Advertise on podcast: HumanizeHer with Erica Lockheimer

In this live episode celebrating our 3rd Annual HumanizeHer Celebration, Founder and Podcast Host Erica Lockheimer reflects on the podcast's growth - from 2,000 YouTube Subscribers to over 165,000 YouTube Subscribers and 2 million monthly platform views and more importantly 59 stories told - highlighting HumanizeHer's mission to elevate women's stories, foster real community, and support women on their journeys of defining success on their own terms.   Erica leads a very special panel discussion, featuring 3 podcast guests who share their journeys of purpose, resilience, and taking bold leaps:   💠 Dana A. Griffin (Founder of Eldera.ai): Discusses building an AI platform that connects younger adults and youth with elder mentors to fight the loneliness epidemic and foster intergenerational connection. 💠 Sumer Strawbree (17-year-old Entrepreneur & Artist): Shares how she overcame bullying at age 12 to create positive affirmation coloring books aimed at boosting young girls' self-esteem and saving lives. 💠 Torrey Van Winden (Pro Beach Volleyball Player & 2028 Olympic hopeful): Details stepping away from corporate to pursue her Olympic dream and advocate for better financial equity and support for women in sports.   The episode includes a surprise moment, introducing our inaugural HumanizeHer Community Recognition Awards for key mentors and supporters of the HumanizeHer movement: 🌟 Florina Xhabija Grosskurth 🌟 Mauria Finley 🌟 Shalini Agarwal   This event would not have been as special without a surprise unboxing of the YouTube Silver Creator Award gifted to the entire HumanizeHer Crew, and a heartfelt team celebration acknowledging the crew that powers the movement. And of course - seeing our community come together for an evening of connection, purpose, and celebration.   Huge thank you to our event sponsors: Presenting Sponsor 💠 Morgan Stanley & Brannan Vaughan for walking the walk when it comes to supporting women's ventures Community Sponsors 💠 MorningStar Entertainment & Suzanne Ewing-Ervin, our Head of Community Events for coordinating 💠 Tulu Vineyards & Alina Tyulyu for the amazing wine and her magic behind the camera 💠 Swell Sound & Elad Marish for sound support 💠 Mille Fiori & Yana Plysniuk for the stunning flowers 💠 Andres Tacos & Gunther's Catering for the delicious food   And to the HumanizeHer Crew - THANK YOU for helping us reach such an incredible milestone and for putting your full selves into the phenomenal work we get to do, celebrating and elevating women's voices. 💫   ✨ Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser - Founding Member, Chief of Staff, Producer & Co-Host ✨ Becky Davis - Director of Photography, Creative Producer, & Editor ✨ Kristen Basile West - Director of Brand & Design ✨ Suzanne Ewing-Ervin - Head of Community Events ✨ Jazmine Orozco Lugo - Social Media Manager ✨ Ash Blodgett - Director & Creative Producer ✨ Nathalie Rodriguez - Production Designer & Gaffer ✨ Alina Tyulyu - Photographer ✨ Heather Schuler - Segment Producer   ▶️ Help us continue to grow the HumanizeHer community by sharing with your networks and encouraging your network to subscribe on YouTube and join the community in the HumanizeHer app.

In this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we welcome Shelley Huff, CEO and Co-Founder of The Interval and former C-suite executive at retail giants like Walmart and Serta Simmons Bedding. Shelley opens up about her personal journey navigating major "life quakes" - leading a company through a complex Chapter 11 restructuring, coping with sudden grief, and experiencing the unexpected jolt of being fired immediately after the transition.   Shelley Huff has always run toward hard things. A Tucson native who endowed a University of Arizona scholarship for the children of teachers, she spent fourteen years at Walmart, rising to Global Officer and launching The Pioneer Woman, which became a $350 million brand in under a year. Then, as CEO of Serta Simmons Bedding, she guided a $2.5 billion company through Chapter 11 and kept her team together. When that chapter closed, she paused for a year and faced the hardest question of her career: who am I without the title? Most sitting CEOs expect to land another CEO job, but only seven percent of former CEOs actually do.   Shelley candidly discusses the identity crisis and grief that often accompany leaving high-profile corporate titles and how taking a structured one-year sabbatical transformed her perspective. From meditating in pods to recalibrating her life around faith, family, fitness, and true connection, she shares how reflection helped her step into an authentic identity centered on service and community. Shelley breaks down why she and Co-Founder Maryam Banikarim created The Interval - a curated, peer-to-peer membership community helping C-suite executives and founders navigate career pivots without shame or isolation. Shelley built what she wished she'd had. She co-founded The Interval, a peer community for C-suite executives and founders in transition. More than 100 executives have been part of it, each working toward a plan for what's next and a network for who they're becoming. Because the space between chapters was never meant to be navigated alone. This episode offers powerful insights on legacy, the strength of weak ties, and leading with purpose.   Key Highlights: Navigating "Life Quakes": Shelley shares her experience leading Serta Simmons Bedding through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, managing a billion-dollar debt restructuring, and coping with being abruptly fired post-restructuring without getting to say goodbye to her team. Sabbatical Journey & Identity Crisis: Overcoming the anxiety of losing a corporate identity, moving past "deal friends," and using a structured sabbatical to recalibrate around genuine happiness, health, and reflection. Birth of The Interval: How connecting with Co-Founder Maryam Banikarim led to building a peer-to-peer community tailored for C-suite leaders and founders navigating transitions through peer circles, curated resources, and meaningful networks. "Strength of Weak Ties": Why 80% of next career steps come from outside your existing network and how embracing new ties enables authentic career pivots. Intentional Community Building: The decision to avoid artificial scale or venture capital "hockey stick" growth in order to preserve trust, high standards, and long-term values for executive members.   "It's actually the journey of reflection that you become grateful for. What happens when we give ourselves space is very interesting. The life that I've built for myself now is authentically 100% me." - Shelley Huff   Special Shoutouts: Maryam Banikarim Lori Bartel Arthur C. Brooks Jill Nicolaisen Liz Muller Jess Wolfe Jess Smith   Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer, and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser.   **** Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome Shelley Huff & The Origin Story of The Interval 03:10 – Running Toward Hard Things: Leading Serta Simmons Through Restructuring 06:05 – The Abrupt Exit: Dealing with Grief, "Life Quakes," and Not Getting to Say Goodbye 09:35 – Designing a Type-A Sabbatical: Retreats, Reflection, and Recalibrating Happiness 14:40 – Overcoming the Corporate Identity Crisis & Finding Courage in Transitions 19:15 – The Power of Weak Ties and Why 60% of CEOs Pivot After Time Off 24:20 – Inside The Interval: Peer Circles, Resource Libraries, and C-Suite Vulnerability 29:05 – Stepping Into Authenticity: Giving Back to Alma Maters and True Passions 34:50 – The 3 Phases of Transition: Jolt, Architecture, and Launch 40:10 – Reclaiming Time, Presence with Family, and Health Recalibration 42:15 – Pay It Forward: Elevating Female Leaders in Sports, Energy, and Community

