120 - Diversifying the Tech Industry with Kristin Slink, Founder & CEO of TechAF
Release Date: 09/12/2022
143 - If You Hate Sales, This Episode Is For You
MaYapinion®
In this special bonus holiday episode of the MaYapinion® podcast, Maya Roffler breaks down one of the most common struggles women face in entrepreneurship: sales, and why it doesn’t have to feel awkward, pushy, or “icky.” After closing out the six-part Ditch Your 9–5 Before the End of 2025 series, Maya returns with a high-impact conversation inspired by direct messages, community feedback, and real struggles shared by founders inside the MaYapinion ecosystem. In this episode, Maya reframes sales through a leadership lens. Not as persuasion, pressure, or pitching, but as connection,...
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142 - Ditch Your 9-5 Before the End of 2025- Step 6: Step into CEO Mode
MaYapinion®
In the final episode of this six-part series, Maya Roffler breaks down the exact steps to leave your corporate job intentionally, strategically, and successfully before the end of 2025. In episode 142 of MaYapinion®, Maya walks you through Step 6: Step Into CEO Mode, the step where preparation turns into ownership, mindset turns into leadership, and you fully step into your role as the founder of what you’re building. You’ve already completed Step 1 (Audit & Align), Step 2 (Validate Your Business Idea), Step 3 (Build Your Freedom Fund), Step 4 (Build the Brand), and Step 5 (Execute...
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141 - Ditch Your 9-5 Before the End of 2025- Step 5: Execute the Exit
MaYapinion®
In this six-part series, Maya Roffler breaks down the exact steps to leave your corporate job intentionally, strategically, and successfully before the end of 2025. In episode 141 of MaYapinion®, Maya walks you through Step 5: Execute the Exit — the step where preparation becomes action, clarity becomes commitment, and your new chapter officially begins. You’ve already completed Step 1 (Audit & Align), Step 2 (Validate Your Business Idea), Step 3 (Build Your Freedom Fund), and Step 4 (Build the Brand), which means you know what you want, who you serve, what you’re building, and that...
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140 - Ditch Your 9-5 Before the End of 2025- Step 4: Build the Brand
MaYapinion®
Are you ready to ditch your 9–5 and finally build the freedom-based life you’ve been dreaming about? In this six-part series, Maya Roffler breaks down the exact steps to leave your corporate job intentionally, strategically, and successfully before the end of 2025. In today’s episode, Maya walks you through Step 4: Build the Brand the step where your business idea starts to take on a real identity that people can see, feel, and connect with. You’ve already completed Step 1 (Audit & Align), Step 2 (Validate Your Business Idea), and Step 3 (Build Your Freedom Fund), which means you...
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139 - Ditch Your 9-5 Before the End of 2025 - Step 3: Build Your Freedom Fund
MaYapinion®
Are you ready to ditch your 9–5 and finally build the freedom-based life you’ve been dreaming about? In this six-part series, Maya Roffler breaks down the exact steps to leave your corporate job intentionally, strategically, and successfully before the end of 2025. In today’s episode, Maya walks you through Step 3: Build Your Freedom Fund — one of the most important (and most overlooked) parts of leaving your 9–5 in a way that feels grounded, safe, and sustainable. You’ve already completed Step 1 (Audit & Align) and Step 2 (Validate Your Business Idea), which means you now...
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138 - Ditch Your 9-5 Before the End of 2025 - Step 2: Validate Your Business Idea
MaYapinion®
Are you ready to ditch your 9–5 and finally build the freedom-based life you’ve been dreaming about? In this six-part series, Maya Roffler breaks down the intentional, strategic, and realistic steps you need to take to leave your corporate job before the end of 2025. In this episode, Maya walks you through Step 2: Validate Your Business Idea. Before you quit your job or invest energy into building something new, you need proof that the business you want to create is viable. Maya shows you how to validate your idea in the real world so you don’t waste time, money, or momentum building...
