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Who gets to shape a future that will impact us all, and what happens when the voices we need most are missing from the room? In this episode, Toni Townes-Whitley joins the WIT Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, technology, and the responsibility that comes with having a seat at the table. She explores the growing intersection of technology and civic life, the need for greater accountability as AI outpaces policy, and why women must be part of shaping what comes next. Toni also reflects on resilience, building a career beyond titles, and what it means to get in the room, stay in the room, and ultimately open it for others. https://www.linkedin.com/in/toni-townes-whitley/

"Advice for early career women*  What does it really take to build a meaningful career - especially when the path isn’t linear? In this episode, Candace Aku shares the experiences, decisions, and lessons that have shaped her journey across technology, public-sector leadership, and entrepreneurship. She reflects on navigating change, stepping into leadership, and building a career that continues to evolve. Through candid stories and practical insights, Candace explores what she has learned about influence, resilience, and creating opportunities along the way—and what she hopes other women in STEM can take from her journey.

What does it mean to build a meaningful career while navigating the realities of life, identity, ambition, and change?We sit down with Trish Barber, three-time tech-media entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of 3WaysDigital, author of Why Women Pivot, and incoming President of Women in Technology (WIT).Drawing from her own journey through entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, motherhood, and reinvention, Trish shares the inspiration behind the book, and the lessons she hopes women carry with them as they navigate different phases of life and career.

Why do we react the way we do—and what would it look like to choose differently?In this episode, we’re joined by Shoshi Kalderon, coach and change practitioner, who introduces the Conscious-Mind Leadership framework developed by Dr. Mati Har-Lev. Together, we explore a powerful way of understanding how we respond to challenges, transitions, and everyday moments in our lives and careers.Drawing on Dr. Har-Lev’s work, Shoshi walks us through the idea that each of us operates from an internal “operating system”—a set of automatic patterns that shape how we think, feel, and respond, often without us even realizing it.Description: Why do we react the way we do—and what would it look like to choose differently?In this episode, we’re joined by Shoshi Kalderon, coach and change practitioner, who introduces the Conscious-Mind Leadership framework developed by Dr. Mati Har-Lev. Together, we explore a powerful way of understanding how we respond to challenges, transitions, and everyday moments in our lives and careers.Drawing on Dr. Har-Lev’s work, Shoshi walks us through the idea that each of us operates from an internal “operating system”—a set of automatic patterns that shape how we think, feel, and respond, often without us even realizing it.We unpack what it means to move from autopilot reactions to more conscious choices, and how expanding our awareness can fundamentally shift the way we experience both work and life.

In this episode, we sit down with Beth McHugh, Product Leader and Innovation Strategist at Tillta Consulting, to explore the powerful framework known as Jobs to Be Done—and how it helps teams cut through the noise to identify real customer demand. In our conversation, Beth explains why even companies with thousands of customers can still misunderstand what those customers truly need—and how Jobs to Be Done helps teams move beyond surface-level feedback to uncover the real “progress” customers are trying to make.

What happens when talented professionals step away from the workforce—and what does it take to help them successfully return? In this episode, we sit down with Jessica Taylor, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner and Program Manager at Unanet, to talk about a powerful initiative designed to bring experienced professionals back into the workplace: the Encore Returnship Program. Through Encore, she’s helping organizations rethink how they approach talent by recognizing the value of professionals who have taken career breaks but still bring deep expertise, fresh perspectives, and valuable life experience.

In this episode, we’re joined by Cadie Hopkins and Megan Jaffer, co-founders of Iron Butterfly Media, who have made it their mission to amplify the voices of women across the global intelligence community. They have created their first feature-length documentary, “The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies,” which released in March 2026. Cadie and Megan feature ten amazing women in their film, and talk about why they felt compelled to bring these powerful stories to a broader audience. They reflect on the unique leadership lessons women in intelligence bring to the table—from resilience and collaboration to a more “democratic” model of leadership. They also explore what it’s like to build a creative company together, how they brought their documentary to life with donor support, and why storytelling can be such a powerful catalyst for change.

