Many expert women decide to take the plunge into entrepreneurship - but what are the realities of this decision? For today’s guest, Molly He, CEO and co-founder of Element Biosciences, it was never her dream, but something she saw as a means of pushing the groundbreaking scientific work she was doing forward.Molly grew up in an economically disadvantaged village in rural China. She studied hard while at the same time developing her skills as a professional sprinter. At the end of high school, she decided to take a leap of faith and move to the US. In retrospect, Molly acknowledges that this was a courageous thing to do and that she used this courage and optimism throughout her career. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

This week on In Her Element, we're bringing you Fintech Files, a podcast from BCG Platinion. A show where we delve deep into the dynamic landscape of Fintech, NeoBanks, and the Digital Banking world, sparking insightful conversations with industry disruptors from around the globe.In this episode, we ask the question: “How many globally lack access to banking?” Astonishingly, one in three. In this insightful conversation, Vera Futorjanski, former Head of Communications at Rocket Internet and founding member of Dubai Future Accelerators, shares her journey. Emphasizing the transformative role of technology, she explores challenges and strategies to enhance accessibility and diversity in finance through education and innovation. About Fintech Files: So, what are the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech, and how will they impact your financial world? Fintech Files takes an accessible approach to technology. We break down complex topics and have our guests explain them in a relatable "explain it to your grandma" style. In every episode, we focus on real-world stories of how financial technology operates, demystifying complex concepts and making them relatable for both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals.The Hosts of Fintech Files: Fintech Files is hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East. Our hosts specialize in IT strategy, modern tech architecture, and state-of-the-art banking. In their work, they've collaborated with some of today's most innovative Fintechs to transform their organizations; including supporting generative AI use cases. With their unique blend of tech expertise and passion, they bring you stories that capture the essence of the evolving Fintech landscape. This season, we're thrilled to introduce Bianca Lopes. Originally from Brazil and currently based in Denmark, Bianca is an entrepreneur and economist with a remarkable background in digital identity and biometrics. Throughout her career, she has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, reshaping their approach to technology, reimagining identity, and driving innovation agendas.We Want to Hear from You!Reach out to us at fintech-podcast@bcgplatinion.com with your questions, guest suggestions, or topics you'd like us to explore. Or just drop in to say hi! Visit our website at https://bcgplatinion.com/insights/podcast-fi/ and follow us on social media for updates and additional content.We’ll be back next week with a new episode of In Her Ellement with your hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG, where we’ll hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital, technology, and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this special episode, we’re taking you back to Season 2 for Suchi’s conversation with Professor Anjana Sursala, Professor of Responsible AI at Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of BusinessIn this episode, she talks about her journey to becoming one of the leaders in her field, her work advocating for more inclusive AI models, and how she successfully juggled family and work during the pandemic.Anjana’s story is truly remarkable. After suffering financial hardship, Anjana’s parents moved her family to a village in rural India, away from their home in Kakinada. She had dreams of studying in the US and eventually made them happen through talent and persistence. Anjana’s academic career has put her on the very cutting edge of AI research. She believes that one of the ways we can tackle bias in AI is to recruit more women into the creation and coding of AI.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakimovha from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Leadership puts you in the spotlight. Others will scrutinize everything you do, and you must challenge yourself to remain honest and authentic throughout. This is something that today’s guest, Emily Miner, learned by trial and error.Emily is Vice President of Partner Science and Business Operations at Starbucks Coffee Company. She started her career in the academic world as an anthropologist. However, an early career experience switched her on to the idea of large data sets being a force for great impact in the world. In Emily’s first leadership role, she struggled to find her groove. She tried to copy the management style she’d seen from her male peers and found that it didn’t work for her. Once she started leaning into her authentic voice and ways of working, she found management to be a much more rewarding experience.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

