What does it take to build a sustainable career in tech? Simone Mink shares how learning, leadership, and boundaries shaped her journey at Mendix.
In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I speak with Simone Mink, Head of Portfolio Management at Mendix, about building a career in tech without a predefined path. We talk about agency, agility, and bouncebackability, and about what happens when resilience quietly turns into burnout.
Follow Women Disrupting Tech for more conversations about building careers and companies in tech without losing yourself.
Chapters
02:26 - From Leisure Management to Tech Leader
05:17 - The Journey of Learning to Code
08:08 - Transitioning Roles at Mendix
11:02 - Pitching Yourself. The Art of Self-Advocacy
16:12 - Embracing Uncertainty and ADHD
24:49 - Navigating Challenges in HR Management
30:47 - Lessons from Burnout and Resilience
37:37 - Resilience and Boundaries
39:08 - Graciousness Towards Oneself
43:24 - The Importance of Exercise
45:11 - Navigating Hormonal Changes
46:47 - Current Role and Responsibilities
52:25 - AI's Role in Decision Making
57:00 - Change Management and Accountability
01:00:44 - Driving Change Through Positivity
01:03:27 - The Power of Communication
01:07:19 - Addressing Bias in AI
Connect with Simone Mink.
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonemink-keynotespeaker-unlimitedgrowthmindset/
Website:
https://www.simonemink.com
Learn more about Mendix.
Website: https://www.mendix.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mendix/
What if promoting people on merit is the easiest way to get more women into boardrooms?
In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I’m joined by Tiffany Aude and Yoana Leushin, founders of Impowr, a coaching platform for ambitious women in male-dominated industries. We unpack why women leave tech before reaching leadership, how promotion decisions are shaped by perception rather than performance, and what founders and leaders can change to build workplaces where women can actually thrive.
We talk about objective hiring, incentives that motivate diverse teams, the role of mindset and self-advocacy, and why allyship is not theory but action taken at the right moment. This conversation is for founders, leaders, women in tech, and allies who want to move beyond good intentions and design better systems.
Chapters
00:03:08 Personal Journeys and Career Paths
00:08:15 The Impact of Gender Dynamics in the Workplace
00:12:43 The Dynamics of Competition in Corporate Environments
00:20:24 The Promotion Paradox
00:26:56 Legislative Changes and Their Impact on Gender Equality
00:29:01 The Business Case for Gender Equality
00:37:17 The Impact of Job Descriptions on Diversity
00:39:24 Creating Inclusive Interview Structures
00:41:33 Building a Supportive Workplace Culture
00:43:35 Strategies for Empowering Women in Tech
00:50:07 Creating Inclusive Work Environments
00:51:54 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Building Confidence
00:55:09 Tools for Enhancing Self-Worth and Negotiation Skills
01:02:00 The Role of Male Leaders in Supporting Women
01:09:19 The Future of Gender Equality in the Workplace
Connect with Tiffany, Yoana, and Impowr
Tiffany Aude on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-aude-05a251158/
Yoana Leushin on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoana-leusin/
Impowr website
https://www.impowr.co
Impowr on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/impowr8
Impowr on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/impowr.co/
Read the Blog on Substack
In-depth reflections, key takeaways, and behind-the-scenes insights from this episode are available on Substack:
https://womendisruptingtech.substack.com/
If your strategy feels heavy, outdated, or too complicated to actually use, this episode will change the way you think about building and growing your company.
In episode 131 of Women Disrupting Tech, I sit down with Dorit Roest, founder of Strategy Sprint Company, to explore why the best strategies are simple, agile, and aligned with your original purpose. Dorit shares how founders lose momentum when their personal and business goals drift apart, and how a strategy that fits on a post-it can help you reset your focus fast.
