She Talks Tech

Guest: Inez PatelEpisode theme: UX, inclusive design, leadership, and building communities that help women thrive in design and tech.Episode summaryIn this in-person conversation in South Africa, Hlulani sits down with UX leader Inez Patel to unpack her “accidental” path into UX, what UX really is beyond pretty screens, and how user research shapes better products. Inez also shares her leadership journey, the realities of managing people, and why inclusive design matters… plus the impact work behind She Can Do and Girls Invent Tomorrow, and her involvement with One Young World.What you’ll hear in this episodeHow Inez went from a general BA and media studies into UX through an unexpected internship opportunityThe moment she realised UX is about empathy, research, and designing for real human needsWhat a UX designer actually does day-to-day… research, wireframes, testing assumptions, and translating insights into usable experiencesThe gap between what’s taught and what industry expects, and why UX education evolves so quicklyConsulting vs freelancing vs permanent roles… what she learned from each pathThe shift into leadership… and why managing people can be harder than design workBuilding impact outside a 9-to-5… She Can Do, Girls Invent Tomorrow, and creating pathways for womenRepresentation, intersectionality, and why uncomfortable conversations are necessaryAI and UX… why human understanding is still the core skillAbout Inez PatelInez Patel is a UX leader and Design Director with experience across agencies, consulting, fintech, banking, and healthcare.She is also the CEO of She Can Do, a nonprofit empowering women in design and tech through training programs, mentorship, research, and community events.She is a co-director at Girls Invent Tomorrow, supporting high school girls through exposure to careers in tech and design.Inez is also part of the One Young World global leadership community.Organisations mentionedShe Can Do… nonprofit empowering women in design and techGirls Invent Tomorrow… nonprofit supporting high school girlsOne Young World… international leadership community and annual global summitMemorable moments“UX is like scientific design”… backed by research, not just aesthetics“Users don’t read”… but context always mattersLeadership is not just a title… community building is leadershipInclusive design is not optional if you truly care about impactListener takeawayIf you’re entering UX… focus on understanding humans deeply. Tools will evolve. AI will change workflows. But empathy, communication, and inclusive thinking remain your strongest advantages.Also follow us on instagram @she_talks_tech_podcastAnd connect with She Talks Tech Podcast on LinkedIn for episode updates and guest highlights.

Season 4, Episode 1Season 4 of She Talks Tech begins here.In this opening episode, Hlulani reflects on the journey so far and shares what’s guiding the conversations this season. Season 4 continues the space built in previous seasons… honest, thoughtful conversations with women in tech.Follow and subscribe to stay up to date with new episodes.Also follow us on instagram @she_talks_tech_podcast

In this episode, I sit down with my former classmate Matshidiso Tladi, now a Principal Technical Solution Architect, to retrace her journey from uncertainty after matric to leading high-stakes technology teams.She opens up about quitting nursing after a month, dropping psychology, and spending years feeling lost before a learnership finally introduced her to tech. From hardware support to software development, consulting, banking and now architecture, her story is one of courage, curiosity and choosing purpose even when the path felt unclear.We talk about imposter syndrome, being a highly technical Black woman in male-dominated rooms, the constant pressure to prove yourself, and how she anchors herself through competence, consistency and giving herself grace. She also shares the toughest chapter in her career, the moment she knew she truly belonged in tech, and what keeps her grounded today.We close the episode with a beautiful letter she reads to her 10-year-old self… a reminder that you don’t need to have everything figured out to build a meaningful and impactful life.What We CoverHow she discovered tech after years of uncertaintyMoving from hardware to software and finding her passionConsulting, banking and navigating high-pressure technology environmentsTransitioning into architecture and leading technical teamsManaging imposter syndrome and documenting her achievementsBeing a woman of color in technical leadership spacesHer advice for young women entering techThe emotional letter to her younger selfAlso follow us on instagram @she_talks_tech_podcast

💬 Show Notes:From the streets of Zimbabwe to leading conversations on inclusive innovation at Philips, Nancy’s story is one of audacity, purpose, and becoming.In this episode, Nancy shares how her early experiences during the HIV/AIDS crisis shaped her lifelong mission to bring equity into healthcare — and why she believes inclusion must be at the heart of innovation. We talk about career pivots, creating community in corporate spaces, and what it truly means to belong.Nancy also opens up about founding BsquaredC, a podcast spotlighting the journeys of Black women in corporate spaces — a platform built to amplify voices, bridge representation gaps, and redefine what leadership looks like.🎧 Listen to BsquaredC Podcast on SpotifyThis is a conversation about courage, community, and carrying your dreams — even when no one else can see them yet.🌍 Connect with us:Follow She Talks Tech Podcast on Instagram and LinkedIn for more stories of women redefining what’s possible in tech.Also follow us on Instagram @she_talks_tech_podcast

