What if you don’t need a five-year plan to build a fulfilling career?

In this episode of Tech Beyond Gender, Meena Satishkumar speaks with Anne-Marie about her unexpected journey from chemistry to software development, technical leadership and enterprise transformation.

Anne-Marie shares how motherhood helped her find her voice, how she grew into leadership as an introvert, and why working part-time never meant being less committed. She also reflects on moving from doing the work herself to helping others succeed.

We explore navigating self-doubt, finding supportive mentors, recognising transferable skills and taking small steps when your career feels stuck.

An honest, encouraging conversation for anyone questioning their next move or wondering whether they have what it takes to lead.

#TechBeyondGender #WomenInTech #CareerGrowth #CareerChange #Leadership #IntrovertedLeaders #SelfDoubt #CareerConfidence #WorkingMothers #Mentoring

Why do some talented people thrive at work while others never get the same opportunity to show what they can do?

In Episode 76 of the Tech Beyond Gender podcast, John Lewis, Suzanne Holland, Satish Kumar and Noor Syed explore the forces that shape our careers — often in ways we don't immediately recognise.

Starting with John's nonlinear journey across startups, consulting, digital transformation, banking, insurance, architecture, data and AI, the conversation expands into a much bigger discussion about opportunity, networks, self-belief, privilege and workplace culture.

If organisations can recognise and unlock talent that is currently being overlooked, everyone benefits.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Prabha Ravi, we explore a side of career success that goes far beyond job titles.Prabha shares how a lifelong mindset of service shaped her journey into community leadership, governance and public life. She explains what serving on a board really involves, why governance is much more than status, and how people from migrant and diverse communities can start building their own pathway into board roles.We also hear the remarkable story behind Prabha receiving the Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) and how an unexpected opportunity led her back into acting, eventually taking her into award-winning short films and international film festivals.Throughout the conversation, one theme keeps emerging: you don't always need to have your entire career mapped out.Sometimes the opportunities that seem furthest from your original plan can open completely new doors.#PrabhaRavi #TechBeyondGender #Leadership #Governance #CareerJourney #Diversity #WomenInLeadership #MigrantStories #PublicService #CareerChange #BoardLeadership #NewZealand

What does it take to step into spaces where few people look like you - and then help create a pathway for others?

In this episode of the Tech Beyond Gender Podcast, Meena Satishkumar and Satish Kumar speak with Priyanca Radhakrishnan, New Zealand’s first minister of Indian origin, about her journey from growing up in Singapore and moving to New Zealand as an international student, to working in women’s rights and eventually entering Parliament.Priyanca shares how her early work supporting women experiencing domestic violence shaped her commitment to social justice, systemic change and inclusive leadership.

She also speaks openly about imposter syndrome, self-doubt, mentorship and the responsibility that comes with being the first.

Priyanca reminds us that being invited into the room is only the beginning. True inclusion means creating an environment where different perspectives, lived experiences and voices can genuinely influence decisions.

AI agents are already changing how we work, automate processes and solve complex problems. But how do they differ from generative AI, and how much autonomy should we give them?

In this episode of the Tech Beyond Gender Podcast, Meena Satish Kumar speaks with Jyothi Madan Lal, Solutions Architect at AWS, about the who, what and how of agentic AI.

They explore:

• How AI agents work
• Where organisations are using them today
• Data, integration and security considerations
• Hallucinations, observability and human oversight
• Who is accountable when an agent makes a mistake
• Whether agents will replace people
• How leaders can evaluate agentic AI investments
• The skills professionals need for an agent-powered future

Jyothi also demonstrates how she uses Kiro to support her daily work and how an AWS DevOps Agent can investigate application latency, identify a potential root cause and recommend remediation.

AI agents are here to stay. The question is not simply whether we should use them, but how we can use them responsibly.

Subscribe to Tech Beyond Gender for more conversations about technology, leadership and the future of work.

#AIAgents #AgenticAI #GenerativeAI #ResponsibleAI #AWS #FutureOfWork #TechBeyondGender

What does it take to build a fairer, more connected New Zealand?In this episode of the Tech Beyond Gender Podcast, Meena Satishkumar and co-host Satishkumar speak with barrister, author and Labour Party candidate Max Harris about the experiences and values that shaped his journey into politics.Max shares his thoughts on inequality, pay equity, gender equity, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, representation, AI, leadership and the importance of listening to people living in very different worlds. He also reflects on why meaningful change requires people working both inside and outside our systems.This is a thoughtful conversation about justice, values-driven leadership and the role each of us can play in creating lasting change.Subscribe to Tech Beyond Gender for more conversations with people challenging systems, amplifying unheard voices and creating meaningful impact.#TechBeyondGender #MaxHarris #PayEquity #GenderEquity #Leadership #NewZealand #SocialChange #Politics #Equality

What shapes a life devoted to service, leadership and community?

In Part 1 of this deeply personal conversation, Prabha Ravi takes us back to her extraordinary childhood in Chennai, growing up in a home shared with a spiritual guru and constantly filled with devotees, music, dance and service.She reflects on the lessons that grounded her, her transition from Chennai to Mumbai and then New Zealand, and how she built a career in international education before finding her path into governance and public service.Prabha also shares the challenges she faced as a migrant, the unexpected opportunities that shaped her career, and the persistence that eventually led to her appointment to the Education New Zealand board after 17 years of applying for public sector governance roles.Hosted by Meena Satishkumar, with Satish Kumar joining as co-host, this episode explores spirituality, resilience, migration, leadership and the power of seeing service in everything we do.This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation with Prabha Ravi.Subscribe to Tech Beyond Gender for Part 2 and more conversations with people creating meaningful change in our workplaces and communities.

What if self-doubt is not a fact, but simply a story you have been telling yourself?In this inspiring episode of the Tech Beyond Gender Podcast, Meena Satishkumar speaks with transformational coach, speaker and personal branding expert Aticka Dhandia about moving beyond fear, limiting beliefs and the feeling of not being good enough.Aticka shares her own journey from being afraid to speak to people to confidently facilitating programmes for students, corporate leaders and diverse audiences. She explains why confidence does not mean being fearless—and why even highly successful people can continue to experience self-doubt.In this conversation, we explore:✨ Why perfection can become a form of procrastination✨ How authenticity strengthens confidence and connection✨ The role of breathwork in managing stress and limiting beliefs✨ Why everyone needs time for silence and self-reflection✨ The seven levels of human existence✨ The connection between intention, attention and manifestation✨ The three Ps of leadership presence: Preparation, Presentation and Presence✨ How to take action even when you do not fully believe in yourself#BeyondSelfDoubt #confidence #AtickaDhandia #breathwork #personalgrowth #Leadership #authenticity #executivepresence #TechBeyondGender #womeninleadership