Hey everyone! Tiffany Benitez here with another episode of Women in Tech Trailblazers. Today’s conversation is all about purpose, authenticity, and the power of community. Our guest, Tyler White, brings an incredible mix of stories and lessons from his journey as a leader in tech recruiting and beyond.

Tyler opens up about finding his place in the tech world and how serving others helped him discover his own purpose. “Helping others created who I was instead of me seeking who I was,” he shares. His perspective on leadership is refreshing and challenges us to think about success in a whole new way.

We also dig into the people side of tech. Tyler shares what he looks for when connecting candidates with opportunities and why true potential is often hidden between the lines. It is a conversation about more than just jobs. It is about seeing people for who they really are and giving them the chance to shine.

Tyler also speaks about allyship and the importance of standing up for women in tech. His story of using his network to help someone get noticed shows how we can all play a part in breaking barriers and driving progress. “Without someone fighting alongside you, it can be hard to move forward,” he reminds us.

Here are the key takeaways:

(5:17) Discovering purpose through serving others

(11:20) Why curiosity and action set candidates apart

(12:46) Breaking out of the boxes women are forced into

(14:31) Why passions outside work matter in interviews

(18:04) Advocating for women and opening hidden doors

(24:07) The coffee meeting strategy that lands jobs

(27:01) Building a brand by staying true to yourself

(33:53) Creating a life you never want to end

(35:33) Defining your niche and planting your flag

This episode will leave you inspired to take action in your own sphere of influence. Tune in, share this conversation, and think about the ways you can create space for others to succeed. Because when we lock arms, we all move forward together.

About Tyler White

Tyler White is the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Cisco Ascent and a Strategic Account Manager at Akkodis. He also co-hosts the podcast Timeout with Leaders. Originally from Texas and later raised in Arkansas, Tyler’s early experiences shaped his drive to build meaningful connections and help others succeed. Today, he focuses on creating opportunities and making a lasting impact through his work and community efforts.

Connect with Tyler:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Connect with Host:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be taken as something other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

Welcome back, Trailblazers! Tiffany Benitez is here with another episode of Women in Tech Trailblazers, and today’s conversation is all about making space for what really matters. Our guest, Haleh Shoa, is the founder and CEO of Picturli, a company that takes the chaos of scattered photos and turns it into a secure, meaningful digital archive.

Haleh’s journey started with her own family memories and a desire to bring order to them. What began as scanning photos during her downtime in advertising grew into a thriving business. Along the way, she discovered how technology can connect generations and keep legacies alive. “I believe memories are treasures worth protecting,” she shares.

Haleh takes us behind the scenes of her career, from breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry to learning how to stand in her power. She gets candid about the biases she faced and how she learned to trust her instincts. “You have to be clear about your needs and not give everything away hoping for approval,” she says.

Decluttering comes up in surprising ways, too. Haleh talks about the clutter we carry in our minds, on our devices, and in our schedules. She shares how building systems and being intentional with time can change everything, especially as a leader with a vision.

Here are the key takeaways:

(2:11) Standing in your power and setting boundaries

(5:34) Redefining what it means to work in tech

(8:19) Navigating bias and finding your people

(11:51) Limiting beliefs that show up in business

(13:26) The clutter that keeps leaders stuck

(17:18) Why community matters and how to find yours

(20:07) The best advice for creating a life of abundance

By the end of this episode, you will see why decluttering is about so much more than a clean space. It is about creating room for clarity, purpose, and legacy. Tune in, get inspired, and start thinking about what you need to clear out to lead with intention.

About Haleh Shoa

Haleh Shoa is the founder and CEO of Picturli, a company that helps families, businesses, and individuals organize and digitize their photo collections. With a background in advertising and over 27 years of experience leading large projects and teams, she brings her expertise to preserving memories and creating secure, searchable photo archives. Haleh’s mission is to help people protect their personal histories and share them with future generations.

Connect with Haleh:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Connect with Host:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be taken as something other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

Welcome back, Trailblazers! Today, Tiffany Benitez sits down with someone who is shaping the future of technology in a big way. Meet Stephanie Cheney, a product leader who has built her career by bridging the worlds of business and AI.

Stephanie’s story begins with a teenage love for coding and takes us through a winding path that includes entrepreneurship, a leap into software engineering, and ultimately leads to innovative AI projects. Her journey is proof that you do not need a perfect plan to succeed. “You don’t have to be an engineer in the age of AI,” she says. “Just start.”

We also get real about the challenges women face in tech. Stephanie shares how she has navigated rooms where she was often the only woman present and how important it is not to let those moments silence your voice. Instead of trying to blend in, she has learned to bring her own perspective to every conversation.

When it comes to AI, Stephanie offers a fresh take on why women are uniquely equipped to thrive. The skills that make great leaders, like giving context, building connections, and thinking strategically, are the same skills needed to guide AI forward. This is not just about learning new tools; it is about shaping what comes next.