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137 - Ditch Your 9-5 Before the End of 2025 - Step 1: Audit & Align
MaYapinion®
Are you ready to ditch your 9–5 and finally build the freedom-based life you’ve been dreaming about? In this brand-new six-part series, Maya Roffler breaks down the exact steps to leave your corporate job intentionally, strategically, and successfully before the end of 2025. In episode 137 Maya walks you through Step 1: Audit & Align. Before you can build a business or transition into entrepreneurship, you need clarity, both in your finances and in your fulfillment. Maya shows you how to conduct a full audit of your current role: your salary, benefits, and responsibilities, but also...
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136 - Gatekeeping Doesn't Work
MaYapinion®
Are you ready to dive back into the MaYapinion® podcast? Come navigate the world of female entrepreneurship with Maya Roffler. In this episode, Maya takes a bold look at one of the most toxic, yet often overlooked habits in both corporate and entrepreneurial spaces: gatekeeping. From her early experiences in corporate leadership to her years as an entrepreneur, Maya breaks down what gatekeeping really is, withholding information. and why it’s one of the most ineffective and ego-driven practices in business. She shares how it shows up differently in corporate America versus the online...
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135 - The Power of the Pivot
MaYapinion®
Come navigate the world of female entrepreneurship with Maya Roffler. In this episode, Maya explores one of the most essential traits every successful entrepreneur must master, the power of the pivot. Following last week’s conversation about leaving corporate America, Maya takes listeners deeper into what happens after you’ve launched your business. She breaks down why pivoting isn’t a one-time event, but a continual part of innovation, leadership, and growth. Through personal examples from her own journey, from evolving the MaYapinion® brand to scaling her tech startup Find a Co-Host,...
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134 - The Pivot: Leaving Corporate America for Your Own Path
MaYapinion®
After years in the corporate world, Maya realized something every woman in business eventually faces, the call to pivot. In this episode of MaYapinion®, she opens up about what inspired her to walk away from her 9–5, how loss changed her perspective, and the five-step plan that helped her confidently build her own entrepreneurial path. Maya shares her personal story of redefining success after losing her brother, the moment she realized her work no longer fulfilled her, and how she began building a life and business that aligned with her purpose. From learning to trust her intuition to...
info_outlineWelcome Kristin Slink, the founder and CEO of TechAF, this week to the podcast. Here's more about Kristin in her own words:
Hi, I’m Kristin and I've supported hundreds of underrepresented founders to incubate and launch their tech business.
Are you next?
$147 billion in venture capital was invested in US startups in just the first half of 2021. Black founders received only 1.2% of those investments.
Let's change that.
Tech AF is a movement. We’re sick of that status quo. The tech industry needs more diversity. It needs a lower tech-bro-ratio. It needs more people with different life experiences, backgrounds, gender-identities, skin colors, abilities, and perspectives.
Resources exist for underestimated founders, but require you to have a product in the market with paying customers. Getting to this stage is HARD. Especially if you've never done it before.
I've been in the trenches myself. At 27, I taught myself everything I needed to know to build my first tech business. Of course, I made a ton of mistakes along the way. But plenty of incredible people pushed me, too. More importantly, I refused to take no for an answer and blazed my own path.
I went head first into a ten year journey that resulted in raising more than $55M in funding and going through the experience of having that business acquired, twice.
Since then I’ve advised and supported hundreds of underrepresented founders through a variety of Atlanta's leading startup programs. Many of these founders have gone on to raise venture capital and implement growth strategies for scale.
With Tech AF, I've developed a proprietary five-part system based on my unique experience that streamlines the path from idea to a fundable business.
If you have a scalable tech idea and don’t know what to do next - apply today and let's talk!
Connect with Kristin Slink here:
Website - https://www.iamtechaf.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinslink/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iamtechaf/
Read and Listen more here:
Download your Free Guide to Leadership here!
XOXO
Maya