We cover:
• Why founders feel off-track and how to realign with your original why
• The Zoom Out method for spotting real opportunities and threats
• The Battery Check: time, money, energy
• Why courage expands your ambition
• The visualization exercise that unlocks long-term direction
• How to design goals that stay flexible as your reality changes
This conversation is practical, honest, and full of tools you can apply today to build a strategy that actually works.
Chapters:
02:20 Dorit Roest's Entrepreneurial Journey 05:24 The Role of Entrepreneurship in Solving Global Issues 08:16 Aligning Personal and Business Goals 11:13 The Importance of Agility in Strategy 14:09 Simplifying Strategy for Modern Businesses 17:16 Zooming Out: Understanding the Bigger Picture 20:24 Addressing Global Challenges as Entrepreneurs 23:14 Mapping Opportunities and Threats 26:14 The Battery Check: Assessing Personal and Business Energy 29:09 Prioritizing Time, Money, and Energy 32:02 Lessons from the Past Year 43:33 Navigating Maternity Leave and Business Growth 46:05 The Unique Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs 48:09 Innovative Leadership and Team Management 50:47 Encouraging Ambition and Risk-Taking 52:18 Visualization Techniques for Goal Setting 58:40 Aligning Personal and Professional Goals 1:03:11 The Importance of Alignment in Success 1:07:13 Simplifying Goals and Accountability 1:12:20 Building Supportive Networks for Female Founders
Connect with Dorit:
Website: https://www.strategysprint.company/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doritroest/
Connect with Strategy Sprint Company:
Website: https://www.strategysprint.company/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doritroest/
Read the show notes on the blog.
In this episode, Andrea Cristancho shows how founders can turn stress into a source of clarity instead of chaos. We talk about pattern interrupts, wellbeing as a leadership skill, and a simple 10-second breathing practice you can use any time your mind starts to spin.
Andrea Born-Christancho has built companies across Mainland China, South Africa, and Switzerland, and her work helps founders understand what their bodies are telling them so they can lead with more intention and less overwhelm.
Chapters
02:30 Andrea's Journey to Entrepreneurship and Health Coaching
05:35 The Impact of Burnout on Leadership
08:20 Wellbeing as a Foundation for Success
12:01 Integrating Wellbeing into Leadership
16:32 Managing Guilt and Prioritizing Self-Care
23:42 The Role of Pattern Interrupts in Daily Life
33:22 How Leaders Can Support Teams in Building Routines
37:41 Breathing Techniques for Better Focus
40:13 The Breathing Exercise
44:13 Stress as a Friend, Not the Enemy
49:45 The Role of Men in Supporting Women in Leadership
Connect with Andrea
Website: https://www.andreacristancho.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreaborncristancho-impactstrategyconsultant/
Connect with host Dirkjan Hupkes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkjan-hupkes
Subscribe to the Women Disrupting Tech Newsletter
Substack: https://womendisruptingtech.substack.com
Read the full blog for this episode
Gina Schinkel's founder career didn’t follow the straight line to being a founder. She built Driftawave and Leaderwave by choosing the world over the ladder and learning how travel, culture, and leadership shape each other.
In this episode, we explore the power of workations, generous leadership, and what happens when you stop choosing one path and start integrating all the roads you’ve walked.
Listen to episode 129 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
Chapters:
03:43 Gina Schinkel's Journey to Driftawave and Leaderwave 06:12 The Intersection of Travel and Technology 09:09 Cultural Insights: Returning to the Netherlands 11:55 The Benefits of Team Retreats and Workations 14:20 Creating Connections: The Role of Workations in Team Dynamics 17:22 Navigating Remote Work and Office Mandates 19:55 Exploring Workation Locations and Experiences 22:52 The Evolution of Workations: Beyond Just Work 24:50 Workations and Startup Success: Attracting Talent 27:43 Measuring Success: KPIs for Workations 30:45 The Future of Work: AI's Role in Business 33:24 Leadership Trends and the Role of AI 35:09 Diversity and Inclusion in Work Culture 37:42 Building Trust and Connections in Business 47:32 Empowering Women in Tech 1:02:18 Closing the Funding Gap for Female Founders
Links:
Learn more about the episode on the blog
Connect with Gina on LinkedIn
Learn more about Driftawave
Learn more about Leaderwave
Follow Women Disrupting Tech on Substack
What if feeling good about yourself was a precondition for being a good ally?