A career in technology isn’t usually associated with flexibility. But Sharon Mandell, CIO of Juniper Networks has managed to carve out an incredible career that has allowed her to also spend time with her family. But how did she do this?Sharon almost became a professional ballet dancer but switched suddenly to a degree in computer science. Her father might not have been happy, but it was the start of a career that took her across several high-profile organizations and roles. Her advice to anyone looking to work with AI is that you should never be afraid to ask questions.Even with all her talent, Sharon still felt like an imposter at times. Her advice to others in this position is to follow your passion.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Adi Zolotov began her career in astrophysics as an academic but decided to broaden her horizons by transitioning to the private sector. In her current role as managing director and partner at BCG X, Adi focuses on building AI and digital solutions that unlock value and insights in aerospace, defense, and the public sector. There have been many times in Adi’s career where she has been the only woman in the room. However, when faced with this situation now, she focuses on bringing her wealth of expertise to the table. Adi has had many influential mentors in her career, one of whom was Dr. Beth Willman, whom Adi interviewed in Season 2. She believes that it's important for mentees to give back to their mentors in any way they can. If you want to revisit Adi’s conversations from Seasons 1 and 2, you can find them below.Sita SontyDr. Beth WillmanJoin us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

We need more allies at all levels in tech. But what does allyship mean if you’re in a leadership role? Sometimes it’s about being honest and vulnerable. Bhavesh Dayalji is the CEO at Kensho Technologies, an artificial intelligence solutions provider. Bhavesh also has a second role - Chief AI Officer at S&P Global. So how does he balance all of this with his family life? Bhavesh says that it’s hard. The truth is, very few people find the right balance for them. But he’s learning and describes himself as a “husband and father” before anything else.Bhavesh started his career at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Switzerland. However, he joked with his colleagues that he was more interested in how the business owners in the city were utilizing technological solutions. This led him to management consulting and, eventually, Kensho.Bhavesh believes that a culture that encourages women to bring their authentic selves to work can help them feel comfortable and achieve their full potential. He also stresses that the route to inclusive hiring might take more time, but that diversity of thought is critical in the expanding AI space.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women and allies in digital technology and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this episode, we're excited to introduce our new co-host, Kamila Rakhimova, managing director, and partner at BCG. Kamila takes us on a journey from her native Tajikistan to the USA and through a career that she has mapped out on her terms. Every few years, Kamila gets the itch to try something new. Back in her home country, her proficiency in English and her qualifications in international relations made her an asset in her field. She quickly discovered that microfinance could have a significant impact on underprivileged communities. This niche brought her to the US and eventually to Amazon.At Amazon, she spearheaded the Amazon Alexa Fund, which supported founders in creating innovative businesses. For her, the most meaningful part of the program was being able to launch the careers of underrepresented founders. When Kamila first moved to the US, she followed what she thought was the playbook for success. She quickly discovered that a one-size-fits-all approach didn't work for her. Now, she listens carefully to her inner voice and does things her own way.Join us for every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Our confidence levels can change over time. They can also be influenced by "life events": the stuff that happens outside of our career that we have no control over. Despite her years of experience, today’s guest, Deanna Lanier, CSO of Icertis, doesn’t feel confident all the time.Deanna began her career in technology in sales. When she moved into a leadership role, she would often find that she was the only woman in the room. This can be an isolating experience for anyone, and Deanna acknowledges that it can create a confidence barrier for early-career women.Indeed, Deanna is active in her support for early-career women. She has said that: “Newly hired women CSOs have the opportunity and important responsibility to support and advance other women in pursuing leadership roles like the CSO title.” Icertis is a contract management company that has been leveraging AI for its clients since 2018.Join us for every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Kamila Rakhimova from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this special holiday episode, we’re taking you back to Season 2 for Corin Lines’ conversation with Dr Erin Young, Research Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute.How do you carve out a way to follow your passions in your own way? Dr. Erin Young has followed her professional interests across disciplines, and the world. As a Research Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute in the UK, Erin co-leads the Women in Data Science and AI project, examining AI and gender bias.Starting her career officially as a cabaret dancer in school, Erin went on to study classical Greek and Latin at Cambridge University. From there, she moved on to a range of organizations including The United Nations (IIEP-UNESCO) in Paris, Kantar in London, and Thomson Reuters in New York City. She has also flourished in her academic career and completed a Ph.D. in the socio-technical practices of interdisciplinary research and development projects building new technologies in 2019.The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence. The Women in Data Science and AI project seeks to help policymakers and key stakeholders take action to tackle the inherent bias present in AI. Erin is passionate about making AI more equitable and admits that she’s both “excited and terrified” at the prospects of its future.She believes strongly that the only consistency in life is change, and that, by preparing yourself, you can succeed in any career. She also rejects the idea of a ‘non-tech background’, and thinks that we’re looking at the idea of a multi-faceted, multidisciplinary skillset in the wrong way.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

