Women in Tech Trailblazers: Authenticity Unleashed

Stepping into tech can feel like navigating uncharted territory, especially for women. The Women in Tech Trailblazers Podcast, hosted by Tiffany Benitez, aims to change that. With a blend of real talk, fun, and expert insights, Tiffany tackle the tech world's highs and lows. Join us to hear authentic stories that inspire change and empower more women to make their mark in the tech industry.

Women in Tech Trailblazers: Authenticity Unleashed is a technology podcast hosted by Tiffany Benitez, with 69 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Tiffany Benitez hosts Women in Tech Trailblazers: Authenticity Unleashed, a technology show with 69 episodes published.

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  Episode #68

  Jennifer Baker on Building Career Momentum Before You Feel Ready

  Oct 1, 202640 min

  What if the thing holding you back in tech isn’t a lack of skill, but waiting until you feel “ready” to use it? Jennifer Baker joins Tiffany Benitez for a candid conversation about what it actually takes to build influence, credibility, and leadership presence in technology. Her definition of authenticity today? Being “unapologetically competent” without shrinking, overperforming, or pretending to know everything. Jennifer challenges one of the most repeated pieces of career advice: just speak up. Because leadership isn’t always about being the loudest person in the room. Sometimes it’s about asking the question that changes the conversation, making sure overlooked ideas get credit, and knowing when your voice will have the most impact. She also breaks down why networking needs to start earlier, how stretch assignments can completely redirect a career, and why validation, advocacy, and mentorship are three very different things. Her reminder is one worth keeping: “Ready is now about interest, not about permission.” Here are the key takeaways: (2:23) Redefining authenticity as unapologetic competence (5:15) Why networking should start earlier than you think (7:04) When “lean in” stops meaning speak louder (10:07) Supporting women before the mid-career drop-off (15:16) How an “accidental CIO” built career range (19:00) Raise your hand, but protect your reputation (22:02) Spotting invisible bias in the room (25:55) The ponytail comment that never fully disappeared (28:30) Why your boss cannot be your validation system (32:33) Building a 360-degree circle of support (36:43) Grit, grace, and choosing your puzzle pieces If you work in tech and you’re figuring out how to get noticed, grow into leadership, or stop waiting for someone else to open the door, this episode is worth your time. Listen to the full episode and rethink what it means to raise your hand. About Jennifer Baker Jennifer Baker is a transformational technology executive specializing in financial services and enterprise technology. She began her career in HR before stretch assignments led her into technology leadership, a path she describes as becoming an “accidental CIO.” She is also a strong advocate for women in technology, with a leadership philosophy centered on competence, curiosity, growth, grit, and grace. Connect with Jennifer: LinkedIn About Tiffany Benitez Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM. Connect with Host: Tiffany’s LinkedIn Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should not be considered professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

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  Episode #67

  The CEO Still Wears Wingtips with Lavonne McLean

  Sep 17, 202627 min

  What happens when you finally get close to the top and start wondering whether the title is worth the sacrifice? For many women in tech, the question is not just “Can I get there?” It is “What will getting there cost me?” Tiffany Benitez sits down with Lavonne McLean, CEO of Aparo, to talk about being the only woman at the table, watching louder voices take up space, and the pressure women can feel to work twice as hard just to prove they belong. Then there is the story behind the episode title. More than 20 years ago, Lavon wrote her college honors thesis, “The CEO Still Wears Wing Tips,” about the glass ceiling and the men occupying most CEO seats. Today, she is sitting in one of those seats herself. But this is not a “keep climbing no matter what” conversation. Lavon argues that it is completely valid to look at a C-suite opportunity and say, “This doesn’t align.” She and Tiffany also get into the part of executive ambition that rarely makes the glossy career posts: the years, family time, expectations, and trade-offs women are often asked to absorb. Here are the key takeaways: (3:45) Authenticity as alignment, not a leadership persona (6:53) Why authenticity can require courage and build trust (9:14) Staying quiet when your voice feels less valued (11:42) The everyday assumptions allies need to notice (12:57) The story behind “The CEO Still Wears Wing Tips” (16:09) Normalizing women leaders for girls and boys (18:37) Rethinking the sacrifice attached to C-suite ambition (21:14) When a leadership opportunity simply does not align (23:46) Growing into a role without changing who you are (25:11) Doing the thing before confidence catches up And if the opportunity does matter to you, Lavon has one rule: “Do it not ready, do it scared.” She has had the shaking-voice moments too. Watch this episode for a candid look at taking the seat, questioning the price, and changing what the person sitting there can look like. About Lavonne McLean Lavonne McLean is the CEO of Aparo, with nearly 25 years of experience across financial services and the nonprofit sector. During her decade with Aparo, she has helped expand its reach to more than 500 nonprofits annually, contributing to over $51 million in value delivered back to the community. Her background includes Fortune 500 project management and General Electric’s Financial Leadership Development Program. In 2020, she was named one of Charlotte’s 50 most influential women. Connect with Lavonne: LinkedIn About Tiffany Benitez Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM. Connect with Host: Tiffany’s LinkedIn Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should not be considered professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

