Cracking the Code: From Underestimated to Undeniable with Pilar Baltar, Perplexity AI & Various Top Tech Firms

Cracking the Code: From Underestimated to Undeniable with Dr. Andrea Garfinkel, Research & Extension Center, Univ of Wyoming

In this episode of Leadership Variations Unfiltered, Amy Shatto interviews Dr. Andrea Garfinkel, a plant pathologist and agricultural leader whose career spans academia, agtech, and global farming systems. Andrea shares her unconventional leadership journey—from post-PhD fieldwork and career breaks to leading research in high-tech indoor farming environments. The conversation explores what it really takes to transition from technical expert to leader, particularly in male-dominated industries like agriculture and tech. They unpack the often invisible work behind leadership growth, including building credibility, navigating bias, and leveraging sponsorship. Andrea also offers a powerful perspective on why self-trust—not perfection—is the defining trait of leaders who rise. This episode is essential for women in STEM, emerging leaders, and organizations serious about developing high-potential technical talent. ___________________________________________ Chapters:  02:02 – Meet Dr. Andrea Garfinkel: From Agriculture to AgTech  02:38 – The Hidden Leadership Lessons Not on Your Resume  04:40 – Why “Non-Linear” Career Paths Build Stronger Leaders  05:38 – From Expert to Leader: The Reality of the Transition  08:02 – Credibility Challenges for Women in STEM  10:15 – Sponsorship: The Career Accelerator No One Talks About  11:16 – Leading in AgTech: Bridging Agriculture & Technology  13:53 – Managing Strong Personalities Across Disciplines  14:12 – Women Supporting Women: Breaking Internal Competition  17:38 – The Undeniable Take: Self-Belief as a Leadership Strategy Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522302/support] Watch & Subscribe 🎥 Watch this conversation and explore more Unfiltered leadership content: www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations [http://www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations] Work with Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto 📈 Tired of being underestimated? Partner with a coach who specializes in helping leaders in STEM break barriers and accelerate impact. Book a consultation → https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min [https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min]🌐 Learn more → https://www.leadershipvariations.com [https://www.leadershipvariations.com/]🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto] 🔗 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/ [https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/] 🔗  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/  [https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/ ] About the Host Leadership Variations: Unfiltered is hosted by Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto, PhD, PCC, BCC — an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations make faster, smarter leadership decisions. She specializes in science-based assessment, executive coaching, and leadership development strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Cracking the Code: From Underestimated to Undeniable with Dr. Rosemary Bernal-Gomez, First Analytics

In this episode of Leadership Variations: Unfiltered, Amy Bladen Shatto speaks with Dr. Rosemary Bernal-Gomez, a seasoned analytics leader and STEM advocate whose career spans over three decades in high-stakes environments. From developing predictive analytics models that helped eliminate workplace fatalities to navigating the realities of bias and credibility testing in leadership, Dr. Bernal-Gomez shares what it truly takes to rise from underestimated to undeniable. This conversation explores the intersection of technical expertise and leadership identity, including the moment she was publicly challenged in a high-stakes meeting—and how she transformed it into a defining career inflection point. Listeners will gain insight into: * The real transition from expert to leader * The role of AI and data in ethical, human-centered leadership * How to navigate bias, sabotage, and imposter syndrome * Why self-advocacy is a leadership competency—not a personality trait This episode is essential for women in STEM, senior leaders, and anyone navigating high-performance environments where credibility is constantly tested. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522302/support] Watch & Subscribe 🎥 Watch this conversation and explore more Unfiltered leadership content: www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations [http://www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations] Work with Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto 📈 Tired of being underestimated? Partner with a coach who specializes in helping leaders in STEM break barriers and accelerate impact. Book a consultation → https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min [https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min]🌐 Learn more → https://www.leadershipvariations.com [https://www.leadershipvariations.com/]🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto] 🔗 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/ [https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/] 🔗  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/  [https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/ ] About the Host Leadership Variations: Unfiltered is hosted by Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto, PhD, PCC, BCC — an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations make faster, smarter leadership decisions. She specializes in science-based assessment, executive coaching, and leadership development strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Cracking the Code: From Underestimated to Undeniable with Pilar Baltar, Perplexity AI & Various Top Tech Firms

In this episode of Leadership Variations: Unfiltered, Amy Bladen Shatto sits down with Pilar Baltar, Business Fellow at Perplexity AI and former senior executive across global Microsoft partner organizations, to explore what it truly takes to lead at the intersection of AI, revenue, and executive power. With over 20 years leading large-scale tech transformations across EMEA and the U.S., Pilar shares her journey from computational linguistics to AI strategy, and what women in technology must understand to rise — and stay — at the senior table. This episode dives into: * How AI is disrupting hiring, resumes, and executive recruitment * Why companies are flipping interviews in the age of generative AI * The shift from technical expert to leader-of-leaders * Navigating executive power as a woman in male-dominated tech * Why “likability vs. gravitas” is a false binary * The commercial truth women must understand to reach the C-suite If you're a woman in STEM, AI, tech consulting, or executive leadership — this is a must-listen. 🎧 Listen now and subscribe for science-based leadership insights that drive real business value. ___________________________________________________ Chapters: 02:50 – From English Major to AI Leader 04:00 – The AI Resume Disruption 08:30 – Will Resumes Survive AI?  10:20 – AI Maturity in Organizations 14:20 – The Shift to Leader of Leaders 16:50 – Delivering Through Others 19:00 – Gender & Executive Perception 21:00 – Gravitas vs. Likability 24:00 – Feedback Deficit for Women in Tech 25:35 – The Undeniable Take Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522302/support] Watch & Subscribe 🎥 Watch this conversation and explore more Unfiltered leadership content: www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations [http://www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations] Work with Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto 📈 Tired of being underestimated? Partner with a coach who specializes in helping leaders in STEM break barriers and accelerate impact. Book a consultation → https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min [https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min]🌐 Learn more → https://www.leadershipvariations.com [https://www.leadershipvariations.com/]🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto] 🔗 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/ [https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/] 🔗  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/  [https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/ ] About the Host Leadership Variations: Unfiltered is hosted by Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto, PhD, PCC, BCC — an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations make faster, smarter leadership decisions. She specializes in science-based assessment, executive coaching, and leadership development strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Cracking the Code: From Underestimated to Undeniable with Biliana Veleva-Rotse, Amicus Therapeutics

