better patient outcomes, and also about getting people excited about science again.

About Leah Elson

Leah Elson is an academically-published clinical development scientist, public science communicator, and non-fiction author. Her research career in human medicine has included the fields of orthopedics, oncology, and neuroscience.

Instagram: @gnarlybygnature TikTok: @gnarlybygnature Twitter: @gnarlybygnature

Watch this episode on YouTube. Listen to it on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, or RSS.

Show Notes

(00:01:06) Sportscasting in college. (00:02:24) Adventures in pre-med. (00:03:01) Leah's early interest in surgery, but realising she could do more upstream. (00:04:43) Research is playing the long game. (00:05:44) Leah's current work with peripheral nerve repair and its compassionate applications. (00:08:43) Taking a more holistic view of patient outcomes. (00:10:28) Allowing researchers to actually see the impact of their work. (00:11:18) STEMM can be a social equaliser because you're working towards the same goal of humanity. (00:12:30) How Leah determines the direction of her research focus. (00:14:59) The beauty of research rabbitholes. The best discoveries are accidental. (00:15:51) The importance of maintaining connections and networks. You never know where you'll find convergence across fields. (00:18:15) Hyperspecialisation and the globaliser that was COVID. (00:20:45) The future is in unpacking genetics. (00:24:58) The science that divides advances us. (00:26:01) The impact of market (and climate) forces and the reminder that humans are creative and resilient. (00:29:27) '60 Seconds of Science' and the importance of supporting the voices that inform. (00:32:35) Science doesn't have an alignment, it's what we do with it. (00:35:01) Science is fluid and has so much scope. (00:36:43) Fake science and the narrative around it is evocative. (00:38:13) Science fiction into science fact. (00:39:05) Writing 'There Are (No) Stupid Questions … in Science'. (00:42:05) Making people excited about science again. (00:45:39) The accessible nature of a book like this. (00:47:10) Being selective about what community questions to answer. (00:48:11) Randall Munroe (xkcd). (00:49:35) Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? (00:50:18) Powerlifting is complementary to Leah's optimal workflow. (00:51:35) Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? (00:52:51) Michele's favourite childhood book. (00:54:10) 'Where's Waldo?' (00:55:18) Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? (00:58:54) Finding out more about Leah and their work.

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Dr Kandis Leslie Abdul-Aziz is an Assistant Professor in the Chemical and Environmental Engineering department at the University of California, Riverside. She joined the University in 2018 after receiving her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before joining UC Riverside, she was a Provost postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where she developed procedures for synthesising heterogeneous catalysts using atomic layer deposition. She has also worked previously as a Forensic scientist for the Philadelphia police department and as a Refinery chemist at Sunoco Chemicals in Philadelphia after receiving a B.S. in Chemistry from Temple University. Her research group develops sustainable catalytic processes using an interdisciplinary toolset from environmental, materials and chemical engineering for sustainable applications.

In our conversation, we speak about science entrepreneurship and circular solutions that put waste to good use (amongst a whole host of other things).

Watch this episode on YouTube. Listen to it on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, or RSS.

Show Notes

[00:00:51] Leslie's introduction to chemistry. [00:01:46] Where Leslie saw her future with chemistry. [00:02:55] Working in forensics. [00:04:07] The novelty and then the tedium of working with drugs. [00:05:20] Developing protocols for new drugs. [00:06:33] Inventing a sensor for drug detection. [00:10:13] The challenges of bringing new technology to market. [00:12:14] Alternate paths to science entrepreneurship. [00:13:47] The path to The Sustainable Lab. [00:16:05] The transition to an engineering role in chemistry. [00:19:47] The types of problems The Sustainable Lab means to solve. [00:20:04] Replacing fossil fuels with renewables or waste. [00:21:58] The applications for converting CO2 and methane into biofuels and other materials. [00:24:28] Applying chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering to the optimisation of chemical processes. [00:25:39] Repurposing agricultural and plastic waste. [00:26:18] Investigating alternative approaches to recycling and the return to science entrepreneurship. [00:28:56] Working on the methane problem from all ends: Dr Parwinder Kaur's past work on clovers. [00:29:54] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [00:30:53] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [00:31:43] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [00:33:59] The experience of transitioning back into research after working in industry. [00:36:20] Learning to become a science entrepreneur. [00:40:34] Finding out more about Leslie and The Sustainable Lab.