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  Episode #65

  The Skills Tech Leaders Often Undervalue with Kara Schlageter

  Aug 20, 202636 min

  You keep exceeding expectations, but the promotion never comes. Then a boss asks, “Why are you in such a hurry?” Kara Schlageter did, and years later she figured out what that question really meant. It made her start questioning who gets encouraged to step up, and who gets told to wait. Kara is the Chief Information Security Officer at Discovery Education, with 25 years leading cybersecurity and enterprise risk. She got there without a computer science degree. Her background is HR and change management, and she’s convinced those are the skills that made her good at it. She started asking her male colleagues whether they had ever been told to slow down, be patient, or wait. Their answers revealed a pattern many women may recognize, especially when ambition gets mistaken for impatience. Kara also challenges the advice to simply “act like you have the title,” because “men can walk into rooms without a title that women can’t.” Her shift was simple but useful: stop spending your energy proving you deserve a seat at the table and focus on the value only you bring. She also questions whether cybersecurity really has a talent shortage, or whether companies are overlooking people whose backgrounds don’t fit the traditional mold. Here are the key takeaways: (1:43) Authenticity as alignment (8:22) The career cost of being told to wait (11:52) Stop proving your seat and focus on value (13:38) Why nontechnical skills matter in tech (18:05) Your path doesn’t need to match (20:38) Break the mold and create your own (25:11) Networking is really relationship-building (30:25) Why leaders should pour from the overflow (32:20) Build a legacy by making room for others You'll hear stories that shaped how Kara leads, including a symbol she discovered in a village in Ghana and a promotion decision that made her own job harder. If you’ve ever wondered whether your unusual path is holding you back, watch Kara and the host, Tiffany Benitez, challenge what “qualified,” “ready,” and “leadership material” are supposed to look like. About Kara Schlageter Kara Schlageter is the Chief Information Security Officer at Discovery Education, with more than 25 years of experience across cybersecurity, enterprise risk, and business transformation. Her path into tech began in HR and change management, shaping the people-first leadership style she brings to cybersecurity today. Kara focuses on trust, communication, resilience, and making complex challenges easier to understand. She is also passionate about mentorship, sponsorship, and creating more opportunities for women in technology. Connect with Kara: LinkedIn About Tiffany Benitez Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM. Connect with Host: Tiffany’s LinkedIn Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should not be considered professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

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  Episode #64

  Stop Waiting for Permission to Take Your Seat with Zhenia Klevitsky

  Aug 6, 202635 min

  When you’re the only woman in the room, do you focus on the bias, or make your preparation so undeniable that the conversation shifts from who you are to what you bring? For women who have been labeled difficult for being direct or overlooked before they speak, that question carries real weight. Tiffany Benitez sits down with Zhenia Klevitsky, Chief Growth Officer at ITC Federal and a leader with more than 25 years in government contracting. Zhenia’s perspective was shaped long before the C-suite. She arrived in the United States as a young refugee, lived in refugee camps and Section Eight housing, and watched her parents rebuild their professional lives from the ground up. That history informs a leadership style built on blunt honesty, deep preparation, and the willingness to say, “I was wrong.” Zhenia explains why defensiveness can make people afraid to challenge a leader and why being underestimated can sometimes become a position of power. But the harder question is what happens when ambition, motherhood, bias, and responsibility all demand attention at once. One useful idea is clear: balance is not about splitting yourself in half. It is about being fully present for what is in front of you and intentionally building support around your priorities. The episode also raises harder questions about why boundaries fail, who belongs in the inner circle you call before a major presentation, and what happens when you stop waiting for belonging to be granted. As Zhenia puts it, “Belonging is not something that gets granted to you. You decide it.” Here are the key takeaways: (2:43) How starting over shaped a 25-year career (5:15) Authenticity without performing for the room (7:11) When blunt leadership builds trust (10:00) A better way to process difficult feedback (11:11) What happens when your team proves you wrong (14:07) Turning underestimation into a position of power (15:27) Preparation shifts the focus to capability (19:58) Refusing to choose between family and career (22:45) Why standardized work-life balance fails (24:56) What children notice about working parents (28:05) Building an inner circle that tells the truth (31:06) The legacy of earning and widening the room If you’ve ever entered a meeting knowing you may be underestimated, struggled to protect both your ambition and your family, or wondered who gets to decide whether you belong, watch this episode. It may change what you prepare for, what you tolerate, and how confidently you claim the seat you’ve already worked to earn. About Zhenia Klevitsky Zhenia Klevitsky is Chief Growth Officer at ITC Federal, where she leads corporate growth strategy across business development, capture, and marketing in the federal market. She brings more than 25 years of government contracting experience, with leadership roles at cBEYONData, Sev1Tech, ASRC Federal, Guidehouse, and Booz Allen Hamilton. She is a recognized voice on federal technology modernization and AI adoption in government. Zhenia has also served on the board of Women in Technology and held leadership roles with the American Council for Technology Industry Advisory Council and the Washington Homeland Security Roundtable. She holds degrees from Bloomsburg University and American University, plus an executive certificate from MIT Sloan. Connect with Zhenia: LinkedIn About Tiffany Benitez Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM. Connect with Host: Tiffany’s LinkedIn Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be considered other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

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  Episode #63

  The Only Woman in the Room: Dr. Pravi Devineni on Voice, Bias, and Boundaries

  Jul 23, 202642 min

  Have you ever walked out of a meeting thinking, I should have said something? Then this conversation is for you. Tiffany Benitez welcomes Dr. Pravi Devineni to Women in Tech Trailblazers for a real and energizing discussion about the moments when we stay quiet, take on too much, and slowly move further away from ourselves. Pravi brings experience from research, AI governance, and responsible technology, along with a perspective shaped by often being the only woman and the only technical person in the room. She talks about learning to trust her expertise and realizing that having knowledge is not enough when no one can hear it. “You earned that place,” she says. But finding your voice is only one part of the story. Pravi and Tiffany explore what happens when being agreeable gets confused with being aligned. How many times do we say yes to avoid looking difficult, then carry the frustration home? Pravi challenges us to stop treating silence as the price of belonging. The episode also gives practical ways to protect your workload without turning every conversation into a conflict. Sometimes the answer is not an immediate yes or no. It is asking, “Which priority should we shift?” And sometimes the reminder you need is even simpler. “No is a full answer.” Here are the key takeaways: (2:56) Authenticity across cultures and workplaces (3:42) Using your voice and practicing confidence (8:03) Being the only technical woman in the room (11:58) Leadership means bringing others forward (13:50) What healthy workplace boundaries look like (17:24) Finding a trust circle that tells the truth (24:10) Setting time, role, and workload boundaries (26:22) Responding instead of reacting at work (29:24) How community builds confidence and courage (32:38) Why growth can sometimes feel lonely (37:54) Building a legacy through impact and kindness There is so much more in this conversation about allies, self-compassion, community, and the courage to respond instead of react. Tune in to hear how Pravi learned to practise discomfort, build a circle she trusts, and create boundaries that let her contribute without disappearing. Share this episode with someone who is ready to take up more space. About Dr. Pravi Devineni Dr. Pravi Devineni is a Lead AI Scientist at Duke Energy, where she works on AI applications in cybersecurity and nuclear sectors. She holds a PhD in computer science from the University of California, Riverside, and began her career at the Department of Energy National Labs. Her work focuses on AI governance, security, risk, and responsible technology adoption. She also writes, speaks, and mentors women building careers in technology. Connect with Dr. Pravi: LinkedIn About Tiffany Benitez Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM. Connect with Host: Tiffany’s LinkedIn Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be considered other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

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