Techsetters

“Self-Expression in the Metaverse” with Christina Wootton (VP of Global Partnerships at Roblox) Jul 07, 2023

Season 3 of Techsetters features our favorite moments from the Techsetters LIVE! Summer Series, hosted by Kode With Klossy alumni Etasha Donthi and Maria Herne. This episode features Christina Wootton, Vice-President of Global Brand Partnership at Roblox. She shares about bringing authenticity into the metaverse, Roblox’s exciting innovations in the digital fashion space, and the most unique and creative experience she’s seen on the platform.

An Intersectional Path in Cybersecurity with Deb Golden (US Cyber & Strategic Risk Leader at Deloitte) Jun 30, 2023

Season 3 of Techsetters features our favorite moments from the Techsetters LIVE! Summer Series, hosted by Kode With Klossy alumni Etasha Donthi and Maria Herne. This episode features Deb Golden, US Cyber & Strategic Risk Leader at Deloitte. She shares why diversity is critical to cybersecurity, what she’s learned from being the only woman in the room, and why she strives for work-life “fit” over work-life “balance”.

The Future of Fashion Tech with Christine Marzano (Co-Founder & CEO of BODS) Jun 16, 2023

Season 3 of Techsetters features our favorite moments from the Techsetters LIVE! Summer Series, hosted by Kode With Klossy alumni Etasha Donthi and Maria Herne. This episode features Christine Marzano, Co-Founder and CEO of BODS. She shares her vision for the future of fit in fashion, tips for overcoming imposter syndrome, and the best way to approach computer vision innovation.

Representation in Beauty with Crystal Sai (Executive Director, Chief of Staff for Global Online at The Estée Lauder Companies) Jun 09, 2023

Season 3 of Techsetters features our favorite moments from the Techsetters LIVE! Summer Series, hosted by Kode With Klossy alumni Etasha Donthi and Maria Herne. This episode of the season features Crystal Sai, Executive Director, Chief of Staff for Global Online at The Estée Lauder Companies. She shares about overcoming stereotypes as a Ghanaian-American, finding her home in the beauty industry, and how she fell in love with data.

“Giving Women the Credit They Deserve” with Vrinda Gupta (CEO of Sequin) Jun 02, 2023

Season 3 of Techsetters features our favorite moments from the Techsetters LIVE! Summer Series, hosted by Kode With Klossy alumni Etasha Donthi and Maria Herne. This episode features Vrinda Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Sequin. She explains how the financial system isn’t built for women, breaks down her approach to changing that, and reveals why credit may be the most important grade you get.

“When Clarity Happens” with Sarah Adewumi (NASA Scientist & Pageant Winner) May 26, 2023

Season 3 of Techsetters features our favorite moments from the Techsetters LIVE! Summer Series, hosted by Kode With Klossy alumni Etasha Donthi and Maria Herne. This episode features NASA aviation scientist, STEM education advocate, and pageant winner, Sarah Adewumi. Sarah shares how she uses her platform to inspire the next generation of BIPOC women in STEM, her favorite time management hacks, and how she turned an internship at NASA into a full time career. Plus, hear what it’s like working at NASA!

“What Would I Do If I Wasn’t Afraid?” with Sam Wiener (Engineer) May 19, 2023

Season 3 of Techsetters features our favorite moments from the Techsetters LIVE! Summer Series, hosted by Kode With Klossy alumni Etasha Donthi and Maria Herne. This episode features Sam Wiener, Head of Product Engineering at Saturn. She walks us through a day in the life as Head of Product Engineering, tips for staying resilient in a male-dominated field, and how a cold DM led to the creation of this podcast.

“Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe” with Marizza Delgado (Etsy Data Scientist & Fashion Model) May 12, 2023

Season 3 of Techsetters features our favorite moments from the Techsetters LIVE! Summer Series, hosted by Kode With Klossy alumni Etasha Donthi and Maria Herne. We’re kicking off the season with Etsy Data Scientist, fashion model, and STEM Advocate Marizza Delgado. Marizza shares why she switched from Computer Science to IT, the value of diving in before you’re ready, and tips for building community - including her motto “Your vibe attracts your tribe.”

Techsetters is a podcast by Gen Z changemakers, for Gen Z changemakers.

At Kode With Klossy, we believe that you can’t be what you can’t see. On Techsetters, co-hosts 18 year-old Etasha Donthi and 19 year-old Maria Herne sit down with a diverse array of changemakers to talk about their unique journeys in tech and entrepreneurship. In each episode, guests open up about their struggles and successes, how they’re making an impact, and what they’ve learned along the way.

