At 27— and without a college degree — she was named chief technology officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Today, Marina Nitze is trying to reform the foster care system. She tells Steve how she hacked the V.A.’s bureaucracy, opens up about her struggle with Type 1 diabetes, and explains how she was building websites for soap opera stars when she wa ... Show More
Aug 1
33. Travis Tygart Is Coming for Cheaters — Just Ask Lance Armstrong
He’s the C.E.O. of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which, under his charge, exposed the most celebrated American cyclist as a cheater. And Steve’s been studying cheaters for the last 25 years, so he’s also excited to talk to Travis about the incentives to cheat and ... Show More
45m 10s
Jul 25
32. Angela Duckworth Explains How to Manage Your Goal Hierarchy
She’s the author of the bestselling book Grit, and a University of Pennsylvania professor of psychology — a field Steve says he knows nothing about. But once Angela gives Steve a quick tutorial on “goal conflict,” he is suddenly a fan. They also talk parenting, self-esteem, and h ... Show More
50m 47s
Jun 2023
261 - Hack Your Bureaucracy - Marina Nitze
<p>Marina Nitze is a professional fixer of broken systems – a hacker, not of computers and technology, but of the social phenomena that tend to emerge when people get together and form organizations, institutions, services, businesses, and governments. In short, she hacks bureauc ... Show More
42m 1s
Feb 2022
How to turn around a city | Irma L. Oguin Jr.
Computer skills aren't what's stopping people from breaking into the tech industry, says social entrepreneur Irma L. Olguin Jr. More often, the biggest hurdles are things like access to childcare, transportation and financial stability. In this visionary talk, Olguin Jr. introduc ... Show More
21m 53s
Jun 2023
S24:E7 - Navigating Layoffs with Intention (Natalie Davis)
Today, Saron sits down with Natalie Davis, who shares her experience pursuing software engineering after climbing the ladder in the retail industry for 15 years. In their conversation, Natalie talks about what she has learned navigating the tech industry, how she's navigated layo ... Show More
52m 12s
Apr 2025
869: Data Over Drama: How Female Leaders Can Scale with Strategy, Not Emotion
Have you ever attended an event that completely changed the trajectory of your life? My guest today, Marina Middleton, certainly has. In 2021, she walked into her first Create & Cultivate event as an attendee, looking to make connections and gain insights for her own business. Fa ... Show More
48m 43s
Sep 2022
E19 - Software Engineer to COO
<p>From software engineer to chief operating officer, this is the journey of Marwa El Ghali. In this episode, Marwa shares with us her mindset, career defining moments, mistakes and lessons learned throughout her journey.</p>
<p>Marwa is very sharp, analytical and extremely humbl ... Show More
45m 8s
Apr 2025
Decisions that Made Me: Sophie O’Brien (Pollen Careers, CEO)
After 14 years of having a successful career in media, Sophie found herself unemployed. She thought with her skills and experience finding a new role would be easy, but it was the opposite. After struggling with applications and repeated denials, Sophie decided she wanted to chan ... Show More
13m 40s
Sep 2021
La reine du codage (The Coding Queen)
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Growing up in Madagascar, one of the poorest countries in the world, Matina Razafimahefa was upset that the majority of kids didn't have the same access to education as she did. So at 19, she took action</span><span style= "font-weight: 400;">…< ... Show More
23m 26s