In this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with Laura Burkhauser, CEO of Descript, for an insightful and candid conversation about the evolution of creative tools, career pivots, and personal resilience.   Laura Burkhauser was running a hundred-million-dollar product at Twitter. She had the executive title. The salary. The status. Then she fell in love with a problem she couldn't ignore as a creator herself. She was using Descript and reached out with a simple message: 'I love this product, and I want to work here' - but they weren't exactly hiring for her product background. So she walked away from her title. Took a pay cut. And became an individual contributor to learn the craft. Three years later, she's now the CEO of Descript.   But in the middle of building all that, she unfortunately discovered she had bone cancer. Six months of chemotherapy. All while becoming a new mom to a one-year-old at home. But she kept building anyway. Through it all, what never wavered was her conviction that creators deserve better and she is passionate about building for creators like us. No AI slop, but just tools that amplify what you're already trying to do. Today, every single episode of HumanizeHer runs on Descript. Every edit. Every collaboration. Every conversation turned into a story.   Laura shares behind-the-scenes stories from Descript - including officially setting the record straight on how to pronounce the company's name - and breaks down how they balance proprietary AI models with external tools to solve real media editing pain points, avoid low-effort "AI slop," and empower creators. From her unconventional career trajectory - starting with a German literature degree and navigating roles at Teach For America, management consulting, Le Tote, Rent the Runway, and Twitter - to making the bold leap to startup IC before becoming Descript's CEO, Laura reflects on leadership, artistic control, and staying close to the customer.   Key Highlights: The Origin of 'Underlord': How writing launch videos as a product manager led to naming Descript's AI assistant, along with a look at features like Smooth Jump Cuts, Agent Memory, and media-wide search. The AI vs. Craft Philosophy: Why Descript focuses on high-effort, authentic recorded media rather than low-cost, automated "AI slop" or content arbitrage. Non-Linear Career Trajectory: How Laura pivoted from studying German literature and teaching strategy to discovering product management, taking risk-taking pay cuts, and stepping back into IC work before ascending to CEO. Overcoming Adversity: Laura's story of being diagnosed with bone cancer with a one-year-old at home, balancing treatment with work, and finding inspiration in physical and personal recovery.   "Sometimes I think there's an incorrect equalization between slop and using AI to create something. Everyone here who is a person of high taste and craft probably knows that the only path to high taste and high craft is making a lot of stuff that is really bad." - Laura Burkhauser   In this episode, Laura shares a deeply personal look into her journey overcoming bone cancer shortly after becoming a mother, highlighting the body's extraordinary capacity to heal and how survival mode shaped her perspective on life and work.   Special Shoutouts in this Episode: Preeta Nayak Jenn Grasso Dr. Rosanna Wustrack Molly Booth Laura's Aunt & Mother ❣️   Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser.   **** Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome Laura Burkhauser & Settling the "Descript" Pronunciation Debate 04:12 – Inside Descript: The Origins of 'Underlord' & AI Philosophy 07:55 – Evolution of Underlord, Agent Memory & Workflow Features 12:30 – Build vs. Buy: Proprietary Models & Smooth Jump Cuts 16:45 – Defining "AI Slop": Content Arbitrage vs. Authentic Craft 24:50 – From German Literature to Consulting: Laura's Early Journey 30:15 – Discovering Product Management & Choosing Impact Over Amazon 34:40 – Joining Le Tote & A Surprise Bone Cancer Diagnosis 39:20 – Treatment, Motherhood, & Finding the Strength to Recover 43:05 – Taking a Chance: The Journey from IC to CEO at Descript 50:10 – Staying Approachable, Connecting with Users & Feature Requests 54:30 – Guest Shoutouts & Closing Remarks

In this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, professional beach volleyball player and former tech Product Marketing Manager Torrey Van Winden joins us to discuss the systemic financial disparities facing female athletes, her experience overcoming career-threatening injuries, and her ambitious comeback bid for the LA 2028 Olympics.   Torrey left her stable corporate job to chase one thing: a spot on the 2028 LA Olympic team. She's a professional beach volleyball player and a newly named 2026 Cal Poly Hall of Famer - but this comeback almost didn't happen. In her first professional match out of college, she tore her ACL, fractured her femur and tibia, and learned her tour offered injured athletes nothing (not even health insurance). It took years of resentment before that pain turned into purpose. She rebuilt herself through rehab, then built a second career at GameChanger in Product Marketing. But this year, she gave up her apartment, became a nomad, and bet her entire savings on one more shot.   Inspired by a previous podcast clip highlighting the reality that many Olympic athletes receive zero income from their sport, Torrey shares her perspective on the stark gap between collegiate support systems and the domestic professional volleyball circuit. She shines a light on a pay gap most fans never hear about: her mother earned roughly 40 percent more on tour in 1998 than Torrey does today for the same finish. Drawing from her background in sport management, her tenure at tech company GameChanger, and her family's sports legacy, she outlines her vision for building a sustainable infrastructure for women in sports and leveraging her personal brand to drive meaningful change. Her own words: stop complaining about it, and do something about it. No sponsors. No guaranteed paycheck. Just her, betting on herself.   Key Highlights:   College-To-Pro Financial Drop-off: Discussion on how NCAA beach volleyball programs offer extensive support, whereas domestic professional leagues offer minimal financial security or medical safety nets - even as costs for elite training climb. Overcoming Career-Threatening Injuries: Torrey recounts suffering a severe knee injury (ACL, meniscus, femur, and tibia fracture) in her pro debut and a subsequent re-injury, detailing the mental and physical recovery process that shifted her perspective from resentment to purpose. Transitioning To Tech And Back: How an opportunity at GameChanger led to a role as a Product Marketing Manager, equipping her with corporate and sports-tech insights on athlete monetization and brand-building. The LA 2028 Olympic Comeback: Torrey outlines the mechanics of the international beach volleyball point system, her decision to bet on herself financially, and her strategy for climbing the ladder from Futures to Elite 16 events with her partner, Lindsey Sparkes. Redefining The Female Athlete Narrative: A candid look at body image in media, rejecting narrow stereotypes about what an elite beach volleyball player looks like, and using social media authentically to advocate for women's sports.   "It's hard to even describe...the energy within me had fully shifted from fear-based to: how much are you going to complain about it before you do something about it? And that really hit me hard." - Torrey Van Winden   Special Shoutouts in this Episode: Leela Srinivasan Todd Rogers Olivia Eisenhauer Lindsey Sparkes Devon Newberry, Ilona Maher, Victoria Garrick Browne, & Serena Williams Ana Patricia Ramos & Duda Santos Lisboa Her Cousins ❣️ Her Sister - Adlee Cass (Van Winden) ❣️ Her Mother - Kelly Van Winden ❣️   Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser.   **** Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome to the Woman Cave: How Torrey found HumanizeHer 03:40 – The financial reality of pro female athletes & Parity's data 07:15 – Title IX, the college beach volleyball boom, and systemic league failures 15:30 – Career-altering pro debut injury & losing the collegiate safety net 21:10 – The road back: Coaching at FSU and joining GameChanger Tech 26:45 – Identity crisis, therapy, and shifting from resentment to purpose 31:20 – Transitioning to Product Marketing & corporate lessons in sports tech 37:00 – The LA 2028 comeback: Leaving corporate life to bet on herself 42:15 – Gaming the point system: Futures, Challengers, and qualifying for the Games 47:30 – Body image, social media, and changing the narrative for women's sports 51:10 – "Pay It Forward": Honoring her mom, sister, and volleyball dynasty

In this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with Gina Bianchini, Co-Founder and CEO of Mighty Networks. Gina shares her vision for shifting the online landscape away from isolated, transactional social media toward meaningful, intentional digital and real-world connections. Reflecting on her entrepreneurial trajectory - from her childhood experiences with local passion clubs and community support systems to founding Ning and Mighty Networks - Gina breaks down what truly creates a thriving culture: setting clear norms for positive engagement, embracing "patient impatience," and treating every member as important.   Nine years ago, Gina Bianchini set out to fix something broken: the word community. As CEO and Founder of Mighty Networks, she has spent nearly a decade building what she now calls "People Magic" - real, human connection, not just an audience clicking follow. A Stanford graduate and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Purpose: Design a Community & Change Your Life, Gina has built her career around one question: what actually makes people feel like they belong?    In 2025 alone, hosts on Mighty earned $500 million building genuine communities around what they love - a number Gina tracks over her own company's revenue. Before Mighty Networks, she co-founded Ning and helped launch LeanIn.org alongside Sheryl Sandberg - but Mighty Networks is where she stayed, growing it steadily, because she believes belonging cannot be outsourced to an algorithm. She introduces the concept of "People Magic" - using AI and software to guide host-led communities, organize micro-clusters, and seamlessly bridge digital interactions with real-life connections. Key Highlights:   Culture Over Rules: Successful communities focus on establishing a shared culture of how members show up and support one another rather than listing dynamic restrictions. Redefining Community as "People Magic": Moving beyond standard social media metrics and passive content consumption to facilitate guided, intentional human connections and real-world meetups. "Cluster" Dynamics: Why the healthiest communities mimic real-life gatherings by creating smaller groups (12-18 members) rather than pushing high-velocity, single-thread chats. AI as Co-Host: Leveraging software to automate admin overhead, curate relationships, and coordinate scale operations (like 1,000 local dinners) without isolating members behind chatbots. Story-Sharing vs. Advice-Giving: Why giving unsolicited advice shuts down conversations, whereas sharing personal experiences and asking open questions builds safe, resilient spaces. Rethinking Conversation Starters: Swapping transactional status questions ("What do you do?") for passion-driven inquiries ("What are you excited about right now?").   "I think about social media as the high-fructose corn syrup of relationships. Community to me is about creating a culture where people know how to show up for each other, share stories instead of advice, and build genuine connection." - Gina Bianchini   Throughout this conversation, Gina offers practical wisdom on avoiding premature optimization, moving away from advice-giving in favor of story-sharing, and reframing how we build relationships both online and off. For Gina, community is not a platform feature. It is the village that shows up when it matters most.   Special Shoutouts in this Episode: Tricia Murphy   Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser.   **** Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome Gina Bianchini - Co-Founder & CEO of Mighty Networks 05:15 – What makes a great community: Culture, intentionality, and positive reinforcement 12:40 – Blending digital tools with real-life connections (IRL) & members near you 21:10 – "People Magic" vs. standard social media & avoiding AI isolation 32:00 – Optimal community sizes, micro-clusters, and the two-pizza rule 42:15 – Common community pitfalls: Advice vs. story-sharing & premature optimization 48:30 – Gina's backstory: Cupertino clubs, guinea pigs, and founding Ning & Mighty Networks 52:10 – Personal tragedy at age 11 and how community showed up when it mattered most 55:40 – Eradicating "What do you do?" and shifting to "What are you excited about?" 57:15 – Pay-it-forward shoutout to godmother Tricia Murphy & closing wrap-up

We took HumanizeHer to the SheTO Ignite Summit 2025 and rolled out our own red carpet to catch some of tech's most brilliant women…twirls, crowns, capes, and all! 🦸‍♀️   SheTO is the premier global network for women and non-binary engineering leaders, and the SheTO Ignite Summit is all about celebrating the people who are actually building the industry. Founder Nidhi Gupta built SheTO from a single "let's do something big" dinner-table idea into a massive movement across dozens of countries. Her vision anchors the entire event - a room full of brilliant women who, for once, get to drop the burden of being "the only," and can simply connect, learn, and step into their power.   Our red carpet chats captured the summit's best takeaways in real time with our very own Erica Lockheimer, Founder and CEO of HumanizeHer. We spoke with attendees about the evolving landscape of engineering leadership, from building workplace trust and practicing radical candor, to the technical realities of taking AI from prompt to production. The conversations at the 2025 Summit were as dynamic as the women themselves, touching on storytelling with Emmy-winning journalist Ann Curry, navigating women's health at work with our past podcast guest Joanna Strober, the importance of a well-deserved career break, or how confidence shows up in your wardrobe - we caught all the brilliance as it happened.   Featured Powerhouse Women: Nidhi Gupta | Founder & CEO, SheTO Ann Curry | Emmy Award-Winning Journalist Monica Bajaj | VP of Engineering, Okta (SheTO Board Member) Aarathi Vidyasagar | VP of Engineering, Uber Ajita Thomas | Director of Engineering, LinkedIn Business platform Kamal Singla | Director of Software Engineering, LinkedIn Minda Harts | Author & Keynote Speaker (Talk to Me Nice) Daisy Tinsley Barnett | CEO & Co-Founder, The Daisy Edit Maddie Brauer | Enterprise Account Executive, Serval Kara Vitale | Enterprise Account Executive at Moveworks by ServiceNow Polina Stepanova | Engineering Manager at Pilot Guo Li | Staff Software Engineer, LinkedIn Lisa Dodge | Senior Director of Engineering Jing S | Engineering Leader, Uber Shruti Patil | Engineering Leader, Uber Priya Rangaiah | Senior Staff TPM, Uber   🎟️ Get your tickets to the 2026 SheTO Summit: https://www.sheto.org/summit

Note: This episode includes a candid discussion of domestic abuse, including emotional, financial, and physical abuse. If this content is difficult for you, please prioritize your own wellbeing. Support is available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline - call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or visit thehotline.org.   In this emotional and empowering episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with Nillie Danesh - entrepreneur, life coach, and founder of Glory Jewelry (often known as the "Butterfly Girl"). Returning to her hometown after almost seven years to join us in The HumanizeHer Studio, Nillie reflects on her full-circle moment of overcoming the trauma associated with her past and transforming it into a platform for empowering women.   Nillie opens up about her 17-year relationship with her ex-husband, shedding light on the quiet, insidious nature of emotional, financial, and psychological abuse. She breaks down concepts like grooming, isolation, and love bombing, helping listeners understand how manipulative dynamics develop slowly over time. She shares the horrific turning point - surviving a life-threatening strangulation incident - that gave her the strength to break the cycle of domestic abuse for the sake of her own life and her two young sons.   Today she is known as the "Boundary Queen": a certified life coach, keynote speaker, and founder of Glory Jewelry, where every butterfly-inspired piece carries a chapter of her transformation story and a nod to the grandmother she believes still watches over her. Nillie has turned survival into advocacy, teaching women the boundaries and legal rights she wishes someone had taught her at a young age. It takes real courage to speak this openly, and she's choosing to do it so other women feel less alone in their own journey and her story can be a survival guide.   Nillie rebuilt her life and discovered her purpose - the inception of her jewelry business, inspired by her late grandmother and the symbolic transformation of the butterfly - dissolving in the cocoon to emerge anew. Nillie shares her wisdom on the necessity of enforcing non-negotiable boundaries, finding peace in solitude, and shifting from needing male validation to loving oneself first. From establishing firm boundaries in personal relationships and corporate settings to launching her new life coaching branch, Nillie's story serves as a survival guide and beacon of hope for women everywhere.   Key Takeaways:   Abuse Isn't Always Physical: Emotional, verbal, and financial abuse are often silent, slow-building, and heavily manipulative, utilizing tactics like gaslighting, isolation, and love bombing long before anyone notices physical warning signs. Boundaries Are A Doorway, Not A Wall: Enforcing non-negotiable boundaries isn't about shutting people out; it teaches people how to treat you and acts as an immediate filter against toxic "energy vampires." Master The Power Of Solitude: True personal empowerment means shifting from needing external validation or a partner to wanting a healthy addition to a life where you already prioritize your own peace and happiness. Transformation Requires Deep Shedding: Just like a caterpillar completely dissolves in its cocoon before emerging as a butterfly, enduring dark, difficult life transitions can lead to a powerful, beautiful rebirth and a renewed sense of purpose. Education Is A Vital Survival Tool: Spreading awareness about legal rights, relationship red flags, and healthy communication early on can help prevent women from getting trapped in toxic cycles for years.   "I always say my story can be a survival guide for someone else, and that's why I'm so open. I always want to share whatever piece they can take from it." - Nillie Danesh   Special Shoutouts in this Episode: Aubrey Amatelli Valerie Sassani   Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser.   **** Timestamps: 00:00 – Facing past PTSD and finding peace in her hometown 05:15 – Unpacking Silent Abuse: Understanding grooming, isolation, love bombing, and gaslighting in relationships 11:40 – Unlearning the "High" of Love Bombing: How toxic affection distorts healthy boundary expectations 17:10 – Escalation & Red Flags: Managing a partner, financial dependence, and walking on eggshells 24:20 – The Pivotal Moment: Surviving a strangulation incident and making the choice to escape 30:45 – Breaking the Cycle: Protecting her children, legal rights, and navigating the justice system 35:10 – Power of Boundaries: Learning self-worth, avoiding "energy vampires," and wanting vs. needing a partner 39:30 – Birth of Glory Jewelry: The "Butterfly Girl" story, grandmother connections, and spiritual transformation 43:10 – The "Boundary Queen": Life coaching, enforcing boundaries in corporate/business spaces, and sisterhood 46:50 – Pay It Forward: Elevating best friend and entrepreneur Aubrey Amatelli; where to find Nillie's work

In this episode, we sit down with Dana A. Griffin - the Co-Founder and CEO of Eldera.ai, redefining what it means to age in a longevity society. Raised by her grandparents in Transylvania, she was shaped early by the wisdom of older adults and a thread that runs through everything she's built. Before Eldera.ai, Dana was a data and advertising executive, named an Ad Age 40 Under 40. In 2018 she pivoted, using AI to connect vetted adults 60-plus with young people for weekly conversations - turning wisdom into a resource for the next generation. Eldera.ai has been featured by CNN, MSNBC, The Atlantic, and the UN's AI For Good initiative. Dana speaks six languages and has been featured by Columbia, Harvard, and Stanford for her work on longevity and human connection.   Eldera.ai is an AI-powered platform that pairs young people with mentors over 60 for weekly virtual conversations. The conversation dives into how Eldera.ai defines and captures human "wisdom," the onboarding and matching process, and the proprietary AI safety system (nicknamed "the chaperone") that monitors conversations via transcript and video analysis to protect both kids and elder mentors, with a human always in the loop. Donna discusses surprising outcomes like nearly half of participants being men (addressing male isolation), the platform's "generosity subscription" pay-it-forward business model, and Aldera's new partnership with the California Commission on Aging. The episode closes with reflections on redefining what "old" means, the demographic shift toward an aging population, and the power of intergenerational connection.   