Episode 20: Boundaries, Burnout & Belonging: The Unexpected Upsides of Leadership in Cybersecurity with Zoe

Episode 23: Starting Again Without Losing Yourself by Hajra Parveen Akhtar

There are moments in our careers where the biggest obstacle isn't our technical capability, our experience or even the opportunities available to us. It's the quiet story we've been telling ourselves all along. In this episode of On The Mic WIT Shaz – Women in Tech Leadership: The Upsides, I'm joined by Hajra Parveen Akhtar, Principal Technical Consultant at DXC Technology, Azure DevOps specialist, mentor and passionate advocate for helping others see what's possible. What begins with a funny story about arriving in Australia and misunderstanding what "afternoon tea" meant quickly unfolds into a heartfelt conversation about starting over, navigating unfamiliar cultures, overcoming rejection and finding the confidence to build a career without losing yourself along the way. Hajra openly shares what it was really like arriving in Australia believing her technical experience would naturally open doors, only to discover that rebuilding confidence, understanding workplace culture and learning to truly belong were just as important as her technical skills. Together we unpack the stories we tell ourselves, how fear quietly shapes our decisions and why confidence is something we build through action rather than something we wait to feel. This podcast exists to shine a light on the women shaping the future of technology, not because their journeys have been perfect, but because their experiences help others realise what's possible. Hajra's honesty, humour and generosity remind us that every challenge carries an upside when we're willing to stay curious, keep learning and continue taking the next small step. In this episode we explore: * Moving countries and rebuilding a career from the ground up. * The cultural surprises that come with starting a new life in Australia. * Why technical skills alone aren't enough to build a successful career. * The difference between fitting in and truly belonging. * Breaking cultural barriers while staying authentic to yourself. * Why our brains naturally collect "data" about people and how we can choose to respond differently. * The fear of rejection and how it quietly influences career decisions. * Self-sabotage, limiting beliefs and the stories we tell ourselves. * Why waiting for confidence is holding more people back than lack of capability. * How humour became one of Hajra's greatest leadership strengths. * Small actions that create lasting confidence over time. * Mentoring migrant women in technology and creating greater opportunities for others. The Upsides from this episode ✨ Sometimes the biggest career breakthrough begins with changing the story you tell yourself. ✨ Belonging doesn't require becoming someone else, it starts with embracing who you already are. ✨ Confidence isn't something you find before you act. It grows because you're willing to take the first step. ✨ Every rejection carries information that can shape your next opportunity. ✨ Humour has the power to build connection, break down barriers and make leadership more human. ✨ Small, consistent actions will always outperform waiting for the "perfect" moment. ✨ Your background isn't something to overcome, it's something that strengthens the perspective you bring. ✨ One person's courage to go first creates possibility for countless others. Get in touch with Hajra: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hajra-parveen-akhtar-b33428138 [http://linkedin.com/in/hajra-parveen-akhtar-b33428138] Tech Sisters Global Community: https://www.tech-sisters.com/ [https://www.tech-sisters.com/]  Where to find me:  Website: Sharon (Shaz) Daly   www.techtoexec.com.au [http://www.techtoexec.com.au] LinkedIn: Sharon (Shaz) Daly https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-daly/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-daly/] Instagram: @techtoexec  https://www.instagram.com/techtoexec/ [https://www.instagram.com/techtoexec/] Facebook: TechtoExec  https://www.facebook.com/techtoexec/ [https://www.facebook.com/techtoexec/] Join the TechtoExec Community https://techtoexec.com.au/techtoexec-community/ [https://techtoexec.com.au/techtoexec-community/] 🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone navigating their own journey in technology. Every conversation helps another person realise what's possible.

Episode 22: Finding an Environment That Values What You Bring Instead of Spending Years Trying to Prove Yourself to the Wrong Room

Yi is a strategy consultant who believes ambition shouldn’t be softened to be acceptable. She consistently chooses courage over comfort.  As a woman in tech from an Asian background, she knows how rare it is to see someone who looks like you openly say, “I want to rise to the top” and mean it. She’s still early in her career, figuring it out in real time, but doing it visibly, so maybe someone watching this podcast thinks: “If she can say it out loud, maybe I can too.” We often hear that confidence is the key to career growth. But what happens when you're simultaneously carrying big boss energy and wondering if you're doing enough? In this episode of On The Mic WIT Shaz: Women in Tech Leadership – The Upsides, I chat with strategic advisor Yi Jin to explore the realities behind ambition, self-doubt, leadership and growth. From growing up in a Chinese household to navigating corporate environments, Yi shares how cultural values shaped her decision-making, resilience and leadership aspirations. She talks candidly about balancing the belief that she can conquer the world while also questioning whether she's learning fast enough. What stood out most during this conversation wasn't just Yi's clarity of direction. It was her unwavering belief that no matter what happens, she will always get better. Together we unpack: * Why reducing social media scrolling created space for growth * The books helping Yi become a better communicator and leader * How cultural navigation becomes a leadership advantage * Why internal validation matters more than external validation * The perspective shift that helps overcome self-doubt * How to make decisions when you don't have all the information * Why difficult conversations are leadership training in disguise * How rejection often redirects you to something better * The importance of finding environments that value what you bring * Why being selective with your energy is a career superpower One of Yi's most powerful reflections was this: "You can spend years trying to prove yourself to the wrong room. Or you can find the environment that values what you bring and put your energy there." For anyone questioning whether they're ready for the next step, this episode is a reminder that growth doesn't come from having all the answers. It comes from trusting yourself enough to take the next step anyway. Yi's Upsides ✨ Strategic thinker with exceptional self-awareness ✨ Deep curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning ✨ Ability to bridge Eastern and Western perspectives ✨ Strong decision-making even in uncertainty ✨ Focused, intentional and highly disciplined ✨ Values-led leadership approach ✨ Believes in lifting others as she climbs ✨ Turns rejection into growth and opportunity ✨ Understands that leadership starts from within Favourite Quotes "If they're willing to pay you to do it, they've already decided you're capable." "The ultimate belief is that I will always get better." "You can spend years trying to prove yourself to the wrong room." "Being busy isn't the goal. Being deliberate is." "Girl, if not you, who?" Books Mentioned 📖 Poor Charlie's Almanack 📖 Nonviolent Communication Connect & Collaborate If this conversation resonated with you, share it with another woman in tech who needs the reminder that she doesn't need permission to take up space. Get in touch with Yi Jin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yijin666/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yijin666/]  Where to find me:  Website: Sharon (Shaz) Daly   www.techtoexec.com.au [http://www.techtoexec.com.au] LinkedIn: Sharon (Shaz) Daly https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-daly/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-daly/] Instagram: @techtoexec  https://www.instagram.com/techtoexec/ [https://www.instagram.com/techtoexec/] Facebook: TechtoExec  https://www.facebook.com/techtoexec/ [https://www.facebook.com/techtoexec/] Join the MOVEMENT https://techtoexec.com.au/the-movement/ [https://techtoexec.com.au/the-movement/]

Episode 21: The Leaders Who Make You Feel Capable | with Emma Greco

With over 25 years of IT experience, Emma brings deep expertise across energy, utilities, retail and wagering. A Monash University Bachelor of Information Systems graduate. She has delivered high‑profile initiatives including smart meter rollouts, digital transformations, and banking trading platform integrations alongside platform management. Known for strong people leadership and an ability to translate complex business needs into seamless, customer‑centric solutions. At Sportsbet, Emma is currently Head of Technology, focusing on the betting platform, risk technology, and engineering enablement portfolios. Beyond work, she is an active advocate for women in tech, keynote speaker, mentor, and industry contributor. Some people walk into a room with big energy. Emma Greco walks into a room with calm certainty. The kind that makes people feel safe to speak, safe to learn and safe to not have everything figured out yet. In this episode of On the Mic WIT Shaz, Emma shares the real story behind her career across utilities, banking, betting and large-scale technology transformation but what stood out most wasn’t the titles... It was the way she talks about people and about… * Taking walks at lunchtime because sitting at your desk trying to “look busy” is actually draining your brain. * Learning not to panic if you’re running late because “life keeps going.” * Creating psychological safety in teams by simply letting people be human. * Supporting women in tech because she remembers exactly what it felt like being one of only four women in her university course. There’s also a moment in this conversation where Emma shares that throughout her career, she secretly kept notes on every leader she worked with. * The leaders who made people feel safe. * The ones who made people shrink. * The qualities she admired. * The leadership styles she never wanted to repeat. Years later, she found the notebook again while moving house. And realised she had slowly become the kind of leader she once hoped to have herself. That moment alone is worth listening for. This episode is full of the kind of conversation we actually need more of in tech leadership spaces: * honest * practical * thoughtful * warm * funny in parts * and deeply relatable if you’ve ever questioned yourself in your career   Emma also shares: ✨ why curiosity has been the biggest driver in her career longevity ✨ her thoughts on AI and why fear is the wrong mindset ✨ how she protects her energy as a leader ✨ the importance of taking space to think ✨ why she believes leadership should feel supportive, not performative✨ and how mentoring women in tech became deeply personal to her   One of my favourite lines from Emma in this episode: “This is not a problem. We just haven’t found the right solution yet.” Honestly… that feels like a life lesson, not just a leadership one. And that’s why this podcast exists. Not for polished leadership scripts but for real conversations with women who are actually living it. 🎧 Listen now.    Get in touch with Emma: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-greco-au/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-greco-au/]    Where to find me: Website: Sharon (Shaz) Daly   www.techtoexec.com.au [http://www.techtoexec.com.au] LinkedIn: Sharon (Shaz) Daly https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-daly/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-daly/] Instagram: @techtoexec  https://www.instagram.com/techtoexec/ [https://www.instagram.com/techtoexec/] Facebook: TechtoExec  https://www.facebook.com/techtoexec/ [https://www.facebook.com/techtoexec/]    Join the MOVEMENT https://techtoexec.com.au/the-movement/ [https://techtoexec.com.au/the-movement/]

Episode 20: Boundaries, Burnout & Belonging: The Unexpected Upsides of Leadership in Cybersecurity with Zoe

Zoe Adam is a SOC Team Lead at CyberCX, passionate about building confident, high-performing teams. Beginning her career at CDC, before moving into frontline cyber operations, Zoe developed a strong belief that performance is equally shaped by mindset and leadership, as is technical skill; focusing on mentoring analysts, fostering critical thinking, and challenging traditional approaches to team development. Zoe is the AWSN Canberra Chapter Lead and a dedicated advocate for women in STEM, regularly volunteering to encourage young women and career changers into cybersecurity. She brings a practical, honest, and people-centred perspective on leadership and growth. There’s a moment in every career where things feel… too much. For Zoe, it wasn’t just the pressure of leading security operations across cities or stepping into rooms where she was the only woman, it was the quiet realization that she was pouring from an empty cup. Burnout didn’t break her. It woke her up. In this episode, Zoe shares her journey from self-doubt in high-stakes environments to becoming the leader she once needed, someone who not only protects organisations, but uplifts people. From moving cities and rebuilding her life, to standing in rooms where imposter syndrome was loud, Zoe opens up about what it really takes to build a sustainable career in cybersecurity and why boundaries, community, and self-trust are the real game changers.   The Upsides Zoe Discovered * Burnout became a signal for change—not failure  * Saying “no” became a leadership skill, not a weakness  * Imposter syndrome became proof of growth in motion  * Community became her anchor and amplifier  * Leadership became less about her success—and more about watching others rise  Key Moments in This Episode * The moment Zoe realised she had to protect her energy, not just incidents  * Why “intentional no’s” are critical for women in leadership  * The reality of leading in male-dominated environments—and owning your space anyway  A powerful reframe: 👉 “The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence”  How one room full of women reminded her: I belong here  * The shift mentors look for when someone truly starts believing in themselves  * Why cybersecurity is not just technical—it’s a people-first career  * The unexpected upside of leadership: your wins become theirs  For Women Considering Cybersecurity Zoe wants you to know this: * You don’t need to fit the stereotype. * You don’t need to know everything. * And you definitely don’t need to do it alone. Your soft skills? They’re not “nice to have”—they’re your superpower. 💬 Why This Episode Exists Because too many women are questioning if they belong… When in reality, they’re exactly who this industry needs. 🔔 Subscribe & Follow For more real stories from women in tech leadership who are redefining success and sharing the upsides. Get in touch with Zoe: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zoe-adam-9543b8183 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-adam-9543b8183/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BuQ6apelVQpyWw0EJt2ajbg%3D%3D]  Where to find me:  Website: Sharon (Shaz) Daly   www.techtoexec.com.au [http://www.techtoexec.com.au] LinkedIn: Sharon (Shaz) Daly https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-daly/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-daly/] Instagram: @techtoexec  https://www.instagram.com/techtoexec/ [https://www.instagram.com/techtoexec/] Facebook: TechtoExec  https://www.facebook.com/techtoexec/ [https://www.facebook.com/techtoexec/] Join the MOVEMENT https://techtoexec.com.au/the-movement/ [https://techtoexec.com.au/the-movement/]

Episode 19: Feeling Alive Again – Arpita Sen on Career Reinvention, Parenthood & Resilient Leadership

Sometimes leadership doesn’t arrive with a promotion. Sometimes it arrives with a toddler tantrum… a career pivot… or a moment where life forces you to rethink everything. In this episode of Women in Tech Leadership: The Upsides, I sit down with Arpita Sen, a full stack developer whose journey into tech started in a completely different world,  Bengali literature and teaching before pivoting into software development and AI innovation. Arpita’s story is one of reinvention, resilience and quiet leadership. * Migrating to Australia. * Breaking into tech without “local experience”. * Navigating postpartum depression while building a career. * Raising a young child without family support nearby. * And still finding the courage to keep learning, building, and moving forward. But what struck me most about Arpita isn’t just what she’s achieved. It’s how she thinks. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: There is no step back. Only step forward. Instead of viewing challenges as obstacles, she treats them as training ground moments. * Parenthood became her leadership school. * Rejection became feedback loops. * And exhaustion became a lesson in energy management and prioritisation. One of my favourite moments in this conversation is when Arpita talks about how parenthood rewired her brain, not as a limitation, but as a strength. Her perspective? Parenthood expands your ability to manage complexity, prioritise faster, think critically, and adapt quickly, skills that translate directly into technical leadership. She also shares the reality of building an AI startup with her partner while both working full-time jobs and raising a toddler. No sugarcoating. No “perfect balance” myth. Just real life. And a mindset that says: “If you hammer long enough, the crack will come.” We also explore: * Why migrating into tech without “local experience” forced her to build resilience * How rejection became her personal improvement strategyThe unexpected leadership lessons toddlers teach us * Why energy management is one of the most underrated career skills * The mindset she’s building to reach her goal of becoming a Design Architect within five years And through it all, Arpita repeats a phrase that perfectly captures the spirit of this episode: “I feel alive.” This conversation is a reminder that leadership doesn’t always look loud or obvious. Sometimes it looks like quiet persistence, curiosity, and choosing growth again and again. And sometimes the biggest career breakthroughs happen when life gets messy.   Special Mentions I would love to acknowledge my family. Transitioning from a background in literature to the tech industry was a major turning point, and their unwavering trust during that period was my greatest anchor. At a time when I was steering my career in a completely new direction, their belief in my ability to adapt helped me navigate the challenges of the IT world with confidence. I wouldn’t be where I am today, sixyears into this journey, without that foundation of support. Langoedge – AI platform enabling businesses to build intelligent agents without coding. https://langoedge.com/ [https://langoedge.com/] Use cases include: * Healthcare conversational agents for advanced care planning * Real estate enquiry automation * Intelligent admin agents for scheduling and follow-ups   Key Takeaways * Leadership can emerge long before a leadership titleParenthood can expand, not shrink, professional capabilityRejection can be used as a development tool * Energy management is critical for sustainable performance * Confidence grows through action, not perfection    Get in touch with Arpita: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/arpita-sen-77aba1185 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/arpita-sen-77aba1185/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B9dyCdz%2FVSGebFQTmDEv4rw%3D%3D]   Where to find me: Website: Sharon (Shaz) Daly   www.techtoexec.com.au [http://www.techtoexec.com.au] LinkedIn: Sharon (Shaz) Daly https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-daly/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-daly/] Instagram: @techtoexec  https://www.instagram.com/techtoexec/ [https://www.instagram.com/techtoexec/] Facebook: TechtoExec  https://www.facebook.com/techtoexec/ [https://www.facebook.com/techtoexec/]     Join the MOVEMENT https://techtoexec.com.au/the-movement/ [https://techtoexec.com.au/the-movement/]