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240: Breaking Barriers: How Cultural Identity Drives Innovation in STEM Leadership with Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya

Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Release Date: 03/04/2025

263: Breaking Out of Your Comfort Zone: Emily Dinu on Mindset, Grit, and Preparing for Venture Funding show art 263: Breaking Out of Your Comfort Zone: Emily Dinu on Mindset, Grit, and Preparing for Venture Funding

Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Ready to raise venture funding—but wondering if you’re actually ready to lead at that level? In this inspiring and honest conversation, I sit down with Emily Dinu, founder and CEO of Numinous Capital, to explore what VCs really look for—and what kind of leadership mindset shifts are essential to succeed as a founder in today’s market. We go deep on the emotional and strategic prep work that’s required to lead through uncertainty, communicate vision clearly, and move forward with grit and clarity—even when you feel uncomfortable or underqualified. What You’ll Learn in This...

info_outline 262: How to Disagree with Your Boss and Not Lose Your Job show art 262: How to Disagree with Your Boss and Not Lose Your Job

Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Want to speak up at work—without risking your reputation or your sanity? In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most uncomfortable (and essential) leadership skills: how to disagree with your boss professionally. Whether you’re navigating power dynamics, trying to avoid “yes culture,” or just want to be heard in meetings—this episode gives you the mindset, strategy, and scripts you need. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Preparing for difficult conversations with clarity Using respectful dissent to earn trust Handling pushback with emotional intelligence When to stand...

info_outline 261: Leading Smarter, Not Harder with Amber Winter show art 261: Leading Smarter, Not Harder with Amber Winter

Leading Women in Tech Podcast

What if the smartest thing you could do as a leader... was make yourself unnecessary?  In an era where AI is changing how we work and lead, tech executive Amber Winter proves that success isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter.  From her start as a marketing coordinator to becoming CEO in just eight years, Amber shares how she’s used continuous learning, smart delegation, and artificial intelligence to lead high-performing teams without burning out. In this episode, she opens up about what it really takes to scale your leadership while staying human in a...

info_outline 260: How to Be Professionally Blunt (Without Being Rude) | Leadership Communication Skills for Women in Tech show art 260: How to Be Professionally Blunt (Without Being Rude) | Leadership Communication Skills for Women in Tech

Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Have you ever sugarcoated feedback to avoid hurting someone’s feelings? Or avoided a tough conversation because it just felt too uncomfortable? In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, I’m diving into how to be professionally blunt—the leadership communication skill that will help you be more respected, more effective, and build high-performing teams with less confusion and more trust. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:  Why we default to vague or “nice” communication The high cost of avoiding direct conversations What professional bluntness actually looks like (hint: it’s...

info_outline 259: From Startup to Strategy: How to Spot Strategic Gaps & Lead with Confidence with Ashley Wright show art 259: From Startup to Strategy: How to Spot Strategic Gaps & Lead with Confidence with Ashley Wright

Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Are you missing the strategic blind spots that could unlock your next big move? What if the key to leveling up your leadership wasn’t in working harder—but in thinking more strategically?   In this episode, we sit down with serial entrepreneur and strategy expert Ashley Wright, who shares how to spot the hidden gaps that slow teams down—and how to shift from reactive mode to confident, forward-thinking leadership.   With stories from her time at General Mills, launching an AI-driven startup in the green industry, and guiding founders through major pivots, Ashley brings a rare...

info_outline 258: Freeze, Ramble, Go Silent? Coach Yourself in Real Time show art 258: Freeze, Ramble, Go Silent? Coach Yourself in Real Time

Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Ever freeze mid-sentence in a meeting? Start rambling when challenged? Or walk away thinking, “Why didn’t I speak up?” You’re not alone. This episode is going to be your go-to toolkit for navigating those high-pressure moments with more clarity and confidence. In this episode, I unpack what pressure really does to high-achieving women — and more importantly, how to coach yourself through it in real time, even when your heart is racing and your voice feels like it’s vanished. If you’ve ever wanted to feel more grounded, more articulate, and more in control under fire, this...

