It is officially the "Women Who Do Too Much" season, but at what cost to your body and mind? Lola Oyelayo-Pearson and Mamuna Oladipo dive deep into the dopamine addiction of high-stress work contexts and why our egos often trick us into creating the very busyness we complain about.
💡 In this episode, we cover:
The Physical Toll of Stress: How cortisol manifests as real physical pain, from your neck to your glutes.
The Ego and Busyness: Why we often use "being busy" as a shield or a way to feel valued in the workplace.
Master Lists vs. Daily Lists: Shifting your productivity system to stop the cycle of carrying over a never-ending to-do list.
Entrepreneurial Boundaries: Navigating the "free-for-all" schedule and learning how to prioritize self-care when the traditional structure is gone.
The Power of "No": Understanding that it is okay to have a brilliant idea and choose not to act on it for the sake of your peace.
🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.Show Notes: • Subscribe to Lost in Tech: Letters - https://open.substack.com/pub/lostintechletters/p/coming-soon?
It is December, which means performance review season is officially here. Lola and Mamuna share how to handle end of year wrap ups whether you are looking for a promotion or managing a growing team.
💡 We cover:
How to manage expectations for pay rises and promos.
The importance of owning your story and narrative.
The difference between competencies and behavioral feedback.
Why managers must avoid generic AI performance write ups.
Bridging the gap to reach the next career level.
🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.Show Notes: • Subscribe to Lost in Tech: Letters - https://open.substack.com/pub/lostintechletters/p/coming-soon?
In this episode, Lola delivers a strong hot take, challenging the notion that technical success automatically qualifies one to solve all the world's most complex problems. She and Mamuna dive deep into the dangerous hubris of assuming software expertise translates to solving issues like world hunger, politics, or even hardware production.
💡 We cover:
Why the "tech is eating the world" mindset creates overconfidence.
Why the people side is the most underestimated variable in problem-solving.
The concept of Wicked Problems: solving one area can worsen another.
Why hardware is 15 to 25 times harder than software due to fulfillment.
Why you must plan for "foreseeable consequences" instead of shipping first.
🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson
📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com
💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod
❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.
Show Notes:
• Subscribe to Lost in Tech: Letters - https://open.substack.com/pub/lostintechletters/p/coming-soon?
• Wicked Problems: https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/wicked-problem/about/What-is-a-wicked-problem
You've heard her navigating big tech, but now Mamuna is building her own AI startup! She takes us through the deeply personal journey of leaving her corporate role to become a founder and shares the highly technical, unique strategy she is using to build a sophisticated consumer health companion product completely by herself.
💡 We cover:
Transitioning from corporate structure to unstructured time.
The AI Health Companion vision: using tech to track health patterns.
The founder's AI tool stack: Pitting GPT, Claude, and Cursor against each other.
The strategy: Get users first to validate the product and business model.
The founder's uncomfortable truth: Being a full-time salesperson.
🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.Show Notes: • Subscribe to Lost in Tech: Letters - https://open.substack.com/pub/lostintechletters/p/coming-soon?
Who really makes decisions in your company? Mamuna and Lola expose the silent power dynamics of the tech workplace, from the weaponization of personality tests (like Enneagram) to the strategic use of skip one-on-ones. Learn how to navigate the politics, avoid the "Yes Man" trap, and use your influence to spark necessary (but difficult) conversations without burning bridges.
💡 We cover:
The true nature of power dynamics: who has the ear of the leader vs. who has decision-making sway.
Why facts don't always matter when opinion is stated loudly and confidently.
The dangers of weaponizing personality tests (like Enneagram/Myers-Briggs) to categorize and constrain colleagues.
Founder/CEO Advice: Why coaching is better than testing and how to detect empire builders and toxic delegators.
The Skip 1:1 Power Play: How to use skip-level meetings strategically and the risks of sharing sensitive feedback.
🎙️ Hosts: Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson
📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod
❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.
Show Notes: • Subscribe to Lost in Tech: Letters - https://open.substack.com/pub/lostintechletters/p/coming-soon?
If you're stuck in a cycle of constant organizational reshuffling, you are not alone. Mamuna and Lola dive deep into why modern tech reorgs often fail, exposing the leaderswho promote their "yes men" over competent staff, leading to employee dissonance and accelerated burnout. This is essential listening if you're feeling unsettled at work.
💡 We cover:
· Why frequent reorgs ignore the human cost and the change curve.
· The "Yes Man" Trap in leadership promotions that sabotages teams.
· Recognizing when constant restructuring signals major financial or strategic red flags.
· Prioritizing self-preservation: Your loyalty must be to yourself and your exit plan.
· The power of honest leadership: naming gaps instead of selling unrealistic scenarios.
🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.Show Notes: • Subscribe to Lost in Tech: Letters - https://open.substack.com/pub/lostintechletters/p/coming-soon?
You’ve earned the title but what happens next? Mamuna Oladipo shares the exhilarating, terrifying, and necessary decision she made to leave her VP level role in techwithout a job lined up. This episode explores the mental hurdle of breaking free from career expectations to make space for genuine growth and renewed energy.
💡 We cover:
· The societal pressure to always be "doing" and the definition of self worth by work.
· Why the feeling of discomfort is a signal for growth (like throwing a muscle).
· The privilege of strategic off boarding and negotiating terms at a senior level.
· How taking unstructured time allows you to tinker, be creative, and find new passion.
· Breaking generational burdens and giving yourself permission for unstructured time at your career peak.
🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.Show Notes: • Subscribe to Lost in Tech: Letters - https://open.substack.com/pub/lostintechletters/p/coming-soon?
You've heard the buzzword, but "work-life balance" is a fantasy, it's about setting boundaries and managing expectations to protect your time and prevent burnout. Mamuna and Lola, recording IRL for the first time, unpack the mindset shift needed to prioritize output over presenteeism in the demanding world of tech.
💡 We cover:
· Why asking about holiday policies in interviews is a power move, not a mistake.
· Exposing the toxic "996" hustle culture and why it's unsustainable ego-swinging.
· The difference between work-life balance and work-life management.
· How to use your calendar defensively to block out non-negotiable personal time (like family pickups and appointments).
· Focusing on measurable outputs instead of succumbing to presenteeism.
🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.Show Notes: • Subscribe to Lost in Tech: Letters - https://open.substack.com/pub/lostintechletters/p/coming-soon?
Mamuna and Lola tackle the core misconception in engineering culture: the belief that the superior technologyalways wins the market. They break down why product packaging, user experience, and distribution often beat out technical perfection.
💡 We Cover:
🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.Show Notes: • Subscribe to Lost in Tech: Letters - https://open.substack.com/pub/lostintechletters/p/coming-soon?
You insist on being the face of every project, shielding your team from visibility in the name of "protection." Mamuna and Lola ask the hard question: Are you protecting your team, or secretly glory hunting and sabotaging their careers?
💡 We Cover:
• Why the "I'll handle this one" mentality is a control and ego issue, not care.
• The difference between the Ego Self and the True Self in leadership.
• Signs of glory hunting: Poor delegation, rewriting your team's documents, and gatekeeping meetings 🚪
.• The critical shift: Move from Hero Mode to Coaching Mode to ensure your team, and your legacy, thrives.🎙️
🎙️Hosts:
Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson
📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com
💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod
❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.
Show Notes:
• Subscribe to Lost in Tech: Letters - https://open.substack.com/pub/lostintechletters/p/coming-soon?
After a layoff, the instinct is to panic and immediately apply for new roles, but this is a critical mistake. Mamuna and Lola discuss why the "post layoff pause" is non-negotiable for success and how to stop carrying old stress into your next interview.
💡 We cover:
🎙️ Hosts: Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.Show Notes: • Subscribe to Lost in Tech: Letters - https://open.substack.com/pub/lostintechletters/p/coming-soon?
We've all embraced AI for productivity, but what is it doing to us as humans? Mamuna and Lola dive into the critical work of Brené Brown to explore how AI is eroding our relational abilities and threatening the core skills needed for successful leadership.
💡 We cover:
Brené Brown's warning: Why AI as your "BFF" erodes human connection.
The augmentation vs. replacement trap and how AI is killing foundational career skills (like writing a PRD).
How AI and echo chambers are fueling polarization and preventing essential conflict resolution.
DEI is being rapidly rolled back across corporate America, creating a toxic,hostile environment where the competence of minority leaders is constantlyquestioned. Mamuna and Lola share the unfiltered truth about being confrontedwith the "DEI hire" insult and why you must refuse to shrinkto protect your career.
💡 We cover:
🎙️ Hosts: Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.
The same behaviors that earned you your current success will sabotage your attempt to reach the next level. Mamuna and Lola discuss the brutal truth of the "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" phenomenon, explaining why effective executive leadership requires a complete change in perspective and approach.
💡 We cover:
🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson
📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com
💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod
❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.
OpenAI is opening its platform to verified adult users for erotic content, following its controversial "**treat adults like adults**" policy. Mamuna and Lola dive into the cold capitalist calculations driving this change and the complex safety and societal issues of bringing AI into our most intimate relationships.💡 We cover:• The monetization pressure forcing OpenAI's pivot toward high-yield adult content.• The "anti-human" reality of banning sex, a core human drive• How tech must prevent real human photo abuse for non-consensual content.• Why relational experts are needed to design AI with boundaries and a "training simulator" function.🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.
