This final episode of Season 2, shines a spotlight on the inspiring journeys of its young female hosts, Cassi-Ann Hutchinson, Feyisayo Enuiyin, and Sandra Nnaji, as they share their personal experiences in the technology sector. With a mission to connect young women with seasoned professionals, the hosts delve into what motivated them to join the podcast and the valuable insights they've gained along the way.

Each host brings her unique perspective on empowerment, authenticity, and the importance of mentorship in navigating the tech landscape. They discuss memorable guests who have impacted their lives and careers, illustrating the power of storytelling and connection in fostering growth.

Join Natasha Patrick as she guides this engaging conversation, celebrating the vibrant voices of women in technology and the transformative journeys they embark on together.

Find the WIT Love Team online:

Natasha Patrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/npatrick/

Cassi-Ann Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassih/

Feyisayo Enuiyin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feyisayoenuiyin/

Sandra Nnaji: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-nnaji-98359a309/

Find us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/witlovepodcast/

Welcome to whitlove, a podcast founded by women, produced by women, about women in technology.

There is a huge place for women in tech and this podcast is going to get well into the work as a leading contributor to help change the trajectory and see the rise of women in technology.

Sit back and enjoy as our young female hosts share energy with experienced professional women in technology.

Welcome to the whitlove Podcast.

The podcast created by women, produced by women, and dedicated to celebrating women and technology.

Our mission is to connect young women aged 16 to 25 with experienced professionals in the tech industry, fostering conversations that inspire and empower.

Together, we're building a bridge between generations, sharing stories and learning from one another.

On today's episode, we're doing something a little different.

Over the past two seasons, you've heard the voices of three incredible hosts dive into the journeys of remarkable women in tech.

But today the spotlight shifts.

They'll be our guest of honor.

We'll get to know more about the voices behind the mic and the passions that drive them.

Now, you might be wondering, who is this talking?

Well, my name is Natasha Patrick.

I'm one of the producers of the Whitlove podcast.

I bring over 15 years of experience in the information technology field, having upheld several leadership roles in the financial, telecommunication and tech industries.

It's been an incredible journey and I'm thrilled to be a part of this platform.

So without further ado, let's kick things off with some introduction and I'd like to start my interview off with Cassianne.

Thank you so much, Natasha.

Thank you for bringing the energy.

You have me energized and so excited for this session.

So, a little bit about me.

My name is Cassie and I graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor's of Math and currently work as an information security analyst.

I am incredibly passionate about giving back to the community whenever and wherever I can and have led several strategy, data and diversity initiatives for national and local organizations including Aspire, TD Bank, Motivate Canada, the Merit Award Bursary Program, and the University of Waterloo Fintech Club.

In my free time, you could usually find me working out.

I love trying all different ways to move my body and get active.

And you can also find me expanding my financial literacy knowledge and helping youth learn about financial management.

So I'm thrilled to pass it over to one of our other amazing hosts, Faye.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello everyone.

My name is Faye.

If you're listening, can call me Fabulous because you know what it is.

I am your hostess with the most, as always, about me.

I am a chemical engineering graduate from McMaster University, but I found my passion in software development, particularly being able to deliver amazing customer experience through technology.

A lot of my time is really spent on working on products, digital products essentially.

And I love building things.

I love building 0 to 1.

I love enhancing things.

And you can always find me having fun when it comes to going out, having a good dinner meal, when it comes to watching movies, and just find me doing anything that likes to keep my mind relaxed.

To be very honest with you, I'm super excited to be here today and to meet the other amazing hosts we have.

And I'm going to pass it now to Sandra.

Sandra, pass it off to you.

Hey guys.

My name is Sandra and I am a university student studying public administration, specializing in law, justice and public policy.

I have dreams of becoming a lawyer and also expressing my creative side in marketing and graphic design.

I love to help people.

I love making friends.

I love experiencing new things, things, listening to, listening to new stories and just learning all around and experiencing and growing and improving.

And I am beyond happy to be part of the podcast team.

Awesome.

Awesome ladies.

You guys are all fabulous.

Oh my gosh.