In this episode, Salmaan Sana shares how allyship connects leadership, emotional health, and inclusion.
A former medical student turned leadership facilitator, he explains why vulnerability matters, how overcompensation can repair old imbalances, and how small, human moments can drive real change.
Listen to learn how men can become more effective allies for women in tech—starting with awareness, compassion, and action.
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Chapters
03:00 - Journey into Healthcare and Leadership
10:30 - The Role of Medical Education in Leadership
20:06 - Understanding Allyship and Its Importance
31:45 - Men's Vulnerability and Emotional Health
51:32 - Practical Steps to Become an Ally
59:04 - Closing the Funding Gap for Female Founders
Links
You can connect with Salmaan on LinkedIn or via his website.
You can learn more about the episode on Substack.
You can connect with host Dirkjan Hupkes on LinkedIn.
In this episode, Settly CEO Marieke van Iperen shares how her upbringing in a hippie community shaped her view on leadership, and how she built a fast-growing startup that combines business growth with human connection.
We explore how relocation can drive inclusion, what founders can learn from impact investors, and why belonging is a business outcome, not a soft value.
Whether you’re a founder, people leader, or HR professional, this episode will help you build inclusive, globally connected teams.
Chapters
Links:
Connect with Marieke on LinkedIn.
Learn more about Settly on the website
Get free access to Tenant Hub here (Dutch companies only)
Follow Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube for weekly episodes.
Yasmina Khababi runs Freshtable, a social impact catering company that creates meaningful jobs for highly skilled former refugees by matching their original expertise with new opportunities in the hospitality industry. One meal at a time, she connects sustainability, inclusion, and food accessibility.
In this episode you will learn how she built this without investors, how she protects her mind as a sanctuary, and how inclusion in tech can become powerful when you stop waiting for permission.
We talk about:
00:00 - Introduction to FreshTable and Its Mission
02:48 - Connecting Climate Change and Refugee Issues
05:52 - The FreshTable Business Model and Its Values
08:50 - Empowering Refugees Through Work and Education
12:05 - Geographical Luck and Its Impact on Opportunity
14:56 - Facilitating Change: The Role of FreshTable
17:50 - Accreditation and Career Advancement for Refugees
20:52 - Diversity vs. Inclusion in the Workplace
24:00 - The Vision for a Sustainable Future
26:53 - The Role of the FreshTable Foundation
29:38 - Creating a Safe Space for Feedback
33:24 - Servant leadership and safe spaces
39:14 - Mindset as a Sanctuary
45:26 - The Art of Letting Go
53:05 - Rest as a Right, Not a Reward
55:02 - The Role of Men in Promoting Inclusion
Yasmina’s story is a reminder that inclusion is not mere theory; it is a practice. It is how you lead, rest, and let others grow.
Connect with Yasmina Khababi on LinkedIn.
Read about the magic moment, practical takeaways for founders, and my notes to self on the Women Disrupting Tech blog.
Follow Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
What happens when inclusion stops being a policy and becomes the foundation of a company?
In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Magali Elhage and Matthijs Welle share how Mews turned diversity, leadership, and technology into a culture where people can be themselves and perform at their best.
Chapters
03:05 Journey to Mews: Personal Stories of Transformation 05:48 Breaking Barriers: The Struggles of Diversity in Hospitality 08:26 From Traditional to Innovative: The Birth of Mews 11:10 Building a Tech-Driven Hospitality Future 13:55 Inclusion by Design: Creating a Culture of Belonging 16:44 Empowering Voices: The Role of Leadership in Diversity 19:37 The Importance of Storytelling in DEI Initiatives 22:12 Navigating Challenges: The Path to Inclusive Leadership 25:07 Creating Safe Spaces: The Mews Experience 27:44 The Role of Employee Resource Groups in Culture Building 30:40 Parental Leave and Support: Building for the Future
33:50 Addressing the Gender Pay Gap: A Long-Term Commitment 36:40 Leveraging AI for Growth and Learning 39:40 The Power of Allyship in Tech 42:17 Reflections on Personal Growth and Performance 45:31 Innovative Tools for Communication and Feedback 48:19 Facing Fears: Embracing Change in Leadership 51:11 Advice for Founders: Building an Inclusive Company 54:19 The Future of Mews: Vision and Strategy
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
💬 Discover more about this episode in the show notes
🌐 Explore Mews: https://www.mews.com
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn with Matthijs Welle
Magali Elhage
❤️ Follow Women Disrupting Tech for more stories on inclusion, innovation, and leadership.
What happens when a former founder becomes an investor and decides to change the system from within?
In this episode, Anieke Lamers, Venture Partner at Borski Fund, shares how she is challenging bias in venture capital and backing bold female founders to build a more inclusive startup ecosystem.
A former founder herself, Anieke knows both sides of the table. She talks about emotional attachment, burnout, and why founders deserve to be put on a pedestal.
You will hear why understanding a fund’s vintage matters, how empathy leads to better investing, and what still needs to change for true equality in venture capital.
If you have ever wondered what it takes to invest differently or to keep building when the odds are against you, this episode is for you.
Chapters
02:40 Journey to Borski Fund
05:29 The Role of an Operating Partner
08:28 Challenges for Women in Leadership
11:26 The Founder-Investor Dynamic
14:36 Building Peekabond: A Personal Journey
17:26 The Emotional Attachment of Founders
20:24 Coaching for Mental Health in Startups
23:29 Changing Expectations in Pitching
26:18 The Importance of Diverse Teams
29:19 Borski Fund’s Mission and Impact
32:21 The Slow Progress of Female Founders
35:26 The Future of Gender Equality in VC
37:57 Bias in Investment Decisions
41:16 Selecting the Right VC
44:04 The Need for Policy Changes
47:01 Celebrating Female Founders
49:53 Success Metrics for Borski Fund
52:52 The Role of Men in VC
55:48 Final Thoughts and Connections
🎧 Listen to “How Anieke Lamers Closes the Inequality Gap by Backing Female Founders with Borski Fund” on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.
💬 If this episode made you think differently about startup investing, share it with someone who should hear it.
Capital fuels ideas. But whose ideas are we fueling?
In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Azin Radsan van Alebeek shares how she uses venture capital as a lever for change. Not just to generate returns, but to shift behavior, open doors, and fuel a broader cross-section of ideas.
We talk about the funding gap, the film Show Her the Money, and what founders need to know when they pitch for investment.
Along the way, Azin shares her own journey from boutique consultancy, to stay-at-home mom, to venture capitalist, reshaping outcomes.
🎧 Listen in to learn why funding diversity is not just fair, but essential for innovation.
Chapters
03:30 Introduction and Background
06:23 The Importance of Gender Representation in Venture Capital
09:43 Azin's Journey into Angel Investing
13:38 Cultural Perspectives and Personal Experiences
18:06 The Impact of Underrepresentation in Venture Capital
23:26 Statistics on Female Founders and Funding
27:16 Changing Perspectives on Gender Roles
29:14 Using Venture Capital for Change
31:14 Show Her The Money: Film and Book Overview
34:42 Inspiring Stories of Female Founders
39:00 The Role of Male Investors in Supporting Female Founders
43:05 Emmeline's Focus on Women's Health
44:49 Understanding Women's Health Disparities
47:09 Investing in Female-Centric Solutions
48:50 The Ideal Founder Profile
51:26 Integrity in Investment Relationships
52:22 Comparing Support for Female Founders in Europe and the US
55:15 What Makes a Pitch Deck Stand Out?