Learn More About Leslie

Website: The Sustainable Lab Twitter: @theWasteNotLab Mastodon: @SustainableKhaleesi@sciencemastodon.com

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Shirley Yu is the CEO and Founder of Choosii, the community app for everyone that loves to collect (including herself and her friends - crazy plant collectors). Prior to launching Choosii, she discovered her creative side in high school, studied computer science at Rutgers, and then started an award-winning creative production studio where she created environmental portraiture and conceptual still life works for clients that include New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, Barclays and Toyota.

In our conversation, we speak about Shirley's journey from computer science to entrepreneurism, her creative process, and building communities with our collections (amongst a whole host of other things).

Watch this episode on YouTube. Listen to it on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, or RSS.

Show Notes

[00:01:17] Shirley's beginnings in computer science. [00:01:29] Shirley's family is heavily STEMM leaning. [00:02:55] With a creative background, computer science seemed like a good balance between technical and creativity. [00:04:15] Algorithms to 3D print sculptures. The intersection of creativity and technology. There's an intentionality and logic to the universe. [00:05:37] Shirley's pursuit of photography. [00:05:52] The creative problem solving of photography and bringing a vision to life. [00:07:45] Seeking a creative outlet and discovering the scope of photography. [00:10:27] Renting a studio to develop her skills in parallel with school. [00:11:38] Being nominated for awards and having commissions and realising that photography would be a viable career path.[00:13:51] Steve Giralt and being motivated to be in that world where she could innovate creatively. [00:15:20] Graduating from computer science and building her studio. [00:15:53] Developing client work, but also personal projects to explore what you're capable of creatively. [00:17:07] Being passively creative and pulling from both her technical and creative experiences. [00:19:32] Creating Choosii for collectors inspired by her own experience. [00:20:57] Creating experiences from interactions. [00:25:48] The experience doesn't end with the transaction. [00:30:39] The emotional satisfaction of knowing something you care about has gone to someone who will care about it as well. [00:34:42] Shirley made Choosii for people like her. [00:36:36] On Shirley's COVID experience and reflecting on care packages and contact. [00:42:15] The evolution of shopping habits and the trend toward supporting local businesses and responsible capitalism. [00:46:52] Creating networks from which to buy also gives provenance and builds trust. [00:47:28] Shirley's breadth of experience and interactions inform the wholistic view of how she creates. [00:50:05] Shirley's process in portraiture and capturing her subject and their environment. [00:58:42] All of Shirley's experiences and people she has met through her creative work now informs her own journey as an entrepreneur. [00:59:11] Curating her projects to reflect her own values and cultivate her journey. [01:01:08] Finding mentorship when your growth is across multiple spaces. [01:01:49] Show up. Know [01:03:42] FounderCafe. [01:04:38] Launch House. [01:05:08] Finding like-minded people and organically grow the relationships. Create new connections and reengage with old connections. [01:09:53] What it means to Shirley to be good at business. [01:12:01] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [01:14:13] Loving what you do takes work, risk, and perseverance. [01:19:50] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [01:21:16] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [01:21:26] Diversify. Always keep learning and exploring.

Learn More About Shirley

Choosii: https://www.choosii.us TikTok: @choosechoosii Twitter: @choosiishirlii Instagram: @shirleyshotyu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirley-yu-75b74935/

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Dr Parwinder Kaur is an award-winning scientist, a passionate leader and positive role model as a mother, and a professor in science for the next generation of diverse scientists to pursue their passion for science and discovery. She leads cross-disciplinary biotechnology research investigating Earth’s biodiversity and natural environments to ensure sustainable futures. She uses her expertise to reach people in new ways, connecting them with their surroundings. Through her diverse research teams, such as ExPlanta, she harnesses STEM to achieve maximised impact. In doing so, she believes this will help us tackle the bigger issues we as society are facing, bringing about solutions through fresh thinking rather than following usual norms. She has been recognised for her substantial contributions to biotechnology and scientific excellence by the prestigious “Science and Innovation Award” by the Australian Academy of Sciences in 2013, won the Microsoft's AI for Earth award for 2019 and WA Innovator of the Year (finalist) in 2022. Dr Kaur is a passionate science communicator, an entrepreneur in the biotechnology sector, an active mentor for gender equity, a Superstar of STEM, a Women in Technology WA Role Model, GirlsXTech international ambassador working to close the gender gap in technology and Diversity in STEM expert panel appointment with the Office of the Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science, Australia.