So first of all, I want to kick off with some rapid fire questions so we get to know you guys just a little bit more.

So my first question is now, I know our guests can't see Sandra's fabulous background here, but Sandra, I see that you have the palm trees and the waves flowing in beautiful blue skies, but tell me, if you could be, if you could travel any place in the world right now, where would you like to be and why?

I would definitely say Jamaica.

I've never been.

I've never been, but I would love the scenery.

I heard it's like nice to nice weather, being in the beach, just like being out there in somewhere tropical is definitely where I hope to be one day for sure.

Awesome.

Yeah.

You know what?

I have to share that I have come from a Jamaican background and of course Jamaica is probably the best place in the world to definitely visit.

The food's amazing, weather's great, people are just fantastic always.

There's always so much fun things to do in Jamaica.

So definitely a good destination spot that you picked there.

How about you, Cassian?

Fantastic question and I so echo that sentiment.

Sandra, how I would love to just have a great place plate.

Sorry.

Of jerk chicken and rice and peas and just the cuisine is one thing I love about Jamaica.

But I think right now, if I could choose, I would go to Santorini.

I've seen Greece on So many postcards and calendar photos and just the pristine blue skies waters, but the, just the scenery.

I just would absolutely love to explore and visit there.

You know, I, I've actually had the pleasure to visit Santorini many years ago and, and I have to say that I remember, you know, it was a cruise.

Did a Mediterranean cruise.

Getting off the boat and you can either, you know, walk up this long stairways to get up to the top of the hill where all the hose houses are, or you can take a donkey.

Anyways, I chose to take the long way and then actually walked up to the top.

But nonetheless, once you get to the pinn there and you look over the island of Santorini, it is exactly how it looks in postcards.

It is pristine white, that beautiful blue with the backdrop of the beautiful blue sky.

It was absolutely breathtaking.

So again, another place on top of Jamaica if you have opportunity to go to Santorini, definitely made that, that trip there.

You won't be disappointed.

The food is good, weather was great and again the scenery was absolutely marvelous.

All right, and Fay, same question for you.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Okay, I'm gonna, I'm gonna switch it up on you guys.

You see, I, I would want to be in the French Alps right now, skiing, just having a good time.

I'm, I'm a fan of all seasons.

So whether it's warm, cold, hot, I, I love all weathers.

But I don't know, maybe because it's getting cold now in Canada, I kind of just want to get ready and start having some winter activities.

So I would really love to be somewhere in the French Alps right now.

Whether it's in Switzerland, whether it's in Italy, France, I just, I want to be skiing down a mountain somewhere.

That's for sure.

Good for you.

Do you have, do you have any skiing experience?

Like do you have your, do you ever go skiing even here in Canada?

Yes, I tend to go skiing often at Muskoka.

So around like the mountains there when we Snow Valley Resort, Snowbell Resort up in Barrie, it's another good spot that I love to go to.

Very family friendly place.

And then sometimes there's obviously like Blue Mountain, Montreblan.

And I'm thinking if I want to try out Whistler next year because apparently like Vancouver.

Whistler, Vancouver has like really good spots for skiing as well.

But I'm not an expert.

I just, I just kind of like to do.

It's a fun activity for me.

And whenever it gets like cold I'm just like, okay, let it snow.

Like, snow is the only good thing about the cold weather when it snows for me.

So true.

So true.

I every so often.

I haven't skied in a few years, but I remember the first time going skiing again.

Lots of falls, lots of tumbles, but again, you know, just like life, right?

Even when you fall, you pick yourself up and you keep going, and then you get better at it, and you're like, yo, this is.

This is exactly.

I always say skiing is like such a.

Skiing and track are, like, the best metaphors for life.

I remember learning how to ski was grade five, and I kept falling, but it hurt.

But then I got up and I continued, and it was just fun.

And it's just.

It's just a great metaphor, I think, for life.

Like, just be on the slopes.

You fall, you get back up, you go again, and it's just like, you know what?

This can.

How life can be like this.

You know, like, you make a mistake, you fail at something, you keep going, and you try to make, you know, make the best out of every situation.

So that's what.

That's a big part of.