Techsetters is produced by Kode With Klossy and If / Then.

Ebony Beckwith, Salesforce's Chief Philanthropy Officer on the Intersection of Technology and Giving Back Aug 17, 2021

As Chief Philanthropy Officer and CEO of the Salesforce Foundation, Ebony Beckwith fuels Salesforce’s philanthropic engine. She is responsible for the company’s philanthropic investment strategy, overseeing a global team that fosters a culture of giving back and directing hundreds of millions of dollars in grants focused on education and workforce development programs. Additionally, she leads Salesforce’s community response to hyper-relevant issues, including COVID-19, and co-leads a task force committed to racial equality and justice.

Ebony extends her leadership through her service on the boards of the Warriors Community Foundation, Hamilton Families, and the Women’s Funding Network, and as an advisory board member for PagerDuty.org, Year Up Bay Area, and Women Who Code. She has been recognized as one of San Francisco Business Times’ Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business and was also honored with the 2020 Powerful Women of the Bay Award.

Ebony holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Golden Gate University.

Techsetters is produced by Kode With Klossy and made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in August 2021.

Bridget Coughlin, Telling the Virtual Story of Shedd Aquarium Aug 10, 2021

Bridget C. Coughlin, Ph.D., was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Shedd Aquarium in 2016. Under her leadership, 1.9 million aquarium guests each year enjoy innovative experiences that are focused on Shedd’s Mission of compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world. A relentless advocate for access in all ways, Dr. Coughlin commits the organization to offering tens of millions of dollars in free admission each year; champions varied learning styles and approaches; and is a voice for real diversity, equity and inclusion practices in the business world.A nature lover and scientist at heart, Dr. Coughlin is passionate about animal life in oceans, rivers and lakes and her commitment to learning and conservation extends well beyond the walls of Shedd Aquarium.

She also serves as an AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Lyda Hill Philanthropies. A Colorado native, Dr. Coughlin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Knox College, a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Iowa and an executive scholar certificate in finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Enjoy!

Adam Mosseri Shares Everything You Need to Know About Instagram Aug 03, 2021

Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) is the Head of Instagram where he oversees all functions of the business including engineering, product and operations. A designer at heart, Adam is known for balancing sharp design thinking with thoughtful product strategy to create experiences that bring people together and encourage authentic communication.

Adam has been at Facebook for more than eleven years. He was design director for Facebook's mobile apps and then moved into product management where he led the News Feed product and engineering teams for many years. He was Head of News Feed prior to joining Instagram where he oversaw product before managing the entire organization.

Prior to Facebook, Adam worked at TokBox as the company’s first designer. He began his career founding a design consultancy in 2003 with offices in New York and San Francisco that focused on graphic, interaction and exhibition design. Adam holds a BA from the Gallatin School of Interdisciplinary Study at NYU where he studied Information Design and Media.

Born and raised in New York, he now lives in San Francisco with his wife and three sons.

Techsetters is a Kode With Klossy Podcast, made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in July 2021.

Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Founding the Wellness Brand Golde Jul 27, 2021

Trinity Mouzon Wofford is the Co-founder and CEO at Golde, a Brooklyn-born health and beauty brand. With her partner, Issey Kobori, she founded Golde in 2017 with the mission of bringing accessibility to the wellness industry via approachable products powered by superfoods. Since launching the brand at age 23, Trinity has been named one of Forbes 30 under 30 and most recently landed Golde on the shelves of Target stores across the country.

Techsetters is a Kode With Klossy Podcast, made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in July 2021.

Jana Messerschmidt, From Netflix to Co-Founding #ANGELS Jul 20, 2021

This week, Techsetters features an exceptional woman who works to elevate those who are building the future. Her joint venture, #ANGELS, is built on the philosophy that sometimes venture investment is personal and sometimes it’s a group effort. Jana Messerschmidt’s credentials include investor, advisor, board member and operator. She is a founding partner of #ANGELS with investments ranging from Carta, OpenSea, Lovevery, Snackpass, to Threads and more. In this episode, Jana offers her insight into the world of tech startup venture capitalism as well as their personal stories of making the world a better, more empowered place. It’s an excellent episode. Dig in and enjoy!

Techsetters is a Kode With Klossy Podcast, made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in July 2021.

Annastasia Seebohm, Brilliant Minds and Feminine Leadership Jul 13, 2021

Here at Techsetters, we aim to bring you the brightest and most inspiring minds out there and today’s guest certainly fits the bill. Annastasia Seebohm is the newly appointed CEO of Brilliant Minds Foundation -- her second CEO role under the age of 35. The Brilliant Minds Foundation aims to connect the most creative people on the planet, bringing them together to develop world-changing ideas. It’s a bold initiative, and one Annastasia is happy and eager to take on. She offers valuable perspective on the topics nearest and dearest to our Techsetter hearts.

Techsetters is a Kode With Klossy Podcast, made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in July 2021.

Amy Jain, Co-Founding a Company With Your Best Friend Jun 29, 2021

Today we get to hear from Amy Jain, co-founder and CEO of BaubleBar, an online jewelry and accessories retailer. Together with her co-founder and best friend, Daniella Yacobovsky, Amy took a Harvard Business School project and turned it into a thriving online enterprise. Over the years, she has received industry honors for her work, including Crain’s 40 Under 40 and Inc. Magazine’s 30 Under 30 — and rightly so. Amy is impressive, inspiring and incredibly tech business savvy.

Techsetters is a Kode With Klossy Podcast, made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in June 2021.

Vanessa Hill, Re-Inventing The Way You Think About Sleep Jun 23, 2021

This week on Techsetters, we get to hear from one of the most fascinating and fun minds out there -- Vanessa Hill. If you’re as interested in the overlap of science and health as I am, you might have seen Vanessa’s popular YouTube channel, BrainCraft, where she features science-based content that educates, inspires and entertains. She’s also produced shows for PBS, ABC and Screen Australia and is an If / Then Ambassador. Vanessa’s content offers audiences a fresh take on evidence-based information they can use to enrich their everyday lives and boost their wellbeing. Settle in for some great insight!

Techsetters is a Kode With Klossy Podcast, made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in June 2021.

Megan Smith & Susan Alzner, Using Technology to Better Humanity Jun 15, 2021

On this week’s episode we were joined by Megan Smith and Susan Alzner, co-founders of Shift7, where they are bringing together problem solvers and innovators to solve systemic problems through transparency, interdisciplinary collaboration, and leveraging technology.

Before teaming up to build Shift7, Megan Smith served as the third Chief Technology Officer of the United States under President Barack Obama, worked as VP of Google for 11 years, was CEO of planetout- an online LGTBQ+ community in the early days of the internet, and worked on early smartphones at General Magic and Apple Japan early in her career. Today, in addition to her work at Shift7, Megan is an advisor to the MIT Media Lab, Vital Voices, Thinkof-Us, LA Olympics 2028, the Malala Fund, which she actually co-founded!

Susan has worked in both creative spaces as well as government organizations. Susan worked as the political project manager for musician and social activist Ani DiFranco, and led the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS) from 2014-2018. During her time at the UN, she co-created the UN Solutions Summit and led global public participation in UN General Assembly high-level events, including the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, and dialogues with the candidates for UN Secretary-General.

In today’s episode we go behind the scenes of these illustrious careers to learn how a mandatory middle school science fair, batman and Robin, shaped Megan and Susan’s leadership styles and approaches to problem solving. Megan and Susan discuss how we can superpower our problem solving by applying technology and innovation to all topics from self driving cars to school lunches.

Techsetters is a Kode With Klossy Podcast, made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in May 2021.

Bridgit Mendler, Analyzing Fame and Social Media at MIT Jun 08, 2021

Bridgit Mendler is my kind of girl – equal parts artist and tech guru. She has enjoyed a successful career as an actress, with credits on the Disney Channel and other movies, as well as a singer-songwriter. But it’s her love of javascript and work as a computer scientist that brings her here today. In this episode, we learn about Bridgit’s research as a PhD student and Director’s Fellow at the MIT Media Lab, the research conferences she would love to present at one day, and what Natural Language Processing is. Listen to the entire episode for an exciting career update and plot twist from Bridgit!

Techsetters is a Kode With Klossy Podcast, made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in April 2021.

Padmasree Warrior, Founder & CEO Fable Jun 01, 2021

In this episode, Samantha and Jenny speak to Padmasree Warrior, a woman who has held so many legendary CTO and CEO roles, we don’t even know where to begin. She’s led teams in hardware, electric cars, and now, at her own company Fable, where she’s building curated editorial content in the mental wellbeing space. Padma’s story is full of really important lessons about finding your voice, knowing your weaknesses and making the most out of every opportunity.

Techsetters is a Kode With Klossy Podcast, made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in March 2021.

Claire Hughes Johnson, Increasing the GDP of the Internet May 25, 2021

Today, Samantha and Jenny are talking to Claire Hughes Johnson. Claire is the COO of Stripe. Even if you’ve never heard of Stripe, you’ve definitely used it before. They’re the company that businesses use to send and receive payments, whether you’re Lyft, Instacart, Blue Bottle... You name it. Prior to Stripe, Claire worked at Google, leading various teams across Gmail, Google Apps, AdWords, and their self-driving cars project. Claire started her career consulting state politics, and represents everything we love about a Techsetters guest: she’s stayed curious, leaned into her strengths, and adapted with the world.

Techsetters is Executive Produced by Kode With Klossy and made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in March 2021.

Debbie Sterling, From Idea Brunch to GoldieBlox CEO May 18, 2021

In this episode, Samantha and Jenny speak to Debra Sterling. Debbie is the founder and CEO of GoldieBlox, a toy company that uses storytelling and games to inspire more young girls to pursue a life in STEM. She’s since been rewarded as a Time Magazine ‘Person of the Moment,’ and a Forbes 40 Under 40. Debbie is also an If / Then Ambassador and as you’ll hear in this episode, an inspiring Brunch Host.

Techsetters is Executive Produced by Kode With Klossy and made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in April 2021.

Alexandra Zatarain, Re-Inventing Sleep Fitness May 11, 2021

In today’s episode, Samantha and Jenny are speaking to Alexandra Zatarain. Alexandra’s work is all about sleep. She’s the Co-founder and VP of Brand and Marketing at Eight Sleep, the world’s very first sleep fitness company. She works with her team to use the most advanced technology for all their products that help people sleep a little bit better.

Raised in Tijuana, Alexandra has worked in academia, on Wall Street, and for various apps. She’s a Forbes 30 Under 30, an angel investor, and a mentor with WE NYC, an initiative to support female business owners.

Techsetters is Executive Produced by Kode With Klossy and made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in March 2021.

Fig O'Reilly, Miss Universe Ireland turned NASA Datanaut May 04, 2021

For our season two premiere, Sam and Jenny landed someone extra special. If you don’t know her, Fig is our favorite type of multi-hyphenate. She was the first woman of color to represent Ireland in the international Miss Universe Pageant. As if that wasn’t enough, she’s also a NASA Datanaut, working alongside the agency’s Open Innovation Program to develop new processes, ways of thinking and products. She was our dream first guest, speaking candidly about issues we can allll relate to, whether that’s overcoming imposter syndrome or maintaining her more artistic side in the world of engineering. Should we all go work for NASA? We’ll talk about it later.

Techsetters is Executive Produced by Kode With Klossy and made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in April 2021.

Techsetters Season Two Trailer Apr 27, 2021

Techsetters is back! This season, hosts Sam and Jenny continue theirmission to uncover the stories and secrets of techsetters everywhere; asking guests’ about their career defining moments and unconventional paths in the world of STEAM. Season two shares 15 new stories from women around the world. Consider this your permanent invitation to your seat at the tech table.

New episodes released every Tuesday, beginning May 4!

Soraya Darabi on the Future of Living Well Sep 29, 2020

On our season one finale of Techsetters, Sam and Jenny interview Soraya Darabi. Featured by FastCompany as one of their “Most Creative People in Business”, Soraya is a cornerstone of the New York City startup scene. Responsible for helping the NYTimes adopt social media, Soraya is a 2-time entrepreneur, and has been named both a Mentor of the year by TechStars and a Young Global Leader by the World economic Forum. Today, she is the founder and general partner of Trail Mix Ventures, and is dedicated to leveling the playing field, as only 2.2% of VC dollars are invested in female founders. In this episode, Soraya talks about taking risks, investing in resilient founders, and betting on the future of living well.

Techsetters is Executive Produced by Kode With Klossy and made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in May 2020.

Peter Boyce II on the Importance of Student Founders Sep 22, 2020

If you’re listening to today’s episode of Techsetters, you can thank Peter Boyce! Peter introduced Jenny and Sam when they were both in college and the rest is history. He is a Partner at General Catalyst and the founder of Rough Draft Ventures, a Harvard based organization with a student team building and empowering the largest network of student founders. Peter’s interests extend beyond Venture Capital, he sits on the boards of The Shed and New Inc, both non-profit institutions that foster innovation at the intersection of art and technology. Did we mention he hosts wine tastings over zoom? Even with his busy calendar, he continues to find time to advise and inspire the next generation of founders. On today’s episode, Peter gives incredible insight for first time founders, an understanding of what it means to be in venture capital, and by the end of this episode you’ll understand why Peter is such an inspiration! Techsetters is Executive Produced by Kode With Klossy and made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in May 2020.