In our conversation, we speak about biotechnology and genetics for conservation, and creating sustainable solutions through interdisciplinary innovation (amongst a whole host of other things).

Watch this episode on YouTube. Listen to it on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, or RSS.

Show Notes

[00:01:11] Parwinder's journey to molecular biology and the study of DNA. [00:02:10] Growing up surrounded by different cultures and faiths. [00:03:23] Parwinder's chemistry teacher opening the door to science as an avenue to answer her questions. [00:04:28] Changing perspectives over time. The relationship between Ayurveda and epigenetics. [00:06:16] Tools don't make the science, but they sure can make things go faster. [00:06:47] Work that took Parwinder 7 years, now can be done in 7 days, because of tools. [00:08:00] The knowledge needs to progress and we can help that along by making it more accessible to get a wider range of perspectives. [00:08:38] Diversity is an important factor in innovation. [00:11:07] How Parwinder's cultural and religious background inspires her science. [00:13:18] There is enough old knowledge validated with science to suggest that we just need better tools or methods to get there as well. [00:13:47] Investigating different faiths revealed to her that there are many common beliefs about the origin of life. [00:14:35] Epigenetics. It's all connected. [00:15:13] The road to understanding DNA in a three-dimensional space. [00:19:35] We need to think bigger as well. Many of the problems we're trying to solve globally also must be viewed in multiple dimensions. [00:24:32] Parwinder's work touches on so many different areas, what has been achieved could not have been done without multidisciplinary collaboration. [00:25:53] Comparatively, Australia is less restrictive than India with respect to disciplinary boundaries. [00:28:14] The system doesn't favour multidisciplinary approaches that may take longer. [00:28:58] It's hard to inspire students to solve the problems around us if we can't allow them to explore a broader range of disciplines to find the solutions. [00:33:17] Funding and KPIs can be bound to a limited scope. [00:33:28] Obstacles to remote collaboration, and being a scientist in the most isolated city in the world. [00:37:49] Remote collaboration with a medicine lab outside KPIs has lead to initiatives like DNA Zoo. [00:41:55] Promoting Australia for its biodiversity and Perth for its Pawsey supercomputer. [00:45:38] DNA Zoo. [00:45:57] What can we learn about the superpowers of other species. [00:47:24] Conservation has to factor in genetics as well as environment. [00:48:47] The rate of innovation in genetics just for humans. Why not also for animals? [00:49:36] With technological advancements, sequencing costs are significantly more accessible. [00:52:55] It's about helping people connect the dots. Making the content public domain because this is bigger than just publishing papers. [00:55:22] Open data because not having access to the knowledge is inefficient and making it accessible allows more people to take a shot at it. [00:56:57] Data is our next bio-economy. [00:58:21] Methane from cows. [00:59:54] The factors that contribution to methane emission. [01:00:22] "You are what you eat". Let's look at diet. [01:00:49] Clovers and their simplicity and impact, and secondary discoveries in science. [01:03:00] Japanese research on red clovers and their applications. [01:04:27] A serendipitous conversation about kombucha. [01:05:44] From a joke to a commercial opportunity in synthetic biology. [01:07:29] Giving her students another option for a career path in entrepreneurism. [01:10:57] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [01:12:41] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you [01:15:17] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

Learn More About Parwinder

Twitter: @dr_parwinder ExPlanta: https://www.explanta.com.au/ DNA Zoo: https://www.dnazoo.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-parwinder-kaur-715745199/

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Changes in career aren't a divergence from a path. The common thread is you, your experience, and how you can apply what you know in a difference space.

Zaneta Mascarenhas is Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Swan. Join us as we speak about Zaneta's journey through engineering and resources, climate action, and politics -- and hear about how community and impact ties all of that together.

About Zaneta Mascarenhas MP

Zaneta Mascarenhas MP is the Federal Member for Swan and sits in the House of Representatives in the Australian Parliament. Zaneta, a chemical engineer, was elected to Parliament in 2022 and serves on the Industry, Science and Resources Standing Committee, the Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water Standing Committee, and the Joint Statutory Committee on Corporations and Financial Services.

Prior to her election, Zaneta managed the West Australian team for Energetics, Australia’s leading carbon and energy consultancy, where she provided energy efficiency and climate change advice to the resources industry and various WA ASX200 companies, access to the Emissions Reduction Fund, and the development of emissions inventories and audits. She was selected to be trained by Al Gore to deliver Climate Reality Project presentations in 2009 and has also worked for the World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Program in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Community Led Total Sanitation as part of AusAid’s Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program. Zaneta has a strong track record in not-for-profit governance, having served six different boards including education institutions and a community legal centre.

As the first engineer elected as the Member for Swan and the 28th in the Parliament of Australia, Zaneta applies her planning and problem-solving skills to developing policy, including the transition to a less carbon intensive economy and developing Australia’s high tech industrial capacity.

Website: https://zanetamascarenhas.com.au/ Facebook: @ZanetaMascarenhasMP Instagram: @ZanetaMascarenhasMP

Watch or listen on your favourite platform.

Show Notes

[00:00:48] Zaneta's childhood experiences and exposure to sciences and the world around her. [00:04:00] How your environment shapes your perceptions of an industry. [00:07:27] The evolution of culture and safety in the workplace in the mining industry. [00:12:04] Observations about organisational culture in an organically culturally diverse industry. [00:14:48] The impetus and shift to climate change. [00:18:16] Working in the climate change space and perspectives of impact and timescales. [00:23:49] Policy and politics. [00:26:33] Working not just for now, but for the future. [00:31:19] Systems thinking and transferrable experience. [00:38:28] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do and what advice should they ignore?

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Having a penpal can be a life-changing experience. You can connect with someone over shared and unique experiences, and learn about a life or environment different from your own. It can even give you the opportunity to broaden your perspective about the world and your place in it.

Dr Jennifer Payne is a research scientist in the area of antimicrobial resistance and founder of STEMPals, an initiative that connects kids with STEM professionals. Join us as we chat about Jen's journey to microbiology, superbugs, and how having a penpal can create connection and change lives through a mutual love of Pokémon, being a Swifty, and STEM.

About Dr Jennifer Payne

Have you ever wondered how we can outsmart infections that resist even our most potent drugs? Dr Jennifer Payne delves into this challenge daily as a research scientist. Growing up in a small country town, she had no idea what a scientist was. Today, she’s tackling antimicrobial resistance, a global problem by unraveling the complex interactions between our immune system, microbes, and antimicrobials.

Jen’s groundbreaking work includes fellowships at Harvard University, where she used “infections on a chip” to observe the real-time battle between superbugs and our immune defenses. Passionate about STEM literacy for all, she founded a not-for-profit that runs STEMpals—a pen pal program inspired by her upbringing, ensuring the next generation can see who they can become. When not battling microbes, and inspiring the next STEM generation, Jen fosters greyhounds and has represented Australia in ultimate frisbee on the world stage.

Website: https://stempals.org.au

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Show Notes

[00:01:16] The story of Little Jen. [00:03:44] What did Michele want to be when she grew up? [00:06:04] From microbes to immune systems. [00:08:22] The diabolical beauty of golden staph and how to combat it. [00:10:47] Putting golden staph up in neon lights. [00:14:23] The complexity of drug research and development and getting solutions from bench to bedside. [00:17:54] Perspectives on the value of medicines and the cost to keep them available. [00:21:49] Jen and Michele: wearers of many hats. [00:24:18] Keeping momentum and balance. [00:28:28] All about STEMpals. [00:32:01] The engagement, outcomes, and experience of being part of STEMpals. [00:37:43] Getting a STEMpal. [00:40:16] Cultivating positive STEM experiences and scientific literacy in 10-13 year olds for their futures. [00:42:52] Who can be STEMpals and the breadth of scope of STEM. [00:46:09] How the community can support STEMpals. [00:47:12] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Nurses don't get enough credit for what they do. Despite being an essential role in healthcare, it's still an often misunderstood and underrated field, but one that has immense scope for professional development and medical specialisation.