Episode SummaryWhat does it mean to grow up in a world that told you who you should be — and then choose to become yourself anyway?In this episode, Hlulani sits down with Cécile Deprez, a scientific researcher at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) working on Europe’s next-generation satellite systems. Cécile shares their journey from a childhood shaped by gender expectations in Belgium to a career designing the future of space navigation.They talk about breaking free from patriarchal norms, navigating queerness and neurodivergence in STEM, and finding belonging in spaces that weren’t built for them. This conversation is tender, honest, and deeply human — a reminder that self-acceptance can be the most radical act of all.🪐 In this episode✅ Growing up under rigid gender expectations ✅ Finding the courage to study science despite fear ✅ From geomatics to Galileo: how satellite systems shape our world ✅ Why Cécile left their PhD to protect their mental health ✅ Building inclusive workplaces and Employee Resource Groups that truly support people ✅ Challenging the “colonizing space” narrative and re-imagining exploration ✅ What real diversity and belonging look like in techMemorable quote“Belonging is not a slogan. It’s a practice.” — Cécile DeprezConnectListen now on your favorite podcast platform. Follow Cécile on LinkedIn to learn more about their work.💡 Follow us on Instagram @she_talks_tech_podcast for more stories that elevate women and gender-diverse voices in tech.

Laid Off to Lift Off: How Julia Arpag Built Aligned RecruitmentEpisode SummaryFrom being a shy bookworm to founding a thriving recruitment firm, Julia Arpag shares her journey into tech, navigating layoffs, and building Aligned Recruitment with faith, grit, and integrity. We dive into A-player teams, using AI wisely, and the skills every founder and job seeker needs today.HighlightsBreaking out of shyness and finding her voicePivoting into tech recruiting and rapid upskillingGetting laid off on maternity leave and starting her own firmWhat it really means to hire A-playersWhy communication and integrity matter more than everMemorable Quote“You can do hard things.”ConnectJulia Arpag on LinkedInAligned Recruitment https://www.alignedrecruitment.com/Follow us on Instagram @she_talks_tech_podcast and on LinkedIn for more stories of women in tech.

In this episode of She Talks Tech, I sit down with Omotola E. Omotayo — a woman who turned her dream of becoming a doctor into a mission to build communities that transform tech.✨ What you’ll hear in this conversation:How Omotola helped She Code Africa grow from 200 to 50,000 membersWhy she believes tech thrives in communities, not silosThe pivotal moment she discovered her path in tech and community buildingHow volunteering became the launchpad for her global careerThe power of open source as an entry point for underrepresented groupsHer strategies for getting partners to say yesThe mindset that turns every challenge into a stepping stoneIf you’ve ever wondered how to create real impact in tech, Omotola’s journey will inspire you to dream bigger, start where you are, and build with people.🎧 Tune in and be inspired.👉 Also follow us on Instagram @she_talks_tech_podcast.

In this episode of She Talks Tech, I sit down with Jessica Brieger, a bold voice in ESG, social impact, and AI. Jessica’s journey is anything but linear. From her early love of biology to a career spanning automotive, mining, sustainability, and advocacy for neurodiversity, she has embraced curiosity as her compass.We talk about what it means to grow up different, to discover her autism later in life, and to navigate spaces that were not always built with inclusion in mind. Jessica opens up about the role her mother played in shaping her love for tech, her winding path across industries, and why she believes being “too much” is actually a superpower.What we cover in this episode: ✅ Jessica’s childhood in Germany and her early curiosity for science ✅ Lessons from her mother, a self-made CEO and constant source of inspiration ✅ How she discovered her neurodivergence and what neuro-inclusive workplaces should look like ✅ The beauty of being a “scanner personality” and refusing to live a linear career path ✅ Building impact across sustainability, diversity, and ESG ✅ Why AI excites her and the importance of tackling bias in technology ✅ Her letter to her younger self and the reminder that you are never “too much”Jessica’s story is a reminder that difference is strength, and that our curiosity and uniqueness can shape not just careers but entire industries.🎧 Listen now and be inspired by Jessica’s journey.Also follow us on instagram @she_talks_tech_podcast