What do you do when you don’t have a big-picture goal in mind? You ‘micro-optimize’ and follow your passions wherever they take you. Cat Miller has built an amazing career off the back of micro-optimizations and now works as the CTO of Flatiron Health.Cat began her technology journey at MIT. One of her modules centered around AI and how it can be used to problem-solve. Throughout her career, Cat never knew exactly what she wanted to do, but was always comfortable following her interests to see where she ended up. Eventually, this brought her to the healthcare space, and to Flatiron, where she oversees the technology that the company builds. Flatiron Health is a technology company that uses data and machine learning to help clinicians, researchers, and regulators care for cancer patients.This episode references a statistic included in the December 4th CHRO Daily Newsletter, created by Fortune: Annual performance reviews are outdated, and they’re probably hurting your company.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Sometimes we doubt ourselves, and forget to trust what our inner voice is telling us. Charlotte Degot wishes she had begun listening to hers earlier in her career, but believes the journey to this understanding takes time. Charlotte is the CEO and founder of CO2 AI, an AI platform that helps the world's largest organizations successfully manage their end-to-end net-zero journeys. She started her career at BCG and rose to the level of managing director. When she discovered the boundless application of AI, she decided to return to university to learn more about it. That's when CO2 AI was born. It was a significant risk, but she knew it was worth taking. Charlotte invites us to ask the question - “what is risk really?” How can accepting risk help us grow and expand, and what are the actual consequences of failure? Charlotte also lectures at the same institutions where she studied, providing a new generation of entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to thrive. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

If you raise your hand, what's the worst that can happen? You'll either get a yes or a no. Naba Banerjee is Airbnb’s Head of Trust and Safety, and she has made it her mission to raise her hand and put herself forward for all the opportunities she can.Naba was born and raised in India and has a father who encouraged her to apply for an engineering course as soon as she was able. Naba moved to the US after her graduation and began working for Walmart in various roles.At Airbnb, Naba is best known for her party ban algorithm. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Airbnb saw a rise in properties being booked for one-night parties, something that is prohibited in its terms and conditions. The introduction of Naba's algorithm resulted in a significant reduction in party bookings and an increase in the banning of those who continuously broke the rules.Naba has five teenage children, and she believes that AI will play a fully integrated role in their future careers.Join us for every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.Mentioned in this episode:About Fixable On the new TED podcast Fixable, Francis Frei and Anne Moriss have helped leaders at some of the world's most competitive companies solve all kinds of problems. On their show, they'll pull back the curtain and give you the type of honest, unfiltered advice they usually reserve for top executives. Maybe you have a co-worker with boundary issues or you want to know how to inspire and motivate your team. Give them a call at 234-Fixable (that's 234-349-2253) to leave Anne and Frances a voicemail with your workplace problem. They'll help you solve the problems you're stuck on. Find Fixable wherever you listen.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In 2023, AI entered the collective consciousness like never before. In Season 3, we want to hear from the women who have a deep knowledge of the space and who might even be able to tell us where it's heading. In true In Her Ellement style, we're not just going to be speaking to technologists, but also with women who are using AI to augment their business practices, help their communities, and advocate for a better future.To kick off the season, Corin and Suchi want to lay the foundation for some of the themes, concepts, and ideas that are going to come up time and time again in their conversations.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