Ellen Yeo is a Clinical Nurse Consultant specialising in Renal Medicine and Kidney Transplantation Clinical Trials. She's also a nursing education and career pathway advocate. Join us as we speak about Ellen's journey to clinical trial nursing, supporting professional and career development of nurses, and the STEMM of nursing.

About Ellen Yeo

Ellen Yeo (BN, MPH, MHM) is a Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) in Renal Medicine and Kidney Transplant Research at Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital in Sydney. With over a decade of nursing experience in both private and public sectors, her recent focus has been on addressing critical gaps in standardised education, workforce engagement, and career progression within the clinical trials nursing specialty.

Emphasising the belief that "it takes a village" to enact systemic change, she has brought the community together within the Sydney Local Health District to develop practical solutions to these challenges.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heeny90/ Website (Illustrator and Composer Portfolio): https://heenyellen.com/

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Show Notes

[00:01:27] Ellen's path to nursing. [00:03:50] Taking a career 'leap year' to travel around her field. [00:05:10] Exploring beyond specialty knowledge and job criteria. [00:07:29] Ellen's road to renal medicine and a chance appointment. [00:09:50] The difference between ward nursing and clinical trials nursing. [00:12:08] The pathway from ward nursing to clinical trials nursing. [00:14:09] The clinical trial nursing environment. [00:15:55] The misconceptions around the role of nurses in clinical trials. [00:19:04] Developing a program to smooth the transition. [00:21:54] Research and nursing go hand in hand. [00:24:04] The opportunity to see how education in healthcare works in other countries. [00:25:39] Educational placement opportunities in nursing. [00:26:29] The roles in clinical research nursing. [00:28:29] Specialis ations, remuneration, and industry recognition in nursing. [00:31:54] Formalising the pathway to clinical trials nursing benefits nurses and patients. [00:35:10] Commonality in clinical trials nursing practice. [00:36:47] The wish to be able to provide the best care for clinical trial patients who are helping to advance treatments for others like them. [00:37:36] Nursing is STEM. [00:41:18] Ellen the artist and composer. [00:43:50] What advice would you give someone who wants to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Not everyone has that pivotal moment where they realise what they want to do with their life, and that's okay. The important thing is to be open to ideas and opportunities even if they may take you a different direction.

Rumee Singh is the CEO and co-founder of Rahat and a Tech Entrepreneur. Join us as Rumee shares the full-circle journey that brought her home, and building solutions that make an impact in her community.

About Rumee Singh

Rumee Singh, CEO of a UNICEF Innovation Fund portfolio startup, leads Rahat, a financial access platform addressing climate impact and fostering inclusion for the most vulnerable. Rumee started her entrepreneurial journey after moving back to Nepal in 2018. With over 20 years of global leadership, Rumee Singh is celebrated among Nepal's leading women in tech; a 2023 MIT Solver and is featured in the Women for Change 2024 global campaign.

Rumee's work through Rahat has positively impacted 20,000+ beneficiaries. As a GSMA Innovation Fund grantee, her team is currently working to streamline efforts for timely humanitarian responses for vulnerable households in flood-prone regions. Rumee also founded a non-profit addressing the stress of blood management in Nepal, and her initiative has saved over 23,000 lives.

