
Building the ‘Zillow of Franchising’ with Mariyam Shamshidova of Wefranch Women in Tech New York
Women in Tech Podcast, hosted by Espree DevoraShow Notes
In this inspiring episode of the Women in Tech podcast, host Espree Devora sits down with Mariyam Shamshidova, a dynamic growth and product lead at Wefranch. Hailing from Uzbekistan and now based in New York, Mariyam shares her unique journey of moving to the U.S. for college, finding her calling at the intersection of technology and franchising, and what it truly means to build something meaningful from scratch.
Mariyam opens up about the challenges and rewards of working with early-stage startups, the stigma and opportunity within franchising for women and young entrepreneurs, and how building confidence in lesser-known industries can be a powerful career advantage. She also discusses the importance of believing in your own potential, the realities of balancing ambition with well-being, and actionable networking and growth strategies for anyone breaking into tech.
Whether you're aspiring to start your own business, interested in unconventional career paths, or looking to be inspired by someone who's been there and done it on her own terms, this episode is packed with honest insights, empowering advice, and plenty of “If she can do it, so can I” moments!
More from Women in Tech Podcast, hosted by Espree Devora
Welcome back to the Women in Tech podcast, where we celebrate inspiring women from around the globe who are leading the way in technology and innovation. In this episode, Espree Devora sits down with Maha Achour, co-founder and CEO of Kodamai, a UK-based AI company focused on integrating trust and governance into artificial intelligence.
Welcome back to the Women in Tech podcast, where we spotlight trailblazing women driving innovation and inspiring transformation in technology across the globe. In this episode, we journey to Cambridge to meet Dr. Elizabeth Hudson the founder and CEO of Ambitious Bio, a company pioneering the essential data infrastructure for the biology AI era. With a unique background spanning neuroscience, engineering, and robotics, Elizabeth Hudson, PhD shares her unconventional path from academia and corporate research to building a startup that aims to revolutionize how AI is applied in biology and pharmaceuticals.
The Women in Tech show celebrates incredible women advancing in technology worldwide. Remember, "If she can do it, so can I". In this episode we chat with Anusha Iyer, CEO and founder of Corsha, an identity security startup based in Washington, D.C. With over 25 years of experience as an engineer, she shares her inspiring journey from her early fascination with programming and linguistics to leading cutting-edge innovations in machine identity and operational technology security.
Welcome back to the Women in Tech podcast, where we celebrate the incredible journeys of women accelerating their careers in technology across the globe. In this episode, we’re joined by Priya Ramachandran, Vice President of Engineering for the Mixed Signal Group at National Instruments—now part of Emerson Test and Measurement. Broadcasting from Austin, Texas, Priya shares her inspiring two-decade journey at one company, embracing roles that span leadership and technical innovation. From championing authenticity and the power of mentorship to leading teams through the fast-paced evolution of AI in the workplace, her story demonstrates that purposeful progress, adaptability, and authentic connections are key to lasting success. If she can do it, so can you!
Welcome back to the Women in Tech podcast, where we spotlight inspiring women shaping the future of technology across the globe. Today’s episode features Sarah Rodrigues, Chief Product Officer at Acre Security and a dynamic leader whose career path has taken her from lighting design to the forefront of security technology. Tune in as Sarah Rodrigues shares how she navigated major career pivots, embraced the unknown, and leveraged mentorship to drive impact in new industries. As a recent Austin transplant, Sarah Rodrigues reflects on the challenges and triumphs of building teams, setting boundaries, and finding community in tech. If you’ve ever wondered how to thrive in unfamiliar territory or build your career on grit and curiosity, this episode is for you. Remember, "If she can do it, so can I"