We’re back for Season 3 of In Her Ellement, a podcast from BCG!We’re going to be doing something a little different this time. We’re spending a little time at the start of Season 3 talking to women leaders at the forefront of the AI revolution.Join AI and digital expert Suchi Srinivasan and product lead Corin Lines for more meaningful and vulnerable conversations with women leaders and allies in who live AI in business, digital, and technology. Episode 1 of In Her Ellement Season 3 is out now. Listen on your favorite podcast app.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Dr. Tarika Barrett is the proud daughter of immigrant parents who, through generations, instilled the value of education in her. Taika lives this legacy every day in her work as CEO of Girls Who Code.Fighting for education equity is Tarika’s life mission. She spent her early years traveling between Jamaica and the US; a learning experience that she credits with opening up her worldview. At college, she became involved in grass-roots activism and began her journey as an advocate of a high-quality education for all. Tarika went on to co-found the first non-screened software engineering school in New York. She faced pushback from investors but insisted that the school should be open to anyone, and not limit itself by having entrance exams. Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization that aims to support and increase the number of women in computer science. They have reached over 580,000 women, girls, and non-binary people worldwide.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Many assume that senior career women with impressive resumes have a plan that they’ve stuck to without fail. Yvonne Wassenaar is here to tell you that that's not always the case. Things can happen to you that you don’t expect. Yvonne is the former CEO of Puppet and Airware and now serves on a number of boards, influencing change from the top down.Yvonne had a difficult start in life and set herself the goal early on of giving herself financial independence. She started working at the age of fourteen and has thrown herself into education and work ever since. Yvonne never intended to be a CEO, but many people encouraged her to test her limits and strive for more. Her advice to others in her position is to take more risks and keep building your networks.Yvonne is incredibly open and candid about the challenges she's faced and the opportunities she’s grasped. When she experienced personal tragedy in her mid-thirties, she made the decision to become a mother and continue building her career. Yvonne has had a lot of support along the way, which allowed her to continue to expand her career and stretch herself further.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.Mentioned in this episode:Future Hindsight PodcastHey In Her Ellement listeners! Do you want to be a strategic player in politics? Then we want to tell you about Future Hindsight, an award-winning podcast that takes big ideas about civic life and democracy and turns them into action items for all of us. Mila Atmos is passionate about unlocking the power of everyday citizens. Join her on the show as she zeroes in on what you can do - to get engaged and stay engaged. Every Thursday she talks to bold activists and civic innovators to help you understand your power, and your ability to change the status quo. Find the show at Future Hindsight dot com or wherever you listen to podcasts.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this special episode, we’re taking you back to Season 1 for Corin Lines’ conversation with Kesha Williams, Senior Principal at Slalom.Kesha shares how she became an expert across Java, cloud technologies, artificial & machine learning, and AWS. Kesha is a lifelong learner, a passionate mentor, and advocates for more diversity in tech. She firmly believes in paying your experience forward, no matter your seniority or skill level.Since beginning her coding journey in high school, Kesha has gone on to work for Chick-fil-A and Delta Airlines as a Software Engineering Manager and Senior Software Developer respectively. As Slalom’s Senior Principal of the AWS Cloud Residency, Kesha works to grow early career technologists into world-class AWS cloud professionals and leaders. Kesha has experienced being the only woman of color in the tech space many times throughout her career, which has been challenging. After personally experiencing the gender pay gap, Kesha created the Salary Overflow Tool, which allows for greater salary transparency. She also partners with Women Who Code to educate and inspire women to pursue careers in tech.Check out Kesha’s Salary Overflow tool to see where your own salary might compare to what others are being paid in your role. You can also visit Women Who Code to access free resources & workshops, browse job & scholarship opportunities and engage with an amazing network of technical women across the globe. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology and business. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

How do we encourage more women and girls into cyber security? Kara Sprague is Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer at F5, a multi-cloud application services and security company. She believes that we need to re-brand cyber-security to make it more appealing to women and girls.Kara began her fascination with STEM when her father brought home the family's first computer. She quickly became the go-to person at school for any computer-related issues. Kara started her career in a technical role at Oracle but made the decision to pivot into consultancy. She has plenty to share about her transition from an individual contributor to a leader and mentor, and how we can all do our part to make things better in the world.Between 2015 and 2022 Kara spent time on the board of Girls Who Code, an organization that seeks to increase the number of girls moving into computer science. In this role, she was able to see real positive change in how girls were encouraged into the field.Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Starting her career as an ER doctor has taught today’s guest that “so long as no one is dying, it’s not an emergency”. Dr. Sophie Chung is the Founder and CEO of Qunomedical, an organization that helps patients navigate often complicated healthcare systems to get the treatment they need. Sophie may have started on the path to cardiology, but she decided to pivot into management consulting. In this role, she soon realized that she could create a digital solution for many of the problems that patients and hospitals face when allocating appropriate care and services. Sophie is candid about the challenges women face in becoming entrepreneurs and has a solid support network around her helping her to survive and thrive.Sophie's parents emigrated from Cambodia in the 80s to start a new life. She’s often asked if her parents were also entrepreneurs, and in a way, she says, they were. The most important thing she learned from them was hard work and determination, no matter what the circumstances. Join us every episode with hosts Suchi Srinivasan & Corin Lines from BCG to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, technology, and business.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy