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Queens of Tech
Tech Queen: Nichole Austion –Vice President of Public Affairs at National Math and Science Initiative
Building on more than 20 years of proven success in marketing, Nichole Austion, MBA, has served as vice president of public affairs for the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) since 2022. She originally joined NMSI in 2020 as director of marketing communications, quickly rising to senior director before taking on her current role. Nichole oversees a government affairs team responsible for nurturing NMSI's relationships with federal and state entities, as well as individual public-sector stakeholders. Her team ensures compliance with government regulations and supports the strategic goals of the organization.
Before joining NMSI, Nichole honed her marketing expertise in various leadership roles. She was the director of marketing and communications at Lighthouse Academies and served as a senior marketing manager at both Secureworks and Acuity Brands. Nichole's career includes 12 years at Teradata Corporation, where she advanced from senior industry marketing manager to director of industry marketing. Prior to transitioning to marketing, Nichole pursued engineering, including a two-year stint at IBM, where she discovered her talent for breaking down complex technical concepts into easily understandable terms.
Nichole’s professional success is rooted in a strong academic background. She holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science and engineering from Howard University and earned an MBA from the Texas McCombs School of Business in 1995. She has also bolstered her expertise with certifications in nonprofit organization management and inbound marketing. Nichole credits her education in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as a key factor in her career achievements.
An active member of the National Black MBA Association, Nichole continues to share her insights and learn from peers with similar backgrounds. In 2024, she was named Innovator of the Year by the Women’s Empowerment Ministry, a recognition she considers her most significant accomplishment. This award was tied to a program she organized that featured a space capsule exhibit and a panel with six Black astronauts at Martha’s Vineyard. Through this initiative, Nichole helped raise awareness among middle-class African American families about the presence of Black astronauts, a possibility that many had not previously considered.
In addition to her executive roles, Nichole is a strong advocate for STEM education. She published her first children’s book, Miles and the Math Monsters, in 2024, which helps children overcome their fear of math in a fun and engaging way. Her commitment to community service is evident in her board memberships with Georgia Agape Inc., College Ready Now, and the Greater Atlanta Christian School Parent Association. She has also contributed to civic engagement as an elections issuing clerk in Gwinnett County and supported fundraising efforts for Greater Atlanta Christian School.
Outside of her professional life, Nichole is a devoted wife and mother. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, writing, and traveling with her family.
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88. Tech Queen: Maeva Cecchi – Lead UX and Diversity & Inclusion Ambassador at Amadeus
36:44||Ep. 88Maeva Cecchi is currently a Lead UX at Amadeus, a company that powers the global travel and tourism industry. She leads the UX Competency Center for Amadeus Discover, where she is responsible for implementing UX strategy through cross-functional collaboration. Maeva also develops a "UX as a Service" approach for major clients, focusing on improving both conversion rates and user experience through data-driven insights.Maeva is also the co-lead of the Amadeus UX Community, dedicated to enhancing UX maturity and fostering a strong user experience culture among UX professionals and non-UX stakeholders alike.As a Diversity & Inclusion ambassador, she actively promotes digital accessibility, mentoring development teams to ensure compliance with accessibility standards.In addition, Maeva is involved with the association WHAT06, supporting initiatives that encourage women’s integration into the technology sector. Her contributions include co-organizing events like Girls Tech Day 2023 and developing a mentoring app for young women.Holding a Master’s degree in Psychology, specializing in Cognitive Ergonomics from Université Côte d’Azur, Maeva combines her UX expertise with a deep understanding of user needs. She has co-authored articles on designing for cognitive (dis)abilities and envisions a tech industry that fosters inclusive work environments, prioritizing diversity and accessibility.
87. Tech Queen: Kelly Evans – Co-founder of Screws + Stilettos & the “Market Like A CMO” course ex-Tripadvisor
39:38||Ep. 87Kelly Evans is a seasoned entrepreneur and small business owner who grew her first company to $5MM in annual revenue within just three years, drawing on her deep expertise in marketing, sales, and digital development. With extensive hands-on experience across all facets of digital marketing, she appreciates the critical role of inbound marketing and online platforms in the growth and resilience of small to mid-sized businesses. A talented marketing strategist and project manager, Kelly has a proven track record of developing and executing creative, client-centric strategies that elevate growth, brand recognition, ROI, and revenue—including during her impactful tenure at Tripadvisor.Known for her high energy and fast-paced style, Kelly is a strategic Renaissance woman who has worn nearly every hat: from CEO, CMO, and CFO, to SEO, SEM, and SMM Specialist; Director of Operations, Website Developer, VP of Marketing, and even Delivery Driver, Packer, and Seamstress—always staying positive, motivated, and smiling every step of the way.
86. Tech Queen: Jen Morse (Iudice) – Director, User Research at Sonos
35:26||Ep. 86Jen Morse (Iudice) leads the team responsible for foundational, conceptual, and tactical research insights that drive product development and refinement at Sonos. Her work informs and establishes essential parameters for human-centered design across various disciplines. Jen has been with Sonos since 2019. Before joining Sonos, she spent a decade at Teague, a global design consultancy at the intersection of technology and transportation. There, she led exploratory research for clients like Boeing, providing key insights to guide future innovation in user experiences.With over 25 years of experience, Jen has analyzed user experiences across industries including retail, software, home media, pharmaceuticals, and fast food. Prior to her time at Teague, she spent more than a decade at Doblin Group (now Deloitte), a design strategy firm in Chicago. During this period, she also studied at the Institute of Design, focusing on user research and design strategy, as well as at the University of Chicago, where she pursued anthropology.
85. Tech Queen: Courtney Hurley – Co-founder of Screws + Stilettos & Market Like A CMO Course
43:48||Ep. 85Courtney Hurley is the co-founder of Screws + Stilettos and the Market Like a CMO course. With 19 years of digital marketing experience, she has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to local daycares.An entrepreneur with a foundation in SEO, SEM, analytics, and web design, Courtney also holds a marketing degree from Bentley University. Her expertise has since expanded to include email marketing, social media management, e-commerce, CMS, and business development.Having worked with major players like Google, Amazon, and Wayfair, Courtney is skilled at helping businesses grow their online presence, increase brand awareness, boost ROI, and drive revenue through innovative strategic initiatives.
84. Tech Queen: Sheryl Cababa – Chief Strategy Officer at Optimistic Design | Author of “Closing the Loop: Systems Thinking for Designers”
46:27||Ep. 84Sheryl Cababa is the author of Closing the Loop: Systems Thinking for Designers. As a design researcher and strategist, she serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Optimistic Design, a research and insights studio in Seattle dedicated to education. Her work emphasizes systems thinking and equity-centered design, and she has collaborated with a diverse array of clients, including the Gates Foundation, Microsoft, IKEA, and Khan Academy. Sheryl is passionate about leveraging design to help clients reimagine education.In addition to her practice, she teaches at the University of Washington's Human-Centered Design and Engineering program, where she introduces systems thinking to the next generation of designers.
83. Tech Queen: Kwanesia (Nikki) Bass – Sr. Technical Cloud Learning & Development Program Manager & Career Strategist
37:32||Ep. 83Nikki Bass is a Senior Program Manager at Yahoo, specializing in Technical Learning and Development. With a strong focus on digital transformation and cloud strategy, Nikki leads cutting-edge training programs in emerging technologies such as Generative AI and cloud platforms. In addition to her corporate work, she is a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion, actively mentoring and developing the next generation of tech talent through her career coaching business and talent development initiatives.As a leader in the tech space, Nikki offers a unique perspective on how women and non-binary individuals can thrive in the fast-evolving technology sector, particularly in roles beyond traditional engineering and coding. Her innovative approach empowers underrepresented groups to find success in dynamic, non-traditional pathways within the industry.
82. Tech Queen: Heather MacDonald – Founder of Contemplating Life's Choices and Principal Consultant at Pluralsight
49:06||Ep. 82Heather MacDonald is the Founder of Contemplating Life’s Choices, a coaching and leadership development practice dedicated to empowering high-performing diverse women and mothers who struggle with overthinking, people-pleasing, and perfectionism, all while striving to balance their careers and personal lives.In her role as a Principal Consultant at Pluralsight, Heather serves as a strategic thought partner across a global portfolio of industry-leading companies and academic institutions. She leverages organizational psychology, systems change, science-based leadership, and equity-focused practices to help clients implement sustainable, scalable, and adaptable programs.Heather is also a global speaker, panelist, and workshop host on leadership development, organizational change, workplace culture, talent mobility, community building, and lifelong learning.She currently serves as a founding member of the Technology and Data Committee for the World Innovation and Change Management Institute, co-leads the mock interview program for second-year students at the Center for Equity and Student Belonging at the University of Utah, and is an Inaugural Board Member for the Women’s Wellness Summit.
81. Tech Queen: Bobbie Racette – Founder & CEO of Virtual Gurus
29:32||Ep. 81Bobbie Racette is a pioneering force in the tech industry, embodying innovation and advocating for social change as the Founder & CEO of Virtual Gurus and VG OnDemand. Her dedication to fostering inclusivity and equitable opportunities has revolutionized the remote work sector, especially for marginalized communities. With her unique perspective as a Métis-Cree, 2SLGBTQIA+ woman entrepreneur, Bobbie has turned Virtual Gurus into a leading Talentplace platform in North America, championing diversity and inclusion.This mission is deeply personal for Bobbie - she knows firsthand the challenges traditionally marginalized communities face in the workplace. She has seen how systemic barriers can prevent talented individuals from achieving their full potential, and her personal journey fuels her commitment to creating a more equitable future. Under her guidance, Virtual Gurus has built a vibrant community of over 800 professionals from diverse backgrounds, powered by innovative technology that leverages algorithms, machine learning, and human expertise to match assistants with clients. Bobbie’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, earning her several prestigious awards such as the Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year in 2022, EY Winning Woman 2022, and the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year from the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business in 2023. Her influence extends beyond business, serving as a Board member for the Telus Friendly Future Foundation and as the inaugural Chair of the Board for the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation, where she continues to break barriers and inspire change.Bobbie gives back by sharing her journey and learnings as a successful woman entrepreneur in tech. She’s a sought-after speaker and thought leader who uses her platform to advocate for a more just and equitable future. Through her initiatives, Bobbie not only opens doors for diverse talent but also instills a belief that "no" is not an answer, paving the way for groundbreaking success.Additionally, Bobbie's dedication to empowering underrepresented communities and creating equitable opportunities that provide accessible, affordable, and reliable staffing solutions to help level the playing field for entrepreneurs who might otherwise struggle to compete; Bobbie Racette is changing the game for entrepreneurs and employees alike.