info_outline 257: The Job Market Shift: A Playbook for Landing Your Next Role As A Woman in Tech show art 257: The Job Market Shift: A Playbook for Landing Your Next Role As A Woman in Tech

Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Are you wasting precious time in your job search without realizing it? In today’s volatile job market, especially for women in tech, using the wrong strategies can cost you months of progress—and countless missed opportunities. Before you polish that resume or fire off another LinkedIn message, hit pause. This episode lays out the real dynamics of today’s job market and gives you a proven playbook to navigate it with clarity, confidence, and intention. We dig into the tough truths about what’s changed, why old advice doesn’t work anymore, and how women in tech can stand out by...

info_outline 256: No More Crickets: The Networking Strategy That Lands Jobs in 2025 show art 256: No More Crickets: The Networking Strategy That Lands Jobs in 2025

Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Are you still sending out resumes and hearing nothing but crickets? If you're stuck in the old "apply and hope" cycle, it's time to break out. The job market in 2025 rewards the networked, not just the qualified. Most people think of networking as a time-consuming chore or an awkward event—what if it's actually your most powerful leadership tool? Whether you're actively job hunting or simply keeping your options open, your network is your future. And it doesn’t require hours of small talk or massive LinkedIn posts. It’s about small, intentional actions that open doors.  In this...

info_outline 255: What Happens When You Don’t Want the CEO Job… But Take It Anyway – with Christine Spang show art 255: What Happens When You Don’t Want the CEO Job… But Take It Anyway – with Christine Spang

Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Are you a reluctant CEO? Telling yourself you're not CEO material? What if the story you've been telling yourself is the only thing holding you back from stepping into a powerful new chapter? Christine Spang never set out to become a CEO. As the co-founder and longtime CTO of Nylas, she spent over a decade in the trenches—coding, building, and deeply involved in the work on the ground. But when the time came to lead the company, she said yes... even though she didn’t think she fit the mold. In this raw, insightful episode, Christine shares what it really looks like to evolve from hands-on...

info_outline 254: The Invisible Load: Leadership Shouldn’t Cost Your Wellbeing show art 254: The Invisible Load: Leadership Shouldn’t Cost Your Wellbeing

Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Are you doing everything “right” at work—and still being told it’s not enough? If you're constantly overdelivering but still feel like you're falling short, you're not alone. For women in leadership—especially in tech—there’s often a hidden, unspoken weight we carry: the emotional labor, the expectations to nurture, lead, represent, and accommodate. This invisible workload isn't part of your job description, but it shapes how you lead, how you’re perceived, and how your executive presence is judged. Let’s talk about what that invisible load really is—and why it’s quietly...

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In this episode, I sit down with Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya, a trailblazing STEM leader, engineer, and advocate for diversity in STEM. From her early years in Nigeria to her leadership role in the U.S. energy sector, Adaeze shares how she navigated challenges, broke barriers, and turned her cultural identity into a powerful asset for innovation and leadership.

We explore the role of mentorship, representation, and community in career success, along with her mission to uplift African women in STEM. Whether you're an aspiring engineer, a STEM professional, or a leader looking to foster diverse perspectives, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

We dive into:

  • Adaeze’s career journey from Nigeria to leadership in the U.S. energy sector
  • Overcoming challenges as an African woman in STEM
  • How cultural identity plays a powerful role in innovation and leadership
  • The importance of mentorship and community in professional growth
  • How she founded African Women in STEM and her vision for global impact
  • A real-world example of using cultural perspectives to resolve project conflicts
  • Actionable advice for aspiring STEM leaders
  • And more

"Your Leadership Readiness Checklist" is a free resource designed to help ambitious professionals ensure all aspects of their careers are aligned. https://link.africanwomeninstem.com/LeadingWomenInTechPodcast

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