59:13 Defining Venture-Ready Proposals
1:03:06 Encouraging Women to Think Bigger
1:05:03 Upskilling for Stay-at-Home Moms
1:12:55 The Future of Venture Capital for Women
🙋🏻♀️ Connect with Azin Radsan van Alebeek on LinkedIn.
💡 Check out the show notes for magical moments, practical takeaways for female founders and my personal observations.
🎙️ Follow the podcast for more Women Disrupting Tech.
Arosha Brouwer, co-founder of Quan and now Chief Impact Officer at TrueTribe, explains how she scaled workplace wellbeing with impact and integrity.
In this episode, she offers unique insights into Quan’s acquisition, the power of focus, and why success for female founders is about more than ownership.
From navigating investor relations to carrying the responsibility for “the sisters who come after,” Arosha’s journey is both practical and deeply inspiring.
Listen to the full conversation to learn:
- How Quan’s wellbeing software found the right home inside TrueTribe.
- Why integrity, transparency, and respect guided every decision.
- What founders should know before taking the VC route.
Stay with us until the end, as Arosha’s advice for aspiring founders might change how you think about impact, storytelling, and scaling your mission.
🙋🏻♀️ Connect with Arosha Brouwer on LinkedIn.
🔗 Learn more about TrueTribe on the website and LinkedIn.
🎙️ Follow Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
Dayana Marin Valencia, co-founder of Adasight, shares how she built a global company without VC funding. We talk about:
🎧 Listen now and discover what it takes to scale with purpose and conviction.
👉 Prefer watching? Head over to YouTube.
🔗 Connect with Dayana via the links in the show notes.
What if curiosity was the key to building better companies?
In Episode 120 of Women Disrupting Tech, Henny Hoekstra, director and co-owner of Pluvo, shares how following her curiosity took her from growth hacker to co-owner of a SaaS company.
We explore what it takes to lead in tech, why learning and development are essential for company survival, and how women can thrive even in male-dominated environments.
But this conversation goes deeper. Henny opens up about imposter syndrome, the challenge of becoming an equal to her former bosses, and how growth as a leader involves more than just effort and grit.
Her story shows that curiosity and courage are just as important for entrepreneurs as strategy and leadership.
🎧 Listen and follow Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
🔗 Connect with Henny Hoekstra on LinkedIn.
🧠 Learn more about Pluvo on the website.
🚀 Subscribe to Women Disrupting Tech on Substack for episode highlights and practical founder tips.
Only 2 percent of venture capital goes to all-female founding teams. It is one of the most persistent inequalities in tech, and in a decade it has barely moved.
In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I speak with Erica van Eeghen (VP Capital) and Maud Vermeulen (Golden Egg Check). Together they lead Women in VC NL, a network of 170+ women reshaping venture capital in the Netherlands.
We talk about:
How closed networks in venture capital shut women out, and what it takes to open them.
Why stereotypes about women being “risk averse” miss the reality of risk-prepared founders.
How new initiatives like the Venture Program create the education infrastructure VC has long ignored.
This conversation shows that closing the gender funding gap is not only about fairness. It is about smarter systems, better decisions, and more opportunities for everyone.
👉 Listen now to hear how Women in VC NL is changing what gets funded, and why it matters for the future of startups and investors alike.
Follow the podcast on 🎧 Spotify 🍏 Apple Podcasts ▶️ YouTube
💌 Subscribe to the Women Disrupting Tech Substack for insights and magic moments.
🌐 Check out the show notes on the Blog
Connect with my guests
🔗 Erica van Eeghen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-van-eeghen-59446613/
🔗 Maud Vermeulen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maudvermeulenn/
🔗 Women in VC NL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-vc-nl
Are soft skills the one thing machines will never master?
In Episode 118 of Women Disrupting Tech, I sit down with Anouk Vlietman, founder of UMAIN, to explore how AI might actually make us more human. We talk about:
- Why disconnection is the silent epidemic costing billions every year.
- How limiting beliefs hold us back, and what it takes to break them
- Why soft skills like empathy, curiosity, and listening are our greatest edge in the future of work
Anouk also shares how AI can be an accelerator for connection, not competition — and why inclusion starts with being valued for who you are.
This is one of the most personal conversations I’ve had on the podcast. It’s systemic, funny, and packed with insights about technology, humanity, and the future of connection.
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
💌 Subscribe to the Women Disrupting Tech Substack for insights and magic moments.
How do you get from burnout to building an AI startup for mental health?
That’s the journey of Kuhu Singh, founder of Amber. Remote work and imbalance left her burned out, but instead of giving up, she built an AI mental health companion designed to bridge the gap between AI and therapy.
In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Kuhu shares:
- Why therapy is still a privilege, and how Amber makes it more accessible
- How growth turns into responsibility when people depend on your product
- Why resilience means treating criticism as white noise
Her story is one of resilience, persistence, and purpose, and it’s definitely one worth listening to.
You can connect with Kuhu Singh and learn more about Amber via the links in the show notes.
Follow Women Disrupting Tech on Substack for deeper insights into how we can close the funding gap.
Follow Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube for more extraordinary episodes with founders, investors, and allies.
How do you scale a company in the age of AI without losing what makes it work?
In this engaging episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Marili ’t Hooft-Bolle (CEO of Trengo and former COO of WeTransfer) shares what it takes to grow with confidence in a fast-changing world.
We talk about:
- Why scaling is never just about adding people, but about adding the right structure.
- How AI is not about building the next version of what you know, but reimagining value for your customers.
- Why hiring for complementary skills creates stronger, more diverse teams.
Her biggest lesson: growth requires structure, but not too much.
Listen now to learn how to navigate growth, leadership, and AI with Marili ’t Hooft-Bolle.
For episode highlights, my personal takeaways, Marili's bio and links to connect with her, check out the show notes on the blog.
And don't forget to drop your questions for Marili in the comments.
Join us as Marleen Somohardjo, founder of M2 Advisory, shares how to build a business that can weather any storm while staying true to its purpose.
From launching her first consultancy during the 2008 financial crisis to helping companies prepare for the unknown, Marleen brings a rare blend of financial expertise and purpose-driven leadership.
We explore why resilience is about more than cutting costs, how to align your business model with your “why,” and why personal resilience, through practices like yoga, golf, and breathwork, is just as critical as financial stability.
Whether you are a startup founder, leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, you will take away strategies for being prepared, staying the course, and building a business that lasts.
🎧 Listen now and start building a resilient, purpose-driven business.
🔗 Connect with Marleen Somohardjo via the links in the shownotes.
👉 Follow Women Disrupting Tech on Substack for episode insights and more.
What if the stories you learned as a child about money, risk, and confidence are still shaping your business decisions today?
In this conversation with Catrine Rhenberg, co-founder of The Wealth Within Her, we explore how early social cues, from the way girls are praised to the expectations placed on them at home and at work, can turn into invisible limits later in life.
Catrine shares a practical three-step process for changing those beliefs, building financial confidence, and defining success on your own terms.
By listening, you'll hear how to:
- Spot and challenge the patterns that hold you back
- Use small, intentional actions to build real confidence
- Redefine wealth so it works for you, not against you
We also talk about the power of authenticity over assimilation, why confidence does not automatically mean competence, and how communities of women can help each other take bigger, bolder steps.
If you have ever felt you are playing by rules you did not set, this episode will help you start rewriting them.
You can connect with Catrine and The Wealth Within Her via the show notes.
Follow Women Disrupting Tech on Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Subscribe to the Substack of host Dirkjan Hupkes for personal observations, trends across episodes and more.