Ever hit that point where you’re great at your job but… you just don’t care anymore? 😩
In this episode of Lost in Tech, Mamuna Oladipo and Lola Oyelayo-Pearson read a heartfelt listener letter from a mid-level PM who feels stuck — unsure if it’s burnout or a career mismatch — and unpack the universal experience of asking, “Is this still for me?”
💬 We cover:
The fear of making a “step back” move
Redefining success beyond job titles
The courage to pivot — even when it looks risky
Why curiosity and purpose are your real career compasses
Practical ways to reconnect with what fuels you
✨ Whether you’re in product, design, or leadership, this episode will hit home if you’ve ever questioned your path.
🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.
$100M salaries? $50M in one year? Sounds wild — but what does it really mean when a tech company dangles huge packages? In this episode of Lost in Tech, Mamuna and Lola break down the reality of tech compensation:
The Truth About Packages: Salary vs. stock vs. bonus vs. benefits — and why the top number is misleading.
The Tax Trap: Why higher pay can sometimes leave you poorer after deductions.
Negotiation 101: The best time to negotiate (hint: before you sign) and practical ways to push for guaranteed cash.
Global Perspectives: How pay packages differ across the US, UK, Europe, and beyond.
Survival Tips: Avoiding rookie mistakes like ignoring student loans or relying on “play money” stock.
Whether you’re landing your first tech role or stepping into a senior leadership position, this episode will arm you with the tools to negotiate smarter and protect your financial future.
👂 Got a salary negotiation story or a tip from your region? We’d love to hear it — email help@lostintechpodcast.com or DM us on @LostInTechPod.
👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if this episode gave you something to think about!
You’ve worked hard, dreamed big, and earned that promotion. But now what? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna break down the critical mindset and strategy shifts you need to thrive after stepping into your new role.
We explore:
✨ Celebrating your achievement (you earned it!)
✨ Why what got you here won’t get you there
✨ Understanding the “new bucket” you’ve entered — and how expectations change
✨ The books every newly promoted leader should read: The First 90 Days & The Leadership Pipeline
✨ Why connecting your role to the company’s business model is non-negotiable in today’s tech economy
✨ Practical ways to align with your manager and advocate for yourself
Whether you’re a first-time manager, a senior leader, or about to step into a new role, this episode is your guide to setting yourself up for success.
👂 Listen now, and share with someone who’s just been promoted!
💌 Got a tech career dilemma? Email us at help@lostintechpodcast.com or DM us at @lostintechpod.
📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can join the conversation.
We make room for anger and frustration at work, but rarely acknowledge hurt or sadness. Why? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dive deep into what it really looks like when emotions show up at work — and why pretending they don’t belong can hurt careers, teams, and culture.
From personal stories to practical coaching, we unpack how to recognize, process, and use emotions constructively instead of suppressing them. Whether you’re a new manager, a senior leader, or navigating your own career, this conversation will help you rethink how you show up and how you support others.
We cover:
🧠 It’s normal, not weakness — why emotional reactions don’t make you “unprofessional”
🔎 Recognizing triggers — and why sometimes it takes time to realize you’re having a response
⏸️ Pausing before you react — tools to slow down and reset
⚠️ The cost of suppression — how bottling things up leads to burnout & toxic cultures
🪞 Role vs. self — learning that feedback is often about the role, not you personally
🗣️ Practical scripts you can use in the moment:
“I need a moment before I respond.”
“This is hitting me harder than I expected — let’s regroup.”
👩🏽💼 Leaders set the tone — how empathy and emotional honesty build trust & safety
💡 Pro Tip: Empathy always wins as a leader
✨ Like, Subscribe & Share!
We want to hear from you: email us at help@lostintechpodcast.com or DM us on Twitter @lostintechpod with your own dilemmas. Your challenge might feature in a future episode!
Let’s get real, let’s get human, and let’s stop pretending emotions don’t belong at work.
When you’re finally on a break, should work still follow you?In this episode, Lola and Mamuna unpack the all-too-common dilemma of bosses who don’t respect boundaries — and how to handle it without burning bridges (or burning out).We break down:- 📵 Setting healthy work boundaries- ⚖️ How expectations shift for junior vs. senior roles- 🧠 The long-term cost of never truly disconnecting- 💡 Real strategies to protect your time offWhether you’ve been there or you’re heading into your next vacation, this one’s for anyone trying to balance ambition with actual rest.💬 **Your turn:** Would you speak up… or keep the peace? Email us at [**help@lostintechpodcast.com**](mailto:help@lostintechpodcast.com) or DM us on X (**@lostintechpod**).📌 **Subscribe & follow** on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts so you never miss the real talk about tech careers, leadership, and the messy human side of the industry.