From Fashion Model to Neuroscientist: Building Technology That Truly Improves Lives

From Fashion Model to Neuroscientist: Building Technology That Truly Improves Lives

What does it take to reinvent yourself and build technology that makes a real difference? In this episode of the Women in Tech Podcast, hosts Gaby de Jong and Mariska Kleiss welcome Faviola Dadis, Founder & CEO of BrainBoostXR, together with Lea Lieke Lamb, Chapter Lead of Women in Tech Netherlands. Faviola shares her remarkable journey from international fashion model to neuroscientist and health tech entrepreneur. Together, they discuss how AI and Extended Reality are transforming cognitive rehabilitation for people with acquired brain injuries, the challenges of building and scaling a health tech startup and why diverse perspectives are essential for creating technology that truly serves people. In this episode, you'll discover: • How Brain Boost XR is transforming cognitive rehabilitation through AI and Extended Reality. • Why diverse teams create better technology. • The importance of visible role models for women and girls in tech. • Why collaboration—not competition—is key to building a more inclusive technology ecosystem. If you're passionate about technology, healthcare, entrepreneurship or innovation, this episode is for you. Special thanks to our partners NoCowboys for their professional production, podcast studio and amazing crew and H20 Esports Campus for sponsoring the Women in Tech Podcast and supporting our mission to empower 5 million women and girls in STEAM by 2030. Follow us: Women in Tech Netherlands: Women in Tech® Netherlands: About | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/women-in-tech-netherlands/about/?viewAsMember=true] BrainBoostXR: BrainBoostXR: Posts | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainboostxr/posts/?feedView=all] NoCowboys: NoCowboys: Overview | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nocowboysnl/] H20 Esports Campus: H20 Event location - Tech Hub - Rabo Esports Stadium: Posts | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/h20-esports/posts/?feedView=all]

Re-Aligned for 2026: Vision, Identity & Intentional Change with Eleonora Valenti

🎙️ In this episode of Empowered in Tech: Women in Tech Netherlands, host and producer Ilaria Severi sits down with Eleonora Valenti, international Career and Leadership Coach, founder of Human Careers, and one of the most grounded voices in identity led career realignment. As the podcast celebrates Episode 13 and exactly one year since launch, this conversation feels like the perfect end of year gift. Because December has a way of turning the volume up on the big questions. Is this the career I want Am I happy where I am What do I want more of next year Eleonora shares her own reinvention journey from building a corporate career in HR and talent development at Nike to moving to Asia, breaking internal glass ceilings, and eventually stepping into entrepreneurship, even though she once swore she would never do it. Together, they explore the difference between chasing resolutions and building a true vision, why panic moves rarely lead to alignment, and how to create clarity that is rooted in identity, not pressure. The episode also includes a special guided visualization exercise that listeners can do along with Eleonora, and it is genuinely amazing. 💡 Key Takeaways: • Why end of year confusion is not a crisis but a powerful opportunity for realignment  • What not to do when you feel stuck, including rushing into CV updates and applying without clarity  • The difference between resolutions and vision and why vision should be feeling led, not fear led  • How to stop living in “I will be happy when” and start building alignment in the present  • A simple guided visualization to connect with your next level identity and direction  • Eleonora’s top advice for December: take time, do not confuse fear with a no, and follow what energises you ✨ About Our Guest:  Eleonora Valenti is an international Career and Leadership Coach and the founder of Human Careers. With 15 plus years in recruitment, talent, and people strategy across organisations like Nike, Mindvalley, and startups in Asia, she now supports high achieving women through reinvention, crossroads, and the creation of their next level identity. 🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsor:  This episode is brought to you by DMN Westinghouse, a global engineering company committed to diversity and inclusion in tech and engineering. They are actively hiring for a range of exciting roles. Connect with them on LinkedIn to learn more. 💡 Connect with Women in Tech Netherlands:  Visit the website and follow Women in Tech Netherlands on LinkedIn to stay inspired and engaged with the community. 🎧 Listen now for a powerful end of year conversation about slowing down, getting clear, and stepping into 2026 with intention, plus a guided visualization you can do along the way.

The Power of Upskilling & Reskilling: Thriving in the AI-Driven World with Esther van Egerschot

🎙️ In this episode of Empowered in Tech: Women in Tech Netherlands, host and producer Ilaria Severi sits down with Esther van Egerschot, former Member of Parliament at 26, CEO at 29, director at a multinational at 40, and today a leading global expert in AI governance, digital transformation, and public policy. Esther’s journey is one of reinvention, determination, and unstoppable curiosity. From shaping national legislation to auditing AI systems across continents, she has built a career on continuous learning and the courage to evolve faster than the world around her. Together, they explore what it means to stay relevant in the age of AI, how upskilling and reskilling can transform your opportunities, and why emotional intelligence and critical thinking are becoming the most powerful skills of the future. 💡 Key Takeaways: • Why upskilling and reskilling are essential for every professional  • Understanding AI literacy and why it is becoming the new career currency  • How to turn fear of AI into strategy instead of paralysis  • The growing digital divide and what organisations can do to close it  • Human strengths that AI cannot replace including creativity, empathy, and critical reasoning  • Practical ways to begin upskilling or reskilling today ✨ About Our Guest: Esther van Egerschot is a globally recognised expert in AI governance and public policy. A former Dutch Member of Parliament turned CEO, director, AI auditor, professor and UNESCO AI expert, she combines legal expertise, societal impact knowledge, and deep technical understanding to help organisations navigate responsible AI. 🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by DMN WESTINGHOUSE, a global engineering company committed to diversity and inclusion in tech and engineering. They are actively hiring for a range of exciting roles. Connect with them on LinkedIn to learn more. 💡 Connect with Women in Tech Netherlands: Visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn to stay inspired and engaged with our growing community. 🎧 Listen now to dive into a powerful conversation about staying curious, staying prepared, and staying human in the age of AI.

Building for My Former Self: A Journey from Corporate to Founder with Anastasia Kuskova

🎙️ In this episode of Empowered in Tech: Women in Tech Netherlands, host and producer Ilaria Severi sits down with Anastasia Kuskova,  Co-founder and CEO of beSirius, a sustainability superintelligence platform helping metals, mining, and industrial companies turn complex data into meaningful decisions. Anastasia’s journey is one of courage, vision, and reinvention. After more than a decade working in corporate sustainability and digital transformation, she decided to build the solution she wished she’d had — one that makes sustainability data actionable, fast, and human. Together, they explore what it means to build for your former self, to lead with purpose in a complex industry, and to stay resilient through every new “monster” along the entrepreneurial path. 💡 Key Takeaways: • Building for your former self: transforming frustration into innovation  • Why staying niche can be your strongest competitive advantage in an AI-driven world  • Bringing AI into traditional, asset-heavy industries and learning which rules to break  • The founder mindset: resilience, self-awareness, and embracing uncertainty  • Finding joy and balance in leadership while leading change ✨ About Our Guest: Anastasia Kuskova is the Co-founder and CEO of beSirius, an AI-powered sustainability platform for metals, mining, and industrial companies. Recognized among the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining and winner of the COP29 Sustainable Innovation Challenge, Anastasia brings more than a decade of experience in tech-enabled sustainability, digital transformation, and leadership at the intersection of AI and industry. 🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by DMN-WESTINGHOUSE, a company committed to diversity and inclusion in tech. They are actively hiring for a range of exciting roles, connect with them on LinkedIn to learn more! 💡 Connect with Women in Tech Netherlands: Visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn to stay inspired and engaged with our community. 🎧 Listen now to discover how purpose, courage, and technology come together to build a more sustainable future.

Diversity in the Digital Age: AI and Inclusive Workplaces with Mariska Kleiss

🎙️ In this episode of Empowered in Tech: Women in Tech Netherlands, host and producer Ilaria Severi sits down with Mariska Kleiss—Global Marketing Leader, strategist, and digital transformation expert with a strong focus on AI in marketing. Mariska is also a long-time member of Women in Tech NL and part of our sponsor, DMN-WESTINGHOUSE. Together, they unpack how digitalisation and AI can open doors to more inclusive workplaces—when inclusion is built into teams, decisions, and ethics from the start. 💡 Key Takeaways: * Why D&I is the engine of innovation: more hypotheses, fewer blind spots—and why teams must “look like real life.” * The “AI house rules” every organisation needs: human-in-the-loop, bias checks, privacy, provenance, and accountability. * Moving beyond AI hype: why companies must invest in literacy, not just prompts, to address bias and ethics. * Marketing’s role as a strategic seat in manufacturing and industrial tech—using AI to spot patterns, bring evidence, and link brand activity to revenue. * Why small, inclusive decisions matter: how ensuring women are in rooms with budget, voice, and sponsorship leads to lasting change. ✨ About Our Guest: Mariska Kleiss is a results-driven global marketing leader with extensive international experience in B2B and B2C. She combines strategic vision with creativity, leading digital transformation initiatives with a strong focus on AI in marketing. As an active voice in Women in Tech, she champions equity, diversity, and inclusion to inspire the next generation to embrace technology with confidence. 🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by DMN-WESTINGHOUSE, a company committed to diversity and inclusion in tech. They are actively hiring for a range of exciting roles—connect with them on LinkedIn to learn more! 💡 Connect with Women in Tech Netherlands: Visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn to stay inspired and engaged with our community. 🎧 Listen now to discover how AI, digitalisation, and diversity can work together to build inclusive workplaces and innovative products.