Website: https://rahat.io/ Twitter: @rahataid

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Show Notes

[00:01:03] Following the familial STEM path. [00:03:12] The concern that it felt 'wrong' to not know your direction in life. [00:03:57] The pivot to journalism and communications. [00:05:12] The journey home and connecting with community. [00:07:14] So, what now? Deciding what comes next. [00:07:51] A reminder of what has always been important to her. [00:08:44] Hamro Lifebank and the digital transformation of blood management. [00:14:11] Rumsan, and leveraging technology for social impact. [00:15:15] Exploring blockchain as a tool. [00:15:40] Rahat, to support transparency in tracking humanitarian aid and reaching the underbanked. [00:17:08] The challenges of pioneering with new technology and the value of industry support. [00:18:30] Anticipatory Action (AA) in disaster response. [00:19:33] Direct financial access support and building community resilience. [00:20:06] Supporting digital and financial literacy in underserved populations to reduce the digital divide. [00:21:18] Technology is just a tool. The end-user doesn't and shouldn't have to know how their problem is solved. [00:23:08] Technological leapfrogging and the challenges with all forms of literacy. [00:24:26] You will always need people in the field, but tech can shoulder some of the load. [00:27:27] The challenge of balancing expanding support opportunities and scope creep. [00:31:36] Societal and humanitarian issues are multifaceted. [00:33:52] The challenges of making impact sustainable.

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Humans are fascinating. We have this incredible capacity for creativity, resilience, and invention, and have been keen to dabble in technologies that improve our lives since we first started using tools. So, where is technology going to lead us in terms of what makes us human?

Joanna Beveridge is a producer, writer, and director with a background in nuclear medicine. Join us as we speak about attitudes towards trust and failure between STEMM and the creative industries, representation and stealth politics in film and television, and finding a balance with AI tools and the creative process.

About Joanna Beveridge

Joanna Beveridge is a producer, writer, and director based in Western Sydney. She has a double degree in Nuclear Medicine and Digital Media, and has worked as a Creative Producer/Editor for companies such as Network Ten, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. and ITV Studios.

In 2020, Jo was selected for Screen NSW’s Emerging Producer Placement and Screen Producers Australia ‘Ones to Watch’. She’s produced two Screen Australia funded romcom digital series -- NO ORDINARY LOVE and SHIPPERS. She created the award-winning web series SYDNEY SLEUTHERS. She produced the Screen NSW Screenability funded short film MAGNETIC, which premiered at Sydney Film Festival. And Jo wrote and directed the award-winning short film THE TAKEDOWN OF MELANIE SPROTTLE.

Website: https://www.joannabeveridge.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmbeveridge

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Show Notes

[00:01:24] Joanna's path to nuclear medicine coming from a STEMM family [00:02:52] The almost movie-plot level reason for pivoting (despite actually being good at nuclear medicine) [00:05:15] Finding her space and learning by doing [00:09:03] Trust in STEM vs the creative industries [00:11:21] The incongruity of entry-level positions that require experience with few opportunities for training [00:12:59] The career pipeline problem [00:15:11] The importance of and barriers to networking [00:16:48] The value of proofs of concept - someone has to be first [00:17:26] Bringing back the eight-hour day in the film industry [00:19:34] 'AI in the TV and movie creation value chain' [00:20:29] Segue: What is art? Why is art? [00:24:08] The history and popularity of Schitt's Creek [00:24:54] Stealth politics and audience psychology [00:27:57] The PR of science and STEM in the media [00:30:17] We love tropes (also, I said CSI when I meant NCIS) [00:31:52] The Scully Effect and how the media shows us that we have the capacity for change [00:34:56] What is the nature of the work we are asking AI to replace? [00:38:54] What is scut work and what contributes to making you better at your craft? [00:44:54] Moving the needle for representation and the power of narrative [00:48:55] Our favourite sci-fis [00:53:05] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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For many of my guests, the careers and fields that we're in now didn't exist or were just newly conceived when we were at university. So those indirect paths I often speak about were just a matter of course for us. Bec Nguyen is the director of Upbeat Digital and a specialist in UX in digital health.

Join us as we speak about her winding path to User Experience Design and design thinking as it grew as a space, building compassionate tech, and advocating for diverse voices no matter what industry you're in.

About Bec Nguyen

Bec Nguyen is the Founder and Director of Upbeat Digital, a Perth, Western Australian-based consultancy business specialising in digital project and product management; UX/UX design and community engagement in social impact issues using an innovative, human-centred approach. As an advocate for women of colour, Bec leads an inclusive work approach to ensure community members who are under-represented, including disadvantaged and ethnic minorities, have a voice in the process.