Here are the key takeaways:

(3:13) Embracing who you are in the age of AI

(3:50) Why fitting into boxes holds women back

(6:14) Upskilling without starting over

(8:35) The risks women must start taking

(10:13) The real challenge of being the only woman in the room

(12:42) Why women are natural AI leaders

(14:28) The AI roles women should claim right now

(16:57) The future belongs to cross-functional skills

(19:31) The need for community and connection in tech

(22:40) Stop overthinking and just start

Stick around until the end because Stephanie’s advice on building community and staying ahead of rapid change is something every listener needs to hear. Subscribe, share this episode, and think about the bold step you can take today to prepare for tomorrow.

About Stephanie Cheney

Stephanie Cheney is the Product Director at Dualboot Partners, where she works with companies to integrate AI into product development and strategy. With over 20 years of experience across startups, venture studios, and consulting, she has led teams and built tools that streamline product delivery. She is also the co-founder of Flourished, an AI-driven insights platform for creatives. Stephanie focuses on helping businesses and individuals adapt and grow in the changing world of technology.

Connect with Stephanie:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Connect with Host:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be taken as something other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

Hey Trailblazers! Get ready for a conversation that hits different. Tiffany Benitez sits down with Saima Khan, Senior Vice President of Healthcare Digital at Compass Digital, to talk about what authenticity and inclusion actually look like when you are living it out in tech.

Saima takes us back to the dot-com era and walks us through her journey to leading large-scale healthcare technology today. Along the way, she unpacks the questions so many of us wrestle with. How do you keep your confidence when you are the only woman in the room? What happens when you stop waiting to feel ready and step forward anyway?

Representation also takes center stage in this episode. Saima shares how one female CEO changed the trajectory of her career. “There’s just so much power in seeing someone that looks like you and talks like you.” Her story proves why visibility is not optional; it is essential.

The conversation gets practical, too. Inclusion here is not a slogan; it is action. Saima talks about the real moves leaders can make, from amplifying overlooked voices to building women in tech groups that keep people engaged and growing. If you want to see allyship in action, this episode lays it out.

Here are the key takeaways:

(2:48) The power of authenticity and inclusion

(7:12) Starting out in tech during the dot-com boom

(13:17) Why representation changes everything

(14:31) The impact of seeing women in leadership

(16:57) What real inclusion looks like at the table

(18:21) Creating space and building diverse teams

(22:14) Mentorship that actually works

(26:32) Final advice: don’t be afraid to be yourself

By the end, you will find yourself thinking about the spaces you sit in and the voices you invite in.

Tune in to hear Saima’s take on authenticity, mentorship, and legacy, and discover how to lead in a way that truly changes the room.

About Saima Khan

Saima Khan is the Senior Vice President of Healthcare Digital at Compass Digital, where she oversees digital transformation across the healthcare sector. She has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare technology, including her role as Chief Technology Officer of Clinical Solutions at Premier Inc. Saima also serves as the executive sponsor of Compass Digital’s Women in Tech initiative, supporting mentorship, leadership development, and community programs across North America. Outside of work, she is a yoga instructor and an advocate for wellness, balance, and community.

Connect with Saima:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Connect with Host:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be taken as something other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

“I might just keep feeling invisible if I don’t speak.” That thought ran through Amanda Di Dio’s mind in a pivotal meeting, and she decided to speak.

On Women in Tech Trailblazers, Tiffany Benitez talks with the co-founder of Optimistic Design about the real work of finding your voice and using it. Our guest has led high-performing teams, partnered with big names like the Gates Foundation, and built a reputation for translating complex challenges into clear, actionable strategies.

Amanda shares how empathy and curiosity guide her leadership, and why she believes creating safe, human-centered spaces should be as valued as any technical milestone.

She reflects on breaking into tech at a time when everything was moving fast, from the first wave of mobile apps to new ways of delivering software. Along the way came lessons in navigating personalities, building trust, and knowing when to step forward.

Amanda also opens up about the quiet expectation for women to carry extra emotional labor and the impact of hearing, “You don’t need to take that on.” That one sentence, she says, was a turning point.

Here are the key takeaways:

(2:21) Breaking “move fast” mindset

(7:16) The value of speaking both business and tech

(15:50) The meeting that changed everything

(19:49) The ripple effect of using your voice

(21:55) The power of reaching out to strangers

(24:09) Why most jobs are filled through relationships

(25:22) One small moment can change someone’s value

If you have ever felt like your ideas were overlooked or your voice was not being heard, this conversation will give you the push to speak up. Press play, take the leap, and pass it along to someone who needs the reminder.

About Amanda Di Dio

Amanda Di Dio is the co-founder of Optimistic Design with over 12 years of experience in education, healthcare, technology, and social impact. She works at the intersection of product strategy, design research, and implementation, turning complex challenges into clear plans. Amanda has partnered with organizations such as the Gates Foundation and Renaissance Learning to create solutions grounded in real-world needs, fostering collaboration and keeping people at the center of the work.

Connect with Amanda:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Connect with Host:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be taken as something other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

Hey Trailblazers, we’re back with another powerful episode of Women in Tech Trailblazers, and this one is a whole mindset shift. Tiffany Benitez sits down with Dr. Astha Purohit, Director of Product at Walmart and an absolute force in AI and retail tech. From medicine to McKinsey to machine learning, Astha’s career path is anything but typical, and that’s precisely what makes it so real.