Probably why I'm addicted to skin at this point.

It just keeps me grounded.

Awesome.

I love it.

I love it.

All right, what about superpowers?

So we.

I, again, three fabulous super women here, super hosts.

But if you guys had a superpower, what would that superpower be, and why?

So I'm gonna start with you, Cassianne.

Great, Great question.

Okay, so superpower I think it would be.

I know this might be maybe not the best superpower, but I do think it would be helpful to know what people are thinking, have the ability to read minds.

And I think I would choose that one because it would help me be more empathetic to people and what they're experienc.

A lot of times when people make decisions or even are talking or let's say you're in a work situation, they're saying a point, pitching an idea.

A lot of times it isn't coming or materializing in that one instant.

It's likely the result of years of experience.

Could be experience in their personal lives, could be work experience, it could be academic experience.

So to be able to tap into that and really understand what is this holistic picture that they're thinking of in terms of what's going on in their mind?

What are they thinking?

I feel like that would be able to help me help other people more because I'll be able to tap into it be a little bit more empathetic to all the different models that people use to make decisions.

So I'll say that's my superpower.

Yeah, that's pretty cool.

That's pretty cool.

And what about you, Faye?

Superpower?

Ooh, definitely.

Like, teleportation.

I like to.

What do you call it?

I would like to think to be in the French Alps and just be at the French Alps, you know, Like, I would like to think to be in Jamaica on the beach and just be in Jamaica on the beach.

So definitely, like, teleportation.

What do you call it?

And, yeah, I think I.

I love to move about.

I love to travel.

And so that would be a really great.

What do you call the opportunity for me?

And I want to see the world.

I want to meet people from all different kind of places.

I want to experience all the wonderful things, you know, God has created on Earth.

So I think that would be an amazing superpower to have because the amount of, like, things I could potentially see is just, like, endless.

And I can see that a very cheap cost.

So.

Yeah.

Gotcha.

All right.

And how about you, Sandra?

I would say to.

To be able to see the future just for my present being to be, like, calm and, like, worry free and is actually going to be okay, and I, like, know how things are going to end up.

I just want to, like, know.

I just want to always be in the know.

And, like, I'm just curious to see what happens.

So I would want to know what happens in the future.

How does the world look?

Like, what am.

Like, what am I into in a few years?

Like, what's.

Like, what's the destination that I'm going to end up in?

So I definitely want to know the future.

That way I'm calm in the present that I know everything is good for sure.

Awesome.

I love.

I love all the answers.

I think those are all fantastic superpowers.

And definitely I would love to have all three of those superpowers if I could too, because, honestly, there's so much work, so much I could do with that.

Not even just on a personal level, but even, like, maybe even try to change the world, too, with.

With some of those powers.

But nonetheless, let's get into what we're really here for.

I want to know, and the world wants to know what inspired you guys to be a part of the Whitlove podcast again?

Whitlove podcast.

This is our second season, rolling into our third season again.

A lot of great guests that we have on our.

On our radar that we love to get on board.

And, and again, like, I want to know, like, what made you guys say yes?

Because when I think about it, I remember sitting on an email to, you know, just to a group of ladies who at some point time expressed interest in being a part of the Empire, my skin network.

And when I reached out to you ladies, you guys said yes.

And you guys said yes, not knowing a whole lot about what Whitlove was all about other than, you know, what we had in test.

But again, I really like to know and the world would like to know what made you guys say yes and what inspired you to be a part of the Whitlove podcast team.

And I'll start with you, Cassian, because you've been here since season one.

So you are our veteran, our veteran host.

Thank you, Natasha.

I think that's such a fantastic question.

And when I think about what first wanted or, you know, prompted me to say yes, number one, it was to.

For me to be able to know and experience and help others know and experience that they're not alone.

When we first start our professional careers, it all often can feel like you're one of the only ones that is experiencing all these new changes and not knowing how to navigate it.

And I remember when I, you know, first started out my career just feeling really unsure about, am I the only person that's experiencing this?

Am I the only person that's experiencing these challenges?

But through the conversations I've been able to have with the wonderful, wonderful guests on this show, and even listening to Sandra Fay, some of your podcast episodes as well, you really get to see the collective that we're all in this together.

We all start from somewhere, we all build, grow, rise to end up at a hopefully more senior placed position down the line.

And it's so great to know that you have this network of people that are all building, growing, learning, developing together.

So that was one reason and another reason was really just to be able to take conversations where when I was in my early 20s, I spent a lot of time having coffee tests just to learn what more tenured people have gone through the experiences.

But to have it recorded, it's almost like it's having like a coffee chat recorded.

And I know that some of my, some of what's kept me going is some of the messaging that I've learned from others through these discussions.

So to be able to have it recorded and not only play it back myself and learn from all the great people on the show, but also to have other people learn and from others experiences.

So I think that collaborative, we're all in this together, we're all trying, failing, succeeding, growing, learning together.

I think that's been very impactful for me doing this podcast.

Yeah, absolutely.

It's funny because, you know, through my career too, like, I do take opportunities to, to mentor, you know, young individuals who are up and coming their career.

And one of the things that, you know, I encourage them to do or that's often encouraged is, is networking.

Right.

But through, through networking, you know, how do we, how does that look?

What does that look like?

And, and sometimes it is having those coffee chats.

And I think what I, what I love that you said is that, you know, you're having these coffee chats with these, with these senior women who are, you know, well established in their career, learning so much from them, and, and you, you're able to take that, take a lot of those things away and apply it to your personal and professional life.

But to your point, it's like a coffee chat that you can always go back and rewind.

It's, it's there in the youth out there in the technology out in the, out there in the Internet digital space that you can always go back and listen to it.

So I think that's really a really cool concept and way of looking at, you know, being a host on the Whitla podcast.

It's having those coffee chat that, you know, that you can always look back and review and listen to.

Absolutely.

And what I love what you said, Natasha, is the concept of mentorship.

I had someone say that you should always be a mentor to someone and a mentee to someone as well.

And by being a host, it almost feels like, like, yes, we're learning, we're getting to hear all these incredible insights, but because we're putting this on a digital platform, we're amplifying the message.

We could also, you know, be a mentor in the sense that everyone else is listening and they're receiving this knowledge.

So being able to receive and also to give and amplify this message, I think is so critical.

Yeah.

Mfei, how about yourself?

What made you say yes to joining the Whitlow podcast team?

I would definitely say one, I know a bit about NKT and the work that she did and more than what I knew about, like, more than, you know, just what I've seen about her, maybe on online or whatever it was, knowing what she represented.

And so I figured if I, you know, she represents a lot of things to me that are positive.

She represents going on Your path, you know, and finding, using your God talented, your God given gifts.

She represents so much.

And I don't want to go into details around it, but knowing her brand and what she represented, and then knowing that, oh, she had a platform like this, I'm like, oh, this must also represent whatever, you know, she's tied to whatever.

I already think of her.

So it was just, it just felt like really good synergy for me because coming on the podcast, listening to these women and the opportunities to talk to all these women, I just figured it could only be good.

If I'm being honest with you, I just figured it could only be good.

And right from the very first podcast I did with, I'm forgetting her.

How am I forgetting her name?

I literally just forgetting her name.

The, the lady that she worked at.

Carolyn Gail.

Yes.

Carolyn Gill.

Carolyn Gail, yes.

Her.

She was all about mentoring and advocating.

So right from the very first, like, podcast, I'm like, okay, this is good.

So it was like, it started off with Inkachi for me, knowing her brand and what she represented, looking at the work that she was doing.

And then right from the very first podcast episode, I'm like, oh, wow, this is good.

Like, this is good for me.

But more than this is good for me was a lot of what Cassian said.

This is good for other people to hear.

Like, this is a really great opportunity for the world to listen to.

A lot of times we'll finish the podcast and I'll call my dad and like, tell him about all the things that I learned because I'm like, I need to brain dump this to somebody.

So my dad is my, my dad is my person for that.

And so it was, it was that it was just the opportunity to learn from people who extremely, you know, talented, smart, brilliant women to come on a platform that represents good in the world.

