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Multiple hats
A podcast about STEMM professionals professionals who have gone off script and carved their own path. Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine. How they found their why and what it takes to make it happen.
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24. Why Interdisciplinary Thinkers Will Lead the Future: Dr. Anushi Rajapaksa’s Journey from Biomedical + Aerospace Engineering to MedTech Startup
01:06:20||Ep. 24🎙️ Creating Your Own Path as a STEMM Professional with Dr. Anushi Rajapaksa "If not me then who" - why you may actually be the one who should take the first step and how to get started. What if your unique combination of STEMM degrees could solve a global health problem?Are you a STEMM professional ready to pivot your career or start something new? In this episode, Dr. Anushi Rajapaksa—biomedical, mechanical and aerospatial engineer and medtech founder—shares how she used her diverse STEM background to create Misti, a groundbreaking respiratory care and lung advanced drug delivery innovation. Learn how interdisciplinary thinking, knowledge brokering, and imperfect action can help you build your own path outside traditional science careers.🔍 **What You’ll Learn: How to identify your unique "knowledge brokering" superpower and your purposelearn practical steps to start validating your ideas (even with Nobel Prize winners!),gain the confidence to take imperfect action because "scrappy progress is better than no progress."How to put together a roadmap that can get you started and later on grow Listen now to transform your perspective from "I need more credentials" to "I already have everything I need to start." 📌 **Key Topics:**In this episode we explore additional themes, including :How to recognise opportunitiesThe financials of getting through the first 6 monthsHow to get your opinion heard and why it mattersWhy being clear on your message is the foundation of creating opprotunitiesWhy you don’t have to be part of the 5am club everydayAnd much more Episode Timeline:[00:00] Introduction to Multiple Hats and Dr. Anushi Rajapaksa[02:45] What is Misty and why it should exist[06:30] The two product lines: My Misty and Med Misty[13:00] Anushi's academic journey: from electrical to aerospace engineering[16:30] The undervalued superpower of "knowledge brokering"[21:45] Early career experiences and grant writing lessons[28:00] Giving your expertise a voice and platform[31:30] First steps in founding Misty during the pandemic[37:00] Morning routines and managing priorities[38:45] Building a roadmap with IP, regulatory and customer focus[45:00] The role of accelerators and mentors[49:30] Funding journey: from small experiments to product development[55:30] Overcoming the perfectionism trap in product development[57:30] Customer engagement strategies without marketing[1:01:30] Privileges and systemic issues faced as a founder 🔗 **Resources & Links:**Misti: https://www.misti.com.auAnushi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-anushi/Startmate Accelerator: https://www.startmate.com/ 🤔 Reflection time:What pivot could your unique combination of STEMM skills make possible?Discover how your apparently unrelated experiences might be your greatest superpower.
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23. From Uni to CEO: How Mechatronic Engineer Sophia Kurianski Took on Decades-Old Industry Norms with Jinolo
01:10:55||Ep. 23🎙️From Uni to CEO: How Mechatronic Engineer Sophia Kurianski Took on Decades-Old Industry Norms with JinoloChallenging outdated 3D design processes straight out of university, Sophia Kurianski turned frustration into a startup—and built Jinolo from the ground up🔍 What You’ll Learn:How questioning outdated systems can spark breakthrough ideasHow to validate a product idea before writing a line of codeWhat building a tech startup as a solo founder really looks likeWhy grants and customer discovery are key early toolsHow STEMM professionals can reframe failure in sales as growth🧠 About the Guest:Sophia Kurianski is a mechatronic engineer and the founder of Jinolo, a 3D collaboration platform transforming how technical and non-technical teams work together. Straight out of university, Sophia rejected “the way things have always been done” and built a startup that now serves over 500 customers. In this episode, she shares how problem-solving, lean execution, and persistence powered her entrepreneurial leap.📌 Episode Highlights:00:00 Welcome to Multiple Hats00:29 Meet Sophia Kurianski: Founder of Jinolo00:37 The problem with legacy 3D design workflows01:21 Bridging technical and non-technical collaboration03:34 Engineering roots and early work experience13:01 How Jinolo started: the first iteration19:26 Building a minimum viable product22:30 Getting feedback + iterating27:40 Customer discovery & early sales strategies34:37 Launching solo: founder mindset40:07 Hiring contractors and scaling46:34 Technical scalability vs customer onboarding55:00 Funding the startup & managing cash flow58:58 Personal growth through selling01:06:57 Final reflections + future vision🔗 Resources Mentioned:Visit JinoloSophia Kurianski on LinkedIn🤔 Reflection Time:What processes around you feel outdated? Could your discomfort with “how it’s always been done” be the clue to your next move?How might your STEMM background position you to create a better way?Hey, I hope you have enjoyed this interview and the career twists!While you listen, can you see the pattern - Founders tend to go get their destiny and create their own luck.And so can you!Creating your own luck has a lot to do with how you put yourself out there and speak about what you want to do.Send me a message if you want to start being at the right place, at the right time and make your own stars align.visit my website angelique.greco.com.au or send me a message on LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/angelique-greco22. From Startup to Global Impact: Ida Tin’s Role in the Femtech Revolution—Without a STEMM Degree
01:10:40||Ep. 22The Femtech revolution with Ida Tin, founder of ClueDid Apple "forgot" to add a period tracker to the Apple Heath tracker at a time when Femtech was not a thing?Imagine you’re pioneering a product in a completely new sector, carving out an entirely new market category. That’s the journey of Ida Tin, the co-founder of Clue, one of the largest Femtech health apps serving 10+ million active users across 190+ countries. Ida coined the term 'Femtech,' to provide a unifying banner for the sector dedicated to women's health technology. We get to hear how it started from the ida of a home hormonal test ( a decade before home testing of anything was a thing) to taking a 100% digital approach to contraception. 🔍 What You’ll Learn:How Ida Tin co-founded Clue, one of the world’s most popular women’s health appsThe origin story of the word "Femtech"—and how naming it shaped a $60B+ industryThe workarounds of building a women’s health startup without a STEMM backgroundWhy data privacy, ethics, and inclusive design were non-negotiables for Clue and what happens to those who took shortcutsHow to fund and grow a mission-driven product in a male-dominated VC landscape 🧠 About the Guest:Ida Tin is the co-founder of Clue, a pioneering period and fertility tracking app with over 10 million active users in 190+ countries. While she doesn't come from a traditional STEMM background, her vision and language helped define an entire sector: Femtech.Her story is one of category creation, mission-driven innovation, and challenging the norms of tech, funding, and health. 🗂️ Episode Timeline:00:32 Meet Ida Tin: The Mother of Femtech 01:45 The Journey of Clue 03:55 Data Privacy and Ethical Considerations 07:09 Challenges and Innovations in Femtech 17:55 Building the Clue Team 33:33 The Birth of the Term 'Femtech' , definition and a new unifying banner39:41 Inclusivity in Femtech: Bridging the Gender Gap 40:57 The Duality of Periods: Normalization vs. Medical Attention 42:28 Creating a Supportive Work Culture for Women 44:11 Challenges in Femtech: Data Gaps and Funding Issues 51:31 funding , Ethics and Success in Femtech: A Comparative Analysis 56:24 Navigating Gender Bias in Venture Capital 01:07:14 Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship 01:09:23 Conclusion: Building a Unified Future 🔗 Resources & Mentions:Follow Ida Tin on LinkedInSign up for her upcoming Femtech bookDownload Clue on your app store
21. 2024 Wrap-Up: Dream, Surround Yourself Right, Embrace Your Patchwork, and Take the Leap
26:25||Ep. 21🎙️ 2024 Wrap-Up: Dream, Surround Yourself Right, Embrace Your Patchwork, and Take the LeapReal-life examples and mindset shifts to help STEMM professionals take bold, imperfect action🔍 What You’ll Learn:How to identify and act on the projects that resonate with your passionThe importance of surrounding yourself with supportive individualsStrategies to embrace your unique combination of experiences—your "patchwork"Ways to overcome self-doubt and external criticismThe value of taking risks, regardless of age or stage in your career🧠 About the Host:Angelique Greco is the host of Multiple Hats and founder of Thought Leadership Democratised, a coaching program that helps life science professionals position themselves as thought leaders and create career paths that align with their values and ambitions. With a background in drug development, real-world evidence, and science strategy, Angelique combines her expertise in storytelling, teaching, and critical inquiry to spotlight those reinventing what it means to succeed in STEMM.📌 Episode Highlights:01:02 The Importance of Community01:50 Facing Detractors and Naysayers02:58 Finding Support in Startup Communities06:06 Real-Life Examples of Overcoming Detractors13:37 Embracing Your Unique Path17:17 The Value of Taking Risks21:58 Age is Just a Number25:38 Conclusion and Call to Action🔗 Resources Mentioned:Take the Survey for a Chance to Win "How I Built This" by Guy RazAngelique Greco's WebsiteAngelique Greco on LinkedIn🤔 Reflection Time:What project made your heart sing this year?Who are the people around you? Do they support or detract from your goals?What unique experiences make up your professional "patchwork"?What's one action you can take this month to move closer to your goals?20. From Fresh Grads to Founders: How Two Google Software Engineers Turned Chronic Illness into a Health Startup
01:13:32||Ep. 20🎙️ From Fresh Grads to Founders: How Two Google Software Engineers Turned Chronic Illness into a Health StartupAnnabel Zhou and Vivian Shen launched Toastie—an app to track and manage chronic illness—just after graduating with computer science degrees, all while working full-time at Google🔍 What You’ll Learn:How to spot real opportunities: Why a messy spreadsheet turned into a startup idea—and how to recognize your own “this could be better” momentWhy you don’t have to wait until you’re 40: How two software engineers launched Toastie almost straight out of uniHow to start without quitting your job: Smart ways to test your idea and keep your cashflow safe while working full-timeHow failure fuels future success: What second-time founders know about learning from what didn’t workWhat mindset helps you build for impact: How to go from frustration to mission-driven founder—even if you’re still figuring it out🧠 About the Guests:Annabel Zhou and Vivian Shen are software engineers at Google and co-founders of Toastie, a health tracking app designed to help people with chronic illnesses understand patterns in their symptoms, meals, and daily routines. Instead of settling for messy spreadsheets, they built an app that transforms scattered health data into meaningful, doctor-ready insights. Toastie is proof that you don’t need to quit your day job—or have it all figured out—to start something important.📌 Episode Highlights:00:00 Introduction to Multiple Hats00:37 Meet Annabel and Vivian01:05 Living with chronic illness and tracking with spreadsheets03:34 From personal pain to product idea09:19 Building Toastie while working full-time13:01 Lessons from their first startup19:26 Validating ideas with real users22:30 Support networks and community27:40 Future vision for Toastie🔗 Resources Mentioned:Sign up for Toastie’s pre-release🤔 Reflection Time:Are you sitting on an idea sparked by a personal frustration?What skill could you apply right now to start exploring a solution?Could your “annoyance” be your next opportunity?
16. Series Trailer: Startup Sparks – Stories from the UNSW Founders Program _ turn your ideas into reality
03:44||Ep. 16🎙️ Series Trailer: Startup Sparks – Stories from the UNSW Founders ProgramReal stories from founders and program leaders inside one of Australia's most active startup communitiesWelcome to a special series of Multiple Hats, created in collaboration with the UNSW Founders Program—one of Australia's leading startup accelerators for students, researchers, and early-stage entrepreneurs.Whether you’ve already started building something or just have an entrepreneurial itch, this series is here to show you what’s possible when you dare to give it a go.You’ll hear from:Founders solving real-world problems—from medtech to education to climateProgram managers who power the supportive community behind the scenesCandid stories of near-explosions, “there-has-to-be-a-better-way” moments, and the turning points that sparked something newIt’s packed with insights on how to go from idea to realisation—and what it actually takes to build something with impact.🔗 Resources:Learn more about UNSW Founders
19. Forging Founders Early: How UNSW’s New Wave Program Helps Women Start Something New
01:04:03||Ep. 19🎙️ Forging Founders Early: How UNSW’s New Wave Program Helps Women in STEMM ( and others) Start Something NewVictoria Rose Tucker on why it’s never too early to explore entrepreneurship—and how women can take the first step with support, structure, and community🔍 What You’ll Learn:Why the startup world needs more women founders—and how programs like New Wave open doorsHow to test your entrepreneurial curiosity without quitting your job or degreeWhat makes UNSW’s New Wave program unique in lowering the barrier to entryHow mentorship and confidence-building are just as important as fundingReal-life outcomes: from AI health tools to inclusive innovation leadership🧠 About the Guest:Victoria Rose Tucker is Program Manager of UNSW’s New Wave, an accelerator designed to empower women entrepreneurs—many from science backgrounds—to take the first step into the startup world. Victoria shares how the program’s structure, community, and low-barrier entry approach is helping women build confidence, test ideas, and change the face of early-stage entrepreneurship.📌 Episode Highlights:03:15 Overview of UNSW Founders’ entrepreneurial programs05:13 Who can join and how it works06:07 New Wave structure & what participants actually do07:15 The real challenges women face—and how the program supports them09:45 Success stories & future vision16:46 Debunking the myths of what a founder “should” look like32:22 Early-stage ideas: discreet solutions to real-world needs32:37 Spotlight: AI-powered chronic illness management (Team Toastie)34:05 Addressing the gender data gap in health34:53 Mentorship, peer support & community37:01 Building purposeful, diverse teams39:02 Celebrating wins: showcase & awards42:35 Victoria’s own path into entrepreneurship48:21 Momentum Month: sustaining progress beyond the program53:22 The future of inclusive entrepreneurship54:39 How to create more opportunities for women in STEMM59:48 Final reflections and call to action🔗 Resources Mentioned:UNSW Founders – New Wave Program🤔 Reflection Time:Could a program like New Wave help you take your first step toward entrepreneurship?What stories or stats shook your assumptions in this episode?Is there an idea you’ve been sitting on that’s worth testing—just to see?