Key Highlights:   A Childhood Raised By Wisdom: Dana was raised by her grandparents in Transylvania, each speaking a different language to her and exposing her to competing worldviews (fairy tales vs. Greek mythology) - the root of her belief in the value of older generations. From Data to "AI For Good": Dana built her early career in data-driven marketing and social media, then pivoted entirely after losing her mentor Linda to brain cancer, teaching herself AI and landing in Google's "AI For Good" circle where the idea for Eldera.ai was born on the spot. Wisdom As A Fingerprint: Eldera.ai defines "wisdom" as the triangulation of knowledge, life experience, and common sense - a combination so personal that no two people express it the same way, captured through a "wisdom portrait" onboarding process that shapes every match. Safety Built On AI + Human Judgment: A proprietary system called "the chaperone" monitors every conversation via transcript and video analysis, flagging concerns across 12 categories (11 to protect kids, 1 to protect elders from financial fraud) - with a human always making the final call. Purpose Over Socializing: 46% of Eldera.ai's mentors are men, a demographic notoriously hard to reach through typical social programs; Donna credits this to giving mentors a clear "job" and responsibility rather than casual social interaction. Pay-It-Forward Business Model: Eldera.ai's "Generosity Subscription" lets members pay forward multiple memberships (avg. 2.7 per paying member), built around the values of generosity, curiosity, gratitude, and impact - recently reinforced by a new partnership with the California Commission on Aging.   "We believe that every person over 60 has reached a point where they have gathered enough wisdom that they have something to give back. Your wisdom is as unique to you as your fingerprint." - Dana A. Griffin   Special Shoutouts in this Episode: Raza Syed Adrian Otto Chip Conley Karol Swartzlander Steve Smith Linda Fried Personal Mentors: Esther & Etta Eldera Mentors: Jay, Doug, & Helen Friends: Amy Jo, Isabel, and Bridgette Dana's Grandparents ❣️   Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser.   **** Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Dana A. Griffin 02:00 – Growing up in Transylvania, raised by grandparents, learning six languages 10:00 – Moving to the U.S. for university, arriving days before 9/11 15:00 – Early career in data, direct marketing, and social media 20:00 – Discovering AI, the Google "AI For Good" meeting, and the idea for Eldera.ai is born 27:00 – Defining "wisdom" and building the wisdom portrait 33:00 – Partnership with the California Commission on Aging & pilot results 38:00 – How mentor-mentee matching and safety ("the chaperone" AI) works 47:00 – Success stories: the book deal, the cross-country visit, the "Zoom granny" 52:00 – Reaching retirement communities and the NASA Alumni Association partnership 56:00 – The "generosity subscription" business model explained

In this inspiring and thought-provoking episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, hosts sit down with Tara Chklovski, CEO and Founder of Technovation (formerly Iridescent). Tara shares her incredible personal trajectory, growing up in India surrounded by formidable female role models - her grandmother who built a school from scratch at age 65 and her mother who joined the Indian military as a doctor at age 43 - and learning hands-on mechanics from her father.   Tara is on a mission to transform the future of technology and innovation to empower girls and young women to use cutting-edge technology to solve real-world problems. Technovation is the world's largest accelerator for young women and now reaches over 34,000 participants from more than 100 countries, supported by thousands of volunteers worldwide. Over three months, Technovation girls partner with mentors from leading tech companies to launch real tech startups, tackling problems they see in their own communities. With nearly half a million lives already impacted and a bold mission to reach 25 million more, Technovation is proving something powerful: when you give a girl the tools, mentorship from industry leaders, and belief that she can change the world - she will. And that changes everything for all of us.   Tara discusses dropping out of a PhD program after seeing her aerospace research used in military drones, pivoting her life to address the gap of women and underrepresented groups in STEM. She details how Technovation grew from a local cafe meetup with 45 girls into the world's largest global tech accelerator for young women, impacting over 450,000 participants across 120 countries. The conversation tackles critical modern challenges, including the seismic impact of AI, bridging the gap between education and the workforce, re-evaluating diversity and inclusion strategies to bring male allies and majority groups along, and the crucial importance of building a "safe sandbox" for new learners.   Episode Highlights: Unconventional Beginnings: Raised in India where societal norms pushed girls toward home science, Tara was encouraged by her family to work with her hands, fix cars, and pursue physics and aerospace engineering in the U.S. Birth of Technovation: Spurred by the realization that many young women in the U.S. lacked self-efficacy in math and technology, Tara founded Technovation to give underdogs the tools and mindset to become innovators. Real-World Global Impact: From California teens building AI models to categorize invasive weeds to an Indian participant creating a road-monitoring app that led to a Google internship, Technovation builds problem-solving muscles in young girls to address community and world-changing issues. Scaling Through Innovation: How Technovation transitioned from in-person workshops to online curriculum platforms (with partners like UNICEF and over 16,000 global volunteers), aiming to reach 25 million girls in the next decade. Navigating AI Wave & DEI: Tara outlines why AI is a tidal wave to be ridden rather than feared, emphasizing the dangerous gap between rapid AI adoption in the workforce and bans in public school classrooms. She addresses how women risk being disproportionately affected by AI job displacements and advocates for project-based AI coding education for all youth.   "Find the right problem to orient your life towards, and honestly, everything else falls into place. Don't just stop at using Claude or ChatGPT - code with it. Don't be afraid; nothing will break. Find a simple problem that you have in your life and actually learn to code, because it just gives you a superpower." - Tara Chklovski   Special Shoutouts in this Episode: Anar Simpson Sidney Hough Tara's Grandmother & Mother ❣️   Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser.   **** Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome guest Tara Chklovski 01:30 – Growing up in India, home science vs. computer science, and strong female role models 04:15 – Working on cars with her father, studying aerospace engineering, and moving to the U.S. 05:40 – Dropping out of her PhD program and founding Iridescent (now Technovation) 08:15 – How Technovation operates as a 3-month tech startup accelerator for young girls 09:40 – Inspiring alumna stories: Sidney Hough's AI app for farmers and an Indian participant's road app 12:50 – Scaling Technovation globally using online platforms, UNICEF, and 16,000 volunteers 15:30 – AI in education vs. the workforce and the risk to women in declining job markets 18:20 – The evolution of DEI, re-evaluating merit vs. fairness dynamics, and creating safe sandboxes 22:15 – Male allies, chipping away at stereotypes, and how listeners can become virtual judges 25:10 – Tech policy work at the White House, presidential AI challenges, and apprenticeships 26:50 – ServiceNow-sponsored Tribeca documentary spotlight

