Show Notes
As Global Lead of IBM Garage, the unit that is revolutionising the work inside IBM and with its clients, Debbie Vavangas is a brilliant thought leader in the world of digital transformation. Having spent some 25 years in the organisation, Debbie is a relentless innovator and is on a mission to make a meaningful and authentic impact on businesses. Regularly featured in women in tech and inspirational leader awards, she is a phenomenal trailblazer and brings her whole self to work and encourages everyone around her to do the same. “But I think of the things that I've done as choices, not sacrifices. You can't have it all for sure. But, the things I have are the things I chose to have.” In the tenth and final episode of Season One of Are You Sitting Uncomfortably? Host Gemma Greaves and Debbie discuss recruiting and retaining women in tech, the importance of diverse teams and why she’s uncomfortable with being comfortable. Tell Gemma & the Fresh Air team your story at [email protected]. Listen and follow now to meet the incredible people who all have a story and who are all ready to sit uncomfortably. This is a Fresh Air Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Clara Kavanagh. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More from Are you Sitting Uncomfortably? with Gemma Greaves
Dr Orit Wolf is inimitable. As an international concert pianist, she unconventionally blends her passion for music with the world of business. For many years she has disrupted traditional thinking and practices with her unique approach to creativity and innovation. Orit isn't afraid to push her own limits. By the age of 23 she had already acquired three degrees, has gone on to win numerous international awards, and her TED talk "Play the Keynote of your Life" saw her bring music, leadership and innovation into action. And if she wasn't busy enough, Orit is now proud author of her poetry book Love in B minor and is currently authoring the book “The Language of the Creative Mind”. In this episode of Are you Sitting Uncomfortably? host Gemma Greaves and Orit explore her discomfort of mistakes on stage, being judged both professionally and personally, and the uncomfortable nature of disruption. Are You Sitting Uncomfortably? is a Fresh Air original production, in partnership with Nurture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mitch Oliver leads from the heart. With nearly 30 years experience in the consumer goods industry, she is responsible for shaping and communicating the Mars brand identity and vision. Mitch has a track record delivering some truly groundbreaking campaigns, she passionately believes that business can be both for profit and for good. Mitch has won multiple awards over her career and in 2022 she was on Forbes Magazines, Editors list of ‘43 people changing advertising for the climate’. She also has several non-executive roles including Unstereotype Alliance, an initiative for UN Women that aims to eliminate harmful gender stereotypes - something Mitch cares deeply about. In this episode of Are You Sitting Uncomfortably? host Gemma Greaves and Mitch explore common misconceptions, the power of being yourself, and the importance of brands getting uncomfortable. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Helen Tupper is a trailblazer. As the co-founder and CEO of Amazing If, Helen has created a company with an ambition to make careers better for everyone. As if she wasn't busy enough, together with her business partner Sarah Ellis, she is the author of two Sunday Times bestsellers The Squiggly Career and You Coach You, with a third book on the way. Helen is also the co-host of the UK’s number one careers podcast Squiggly Careers and was recently awarded a much-coveted place on the Ernst & Young entrepreneurial winning women programme. In this episode, host Gemma Greaves and Helen discuss her uncomfortable feeling of stopping, how to process difficult conversations, and the power of forging your own path. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cheryl Calverley is a marketing and business powerhouse. She cut her teeth in Unilever, working on some of the UK’s most iconic brands and went on to lead marketing roles in Birdseye and the AA. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Cheryl took the leap to general management as Chief Executive of Eve Sleep in May 2020. With a passion to help others, Cheryl is now co-founder of her own start up, The Den, a first-of-its-kind social club giving teenagers a real life alternative to screens. In this episode of Are You Sitting Uncomfortably? host Gemma Greaves and Cheryl explore making uncomfortable leadership decisions, not conforming to business stereotypes, and why she wants teenagers to have real connections in a digital world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Eleanor Mills is formidable. A British journalist, broadcaster, campaigner, author, media consultant and multi award winning editor, she spent some 22 years with the Times Newspapers where she was at the helm as the editorial director of The Sunday Times and editor of its magazine until March 2020. After this, however, she found herself in a time of uncertainty from which she sought a new beginning. Eleanor is now the founder of Noon, an online media platform and community for women in their mid-life, or as Eleanor likes to call them, Queenagers. Created through her passion to change the narrative society tells about women in their mid-life, Noon is all about addressing the topics and concerns that other sites and publications shy away from. This is the age of opportunity, not the end. In this episode of Are You Sitting Uncomfortably? host Gemma Greaves and Eleanor explore embracing change, address the issue of gendered ageism in media and advertising and celebrate finding new beginnings in mid-life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.