In Her Ellement

We want to hear from you! Email us at BCGInHerEllement@bcg.com with a voice memo describing your In Your Ellement moment. We might feature your story in an upcoming episode!***What do you do when a dream opportunity arrives at an inopportune time?For Miki Tsusaka, it called for some tough conversations with the people she trusted most.This episode is part of our Builders mini series, where we talk with founders, product managers, and digital leaders about what drives their passion for building.Miki is now the president of Microsoft Japan, where she’s leading AI adoption and digital transformation across industries. Before joining Microsoft, she spent over three decades at BCG, rising from associate to global CMO.In this episode, Miki shares how she’s bringing lessons from her consulting career into leading a major tech organization, and how growing up with strong women role models shaped her approach to work and life. She also offers a grounded take on AI: why using it well requires a willingness to build new muscles over time.01:50 A Dream Job Offer04:15 Solving Language Barriers With AI05:56 Women in Tech Leading AI Adoption09:56 The 70-20-10 Rule11:50 A Family of Educators 15:09 Blind Spots and Finding Commonality17:10 Buying Cookies for The Bake Sale19:15 ReflectionsLinks:Miki Tsusaka on LinkedInSuchi Srinivasan on LinkedInKamila Rakhimova on LinkedInBCG Report: Women Leaders in Tech Are Paving the Way in GenAIAbout In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element?About The Hosts:Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders.Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030.Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.

We want to hear from you! Email us at BCGInHerEllement@bcg.com with a voice memo describing your In Your Ellement moment. We might feature your story in an upcoming episode!***What do you do when your job drops you into the center of a global financial crisis?That’s where Sophia Bantanidis found herself – helping craft post-crisis banking reforms at the UK’s financial regulator. The experience shaped how she thinks about risk, regulation, and building more resilient systems.Today, Sophia works at Citi’s thought leadership division, where she explores the forces transforming financial services, from disruptive tech to global market shifts. In this episode, Sophia talks about her career journey, how AI could reshape compensation models, and why it’s so important to vet any job – especially your first one.01:31 Writing Rules for Executive Pay During the 2008 Crisis06:24 Early Aspirations and a Diverse Upbringing09:36 A Terrible Day One At Work11:53 Vet Potential Jobs and Built a Network16:41 From the Frontlines: AI and Compensation20:33 ReflectionsLinks:Sophia Bantanidis on LinkedInSuchi Srinivasan on LinkedInKamila Rakhimova on LinkedInMayowa Jolayemi on LinkedInAbout In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element?About The Hosts:Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders.Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030.Mayowa Jolayemi is a second-year Associate at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she focuses primarily on projects related to education, economic growth, and workforce development. She earned her B.A. in Economics from Harvard University, concentrating her academic work on economic development in West Africa, particularly in education and women's workforce empowerment. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.

Kirsten Rulf, a Partner at BCG and former advisor to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, shares her insights on leadership and AI. She explains how ancient myths inform modern governance and the importance of having substance in leadership over mere glitz. Kirsten discusses her journey from journalism to shaping EU tech legislation, highlighting the necessity for trust in policymaking. She also reflects on embracing change and the transformative power of hope in high-stakes environments.

We want to hear from you! Email us at BCGInHerEllement@bcg.com with a voice memo describing your In Your Ellement moment. We might feature your story in an upcoming episode!***What happens when you bring startup lessons into the C-suite?This episode kicks off our mini series called Builders, where we talk with founders, product managers, and digital leaders about what drives their passion for building.In this episode, we speak with Karen Stroup, Chief Digital Officer at WEX. Karen leads the digital strategy behind WEX’s payment solutions, which support sectors like fleet management, healthcare, and travel. She opens up about her leadership style, why she’s optimistic about Gen Z’s approach to work, and how a formative startup experience shaped her career path.[01:41] AI Solutions to Longstanding Challenges[5:30] 99 out of 100 Hours to Define a Problem[9:47] Finding Your Leadership Style[12:37] “The Coach Wants to Win a State Championship”[13:37] Pivoting to A Startup[17:05] Motherhood, then a Promotion[18:47] The Gen Z Approach[21:33] ReflectionsLinks:Karen Stroup on LinkedInKamila Rakhimova on LinkedInSuchi Srinivasan on LinkedInAbril Villarreal Garcia on LinkedInAbout In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element?About The Hosts:Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders.Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030.Abril Villarreal Garcia is a first-year associate at BCG where she has done projects in Private Equity, Climate & Sustainability and Social Impact. She grew up in Monterrey, Mexico and lived for a few years in the Houston area. She studied International Politics at Georgetown University with a focus on culture. She is passionate about pursuing a career that gives her financial independence and stability while also making an impact.Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.

Pritha Mehra, Chief Information Officer of the U.S. Postal Service, leads a digital revolution in an organization that delivers more mail than any other. She discusses her 'anti-complexity' approach to innovation, emphasizing simplicity for scaling tech adoption. Pritha highlights the role of AI at USPS and how fostering a culture of curiosity is vital for continuous improvement. She also shares insights on career growth, the importance of self-advocacy, and her team's remarkable response during the pandemic, including the distribution of COVID test kits.

We want to hear from you! Email us at BCGInHerEllement@bcg.com with a voice memo describing your In Your Ellement moment. We might feature your story in an upcoming episode!***How do today’s business leaders balance performance with empathy in a changing world?Leagh Turner is the CEO of Coupa, a business spend management platform that manages trillions in spending for thousands of customers. In this episode, Leagh shares her perspective on where enterprise software and AI are headed next. She talks about leading through geopolitical uncertainty, how she’s driving innovation at Coupa, and why diversity, empathy, and humor matter just as much as results. She also shares how having a performance scorecard has shaped her career.  [01:54] The Future of AI and SaaS[04:50] Impact of Geopolitics on Business[07:52] How AI is transforming the job market[11:12] Human Elements in Leadership[15:12] Diversity and “Spiky” People[23:06] Hard Work and Keeping Score[26:10] ReflectionsLinks:Leagh Turner On LinkedInSuchi Srinivasan on LinkedInKamila Rakhimova on LinkedInAbout In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element?About The Hosts:Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030.Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders.Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.

We want to hear from you! Email us at BCGInHerEllement@bcg.com with a voice memo describing your In Your Ellement moment. We might feature your story in an upcoming episode!***Could open source be the key to building trustworthy AI?Nithya is Director of Amazon’s Open Source Program Office and also Chair of the Linux Foundation. With more than 30 years of experience in enterprise software, she’s helped shape how businesses approach open source across the tech industry.In this episode, we talk about the growing importance of open source in AI development, what motivates companies like Amazon to open source their tools, and how these decisions impact innovation. Nithya also shares a personal story about the role of CEO of the family—and what that taught her about leadership.[01:26] The Evolution of Open Source[03:52] Amazon’s Commitment to Open Source[09:04] Open Source, Trust, and AI[13:05] The Role of Dads[18:49] CEO of the Family[25:13] ReflectionsLinks:Nithya Ruff on LinkedInSuchi Srinivasan on LinkedInKamila Rakhimova on LinkedInAbout In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element?About The Hosts:Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030.Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders.Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.

What makes a great manager in today’s workplace? And how can AI help companies develop better leaders?Elise Smith is the co-founder and CEO of Praxis Labs, a startup using AI-powered immersive learning to train leaders at some of the world’s biggest companies. Praxis is shaping the future of workplace learning with clients like Google, Amazon, and Accenture.In this episode, Elise shares how her time at IBM Watson influenced her career, what she’s learned about effective leadership in today’s workplace, and her perspective on the evolving future of DEI initiatives. Elise was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her work on enterprise technology.[01:55] Kamila’s Mindset Shift with Praxis Labs[03:42] Adapting Leadership Training for the Modern Workplace[06:44] Navigating Generational Shifts[09:12] Green Flags for Job Seekers[10:44] People Don’t Leave Companies, They Leave Managers[13:28] The Future of DEI work[18:02] Finding the Right Co-Founder[21:40] ReflectionsLinks:Elise Smith on LinkedInSuchi Srinivasan on LinkedInKamila Rakhimova on LinkedInAbout In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element?About The Hosts:Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030.Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders.Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.

Here at In Her Ellement, we celebrate women leaders in business and tech all year long—not just on International Women’s Day. That’s why we’re excited to share an episode from our friends at Fintech Files, featuring insights from two women driving change in the fintech industry.In this special episode of Fintech Files, Cynthia Salicrup and Sandra Carrillo, partners at Environmental Resources Management (ERM) share how they built successful careers in sustainability and ESG. They also explore the challenges and opportunities in sustainable finance, the critical role banks and fintechs play in advancing sustainability, and how global disparities shape sustainability agendas. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out Fintech Files for more insightful discussions like this. Just search for it on your favorite podcast app. We will be back in two weeks with another inspiring conversation on In Her Ellement. See you then!About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element?Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.

How do you know when it’s time to make your next big career move?With International Women’s Day around the corner, we are excited to feature Avni Patel Thompson, Founder and CEO of Milo. Avni is building technology that directly supports the often overlooked emotional and logistical labor that falls on parents—especially women. Milo is an AI assistant designed to help families manage that invisible load more efficiently.In this episode, Avni shares her journey from studying chemistry to holding leadership roles at global brands like Adidas and Starbucks, to launching her own ventures. She discusses how she approaches career transitions, the importance of unpleasant experiences, and why she’s focused on making everyday life easier for parents. [01:26] Avni's University Days and Early Career[04:36] Non-Linear Career Paths[05:16] Pursuing Steep Learning Curves[11:51] Entrepreneurship and Safety Nets[15:22] Lived Experiences and Milo[19:55] Avni’s In Her Ellement Moment[20:03] ReflectionsLinks:Avni Patel Thompson on LinkedInSuchi Srinivasan on LinkedInKamila Rakhimova on LinkedInIpsos report on the future of parentingAbout In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element?About The Hosts:Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030.Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders.Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.