In this episode of Leadership Variations: Unfiltered, host Amy Bladen Shatto, PhD, PCC, BCC sits down with Dr. Biliana Veleva-Rotse, Global Medical Director for Fabry Disease at Amicus Therapeutics, to unpack what leadership really looks like for women in STEM who rise without the recognition they deserve. Biliana shares her non-linear path from neuroscience PhD and academic research to global leadership in biotech—revealing how credibility, influence, and impact are built without positional power, perfectionism, or having all the answers. Together, Amy and Biliana explore: - Why being the smartest person in the room can actually limit leadership - How trust, vulnerability, and cross-functional thinking unlock innovation - The hidden cost of “earning the right to speak” as a woman in STEM - How inclusive leadership becomes a strategic advantage—not a soft skill - What it truly takes to move from underestimated to undeniable This conversation is essential listening for senior women in STEM, biotech leaders, medical affairs professionals, and executives navigating technical-to-leadership transitions. 🎧 If you’ve ever felt you needed one more credential before claiming your seat at the table, this episode is for you. 🎧 Available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms  📌 Subscribe for unfiltered conversations on leadership, credibility, and real behavior change _________________________________________ Highlight Chapters: 00:40 – About Biliana 02:20 – Leadership Beyond the Resume 04:50 – The Myth of the Clear Leadership Path 06:30 – Leaving Academia 08:55 – Credibility in Male-Dominated Spaces 11:40 – Subject Matter Expert vs. Leader 15:30 – Trust as a Leadership Accelerator 16:20 – Leadership at Home 17:50 – The Career Identity Crisis 23:50 – The Undeniable Take #LeadershipVariationsUnfiltered #WomenInSTEM #WomenInLeadership Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522302/support] Watch & Subscribe 🎥 Watch this conversation and explore more Unfiltered leadership content: www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations [http://www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations] Work with Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto 📈 Tired of being underestimated? Partner with a coach who specializes in helping leaders in STEM break barriers and accelerate impact. Book a consultation → https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min [https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min]🌐 Learn more → https://www.leadershipvariations.com [https://www.leadershipvariations.com/]🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto] 🔗 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/ [https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/] 🔗  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/  [https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/ ] About the Host Leadership Variations: Unfiltered is hosted by Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto, PhD, PCC, BCC — an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations make faster, smarter leadership decisions. She specializes in science-based assessment, executive coaching, and leadership development strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Cracking the Code: From Underestimated to Undeniable with Tara Hernandez, MONGODB

What if the most important parts of leadership never show up on a résumé? In this episode of Leadership Variations: Unfiltered, Amy Blaydon sits down with Tara Hernandez, Vice President of Developer Productivity at MongoDB, for a candid conversation about what leadership in STEM actually demands—beyond credentials, titles, and technical brilliance. With a career spanning Netscape, Mozilla, Pixar, Google, and MongoDB, Tara reflects on why leadership success is less about solving technical problems and more about navigating people, alignment, credibility, and influence at scale. This conversation explores the invisible work of leadership:  • Developing others as your true legacy  • Transitioning from expert to people leader  • Navigating credibility and bias in senior roles  • Why sponsorship—not confidence—is the real accelerator  • What senior leaders should optimize for as scope and complexity grow If you lead in STEM, manage senior talent, or are building leadership pipelines, this episode offers grounded insight into what actually moves organizations forward. 🎧 Available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms  📌 Subscribe for unfiltered conversations on leadership, credibility, and real behavior change ________________________________________ Highlights 00:10 – About Tara 02:10 – From Technical Expert to People Leader 04:19 – Leadership Is a People Problem 08:41 – Aligning Smart, Opinionated Teams 10:57 – Credibility and Perception in STEM Leadership 15:29 – Mentorship vs. Sponsorship 18:07 – The Readiness Trap 20:11 – What Senior Leaders Should Optimize For 20:59 - Are You Ready Enough For The Role? 23:33 – The Leadership Legacy That Matters Most Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522302/support] Watch & Subscribe 🎥 Watch this conversation and explore more Unfiltered leadership content: www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations [http://www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations] Work with Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto 📈 Tired of being underestimated? Partner with a coach who specializes in helping leaders in STEM break barriers and accelerate impact. Book a consultation → https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min [https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min]🌐 Learn more → https://www.leadershipvariations.com [https://www.leadershipvariations.com/]🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto] 🔗 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/ [https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/] 🔗  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/  [https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/ ] About the Host Leadership Variations: Unfiltered is hosted by Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto, PhD, PCC, BCC — an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations make faster, smarter leadership decisions. She specializes in science-based assessment, executive coaching, and leadership development strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes.