The Real Women in Tech
"The Real Women in Tech" is dedicated to discussing real stories from women across various roles, functions, and seniority in the tech industry. While there are many podcasts out there, our unique approach lies in our group discussions. Igor, brings his extensive world-wide coaching experience, and I, Shivam, will share my lived experiences as a real woman in Tech.
Together we will share our radically candid observations, aiming to foster honest conversations that address the challenges women face and celebrate the significant progress we've made. We want to steer away from scripted success recipes, and engage in brutally honest dialogues.
The Real Women in Tech
Navigating the Jungle Gym of Leadership: Insights from Tiffany To, EVP Atlassian
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
This episode features a candid conversation with Tiffany To, Executive Vice President of Atlassian Products and Platforms, about her non-linear career in tech, the evolving landscape for women leaders, and what it really takes to build courageous teams. Shivam and Igor unpack how risk-taking, failure, and experimentation shape meaningful careers, while Tiffany shares specific stories about listening to internal signals, choosing unconventional paths, and leveraging her perspective as a woman in tech to drive change. Together, they explore why psychological safety is the foundation for innovation, how leaders can create “safe-to-fail” environments, and the critical role of mentorship, coaching, and continuous learning in becoming the kind of leader others want to follow.
Sound bites
- "You don't have to conform as much, especially when you’ve earned the right to bet on yourself."
- "You learn so much more about yourself from the risks that don’t work out than from the ones that do."
- "You have to read your internal signals; your body often knows before your brain catches up."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Tiffany Ko and Her Journey
01:16 Tiffany's Non-Linear Career Path
07:56 The Evolution of Women in Tech
11:48 Redefining Success: The Pyramid Analogy
18:53 Lessons from Early Career Experiences
22:32 Navigating Systemic Challenges in Technology
23:41 Building New Product Categories
28:15 The Dynamics of Experimentation and Courage
29:41 Creating Psychological Safety for Innovation
36:11 Women in Leadership and Risk-Taking
38:15 Learning from Failures and Personal Growth
40:50 Resources for Personal and Professional Development
Featured Topics & Insights
The Career Pyramid: Why starting broad across regions (like Japan and China) and functions builds the best leadership foundation.
Systems of Work: Moving beyond "raw technology" to help customers realize a clear ROI through AI-powered workflows.
Internal Signals: Why high achievers need to stop focusing solely on "winning" and start listening to what brings them joy.
Leadership Resources: Tiffany’s top picks include Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead and The Knowledge Project podcast.
