Women in Data Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep.158 - Rejection Isn't Failure - So Why Do You Feel Stuck? Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

Rejection is something we all experience in our careers, but rarely talk about openly.

In this episode, Karen and Cecilia have an honest conversation about what setbacks actually feel like in data careers. From job rejections to ideas not landing and difficult feedback, they explore how these moments can impact confidence, identity, and growth.

Together, they share personal experiences, unpack the stories we tell ourselves after a “no”, and offer practical ways to reframe rejection without dismissing the emotional impact.

This episode is a reminder that resilience isn’t about being unaffected, it’s about learning how to process setbacks, build perspective, and keep moving forward in a way that’s sustainable and kind to yourself.

Ep.157 - Stop Shrinking in Your Role Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Have you ever stepped into a new role… and suddenly felt smaller than you expected?

You worked hard to get there. You have the experience. But a few weeks in, you walk into meetings and start second-guessing yourself. Everyone else seems more established, more confident.

And before you realise it, you start shrinking.

In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, Karen is joined by Michelle Adebayo, Data and AI Governance Manager, who shares her experience of navigating imposter syndrome after joining an organisation where many colleagues had been there for decades.

Despite nearly a decade of experience in data governance, Michelle found herself stepping back in meetings, letting others speak for her, and questioning whether she really belonged. A candid moment with a mentor forced her to confront what was really going on: fear.

Michelle shares how she rebuilt her confidence, learned the language of the organisation, and developed practical strategies to stay visible and influential in meetings.

If you’ve ever felt smaller in a role you worked hard to get, this episode will remind you of something important:

You earned your place. Your voice belongs in the room.

Ep.156 - How to Use AI Without Losing Your Edge Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

Are we becoming worse at our jobs because we use AI?

It’s a question so many of us are quietly asking. If AI can write the code, summarise the findings, build the deck… are we still building our skills, or slowly outsourcing them?

In this episode, I sit down with AI researcher Nora Petrova to unpack the guilt, the anxiety, and the real risk behind AI tools. But instead of fear-mongering, we focus on something practical: how to use AI as a learning accelerator.

Nora shares a simple but powerful framework:

Stay in the driver’s seat
Never outsource what you don’t understand
Use AI to invest in yourself, not automate yourself
Test whether you’re actually learning (or just feeling productive)

We also talk about the illusion of learning, the difference between junior and senior professionals in this new landscape, and how to navigate uncertainty without spiralling.

If you want to use AI confidently without losing your edge this episode is for you.

Tune in and rethink how you’re using AI today.

Nora recommends to also watch: https://youtu.be/z3kaLM8Oj4o?si=Jr9amKNncuE4egKi

Ep. 155 - Questioning Your Career in Data Could be your Secret Superpower Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

In this cohosted episode Karen and Cecilia reflect on questioning their careers in data from imposter syndrome and leadership doubts to navigating fast-moving industry change. They challenge the idea that seniority brings certainty, instead considering how ambiguity is constant and self-questioning can be an advantage. The conversation explores resilience, shifting environments, and detaching identity from job titles. They share a practical framework for gaining clarity: reflecting on strengths, tracking interests, learning from past roles, reality-checking through conversation, and defining what to start, stop, and continue—emphasising growth is an ongoing, imperfect process.

Ep.154 - How to Get Hired, Promoted & Paid What You Deserve as a Woman Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

The hiring system carries bias, and it shows. While efforts are made to solve this, it’s important that we take ownership of our own career.

In this episode, Karen is joined by Nuria Muñoz, Global Talent Leader at Munich Re, to unpack what really happens behind the scenes in hiring, promotions and pay decisions.

They talk about why job descriptions are wish lists, why being a perfect match is actually a red flag, bold interview questions that change the dynamic, and how to handle high-pressure interviews with confidence. Nuria also shares negotiation strategies for salary offers and for promotions. For her, treating your career like a business plan is essential.

If you’ve ever hesitated to apply, struggled to negotiate, or wondered how to fast track your growth, this conversation is your playbook.

You don’t need permission to grow. You need strategy.

Ep. 153 - You’re not Failing, you’re new: Starting a new job is hard Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

Starting a new job is meant to feel exciting but often, it’s also tiring, awkward, and quietly overwhelming. Even when it’s the right move.

In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, Cecilia is joined by Rianna Kelly to talk honestly about what it really feels like to start somewhere new. From confidence wobbling and long hours without visible output, to rebuilding trust, navigating new relationships, and feeling like the “new person” all over again, even at a senior level.

This isn’t a “how to succeed in 30 days” conversation. It’s about normalising the discomfort, redefining progress in the early months, and learning when to push yourself and when to give yourself grace.

If you’re in a new role, about to start one, or wondering why you don’t feel settled yet, this episode is a reminder that you’re not behind you’re in transition.

Further listening:

This episode builds on earlier Women in Data conversations, including Episode 64 with Neha Wadhawan on establishing yourself in a new role, and Episode 146 with Beth Bauer on the data behind the care.

Ep. 152 - AI Vs My Job Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, hosts Cecilia Oliveira and Karen Jean-Francois pull back the curtain on the "dirty little secret" of the data world: exactly how they are using AI to change the way they work.

Moving past the headlines and the hype, Cecilia and Karen share a vulnerable look at their initial skepticism and how they shifted toward an "Augmentation Mindset." They dive into the practicalities of using AI as a junior collaborator—from cleaning messy data and writing SQL to the "meta" moment of using AI to help structure this very podcast episode.

Whether you're feeling "productivity guilt" or pure curiosity, this episode is a guide to making AI work for you, so you can focus on the work only you can do.

Ep.151 - How Data Leaders Build Influence Without Authority Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Karen is joined by Kinnari Ladha, Chief Data Officer, to explore why great data work often fails to land — and how communication turns data leaders into trusted influencers, making it their superpower.

Drawing on over two decades in data—from hands-on analyst to executive leader—Kinnari shares candid stories of building “perfect” dashboards that didn’t get used, and how those moments reshaped her approach to leadership.

She explains why career progression in data requires doing more work bringing people along, how tailoring messages to different audiences and shifting from reporting to storytelling changes impact, and why focusing on outcomes — not outputs — transforms how data is valued.

The conversation also dives into the role of trust in influence: how small, consistent actions build credibility, why listening comes before strategy, and how data teams can move from being seen as service providers to true business partners. With practical habits like weekly “highs and lows” and reframing data in business language, this episode is packed with insights you can apply straight away.

Ep.150 - Four Mindsets to Set You Up for a Successful Year Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

What if the secret to a successful year was a shift in mindset?

In the first episode of the year on the Women in Data Podcast, Karen is joined by Seana Tomlinson, coach, counsellor, and trainer and coach on the Women in Data LEAP programme, to explore four mindsets that can set you up for a more confident, authentic, and sustainable year.

After 18 years in the corporate world, Seana built a portfolio career that truly works for her and her family. On the podcast, she shares her key learnings to help you start the year with clarity and intention. Together, they discuss why confidence isn’t fixed, why authenticity matters more than imitation, how resilience goes far beyond “pushing through,” and how work–life balance evolves across different seasons of life.

This episode offers practical reflections on:

Building confidence before you feel ready
Leading and showing up as yourself
Strengthening resilience without burning out
Creating balance that works for you, right now

If you’re ready to start the year with self-belief, clarity, and intention, this conversation will help you lay the foundations for a successful year.

Ep.149 - Do We Really Need Another Meeting? Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

Karen and Cecilia tackle a pain point every data professional knows: trying to stay aligned without packing your calendar with even more meetings. From hybrid work and endless notifications to navigating Slack vs. Teams, they explore why the answer isn’t more communication — it’s better communication.

They share real stories, practical strategies, and the tools that actually help: async updates, stand-ups, dashboards, wrap-up messages, and ways to protect your deep-work time. They also reveal the tactics they’re trying next and invite you to share your own.

If you’ve ever left “a meeting to join a meeting about meetings,” this episode is for you.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected