Femme Lead

Send us a textEntrepreneurship | Hooves | Start-up | Founder | Business Closure | Venture Architecture | Strategic Partnerships | Meta | Lessons | Business Development Manager | Role Model | In this episode of the Femme Lead Podcast, we have a special guest speaker, Alina Engel, who is not only a source of inspiration but also a close friend of the show. Alina's entrepreneurial journey started with the co-founding of Hooves, an app that revolutionized the expensive sport of horse riding and brought it into the sharing economy. Although COVID-19 forced the app to shut down, it had a massive impact with over 35,000 horses registered.Alina's strength in people-facing roles was evident early on in her career, and she constantly focused on building relationships to create commercial impact. After the closure of Hooves, Alina found herself at a crossroads, but she quickly found her footing as a venture architect at OBI Squared, where she worked on creating cutting-edge business models and startup collaborations.Currently, Alina is working at Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, where she uses her skills to build relationships with strategic partners, from investors in startups to clients and stakeholders in a corporate setting. In this episode, Alina will discuss the ups and downs of being a founder, as well as the importance of building relationships in both the startup and corporate worlds. Don't miss this fascinating conversation with Alina Engel, a true role model for anyone looking to make an impact in their careerFollow Alina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaengel/ Article Male and Female Entrepreneurs Get Asked Different Questions by VCs — and It Affects How Much Funding They Get: https://hbr.org/2017/06/male-and-female-entrepreneurs-get-asked-different-questions-by-vcs-and-it-affects-how-much-funding-they-getBook Recommendation - The Culture Map: https://www.amazon.com/Culture-Map-Breaking-Invisible-Boundaries/dp/1610392507 Episode Timeline:03:55 Tell us about your entrepreneurship journey. 07:15 What happened with Hooves at the end, how was the decision made to close the company?11:53 Pitfalls of first-time founders. 12:57 How important is the relationship between the co-founders? 14:50 The importance of bringing together the right team. 15:45 What mindset do you have when approaching difficult conversations?19:00 Transparency as the key to moving forward. 23:10 The benefit of working for a start-up: the impact you can have. 24:15 What's the biggest learning from your start-up founding path? Would you do it again?25:00 What’s the main lesson from your entrepreneurial journey? 27:50 Have you noticed any difference between men and women when raising funds?35:10 Why did you decide to move to a corporate? What guided you in your career decision? 39:35 How is it to work for Meta?41:45 What do you appreciate about the start-up world vs corporate culture?48:55 Do you have advice for listeners who are unsure about their next professional career? How do you guide your decision-making for e.g. joining Meta?50:55 If you could, would you change anything looking back?53:04 The Final 5 Fire Questions.

Send us a textBrand Management | Communication | Digital & IT Comms | Jewelry Industry | Career Change | Decision Making | Reflections | Laura Dzurna was Communications Manager at Pandora from August 2020 until September 2022, with a special focus on digital & technology. In October 2022, she took on a new role at Pandora as Brand Manager, managing one of Pandora’s collections.Her career in the jewelry industry spans a variety of roles within Brand Communications & PR and internal communication, driving various initiatives and campaigns. A recent example is setting up internal communications for Pandora’s digital & technology function and working to establish the digital & technology community with various initiatives amongother Hackathons.Laura has a master’s in Brand & Communications Management (Copenhagen Business School).  She loves sports, reads voraciously, and enjoys exploring new cultures.In this interview we discuss Laura’s career progressions, lessons learned, and the thought process behind deciding to change the department within an organization. She will share more about the importance of community building and how to tackle a career change. Follow Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-dzurna/ Episode Timeline:02:30 Laura, tell us more about your current work setup. 04:45 How does one start to build communities within organizations?11:30 What are the challenges you've encountered and how can one be successful? 15:45 Is community building important outside engagement inside the company? What does it help with?19:00 For those of our listeners who want to start a career in brand management and communication, what skills should they focus on building?For the leaders who listen, what is your advice on building you career in this field? How do you navigate your career progression?25:20 You shared with me that deciding on a career change was not easy, what were your main focus areas when deciding to make the switch? 28:57 What is one of the latest reflections you've had about your career?32:25 What are the 3 main leadership lessons you've learned from your professional endeavors?33:20 What is the biggest surprise of your career? What is one thing you would change if you could about your career? 38:05 The Final 5 Fire Questions.The podcast is available on all major streaming platforms. More details on www.femmeleadpodcast.com

Send us a textCoaching | Self-Awareness | Career Development | Bring Your Whole Self to Work | Career Progression | Reflection | Mindfulness | Women in STEM | Role Model | Our guest is a former Latvian diplomat with more than 21 years of experience in stakeholder management, negotiation, advocacy, and communication.Inese Podgaiska is the Secretary General of the Association of Nordic Engineers, ANE, and previously worked for the European Environment Agency. She received the 2019 Women Economic Forum Award for Women of the Decade in Science Leadership and was included in the 100 Brilliant Women in AI and Ethics list 2021.She is a mentor and certified mindful coach and advocates for engineers’ role in advancing responsible AI and achieving sustainable development goals.We’re discussing bringing your whole self to work, and how we can combine our professional aspirations with our personal development plans and not divide the two instances of our life. Follow Inese on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inesepodgaiska/ Check out Inese’s coaching practice: https://beyoumindfulcoaching.dk/index-en.html Episode Timeline:02:00 Inese, tell us more about your work on empowering women. 04:50 What made you decide to start a coaching practice on the side?09:25 What is your opinion on ‘bringing your whole self to work’? 15:50 What is your inspiration for hosting workshops on assertive communication? What can we learn from you? 18:48 Example of assertive communication in practice. 23:20 What were 3 important career lessons you learned in your career?27:25 What is your view on career progression?31:32 How do you tackle work-life balance?35:10 Looking back, is there anything you would change about your career?37:15 Final 5 Fire Questions. The podcast is available on all major streaming platforms. More details on www.femmeleadpodcast.com

Send us a textCultural Adjustment | Living Abroad | Culture Shock | Consultant | Integration | Well-Being Specialist | Intercultural Awareness | Founder |  Role Model | Trainer | Our guest is Kathy Borys Siddiqui the founder of Active Action, an organization supporting International companies as well as internationals and their families in the intercultural transition when moving abroad. Active Action focuses on raising awareness and bringing solutions to challenges that internationals, their families, and employers are faced with, in order to create thriving and positive environments. Kathy lived in 4 countries and on 2 continents and holds MA’s in Cultural Studies and in American Studies. A firm believer that "if you are lacking something - create it."  She has been able to combine her passion and profession as an Intercultural Trainer, and owner of Active Action, with public speaking and branding initiatives, and describes herself as a well-being specialist. We discuss cultural adjustment and the notion of identity when moving abroad and we deep dive into the stages of cultural adjustment to a new country, culture, and environment.Follow Kathy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathybsiddiqui/ Episode Timeline:01:58 Kathy, can you share more about the focus of your work?05:50 What does it mean to help companies with intercultural awareness?12:00 The definition of subtext. 13:25 What are the phases of cultural adjustment? 22:10 What are the Nordic cultural adjustments differences you’ve noticed compared to other places?30:35 What does it mean to feel at home once you move abroad? What about your career prospects?38:30 What are the 3 important lessons you learned in your career?43:30 Final 5 Fire Questions. 

Send us a textCareer Break | Career Development | Digital Innovation | Digital Agency | People Leader | Goals | Reflections | Learnings | Career Progression | Pause | Our guest today is Sonja Lakner. Originally from Austria, Sonja studied communications and media and after a few years of working in digital agencies in London, she has worked in leadership positions in Sweden for the past 15 years. Sonja is passionate about people and helping them develop their full potential in the work environment and loves to work with people from different cultures.Her latest position was Managing Director for the Swedish office of the digital consultancy Futurice. She is on a career break since the end of November 2022 and she’s joining us to talk about what it means to take a career break and how can it help your career development. Taking a career break can be scary for most people, and in this episode, we explore the steps Sonja took to ensure that her career break will benefit her current career setup. Sonja worked for the past 4 years at the same company and is now taking the time to reflect on what is next while sharing how she plans her future career. Connect with Sonja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonjalakner/ Episode Timeline:02:45 Sonja, tell us a bit about your current career gap.06:20 Weren’t you worried to take a career break? 08:15 What is your career motto?Share with us more about the importance of taking a break and what are you experiencing now.10:15 How do you start planning your next career step? 22:25 How to decide that a career break is for you?27:10 What is the setup of working in a digital agency? Who inspires you in your professional life?31:11 Did you change the way you look at work-life balance?36:30 What inspired you to document your journey on LinkedIn? 39:10 What is one thing you would change if you could about your career?  41:20 Final 5 Fire Questions.

Send us a textFinance | Trading | Chief Dealer | Capital Markets | Nordea | Career | Progression | Leadership | Graduate Program | Role Model | Women in Finance |  Sophie Jelstrup is the Chief Dealer & Functional Lead - Global Trading at Nordea Markets. Sophie is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, studied economics and has a double master's degree in Finance from the University of Copenhagen and Imperial College London. She worked within the financial industry since I started at a pension fund as a student worker while studying and continued since then through the graduate program at NORDEA Markets. She is also the co-founder of BlueTomorrow - the Large Corporates & Institutions’ shadow board that connects top management with employees' voices. Nordea Markets is the leading capital markets partner in the Nordics.  Nordea Markets takes part in the Nordea Graduate Programme. The Nordea Graduate Programme is an extensive program that covers a variety of business areas whether that is in markets, IT, business, or compliance – all in which you will be able to accelerate your career and evolve both professionally and personally.Connect with Sophie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-jelstrup-70bb0343/ Sign up for the Nordea LC&I and Markets Graduate Open House (Oct 26th, 2022): https://email.nordeamarkets.com/public/event/RegistrationForm/43425F4B7143415E417740 Apply to the Nordea Graduate Program 2023 (deadline Oct 31st, 2022): https://careers.nordea.com/job/K%C3%B8benhavn-S-Tech-and-Finance-Graduates-to-Nordea-Markets%2C-Investment-Banking-and-ESG-2300/856005401/?feedId=335801&utm_source=CareerSite Episode Timeline:03:55 What does it mean to be a dealer at Nordea Markets?08:11 How did you start your career in the finance sector?10:41 What do you think are the 3 most important skills to consider to pursue this career path?14:43 How would you describe your career path?20:32 What advice can you share for professionals looking to enter the financial sector?25:00 Networking and the transition to a full-time role. 28:05 What is financial freedom? 33:20 How do you manage challenges at work? 37:20 What is the culture like within the financial sector?38:28 What does it mean to build a showdown board like Blue Tomorrow?41:30 What was the impact of the graduate program when you started?49:00 Final 5 Fire Questions.

Send us a textInnovation | CEO | Venture Capital | Board Member | Agile Leadership | Energy & Maritime Industry | Top 50 Women in Technology | Braving Innovation | Nada Ahmed is a public speaker, writer, and innovation and tech advisor with over 15 years of corporate leadership experience in the Energy and Maritime industry. She is the CEO and founder of Agile Leadership- an innovation consulting company helping startups validate their products and scale. Previously she served as Vice President of Innovation and Transformation at a leading engineering firm in the Nordics. Nada is passionate about Innovation, particularly in tech, and loves to help companies think creatively to develop breakthrough solutions. She is also an angel investor in tech startups. Nada strongly advocates diversity and inclusion, particularly in tech and investment communities. She has her podcast: Braving Innovation, in which she interviews leaders and shares her own thoughts on topics related to Innovation, entrepreneurship, and venture capital. Follow Nada on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadaahmed-agileleadership/ Follow Nada on Instagram: @thisisnadaahmedCheck Nada’s work: https://www.nadahmed.com/Book Recommendation: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Possibility-Transforming-Professional-Personal/dp/0142001104 Episode Timeline: 04:45 What is your professional focus right now?08:35 What made you leave corporate for entrepreneurship?12:30 Stepping into entrepreneurship to follow her passion. 15:45 Inspiring others to build a career path. 19:00 How do you build a brand? 25:50 What advice do you have for women who fear the negative interactions at work will follow their career?32:45 We need to build up women’s support systems through collaboration. 36:08 What is your view on the diversity & inclusion topic in the investment world?41:56 Where can people follow communities around investment and impact?43:43 Final 5 Fire Questions. 

Send us a textCompany Culture | Organizational Development | Global Transformation | Coaching | Education | Transition at Work | Role Model | Emotional Intelligence at Work |Summing up all aspects of her work Tamilla Mahkamova is a psychologist, HR, Organizational Development and Transformation expert, coach, and educator.Over the last 15 years, she has worked in HR, OD, and Transformation roles in a corporate and non-profit environment through East and West. Currently, as Global Change Director at GrandVision, she leads change management in large-scale business and IT programs.In addition, within her Coaching & Education practice, she works with senior leaders going through a personal change and transition at work or leaders aiming to implement complex change in their organizations. Whenever she has a chance, she facilitates conversations and teachings around working with young adults' social and emotional aspects. Whatever the role or assignment, she intends to serve as a vehicle for building connected, creative and effective workplaces.In our interview, we discuss work as a force for good, how to retain talent in an organization and how to attract new talent. We focus on the workplace as a place of fulfillment and how we can increase our chances of building a culture that helps employees flourish. Follow Tamilla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamillamahkamova/ Check Tamilla's coaching business: nowwhat.globalInstagram account: @nowwhatwithtamillaCompanies with an excellent company culture statement based on Tamilla's notes:https://www.buurtzorg.com/https://www.patagonia.com/home/https://www.benjerry.com/ Book recommendations: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241823.Women_Who_Run_With_the_Wolves https://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Organizations-Frederic-Laloux/dp/2960133501 Episode Timeline:02:20 What does the role of the global transformation change director mean?04:38 How should we understand the term 'company culture?10:30 What should companies look to do outside providing remunerations to retain new talent?13:35 How should we mention our activism or projects outside work? 15:02 How should we retain current talent in the workplace?20:52 How can we build a culture that helps employees flourish?29:17 How do you plan your career progression based on your passion?36:50 How do you incorporate self-knowledge in your coaching practice? 42:-3 Final 5 Fire Questions.

Send us a textChief Product Officer | Mentor | International Speaker | Top Women in Product | Career Advice | Contract Negotiation | Non-Negotiables at Work | Corporate Advisor | Digital Transformation | Femme Lead welcomes Alexandra Lung, an internationally recognized product leader, C-suite executive, public speaker, corporate advisor, and leadership mentor. Her experience spans international roles in large companies and high-growth tech scale-ups.She started her career working as a consultant in strategy. She also held positions in marketing, communication, product strategy, and consulting in digital transformation. She is listed among the top women in Product in Europe 2018, the Elite business women to follow in 2019, and the Top 25 PLG influencers in 2021. Alexandra is passionate about building great products that positively impact and drive exponential growth for the business. She is always looking for ways to grow and empower the people around her. Today we will discuss career development and how to navigate your career path. Alexandra prepared valuable advice, giving us her step-by-step process to find your next professional adventure by putting yourself first. Follow Alexandra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-lung/ Episode Timeline:03:05 Tell us, what are your non-negotiables? And please let our audience know what does it mean to have non-negotiables?05:45 Where do you mention your non-negotiables in the interview process?07:15 Do you have a strategy for the interview questions?09:30: Do you advise the audience to look for subtle cues on their next career step?14:30 Did you ever feel that your career path was in jeopardy?16:50 What can you share with women unsure about their family plans?22:18 Why do you want to reassure women their career paths will be ok?24:40 How can you navigate a career path successfully?29:05 Applying for roles that seem out of reach.34:05 How do you advise people to set up for a new role?39:45 Stakeholder management when starting a new role. 45:55 Remember to think about what can happen right.48:30 Final 5 Fire Questions.

Send us a textHow People Learn | Subject Matter Expert | Learning & Development | Passion | Entrepreneur | Learning | Book to Courses | Learning Design | Instructional Design | Thought Leader | Olimpia Mesa is a leading expert and consultant on brain-based learning design. President of Instructional Design Ltd., a company behind hundreds of successful corporate and educational programs, both online and in-person, delivered in various languages. Olimpia designs and consults with organizations on learning projects for leadership development, transformational change management, coaching, and the development and implementation of learning strategies. Olimpia’s broad industry experience includes banking, insurance, retail, real estate, technology, and manufacturing.In addition to consulting Fortune 500 organizations on learning projects, she is the founder of Book to Courses™ Online School, whose primary goal is to consult authors on how to transform a nonfictional book into online academies or apps.In our interview, we discuss the career path of an instructional designer, what it means to teach people how to learn and what a successful career looks like. Olimpia opens up about her challenges in starting a company and shares the learnings that helped her turn her passion into a business.  She is the author of "How People Learn" book: https://howpeoplelearnbook.com/ Follow Olimpia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olimpia-mesa-45345310/Learn more about Olimpia's mission: https://olimpiamesa.com/Episode Timeline:00:30 Thank you note from the Femme Lead team.02:40 What does it mean to work with learning and instructional design systems?06:10 How did you start working with instructional design?10:30 What is the focus of the ‘hoe people learn’ concept?13:55 How can we best integrate learning experiences?20:45 Are there ways to learn faster?25:40 How can people build subject matter expertise?29:55 What are the steps to ensure the learning efforts work? 33:11 Changes when starting a business: the entrepreneurship life. 37:38 One key piece of advice.42:40 Final 5 Fire Questions.