Good for women, good for women that look like me, good for young girls.

There was so much positive, positive things attributed to coming on that it was a no brainer for me and I just knew that I was going to learn something from it and be able to do good for me.

And so far, just checking off the boxes.

Awesome, awesome.

So I'm really glad that, you know, the will of podcast and the empowered in my skin network, it aligns to, you know, what, your goals, your beliefs, and what also, you know, bring your talent and skills here.

And again, you know, sharing that with the rest of the world as well as well.

So great answer.

And how about yourself, Sandra?

What made you say yes?

What made me say yes.

Is the fact that doing a podcast is just completely, like, new to me.

I've always wanted to, like.

Like, have a little platform of my own to, like, speak and, like, interview people.

So I guess you would say this.

It came out the right time for me to, like, to do something new, something that I enjoy doing, talking to people, learning about their backgrounds, and just listen to their stories.

And I just wanted to do something that's different, that I could enjoy and just be in a platform that's welcoming and accepting and just wants to inspire and empower people, just like we're doing.

And I just loved it.

So it was a big yes for me.

Awesome.

Awesome.

So, a question.

I'm gonna throw this question out for all you ladies.

Who would you say was, like, your most memorable guests?

Oh, it would be Carolyn Gill and Maria Vilar and Bailey Perno.

Basically everyone.

To be very honest with you, I don't think they'll be Carolyn because, yeah, she was also my first one.

So that makes sense there.

But from, I think, like, 10 minutes into the interview, I think I asked her a question about just her upbringing, about life, about who she was as a person, because I truly believe that it's all.

It's very easy to look at someone and see the success that they've had and, like, admire that and won that for yourself.

But I'm more interested in, like, the person, because oftentimes knowing the person allows you to understand why they made certain decisions that they made in order for them to get to that position that they're at.

And so learning a lot about her in those, like, first 10 minutes of the conversation, I just felt like I resonated with a lot of, you know, what she described herself to be.

From being an only child, from being, you know, very ambitious, from being someone that, you know, she likes to do everything.

She likes to be involved.

She likes to, you know, go and go into somewhere and make impact.

There was just so much of, you know, her describing herself that I resonated with.

So throughout the conversation, I felt like I was just seeing, like, pieces of myself.

And I think, Sandra, you talked about the future earlier for.

I wish I can just know the future so that, you know, I can be calm in the present.

I'm very much like that.

But I don't want to know the future because I want to enjoy the journey and the process.

And so I just look to people that, you know, like Carolyn.

I look to people like Maria Valar.

I look to people like Bailey Parnell, who've accomplished so much and try to find pieces of myself in them.

That's like, all right, this is another possibility.

This is.

This can be possible.

This can, you know, this could possibly be me.

I don't know.

It might not be.

But, you know, there is a chance things are, you know, going in somewhat positive direction.

So I'll definitely say there was no one person in particular, but I would say Caroline, just because she was my first.

And, you know, that was a really big.

It was a big moment for me.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And how about yourself for Cassian?

Absolutely.

So far, how you spoke about representation and, you know, to be able to be able to see yourself in, like, someone that has a beautiful, big, great, vibrant career.

And I think that's.

That's so key.

And for me, when it comes to one of my most memorable guests, and I'll.

I'll say the name and then I'll give a little bit of context as to why.

So it was Octavia Howell for me.

And we actually did two interviews.

So the first one was talking about cybersecurity, which I loved because it's so great to talk to someone senior once you're at kind of at the beginning stages of your career, especially in cyber, as I am now.

But it was actually after the interview where we were just talking and just catching up, and we were talking about the concept of not feeling or thinking that we were technical enough, and we started to have this big discussion about it, so much so that we actually turned it into the second part of an interview.

We did a part two, where that was the focus.

And that was something that I resonated with so, so much.

And a lot of the conversation we had revolved around in technology.

There's so many different types of roles, and you don't need to be a software developer to think or to see yourself within the tech space.

And the great thing about it is that technology is a field where it's so interdisciplinary in the sense that you do need different skill sets in order to, let's say, even create a right.

When you think about product development and creation, it's not just software.