What does it take to trust your voice—especially when the work you’re called to do feels bigger than you? We sit down with Celina Mattocks to talk about the experiences that shaped her path to the TEDx stage—and the inner work that made it possible. Celina shares her journey through tech and consulting, where her background in communications and organizational development helped her understand not just systems and data, but the very human ways people respond to change. We explore the internal conversations so many women in tech know well—Am I enough? Do I belong here?—and how those questions evolve as careers, confidence, and courage grow. From leading large-scale change initiatives to leaving corporate life to build Lead Live Learn, Celina opens up about taking risks, facing fear, and translating something as intangible as confidence into something you can design, teach, and scale. She also takes us behind the scenes of her TEDx experience—how the idea emerged, the discipline of shaping it, and what it taught her about taking up space and trusting her voice in real time. Listen to Celina's TedX talk here: https://youtu.be/bQOa1ryhrwk?si=qQk6ysvb_fSKkQxc

What happens when deep curiosity meets customer-centered innovation? In this episode, Candice Charlton, Vice President Solutions Architect, Maximus, discusses how truly understanding the customer journey can unlock smarter innovation, stronger leadership, and more meaningful technology outcomes. Candice shares what it really means to be a solution architect—and why the best solutions aren’t just technically sound, but rooted in empathy, trust, and purpose. From working with health clients to aligning cross-functional teams around customer outcomes, she offers a behind-the-scenes look at how strategy, design, and human insight come together to create lasting impact. A self-proclaimed introvert, Candice reveals how curiosity has become her superpower—helping her ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and influence decisions even when she’s the only woman in the room. She also reflects on navigating exclusionary spaces, building confidence, and using soft skills to break through complexity and drive collaboration.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jennie Blumenthal, CEO of Corporate Rehab Leadership, former PwC Partner, bestselling author, and strategic advisorwho helps leaders and organizations scale smarter in the Age of AI — without losing their humanity. Jennie’s work sits at the intersection of leadership, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence. Through her Corporate Rehab framework and her signature Growth Zone model, she helps leaders navigate big transitions.

HR is changing fast. And in today’s job market, keeping it real matters more than ever. In this episode, we’re joined by Marah Rutski, Vice President of Human Resources at LCG, Inc., for an honest conversation about how HR strategies are evolving in government contracting organizations — and what both employers and job seekers need to understand right now. Marah leads HR at the intersection of people, growth, and mission. She shares how HR functions today go far beyond policies and paperwork, playing a critical role in workforce planning, compensation strategy, proposal staffing, and contract wins. Throughout the conversation, her people-first approach shines through — grounded in transparency, authenticity, and practical leadership.

What does it really take to grow a company and grow people at the same time? In this episode, we’re joined by Janel Merritt, Chief Operating Officer of Public Sector Solutions Group (PS2G), to unpack what she calls the modern COO playbook — one rooted in innovation, workforce development, and intentional growth. With more than 20 years of experience in technology and digital transformation, Janel leads national and international expansion across public sector, healthcare, and energy. She shares the real challenges these industries are facing today and the strategies organizations are using to meet the moment.

In this episode, we’re joined by Nisha Paliwal, Head of Data and AI Commercial at AbbVie, author of Secrets of AI Value Creation, and a longtime technology leader who brings a deeply human-centered lens to artificial intelligence. Nisha takes us inside what she calls the AI Change Curve — the very real progression many professionals experience as AI enters the workplace. From the initial shock and resistance “Will this replace me?”, to the vulnerable “Am I enough?” moment, and ultimately to the breakthrough where AI becomes a powerful collaborator rather than a threat.

Rakshana Balakrishnan, Cloud infrastructure Product Manager at Oracle In this episode, we’re joined by Rakshana Balakrishnan, Principal Product Manager at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and we explore the evolving role of product management in today’s fast-moving, GenAI-powered tech landscape. She shares tips on what it takes to be a product manager today, and provides sound ideas for claiming your seat at the table.

Guest: Liz Anthony, Formerly Managing Director, Federal Market, Maximus, now an advisor Liz talks about how marketing is the connector between insights and impact. She is a big believer in linking sales, technology and marketing together and how differentiation is only possible if you do those things well. In this episode, Liz dives into why marketing is a strategic force, not just a support function — especially in complex environments like the federal market.