Yamilée! Beach on Empowering Young Women with STEM and Dance Sep 15, 2020

On this episode of Techsetters, co-hosts Samantha Wiener and Jenny Wang interview AAAS / If / Then Ambassador and STEM From Dance Founder, Yamilee Beach.Yamilée has personally experienced the extraordinary benefits of a STEM education and dance. After studying mechanical engineering at MIT and being an avid dancer for 21 years, she switched gears to teach high school algebra in an under-served community in East New York, Brooklyn through Teach For America. As a teacher, her eyes were opened to the multitude of opportunities her students didn’t have access to; there was an abundance of potential that would never be unleashed. Therefore, she set out to provide students with something greater than what the school system could provide. She started STEM From Dance with the hope that a strong dance and STEM supplemental education would help to increase the number of under-represented minority high school girls across the nation who pursue a STEM undergraduate education.

Techsetters is Executive Produced by Kode With Klossy and made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in May 2020.

Brenda Darden Wilkerson on Fighting For Social Justice in Education and taking Grace Hopper Virtual Sep 08, 2020

On this episode of Techsetters, co-hosts Samantha Wiener and Jenny Wang interview Brenda Darden Wilkerson. Brenda is a pioneering thought leader working on the urgent need for intersectional equity in technology. She leads AnitaB.org as the CEO and President, working as an unwavering advocate for access, opportunity, and social justice for underrepresented communities in technology. AnitaB.org is a nonprofit organization working to shape public opinion about issues of critical importance to women technologists in academia, industry, and government. Brenda founded the original Computer Science for All program, building computer science classes into the curriculum for every student in the Chicago Public Schools system, and serving as the inspiration for the Obama administration’s national CS4All initiatives.

Techsetters is Executive Produced by Kode With Klossy and made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in September 2020.

Camille Fournier on the Role of Engineering Leaders Sep 01, 2020

On this episode of Techsetters, co-hosts Samantha Wiener and Jenny Wang interview Camille Fournier. Camille, currently managing director at Two Sigma, a hedge fund, shares thoughtful advice on leadership on engineering culture, how tech transforms industries and the importance of understanding data. Before joining Two Sigma, Camille was CTO at Rent the Runway, where she spearheaded the technology to rent clothing from a “closet in the cloud”. Camille has published two books on management. The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change, and her most recent book 97 Things Every Engineering Manager Should Know. Camille doesn’t just talk about management tips, she shares advice that you can use wherever you are in your career.

Techsetters is Executive Produced by Kode With Klossy and made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in May 2020.

Deborah Berebichez, PhD. on Defying the Odds of Physics Aug 25, 2020

On this episode of Techsetters, co-hosts Samantha Wiener and Jenny Wang interview Dr. Deborah Berebichez, PhD. Debbie is the first Mexican woman to graduate from Stanford University with a PhD in Physics, and she uses her education and background to make science approachable to a wide range of audiences. Debbie co-hosts Discovery Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science TV show, is the Chief Data Scientist at Metis where she leads the creation and growth of exceptional data science training opportunities, and complete two postdoctoral fellowships at Columbia University's Applied Math and Physics Department and at NYU's Courant Institute for Mathematical Sciences where she carried out research in the area of acoustic waves. She has recently been recognized as an AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador for inspiring and empowering young women to learn science and to improve the state of STEM education in the world. Did we mention she has worked in TWO Nobel Peace Prize Labs?

Techsetters is Executive Produced by Kode With Klossy and made possible by If / Then. This episode was recorded in May 2020.

Carol Reiley on Robots Disrupting Industries Aug 18, 2020

On this episode of Techsetters, co-hosts Samantha Wiener and Jenny Wang interview serial entrepreneur, Carol Reiley. Nicknamed "The Mother of Robots," Carol has brought artificial intelligence and robotics into the mainstream. Currently the CEO of her fourth startup (her previous one drive.ai sold to Apple), Carol shares her vision for the future of family planning, how robots and humans can work together and learn how creative thinkers can apply engineering skills to disrupt traditional industries. Did we mention Carol is part of the Young Global Leaders selected by the World Economic Forum, Forbes Top 50 Women In Tech, model, and to top it off, the creative advisor of San Francisco’s Symphony?