Upbeat Digital has collaborated with state and national organisations within Australia to support the translation of evidence-based resources to the wider community through digital solutions, such The Wilderness Society, Nature Play WA, CSIRO and Telethon Kids Institute.

In recent years, Bec has been a recipient of a number awards, recognising and acknowledging her contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of the community, and impact in the technology and innovation for which she is honoured and continues to strive at an exceptional level to work and volunteer her time to give back to the community and help improve the health and well-being of the community.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bec-nguyen-92990198

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Show Notes

[00:00:59] The path from commerce and information systems and falling out, then in, of like with tech. [00:04:03] Entering the health space and building apps with Telethon Kids Institute. [00:05:47] Being introduced to UX design thinking and building Image Up. [00:11:09] Formalising that experience-based learning. [00:11:48] Discovering that there really is a place in tech for everyone. [00:12:30] Taking the your user research to prototype. [00:13:42] Striking out on her own and expanding into the social impact space. [00:14:13] The evolution of systems analysis and requirements gathering as a human-centred process. [00:15:39] The evolving landscape of our roles and responsibilities. [00:18:29] Integrating UX and healthcare. [00:19:11] Working with kids with cystic fibrosis. [00:27:27] Being able to demonstrate the scientific method behind your work. [00:29:37] Putting more focus on social impact with Upbeat Digital. [00:30:31] Representation in tech and supporting less heard voices. [00:34:12] Encouraging diversity in your organisations. [00:38:20] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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We've spoken about indirect career paths, but Professor Gretchen Benedix calls hers the pinball method, starting on a course that could change direction when she strikes something that she'd like to delve more into. This method has served Gretchen well and has given her opportunities to work with Dr Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, chase fireballs over the desert, hunt meteorites in Antarctica, and even get an asteroid named after her.

Join us as we speak with Gretchen about her journey to astrogeology, discovering how the solar system evolved, and the Desert Fireball Network.

About Professor Gretchen Benedix

Gretchen Benedix is a Professor (and former Australian Research Council Future Fellow) in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Curtin University. She is also a member of the Space Science and Technology Centre, the largest research group dedicated to Planetary Science in the southern hemisphere.

She is a fierce STEM and Women in Science advocate and takes her responsibility as a role model very seriously. She uses her work to inspire young people and pass along her passion for understanding our Solar System.

Gretchen's research interests lie in the study of meteorites to understand and unravel the evolution of the Solar System. She and her team are currently interested in using machine learning techniques to extend our ability to interact with big datasets, specifically looking at the numbers of craters on other planetary surfaces.

Gretchen wants to understand how the Earth fits into the history of the Solar System.

… And also, she love rocks…

Gretchen has a broad educational background in Geology, Engineering, and Physics, which lets her pull together multidisciplinary ideas to unravel the mysteries of the rocks.

She also loves science communication and has had the opportunity to work at two world-class museums as a planetary scientist, cosmic mineralogist, and astro-geologist, where Gretchen had the pleasure of sharing what she does --- It's just one of the many aspects of her job that she loves - to be able to get other people, especially young folks, excited about studying our solar system and our place in it.

Instagram: @metritedoc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-gretchen-benedix-155106a/

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Show Notes

[00:01:38] How one gets an asteroid named after them. [00:04:56] Gretchen's journey began in psychology. [00:06:52] The transition from psychology to physics was not smooth sailing. [00:08:29] The slow drift into space and getting hooked on rocks. [00:11:35] The beauty of geology. [00:16:19] Being flexible gives you the space to be open to opportunities. [00:18:34] Looking to space because you can't look inside the Earth. [00:22:41] Comparative planetology and looking at our system in context. [00:26:49] Context and time scales. [00:28:59] The engineering in space travel. [00:32:48] The Desert Fireball Network. [00:36:42] Location, location, location. [00:38:31] Tying it back to their origins and the solar system. [00:40:35] Meteorite families. [00:43:47] Surprising learnings so far. [00:46:47] The two-body problem.

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A common misconception about veterinary sciences is that it’s all about puppies and kittens, but that’s not always the case. Like other care providers, vets can have it tough in the service of the community and there is a lot of active work being done to ensure the vet industry, its people, the community, and not just the animals, can thrive.

Join us as we speak with Dr Lydia Pethick, veterinarian, motivational speaker, and television presenter about working in policy and biosecurity as a vet, the state of mental health and wellbeing in the veterinary industry, and the actionable things we can do to positively impact our mindset and prevent burnout.

About Dr Lydia Pethick

Dr Lydia Pethick is a policy veterinarian at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in Western Australia where she works in the area of Biosecurity and Sustainability, to grow and protect WA's agriculture and food sector.

She is passionate about increasing wellbeing, resilience, collaboration, and camaraderie within the Veterinary profession, raising awareness of mental health struggles in the wider community, and journeying from a place of judgement to joy. She uses her veterinary, permaculture, and wellness training to holistically, creatively, and practically integrate animal husbandry, therapeutic horticulture, and regenerative practices to build resilience within self, family, our communities and beyond.

Lydia is a speaker at national and international conferences, where she shares her passion about the exciting work in the veterinary industry to improve the health and lives of animals and humans, and is also a TV presenter on Garden Gurus.

Instagram: @drlydiapethick and @choosejoyoverjudgement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-pethick/

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Show Notes

[00:01:27] Lydia's journey to veterinary science. [00:02:12] Biosecurity through veterinary science. [00:03:10] What biosecurity policy entails. [00:05:56] Mental health and well-being in the vet space (Content warning: mentions of suicide, emotional blackmail) [00:08:41] The initiatives to raise awareness and support vets and their communities. [00:11:24] Bringing in broader professional skills and support at the university level for future vets. [00:13:20] Support at the industry board level in this capacity across multiple sectors. [00:15:10] SMART, and strategies for managing individual well-being. [00:15:44] 'S' is for self-acceptance, state of mind, and self-care. [00:18:26] 'M' is for mood boosters like morning sun, movement, and music. [00:22:23] 'A' is for awareness. [00:23:38] 'R' is for relationships. [00:24:25] 'T' is for treasure hunting. [00:26:16] Take things a little at a time to improve yourself or your situation. [00:27:31] Lydia's own experiences with burnout and a desire for change. [00:28:44] The stigma and loneliness of personal struggles and wanting people to know they're not alone. [00:30:31] Horticultural therapy in Lydia's life and work. [00:34:55] Finding coaches for your own direction finding. [00:35:51] What advice would you give someone who would like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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A common thread between the arts and the sciences is storytelling. In both scenarios you’re building worlds, and creating an understanding of the mechanisms that make the system work (or not work), and the relationships within that bubble.

Eleonora Moratto is the Biology Ballerina. She is a freelance professional ballet dancer, and is currently completing her PhD in plant pathogen interactions. Join us as we speak about Eleonora’s work exploring electrical fields and plant immune systems, and her journey as a sciartist.

About Eleonora Moratto

Eleonora Moratto is The Biology Ballerina. She is completing her PhD in plant pathogen interactions at Imperial College, London. She is a freelance professional ballet dancer currently working with the Ballet Dream Arts company and is involved in SciArt projects, women in STEAM activities, long hair modelling, and historical reenactment.

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/eleonoramoratto Instagram: @eleonoramoratto Twitter: @eleonoramoratto LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/eleonora-moratto-a57391130

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Show Notes

[00:01:08] Eleonora's path to biology. [00:03:30] Researching plant pathogen interactions, specifically Phytophthora palmivora. [00:05:22] Looking for novel solutions that prevent the spread. [00:07:33] Exploring electric fields around plants and pathogens. [00:11:47] Looking to her future in academia and biological interactions. [00:13:52] The wider applications of research in interactions and electrical fields. [00:15:17] The Biology Ballerina. [00:17:02] A SciArtist's dream. [00:19:00] The balance of the arts and sciences for Eleonora. [00:22:41] Freelancing as a ballerina. [00:25:15] SciArts in the wild. [00:28:37] Encourage the polymaths and multihyphenates. [00:30:25] Passion is interesting. [00:31:45] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore? [00:34:05] Find out more about Eleonora and her work.

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