In this engaging and insightful episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with long-time tech leader and advocate, Sarah Clatterbuck. Bringing a rich history of engineering leadership from top tech giants including Yahoo, Apple, LinkedIn, and Google - Sarah shares stories from her multi-decade career and her passionate work driving diversity, inclusion, and web accessibility.   As a senior engineering director who spent nearly three decades building the internet's biggest platforms, in Sarah's most recent role she helped build YouTube's creator economy from the ground up that grew into multi-billion-dollar businesses. In 2019, Forbes named her one of the Top 50 Women in Tech in the world. She builds with intention and is a champion of accessibility with the belief that products designed for the margins end up serving everyone.   In 2018, she and her husband chased a long-held dream and moved to Zürich on a work visa. Now seven years later, she has her permanent residency, yet still not a citizen. She has learned, firsthand, what it feels like to be an immigrant and build a life where you could still lose the right to stay. And now, she's doing something even bolder. She is taking a pause and fully stepping away with no set timeline or plan to return to the corporate world.   Episode Highlights:   Building Playbooks for Inclusion: Reflecting on her time at LinkedIn, Sarah details how she co-founded internal Women in Tech initiatives, establishing structured high school trainee and apprenticeship programs that created lasting pathways into STEM for underrepresented talent. Importance of Accessibility: Driven by early experiences working alongside visually impaired colleagues, Sarah highlights why accessibility isn't an afterthought. From fixing improper UI code to leveraging auto-captions, she emphasizes how designing inclusive products ultimately creates a better experience for everyone. Global Tech Perspectives: Sarah discusses moving her family to Zürich in 2018 to lead engineering teams at YouTube, offering key insights into navigating multi-cultural work environments, adapting to non-US markets, and experiencing life as an immigrant. Innovating the Creator Economy: A look behind the scenes at how YouTube developed multi-billion-dollar monetization channels for creators, including memberships, merch integration, and affiliate shopping programs. Embracing the "Pause": Sarah opens up about recognizing when it was time to step back from the intense demands of corporate tech leadership, sharing her perspective on mid-life career confidence, testing personal boundaries, and intentionally taking time off for family, outdoor adventures, and new analog or digital explorations.   "Accessible products make everyone's life easier. To me, that's what makes a great product: it's usable by everyone, and everyone benefits from those additional features and functionality." - Sarah Clatterbuck   Special Shoutouts in this Episode: Lorri Lee Lown Sabine Dukes Vinitra Swamy Jacqueline Ruedin Rüsch Angelica Morrone   Follow Sarah's journey on her Substack:  https://girodichatterbox.substack.com/   Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser.   **** Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome Sarah Clatterbuck 02:15 – Early days at LinkedIn, Grace Hopper Celebration memories, and co-founding Women in Tech 04:30 – Signature inclusion programs: High School Trainees, Apprenticeships (REACH), and INVEST 09:10 – Open-sourcing DEI playbooks on GitHub and stepping out of Silicon Valley 10:45 – Moving to YouTube in Zürich, language barriers, and global office culture 13:20 – Becoming a permanent resident in Switzerland and the perspective of being an immigrant 14:50 – Building YouTube's Creator Economy: Channel Memberships, Merch, and Affiliate Shopping 18:10 – Advice for growing YouTube channels and long-form vs. short-form content 21:05 – Transitioning from software engineer to engineering manager and early career mentors 23:15 – The decision to step away from corporate leadership and taking an intentional career pause 26:40 – The power of mid-life career confidence and testing time off 28:30 – Deep dive into accessibility engineering, inclusive UI design, and AI captioning 33:20 – Paying it forward: Cycling heroes, former trainees, and Swiss venture capital partners

🌟 Meet Sumer Strawbree, our YOUNGEST guest ever! This powerhouse entrepreneur, author, digital artist, and paid speaker is changing lives through the power of positive affirmations and self-love.   In this uplifting and inspiring episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, Sumer Strawbree (along with a special appearance by her father and manager and our first male ally on the show - what better start than a father , who goes by Mastermind Statements). Sumer shares her journey from suffering severe low self-esteem as a bullied child to building a thriving brand centered around empowerment, self-love, and positive affirmations.   Sumer Strawbree launched her own publishing company and began her journey as an author and illustrator at just 12 years old. Now the creator of four affirmation coloring books and a national keynote speaker for girls' empowerment, Sumer has appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show and ABC News Live. She has independently sold more than 10,000 copies of her books worldwide - featuring positive images that empower black and brown girls to feel confident and beautiful. She is also a digital artist, showcasing her work in galleries - and we have her work in our podcast studio! Behind the résumé is a girl who was once bullied for her teeth and her hands - who stopped smiling, until her father taught her to rebuild her confidence one affirmation at a time. Today, she hands other girls that same superpower.   Key Highlights:   Turning Trauma into Triumph: Sumer reveals the origin story behind her mission; after accidentally knocking out her front teeth on a basketball hoop at her dad's tech space, she developed a crooked tooth and became the target of intense school bullying and later cyberbullying. Power of Daily Affirmations: Encouraged by her father in fifth grade, Sumer adopted a daily routine of reciting positive affirmations ("I am black, brown, and beautiful," "I am a winner," "I am fearless") to reprogram her subconscious mind and rebuild her self-esteem. Empowering Books & Inclusivity: Sumer discusses authoring four successful coloring and affirmation books, including her hit debut Black, Brown, and Beautiful (translated into multiple languages) and My Career Glow Up, which showcases young girls in diverse fields like software engineering and athletics. Finding Representation in Art: As a self-taught digital artist, Sumer shares a poignant moment from her early days: realizing that online drawing tutorials only featured lighter-skinned girls with straight hair. Encouraged by her dad, she shifted her focus to creating artwork representing Black and brown girls, which has now been showcased in galleries. I Am Confident University & Community Work: Sumer breaks down her affirmation and vision board workshops designed to help people of all ages identify limiting beliefs, take actionable steps toward their goals, and find self-love. A Model for Fatherhood and Allyship: In a heartwarming segment, Sumer's father joins the couch as the podcast's first male ally. He shares his approach to intentional parenting, drawing a "strategic business plan" for his daughter's growth, and instilling entrepreneurial confidence in her from a young age.   "You don't really feel a negative way about yourself until someone says something...it's my job to keep moving forward and help others build their confidence, too." - Sumer Strawbree   This episode is a masterclass in resilience, youth leadership, and the power of positive parenting - offering deep value for parents, young entrepreneurs, and anyone working to overcome self-doubt. For the parents listening, Sumer's story is a powerful wake-up call. We'll dive into how her father recognized the silent signs of bullying and giving parents the tools to better understand what their own kids might be going through, and how to intervene.   Special Shoutouts in this Episode: Miss T Sarah Jakes Roberts Sumer's Father (Mastermind Statements), and her Pops/Grandfather ❣️   You can book Sumer as a speaker or purchase Sumer's books to support her mission here: https://sumerstrawbree.com/collections/coloring-books   Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser.   **** Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction of Sumer Strawbree, our youngest guest ever 01:41 — Sumer's origin story: bullying in 4th grade and losing her smile 05:24 — How Sumer's dad noticed she stopped showing her teeth and first recognized the bullying 08:02 — Warning signs for parents + how bullying gets normalized in school 10:28 — Cyberbullying in middle school: Snapchat rumors, jealousy over her books 13:16 — The power of positive affirmations - Sumer's daily formula for rebuilding self-confidence 13:21 — Black, Brown & Beautiful, Glow Up, My Career Glow Up, I'm An Olympian - 10,000+ girls inspired worldwide 17:54 — Sumer's digital art process (self-taught) - and why she didn't draw girls who looked like her at first 20:13 — I Am Confident University: affirmation & vision board workshops for all ages 20:35 — Sumer's vision board from age 7 - she manifested becoming an author AND just signed with a talent agency 26:18 — The emotional moment a woman at ComicCon showed Summer her scars - why this work matters 27:25 — Hosts share their own personal bullying stories 36:00 — Giving back: advisory boards, $500 grants, hospital book donations, anti-bullying support group launch 40:36 — The business side: paid speaking, Woman Evolve (Sarah Jakes Roberts), hosting workshops for 150+ girls 44:25 — Pay it forward: the dance teacher who changed everything - one message that sparked Sumer's career at 12 47:14 — Dad joins the show (first male ally on HumanizeHer!) - his philosophy on fatherhood from day one 49:44 — Dad's blueprint: how his own father's influence + a subconscious mindset shaped the way he raised Sumer 56:51 — The misstep dad admits to and his advice to parents to teach kids to recognize bullying before it happens 1:00:11 — Closing reflections on parenting, privilege, and setting kids up for life

In this powerful and candid episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with tech royalty Parisa Tabriz, VP and General Manager of Google Chrome, the browser billions of people use every single day. She's also known as Google's "Security Princess" - a title she gave herself on a business card almost twenty years ago that ended up sticking for life.   Parisa has been at Google for nineteen years - nearly her entire career.  She started out as a "hired hacker" on the security team, back when she wasn't even sure engineering was right for her. She got hacked in college, and turned that experience into a career protecting the entire web. Today she's leading Chrome through the AI era, championing accessibility as a core part of how products get built, and even consults with Hollywood helping writers and producers get the world of hacking and cybersecurity right on screen.   Key Highlights: Origin of the "Security Princess": Parisa shares the delightful, accidental branding story behind her famous title, which began as a quirky placeholder for a business card in Japan and evolved into an inspiring symbol for young girls proving you can be an engineer and a princess. From Hacked to Hired Hacker: She details her path into cybersecurity, sparked by a college web application she built being maliciously a college web app she built being hijacked and redirected to spam ads. This violation drove her to join a security club, leading to a 19-year career at Google touching Search, YouTube, Android, and ultimately leading Chrome. Navigating Corporate and Political Spotlights: Parisa opens up about the reality of high-stakes leadership, from managing engineering veterans with 20 years more experience than her to testifying before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the divestiture of Chrome. The AI Frontier & Hired Hacking: She discusses leading Project Zero (Google's offensive "hired hacker" team) and adapting to the modern AI arms race by integrating Gemini safely into Chrome. Accessibility and Human-Centric Tech: A passionate advocate for inclusive design, Parisa highlights how AI is being used to make the web accessible for underserved communities, such as generating automatic descriptions for images to aid visually impaired users. Breaking Societal Expectations: Parisa pays tribute to her mother (a nurse) and discusses her intentional choice not to have children. She offers a refreshing perspective on overcoming "imposter syndrome" and blocking out societal "shoulds" to live authentically for yourself.   "I want to be respected for making the hard decisions, and that's what I'm hired to do. It's about making sure you're living for yourself and not for the 'shoulds' - whether those come from parents, society, or friends." - Parisa Tabriz   This episode balances high-level tech strategy with deep personal wisdom, making it a must-listen for women in leadership, tech enthusiasts, and anyone navigating the pressure of cultural expectations.   Special Shoutouts in this Episode: Parisa's Mom, Dad, Brothers, & Husband ❣️   Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser.   **** Timestamps: 00:00 – Meet Parisa: Google's Security Princess & VP/GM 01:28 – Origin Story: How she got into engineering 04:00 – Internships & landing at Google 07:12 – Imposter Syndrome & moving into management 10:02 – The "Security Princess" business card story 13:13 – Joining Chrome & building web security 16:37 – The evolving cybersecurity threat landscape 21:17 – The DOJ, testifying, & Chrome's divestiture threat 24:37 – Project Zero: Google's team of hired hackers 26:58 – AI, Gemini, & the future of Chrome 35:47 – Becoming a GM: Learning a new language 38:25 – Accessibility as a core priority 42:37 – The hardest leadership decisions are always about people 44:48 – Tech Layoffs: The human side 50:18 – Consulting for Hollywood: The science & entertainment exchange 55:25 – Pay It Forward: Shoutout to her Mom 57:24 – Living for Yourself: The no-kids conversation

In this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with Mandy McClung, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, for her podcast debut. Balancing career wisdom with approachable personal insights, Mandy demystifies the massive world of wealth management and shares actionable ways to build long-term financial independence.   Financial independence is freedom and no one knows that better than Mandy McClung. With 15 years in financial services and 11 years at Morgan Stanley - one of the world's leading financial institutions, helping individuals, companies, and governments raise and manage the capital that shapes our economy - Mandy has been at the forefront of some of the most important conversations in wealth management today. From the rise of AI and its impact on how we invest, to protecting clients from fraud, to making sure women have a seat at the financial table. Last year she reached a milestone she had set her sights on a decade earlier: Managing Director. She's spent her career helping people take control of their financial futures, and today she's here to help you do the same.   What You Will Learn: Journey to Managing Director: Mandy reflects on her 18-year career in finance, tracking her journey from an unexpected college internship in marketing to a retail banking branch manager, and eventually climbing the ranks to a top executive leadership role at Morgan Stanley. Demystifying Wealth Management: Mandy breaks down the complexities of personal wealth, comparing a financial advisor to a "general practitioner" and her team of internal experts to "specialists" who deep-dive into estate planning, trusts, and insurance solutions. "Must-Haves" of Financial Planning: The conversation highlights the absolute necessity of starting early to save, utilizing company 401(k) matches, and securing vital estate documents (like wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives) to avoid future family friction. Why most people couldn't cover a $500 emergency and how to change that. Cybersecurity & Fraud Prevention: Drawing on insights from Morgan Stanley's cybersecurity head (and former NSA counterterrorism chief) Rachel Wilson, Mandy highlights the sophisticated tactics of modern scammers. She shares crucial tips on multi-factor authentication, avoiding public charging stations, and how to verify suspicious communications. AI's Impact on the Future of Banking: Discover how Morgan Stanley is partnering with OpenAI to launch internal tools like AIMS and Debrief - technologies designed to automate note-taking and back-office research so financial advisors can focus entirely on human connection.   "Women globally are going to be in control of 30% to 50% of the wealth in the next 10 to 20 years. It is so crucial for women to take ownership and get involved in the conversation." - Mandy McClung   Special Shoutouts in this Episode: Jefferies Rachel Wilson Mandy's Mother, Husband, Grandparents, Sister, and Niece ❣️   Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser.   **** Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome, Mandy's background in finance 01:11 – Her journey: from internship to Morgan Stanley 05:43 – What a Managing Director actually does 11:05 – Why every financial plan should be a living document 13:34 – Estate planning basics: wills, trusts, power of attorney 21:02 – The stat: women will control 30–50% of global wealth 22:27 – Fraud protection: scam calls, phishing, and real stories 31:51 – How AI is changing financial advising 44:55 – The $500 emergency stat — and why saving small amounts matters 46:18 – Becoming Managing Director: the story behind the title 50:34 – Final advice: start now, no matter how small

In this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Hema Raghavan, the CTO and Co-Founder of Kumo.ai and a true pioneer in the artificial intelligence space. As former LinkedIn colleagues, HumanizeHer host Erica Lockheimer and Hema take a trip down memory lane of their days together at LinkedIn.   Hema is an absolute powerhouse building at the absolute frontier of deep technical AI. Before launching her own startup, Hema spent years building core engineering systems at iconic companies like LinkedIn, leading the brilliant team behind the massive "People You May Know" engine. But despite operating at the highest levels of technology, Hema's real passion is humanizing AI. If you're feeling nervous about the pace of the AI revolution, she wants you to take a deep breath. Hema promises AI isn't scary - it's actually liberating. By letting AI automate the repetitive grunt work, it frees humans up to reclaim our time, find our true joy, and live more connected lives.   Key Takeaways from the Conversation: Democratization of Tech: How AI tools like Claude and Gemini are collapsing traditional skill boundaries, allowing Product Managers and Data Scientists to ship code directly and freeing engineers from tedious grunt work. Debunking the "Four Men in a Garage" Myth: Hema discusses intentionally building a counterculture at Kumo.ai that embraces flexibility, supports "lean-in dads", and treats personal life spikes with empathy. Reframing Risk and Career Growth: A candid conversation on navigating financial risk in startups and the power of radical honesty during the interview process. Heritage and Resilience: Hema shares beautiful personal stories about moving from Mumbai to the US, her parents' dedication to her education, and how a legendary tale of her grandmother taking a boat to Pakistan in 1925 puts modern risk into perspective.   Packed with technical insight, vulnerability, and actionable advice from our very own Erica Lockheimer - like "outsource everything but love" - this episode is an inspiring watch for anyone looking to understand the future of AI, parental scaling, and what it truly means to pay it forward to the next generation of women in tech.   Special Shoutouts in this Episode: Deepak Agarwal Igor Perisic Vanja Josifovski Jure Leskovec Rosie Jones Rukmini Iyer Hema's Husband & Her Parents ❣️   Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Libby Leffler, the Co-Founder and CEO of First (affectionately dubbed the "TurboTax for prenups"). Libby spent two decades helping build the world's most powerful rocket ships - from Google and Facebook to SoFi and Compass. But at the height of her corporate career, with a newborn at home, she chose to step away and finally do the thing she was scared to do. Libby built an innovative legal-tech platform that cuts out months of stress and thousands in fees to make prenups simple, cozy, and collaborative. By taking the awkwardness out of money, she is proving that a clear agreement isn't a breaking point - it's a powerful joining point that strengthens the marriage bond. Because true transparency gives you the ultimate freedom to build your future together.   Key Takeaways From the Conversation "Personal Stack" Identity: Libby explains how First is transforming prenuptial agreements from a taboo relationship breaking point into a collaborative, cozy, and foundational joining point. She shares fascinating user trends - including the rise of the "pet-nup," protecting digital IP, and why 50% of their prenups are initiated by women. Reality of the Founder Journey: Stepping away from the "LinkedIn highlight reel," Libby pulls back the curtain on the raw financial and emotional sacrifices of leaving corporate safety to build a startup from scratch. "Balance is B******t": Rejecting the traditional myth of work-life balance, Libby advocates for alignment - unapologetically owning your ambition while structuring life around your core values. Grief, Resilience, and Metamorphosis: In a deeply moving segment, Libby opens up about the sudden, tragic loss of her father at 33 weeks pregnant while simultaneously fundraising. She discusses how the rhythm of her mission-driven work served as a grounding compass during a season of profound grief.   "Reinvention is possible at every stage and every part of the journey. Push yourself into uncomfortable situations because that is where you learn the fastest." - Libby Leffler