Astha also talks about why so many women struggle to take up space in rooms they've already earned the right to be in. She gets real about staying quiet in meetings early in her career and the advice that changed everything. "Why are you assuming everybody knows what you're working on if you don't say anything?" One mentor's comment flipped the whole script.

She further breaks down how building confidence isn’t about flipping a switch. It’s reps. “Celebrate the reps more than the wins. The output will show up when it has to.” This is for every listener who’s ever doubted themselves after a tough week or a quiet meeting.

Here are the key takeaways:

(2:45) What authenticity really looks like

(3:54) Women, support, and staying grounded

(6:41) Redefining analytical thinking and people skills

(9:51) Fear of pivoting: why it holds so many back

(11:41) What gender equality means

(15:00) Why confidence isn’t bragging

(18:43) Building confidence: the small steps that work

(22:21) Motivation: how to keep going when you’re tired

(23:54) Measure your input, not the outcome

So here’s the question: What would it look like if you were having fun while building the career you want? Tune in to hear how Astha built hers step by step and why kindness is her most significant leadership flex. Share this one with a friend, and don’t forget to subscribe, because the next move mindset might just be yours too.

About Astha Purohit

Dr. Astha Purohit is the Director of Product Management at Walmart, leading digital identity and privacy initiatives powered by AI and machine learning. She holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and previously worked as a consultant at McKinsey. Astha has advised Fortune 500 companies on innovation in retail and technology. She also serves on the boards of the MIT Alumni Association and Emory Rollins School of Public Health.

Connect with Astha:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Connect with Host:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be taken as something other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

Today’s episode is short, but it’s full of heart. Jordan is stepping back from the mic, and we wanted to have an honest conversation about why.

It’s not easy to walk away from something you care deeply about, but sometimes it’s exactly what’s needed.

We talk about seasons, grace, boundaries, and what it means to support one another when things shift. This space has always been about authenticity, and that doesn’t stop here.

The podcast continues, and Jordan’s presence will always be felt. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

About Tiffany Benitez & Jordan Franklin

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Jordan Franklin, CEO of Gumption and Stratice, is revolutionizing the job market with behavioral AI, making talent acquisition efficient. For three years, she's been celebrated as a top staffing influencer.

Connect with Hosts:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-benitez-csm-safe-itil-65ba64126/

Jordan’s LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-franklin-841a223b/

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be taken as something other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

Welcome back, Trailblazers! Tiffany and Jordan, here and today’s guest is a serious force. Meet Hagan Kappler, founder of Daisy, and someone who knows exactly what it means to build something from scratch and mean it. This episode is all about doing business your way, even when the world tries to hand you a script.

We dive into Hagan’s wild and winding career journey from history major to McKinsey to CEO and how none of it was planned, but all of it mattered. She’s been in rooms where her ideas were dismissed until a man said them three weeks later, and she’s also raised 35 million as a first-time founder in a male-dominated industry. “I felt like I had to Google my way through half my roles,” she laughs, and honestly, we’ve all been there.

Hagan doesn’t shy away from talking about motherhood in business, but she’s also very clear that it’s often used against women in ways that are never applied to men. Her take, “Nobody asks my husband how he does it with four kids,” is the kind of honesty that makes this conversation so refreshing.

This episode unpacks what happens when you finally stop following someone else’s rulebook and decide to create your own. Hagan opens up about the moment she chose not to take another high-paying role and instead said yes to a risky idea with her co-founder. That risk paid off big, and it’s the reason Daisy exists today.

Here are the key takeaways:

(2:39) What authenticity really means at work

(4:29) The unexpected path to entrepreneurship

(8:25) Turning gender bias into negotiation strength

(12:23) Do you cook? And other gendered questions

(14:16) Mentorship that changed everything

(19:41) Saying no to the next obvious CEO role

(23:20) Kids, identity, and entrepreneurship

(24:46) The real cost of overthinking risk

(25:57) Laughter, friends, and staying balanced

(29:46) Don’t settle. Build your own thing

So if you’ve been questioning whether you’re ready to take the next step, this one’s for you. There’s no perfect time, no perfect playbook, just your gut, your experience, and your voice. Tune in and let Hagan’s story push you to think bigger about what’s possible.

About Hagan Kappler

Hagan Kappler is the co-founder and CEO of Daisy, a national company focused on smart home technology services. She previously led Threshold Brands, ServiceMaster Clean, and Merry Maids. Her background includes roles at Starbucks, Ingersoll Rand, McKinsey, and Goldman Sachs. She holds a BA from Williams College and an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.

Connect with Hagan:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez & Jordan Franklin

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Jordan Franklin, CEO of Gumption and Stratice, is revolutionizing the job market with behavioral AI, making talent acquisition efficient. For three years, she's been celebrated as a top staffing influencer.

Connect with Hosts:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Jordan’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be taken as something other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.