It's also, you know, you have your marketing, you have to have your product management team.

You have to have, you know, the ability to make sure that it runs well, your operations team.

There's so many different disciplines and you.

And that's not all limited down to, okay, I need to be a coder, specifically.

So what I loved about our conversation was it almost felt like I, through that conversation, it was almost like giving myself permission or anyone else on the call was interested in technology, the permission to be like, I can do this.

Doesn't matter.

My skill set, doesn't matter where I'm coming from.

But I can see myself here, and not because I'm the best coder ever, but because I have a unique and diverse background, skills, strength that technology needs in order to have the growth and scale that it has.

Absolutely.

That's fantastic.

Yes.

And you know what?

And it's funny, because I know you.

With both Cassian and Faye, you guys had an opportunity to interview a lot of amazing women.

And, you know, this takes me over to Sandra, because, Sandra, again, you've been here since season one, and I think back to your very first interview with Geraldine Smezi, and she was, again, a woman leading in technology.

She worked in Africa.

She had some stints here in North America, too.

But what was very interesting about her is that she was also a mom.

She had three adorable children.

She coaches and mentorship people on the side.

And I believe the.

That episode was all about the bouncing act.

Right.

You know, she's a, you know, a wife, a mother, a mentor, a technical professional, juggling all these huge responsibilities.

And it kind of makes me think about yourself.

Right?

You know, you're.

You're young, you know, you're in school.

You know, you have your job, you have your family.

So how did.

Like, how does you know Geraldine's experience with juggling all the responsibility, and you think back and reflect that to your life, like, how do you manage, like, juggling all the responsibilities as well, too, to be as great as you are?

That's a really good question.

I haven't nailed it yet.

The balancing act myself.

I think what's most.

Like, what's in my forefront is obviously school, because, you know, I have expectations from my parents for myself, so that's, like, always at the forefront.

But, yeah, I want to.

Aside from school, I like to do what I really want to do.

What is.

What is a priority to me?

What am I really adamant about getting done?

Whether that's, like, a little project or just, like, being creative or just even, like, little things.

Like, if I want to clean, that's.

That's what I'm going to do.

I need to get it done.

I am.

I really like to be productive and also try to develop, like, good habits.

I like to be, like, on my feet, and I like to get that satisfaction of knowing that I'm on the right track, I'm getting things done.

I'm using my time in the best way.

That I can, when I have the time, that school isn't taken away from me, but I just do it as I go, working towards, you know, being better every day.

But, yeah, definitely trying to balance.

But when I.

I usually just prioritize my responsibilities and get those done.

Yeah.

Yes.

Yeah.

So, again, you know, we, you know, when I think about the.

The women that we've interviewed on this show, again, a lot of them, when it comes to prioritizing what's most important to them and still being great, there's been a lot of takeaways in those conversations.

And I'm glad to see how that's also applied to you in your personal life as well too, Sandra.

And with that being said, again, pivoting over to the next question that I have here for you guys is it's been an absolutely wonderful journey working with each and every single one of you ladies here.

And as, as your producer, there's a lot of behind the scenes things that I do to kind of get us ready for recording.

But what do you guys do to help prepare yourself to interview these guests?

And again, you guys are meeting these women for the very first time on camera.

But how do you guys prepare yourself for an interview?

And how does it feel, you know, getting on the mic and getting on camera to interview these very inspiring women?

I'll start with you, Cassian.

Yeah, that's a fantastic question.

So I'll answer the first part of that.

So how do, how do I get ready myself?

So I will circle back to one thing that Sandra said, and I think that's so brilliant is, you know, to take the time to prioritize you like, and that means that can be rest, that can be rejuvenation.

And for me, when I want to make sure that when I do these podcasts, that I'm coming in with a good energy, right?

Want to come in and I'm relaxed, I'm ready to have fun, ready to have a great conversation.

So first thing I'll do is I'll start by doing something fun and get me loose and ready to have a great conversation.

And then in terms of how I prepare for the interview itself, I one thing Natasha will have to give you massive, massive props for, because she does such a fantastic job of getting us all ready by helping to prepare, like, speaker's notes and just giving us more insight into the background of these fantastic women, fantastic guests.

But I'll take their profiles, whatever profiles I can find, I'll make sure I research them.

And I also really like watching if they do have any video content.

I really like watching that because it allows me to see what gets them excited.

Like, I could see the moment where they're smiling or they're really passionate about a certain topic they're discussing or a certain.

I don't know, a certain topic, a certain area.

And to be able to, like, capture that.

And I'll make notes on that, like, okay, this person was super energetic about when they were talking about cybersecurity or software or project they were working at.

And I'll use that to kind of inform the talking notes that I prepare or that I'm reviewing before I go into the session.

And I'll do that in addition to, again, just looking at their whole profiles.

LinkedIn where I can, socials where I can, and also any video format.

So some of those are some of the ways that I'll prepare for the interviews that we have.

All right, Faye, how about yourself?

Yeah, very similar to, I think, to what Cassie Cassian shared.

So, yeah, for me, it's very much.

I always try to make sure that at that day, for me, at least, like, it's a calm state because I do want to come and, like, you know, be my, you know, best self.

Let's, you know, use that, for lack of better words, and just putting my best foot forward.

So I gotta make sure that mentally I'm good that day and then outside of that, usually because we know about the interviews, like, weeks before.

So for me, it's like, throughout those weeks, like, just casually, like, I don't.

Nothing too intense, but, you know, I'll search up their name, I'll go online, I'll try to watch video content.

I'll listen to that.

I'll read articles about them in any kind of, like, you know, media outlet that I can find.

Obviously, I do the LinkedIn stalking could do that a bit.

And just try to find anything for me that I can get personal, like, something personal about them.

Because, again, I really.

I'm very big on, like, the human approach to everything that I do.

So finding something about them that's like, you know, human, like, oh, maybe they're their mother or they have a dog or any.

Just anything like that outside of, you know, highlighting the work that they do.

And so, yeah, once I have that, for me, that day, it's.

It's just about now, like, you know, just getting ready for showtime.

But no, like, definitely love it.

I love speaking to these women, I guess, because a lot of the podcasts that we're recording, it's done virtually so there's not as much nerves, I find.

I think for me, I just, I'm just like really excited to like talk to them.

I always call it my personal coffee chat because that's what it feels like to me.

Like, it's just feeling like I met somebody, you know, outside and I said, hey, I really love what you do.

Please can you like have a coffee chat with me?

And it just feels like I have a coffee chat.

But like, Natasha was the one who planned the coffee chat out for me and I just got to like show up and like, you know, do the, do the talking.

So yeah, I definitely say preparing for it is.

It's pretty calm process for me.

I'm nothing to hectic.

I just pepper ahead of time and just a lot of stocking, making sure I'm calm and just being present, having fun.

I like that LinkedIn stalking it is.

It does feel a little bit like that too.

When, when I'm preparing to get the guests ready for, for our interview here.

Yeah, it pretty much is like doing, being a, being a private investigator into your life.

Like, who is this person and what do I want to know about them and what do I want to make that we ask them and we can share with our audience?

And I definitely love the personal flair that each of you guys bring to those interviews.

And Sandra, how about yourself?

Definitely my preparation is the same as Cassie and Faye's.

I really do well when I come prepared and when I've like studied what I'm supposed to know.

That way I can come in like not completely, like blindsided, just like I have everything ready what I'm going to say.

I like kind of like preparing for a show.

I just rehearse like what I would, what I'm gonna say, like what my introduction gonna be.

I would make little note, like color coded, like writes of my little notes on the side just to make sure that I come in prepared and that it goes smoothly.

Before I do anything, I always turn on music.

I need like pre game for anything.

Getting ready for school.

This is like preparing for the podcast.

I have to put on music just so I can get enough that energetic stay just to get myself pumped.

Music is like everything to me.

So like I have to incorporate that in anything I do.

But yeah, just preparing myself for who I'm speaking to.

That way I know what I'm doing and I just go smoothly and always, always music.

Definitely.

I like that pregaming for the interview, honestly, for myself, like, for me, like music is therapy, music is life for me as well, too.

And again, you know, having those right tunes to set the mood definitely definitely helps a lot.

So I love that.

You know what?

I think I'm going to start doing that from now on.

Like, when I go into interviews or meetings, I'm gonna just play some tunes, get me all pumped up and.

Yeah.

And just rock it.

It works.

Definitely.

Please everyone listening.

Please do that.

Yeah, you'll feel better.

Much better.

All right.

I've made note of that.

Okay, so our last question here.

So again, with love.

It is part of the Empowered in My Skin network.

So I have to ask you, ladies, you are empowered in your skin because.

And I'll start with you, Cassian.

Love, love, love that question.

I am empowered in my skin because through this wonderful podcast that has given me the ability to learn not to be afraid and not to need permission to be authentic and to be myself.

I think it is something that's so valuable, and this is something that I've heard Nankachi say several times, but to bring your authentic whole self to work every day, and even just the way that it transforms what you do when you show up and you bring your authentic self, and you don't need to give or ask for permission to do that.

That's one thing that I love about this podcast.

That's one thing I love about all of you fabulous hosts here today, is just even listening to your answers.

Just the authenticity that you bring and how you've showed up in this session.

I think that's something that really resonates with me about being empowered in my skin.

Fay.

I am empowered in my skin because this.

I'm.

I'm Christian.

So my sound religious answer, but for me, I guess I'm empowered in my.

Not guess.

I know I'm empowered in my skin because I know I have a purpose in this life so I can show up.

And I know being myself because that's all I have.

I.

I didn't come to this world with nothing but myself.

Being myself is enough because I know that my purpose is not aligned to me being another person.

It's just me being myself.

So because of that, I can walk into any room and be confident in myself.

And whether or not I'm accepted or rejected doesn't matter, because what's for me will come to me because I am myself.

And that's the kind of thing I also want to attract.

Only things that, you know, are coming to me authentically because of who I am, not because if I was pretending to be somebody else and I got XYZ that that's not part of my playbook.

So yeah, I'm empowering my skin because of I know my purpose and I'm just living that out every day.

Try my best.

Love it.

Love it.

And Sandra, I am empowered in my skin because I know that I don't have to change for anyone or anything unless I truly want to work on myself.

I can make improvements in how I, how I live my life, my lifestyle, but I don't have to change.

I have people love me just the way I am.

I'm just one of one.

And I think that I have my uniqueness.

I have things that are special to me and I have talents, the capabilities that make me stand out.

And I don't need to take them out or change them because that's what's attracted things to me.

Because like Faye said, I'm being authentically myself and when I continue to be myself, I can attract things that are for me and that gravitates towards my energy.

I don't have to change or compromise to fit anyone's box.

I'm just me.

So yeah.

Yes.

Love it.

Yeah.

Those are all fantastic responses.

And again, this is what exactly what this network is all about, right?

It's all about about bringing your authentic self to being confident, to living with purpose.

And again, self improvement.

Right?

We know that we're great, but there's always still room for more greatness.

And again, that self love.

And again, that's the message that we always wanted to be sharing and spreading on our platform as well too.

So again, you know, ladies, thank you, thank you so much for sharing your talent, your skills, your abilities and bring your authentic self each and every single time we gather on this platform.

And again, for sharing a bit of yourself with our audience.

So as you guys know, all good things have to come to an end.

Only for this moment though.

So we are going to wrap up today's call.

So to our incredible listeners, thank you for tuning in and supporting whitlove.

We've got plenty more inspiring interviews with trailblazing women in technology coming your way, so stay tuned.

You can catch all our episodes on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

And don't forget to subscribe and follow us on Instagram at With Love Podcast for updates and behind the scenes content.

We'd love to hear from you, share your thoughts, let us know what topics you're curious about or suggest a woman in tech you'd like us to feature.

And don't forget, spread the word, share this podcast with your network and help us amplify the voices of women and technology.

Until next time, I am your lady, Natasha.

Closing Out With Love.

Bye for now, everyone.

So there you have it.

We trust that you enjoyed this episode and are looking forward to the next month.

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode.

Until then, thank you for listening.

With Love.