Shows
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerFrom Corporate Retail to Youth Non-Profit CEO: Making Fundraising Fun | Lillian SamuelIn this inspiring episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we dive deep into the career and life journey of Lillian Samuel, the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area. Breaking down the corporate armor, Lillian shares her story of transitioning from a high-flying executive retail career - managing global sourcing and buying for brands like Bloomingdale's, Gap, and Cost Plus - to becoming a transformative nonprofit leader who has raised over $100 million for youth and healthcare initiatives. Lillian's parents raised her on one rule: pay it forward. So she volunteered, mentored, and threw...
2026-10-2142 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerHumanizeHer IRL: 3rd Annual HumanizeHer CelebrationIn this live episode celebrating our 3rd Annual HumanizeHer Celebration, Founder and Podcast Host Erica Lockheimer reflects on the podcast's growth - from 2,000 YouTube Subscribers to over 165,000 YouTube Subscribers and 2 million monthly platform views and more importantly 59 stories told - highlighting HumanizeHer's mission to elevate women's stories, foster real community, and support women on their journeys of defining success on their own terms. Erica leads a very special panel discussion, featuring 3 podcast guests who share their journeys of purpose, resilience, and taking bold leaps: đź’ Dana A. Griffin (Founder of Eldera.ai): Dis...
2026-10-0736 min
HumanizeHer with Erica Lockheimer"Life Quakes", Sabbaticals, Identity Crisis, Career Transitions: Building Community at The Interval | Shelley HuffIn this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we welcome Shelley Huff, CEO and Co-Founder of The Interval and former C-suite executive at retail giants like Walmart and Serta Simmons Bedding. Shelley opens up about her personal journey navigating major "life quakes" - leading a company through a complex Chapter 11 restructuring, coping with sudden grief, and experiencing the unexpected jolt of being fired immediately after the transition. Shelley Huff has always run toward hard things. A Tucson native who endowed a University of Arizona scholarship for the children of teachers, she spent fourteen years at Walmart...
2026-09-2946 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerCancer, Career Pivots, and Building Descript | Laura Burkhauser - CEO, DescriptIn this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with Laura Burkhauser, CEO of Descript, for an insightful and candid conversation about the evolution of creative tools, career pivots, and personal resilience. Laura Burkhauser was running a hundred-million-dollar product at Twitter. She had the executive title. The salary. The status. Then she fell in love with a problem she couldn't ignore as a creator herself. She was using Descript and reached out with a simple message: 'I love this product, and I want to work here' - but they weren't exactly hiring for her...
2026-09-1559 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerFrom Career-Ending Injury To LA 2028 Olympic Comeback, Torrey Van Winden Pro Beach Volleyball PlayerIn this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, professional beach volleyball player and former tech Product Marketing Manager Torrey Van Winden joins us to discuss the systemic financial disparities facing female athletes, her experience overcoming career-threatening injuries, and her ambitious comeback bid for the LA 2028 Olympics. Torrey left her stable corporate job to chase one thing: a spot on the 2028 LA Olympic team. She's a professional beach volleyball player and a newly named 2026 Cal Poly Hall of Famer - but this comeback almost didn't happen. In her first professional match out of college, she tore her...
2026-09-0256 min
HumanizeHer with Erica Lockheimer"People Magic": Redefining Community & Real Human Connection with Mighty Networks CEO Gina BianchiniIn this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with Gina Bianchini, Co-Founder and CEO of Mighty Networks. Gina shares her vision for shifting the online landscape away from isolated, transactional social media toward meaningful, intentional digital and real-world connections. Reflecting on her entrepreneurial trajectory - from her childhood experiences with local passion clubs and community support systems to founding Ning and Mighty Networks - Gina breaks down what truly creates a thriving culture: setting clear norms for positive engagement, embracing "patient impatience," and treating every member as important. Nine years ago, Gina Bianchini...
2026-08-261h 01
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerHumanizeHer IRL: Red Carpet at the SheTO Summit 2025 with Nidhi Gupta, Ann Curry, & More!We took HumanizeHer to the SheTO Ignite Summit 2025 and rolled out our own red carpet to catch some of tech's most brilliant women…twirls, crowns, capes, and all! 🦸‍♀️ SheTO is the premier global network for women and non-binary engineering leaders, and the SheTO Ignite Summit is all about celebrating the people who are actually building the industry. Founder Nidhi Gupta built SheTO from a single "let's do something big" dinner-table idea into a massive movement across dozens of countries. Her vision anchors the entire event - a room full of brilliant women who, for once, get to drop...
2026-08-2639 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerSurviving Domestic Abuse & Becoming "Boundary Queen" | Nillie Danesh, Founder & CEO of Glory JewelryNote: This episode includes a candid discussion of domestic abuse, including emotional, financial, and physical abuse. If this content is difficult for you, please prioritize your own wellbeing. Support is available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline - call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or visit thehotline.org. In this emotional and empowering episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with Nillie Danesh - entrepreneur, life coach, and founder of Glory Jewelry (often known as the "Butterfly Girl"). Returning to her hometown after almost seven years to join us in The HumanizeHer Studio...
2026-08-1851 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerSolving Loneliness with Older Adults and AI | Dana A. Griffin Co-Founder & CEO of Eldera.AIIn this episode, we sit down with Dana A. Griffin - the Co-Founder and CEO of Eldera.ai, redefining what it means to age in a longevity society. Raised by her grandparents in Transylvania, she was shaped early by the wisdom of older adults and a thread that runs through everything she's built. Before Eldera.ai, Dana was a data and advertising executive, named an Ad Age 40 Under 40. In 2018 she pivoted, using AI to connect vetted adults 60-plus with young people for weekly conversations - turning wisdom into a resource for the next generation. Eldera.ai has been featured...
2026-08-1156 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerShe Dropped Out of Her PhD to Get 25 Million Girls Into Tech | Tara Chklovski - CEO, TechnovationIn this inspiring and thought-provoking episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, hosts sit down with Tara Chklovski, CEO and Founder of Technovation (formerly Iridescent). Tara shares her incredible personal trajectory, growing up in India surrounded by formidable female role models - her grandmother who built a school from scratch at age 65 and her mother who joined the Indian military as a doctor at age 43 - and learning hands-on mechanics from her father. Tara is on a mission to transform the future of technology and innovation to empower girls and young women to use cutting-edge technology to...
2026-08-0444 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerShe Left Big Tech After 25+ Years (Google, Apple, LinkedIn) to Pause | Sarah ClatterbuckIn this engaging and insightful episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with long-time tech leader and advocate, Sarah Clatterbuck. Bringing a rich history of engineering leadership from top tech giants including Yahoo, Apple, LinkedIn, and Google - Sarah shares stories from her multi-decade career and her passionate work driving diversity, inclusion, and web accessibility. As a senior engineering director who spent nearly three decades building the internet's biggest platforms, in Sarah's most recent role she helped build YouTube's creator economy from the ground up that grew into multi-billion-dollar businesses. In 2019, Forbes named her...
2026-07-2952 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerAnti-Bullying to Empowerment: Young Entrepreneur Sumer Strawbree's Affirmations Journey🌟 Meet Sumer Strawbree, our YOUNGEST guest ever! This powerhouse entrepreneur, author, digital artist, and paid speaker is changing lives through the power of positive affirmations and self-love. In this uplifting and inspiring episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, Sumer Strawbree (along with a special appearance by her father and manager and our first male ally on the show - what better start than a father , who goes by Mastermind Statements). Sumer shares her journey from suffering severe low self-esteem as a bullied child to building a thriving brand centered around empowerment, self-love, and positive affirmations. ...
2026-07-221h 03
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerGoogle's Security Princess on Turning Hacking into a Career at Google | Parisa Tabriz - VP & General Manager, Google ChromeIn this powerful and candid episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with tech royalty Parisa Tabriz, VP and General Manager of Google Chrome, the browser billions of people use every single day. She's also known as Google's "Security Princess" - a title she gave herself on a business card almost twenty years ago that ended up sticking for life. Parisa has been at Google for nineteen years - nearly her entire career. She started out as a "hired hacker" on the security team, back when she wasn't even sure engineering was right for...
2026-07-081h 02
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerMoney Lessons Everyone Wishes They Learned Sooner | Mandy McClung - Managing Director, Morgan StanleyIn this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with Mandy McClung, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, for her podcast debut. Balancing career wisdom with approachable personal insights, Mandy demystifies the massive world of wealth management and shares actionable ways to build long-term financial independence. Financial independence is freedom and no one knows that better than Mandy McClung. With 15 years in financial services and 11 years at Morgan Stanley - one of the world's leading financial institutions, helping individuals, companies, and governments raise and manage the capital that shapes our economy - Mandy has been...
2026-07-0157 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerAI Predictions with Kumo.AI & Redefining Startup Culture | Hema Raghavan - Co-Founder & CTO, Kumo.AIIn this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Hema Raghavan, the CTO and Co-Founder of Kumo.ai and a true pioneer in the artificial intelligence space. As former LinkedIn colleagues, HumanizeHer host Erica Lockheimer and Hema take a trip down memory lane of their days together at LinkedIn.  Hema is an absolute powerhouse building at the absolute frontier of deep technical AI. Before launching her own startup, Hema spent years building core engineering systems at iconic companies like LinkedIn, leading the brilliant team behind the massive "People You May Know" engine. Bu...
2026-06-1752 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerRedefining Prenups as a Power Move with First | Libby Leffler - Founder & CEO, FirstIn this powerful episode, we sit down with Libby Leffler, the Co-Founder and CEO of First (affectionately dubbed the "TurboTax for prenups"). Libby spent two decades helping build the world's most powerful rocket ships - from Google and Facebook to SoFi and Compass. But at the height of her corporate career, with a newborn at home, she chose to step away and finally do the thing she was scared to do. Libby built an innovative legal-tech platform that cuts out months of stress and thousands in fees to make prenups simple, cozy, and collaborative. By taking the awkwardness out...
2026-06-031h 03
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerBuilding a Mindful Tech Ecosystem in Hawai'i with Blue Startups | Chenoa FarnsworthHumanizeHer x Shangri La "Visionary Voices" brings HumanizeHer's signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai'i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai'i. Â In this episode, we are sitting down with one of the most powerful forces in venture capital building from the Pacific. Chenoa Farnsworth is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Blue Startups - consistently ranked as one of the Top 20 accelerators in the entire United States, built in Honolulu, Hawai'i. In her 25 years in venture, Chenoa has been the a...
2026-05-2044 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerSolving Climate Anxiety with Elemental Impact | Dawn Lippert | Shangri La x HumanizeHerHumanizeHer x Shangri La "Visionary Voices" brings HumanizeHer's signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai'i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai'i. Â In this episode of HumanizeHer, we sit down with Dawn Lippert - and this conversation might just change the way you see the planet. It started with a childhood instinct, charging her family a quarter for leaving the lights on. Two Yale degrees later, that instinct is a global mission. Today, Dawn leads as the CEO of Elemental Impact, h...
2026-05-0638 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerVisionary Voices of Hawai'i | Shangri La x HumanizeHer IRLFor the first time, we crossed the ocean and brought HumanizeHer to Hawaiʻi, gear in tow, women to meet, and a community to build. HumanizeHer x Shangri La brought HumanizeHer's signature podcast conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, for our Visionary Voices event, celebrating culture and building community during Women's History Month in March 2026.  What you're about to experience is a live panel held on the breathtaking grounds of Shangri La, opened by Leilani Farinas, Director of Content & Engagement, and brought to life...
2026-04-2245 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerScaling Hawaiʻi's Economy with Mana Up | Meli James | Shangri La x HumanizeHerHumanizeHer x Shangri La "Visionary Voices" brings HumanizeHer's signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai'i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai'i.  In this episode of HumanizeHer, we sit down with Meli James - born and raised in Hawai'i, she left for Cornell University and caught the entrepreneurship bug in Silicon Valley during the early era of iPhone apps where she co-founded Nirvino, the number one wine app on iTunes - and then came back home to Hawai'i and changed everything. A...
2026-04-1528 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerAll-Women Team Built a High-Growth Movement: The Story Behind HumanizeHer IRL (In Real Life) We are kicking off a new series called IRL (In Real Life) HumanizeHer. This series gives you a behind-the-scenes, unpolished view of conferences, gatherings, and our on-the-ground action. We are showing the raw effort, the amazing connections, and the technical brilliance that goes into building this movement. We recently held our Annual HumanizeHer Event — a celebration of one year of commitment, incredible growth, and the most dedicated team in media. This movement has deep roots: it was forged by a team unified by a strong belief in the mission and years of shared professional experience. A year ag...
2026-04-1335 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerFrom Dyslexic to HR Legend - Unlocking Your Superpower | Pat WadorsIn this episode, we welcome the legendary Pat Wadors - current Chief Human Resources Officer at Intuitive and former HR visionary at LinkedIn, ServiceNow, and Yahoo. Known for her transformative leadership and for coining the concept of DIBs (Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging), Pat dives deep into her journey of "stumbling" into HR and eventually becoming one of the most influential voices in the field.  Episode Highlights: Overcoming Labels: Pat shares her personal story of being diagnosed with dyslexia at age 19, reframing a perceived disability into a "superpower" for pattern recognition and creative problem-solving....
2026-04-0256 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerBetter Allies: Former Adobe VP Shifting Workplace Culture | Karen CatlinIn this insightful episode, Karen Catlin, former VP of Engineering at Adobe with over three decades in the tech industry, shares her evolution from a "declared computer science major who had never touched a computer" to now leadership coach and one of the most influential voices in workplace inclusion as an acclaimed author of the Better Allies book series.  Highlights of the Conversation: "Golden Age" of Women in Tech: Karen reflects on graduating in 1985 - a peak era for gender diversity in the field, where 37.5% of computer science degrees in the U.S. we...
2026-03-1756 min
HumanizeHer with Erica Lockheimer1st Japanese American Woman Supervisor | Margaret Abe-KogaMargaret Abe-Koga (Santa Clara County Supervisor) joins the HumanizeHer Podcast to pull back the curtain on a life dedicated to public service, representation, and resilience. Â In this episode, Margaret shares the raw and inspiring narrative of an immigrant daughter who became the voice for those who feel voiceless. From an "anchor baby" born at Stanford Hospital to a seasoned policymaker managing a $13.5 billion budget, she discusses the grit required to navigate a career in politics as a self-described "stubborn introvert" and the personal sacrifices made behind the scenes. Â Key themes in th...
2026-03-0450 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerTraditional Banking to BitGo Crypto IPO | Jody MettlerIn this episode, we get to celebrate a massive milestone with Jody Mettler, the Chief Operating Officer of BitGo and their President of the Trust Company. Â As BitGo rings the bell on its recent IPO, Jody shares her journey from a 20-year career at Citi to leading the "backbone" of the digital asset industry. This episode serves as both a high-level masterclass in crypto infrastructure and a personal story of how traditional banking expertise is shaping the future of decentralized finance. Â Inside the Episode: Ultimate Career Pivot: Jody reflects on...
2026-02-1842 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerStartup Founder, Google VP & Stanford Lecturer | Mauria FinleyIn this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we sit down with Mauria Finley - a powerhouse entrepreneur, Stanford lecturer, and current Vice President at Google. Â Mauria shares a deeply personal and strategic look at a career that has oscillated between massive corporate scale and the high-stakes "grit and resilience" of the startup world. From building product spreadsheets in her living room to leading global teams, Mauria offers a masterclass in living a life driven by purpose, joy, and connection. Â Key themes in this episode include: The Entrepreneurial Leap: Mauria di...
2026-02-0453 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerPayPal Mafia, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, & Ancestry.com | Deb LiuFrom pioneering one of the world's most used digital platforms to taking her first-ever career break, Deb Liu (Former CEO of Ancestry and Former Product Exec at Facebook, PayPal, eBay) joins the HumanizeHer Podcast for a deeply vulnerable and strategic conversation about power, transitions, and the one thing that matters more than a resume: your health.  In this episode, Deb shares the mental frameworks that helped her rise through the "PayPal Mafia," navigate life as the only mother in the Facebook product room, and lead a 40-year-old storied company like Ancestry through its next chapter....
2026-01-211h 04
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerScaling SAP Ariba, LinkedIn, and Uber from the Front Lines | Aarathi VidyasagarFrom the elite lecture halls of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT, Delhi) to the driver's seat of an Uber delivery run, Aarathi Vidyasagar (VP of Engineering and Science at Uber) defines what it means to lead with both technical craft and deep empathy. Â In this episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, Aarathi joins former colleagues Erica Lockheimer and Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser to share a career journey that is as much about "grit and spunk" as it is about high-level strategy. Inside the Episode: Â IIT Trailblazer: Aarathi reflects on being 1 of on...
2026-01-0758 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerLynda.com To LinkedIn To Ace Camps Travel | Tanya Staples & Vida Forrest y SalazarJoin us for a fantastic and nostalgic conversation with Tanya Staples and Vida Forrest y Salazar, the co-owners and managing partners of Ace Camps Travel! This duo, who first met working together at Lynda.com and navigated the acquisition by LinkedIn, share their incredible journey from corporate executives to entrepreneurs redefining success on their own terms. Â Their LinkedIn Backstory: Tanya details her start as a technical writer in the mid-'90s, transitioning to product management, and eventually becoming a key leader at Lynda.com who helped pioneer the revolutionary concept of video subscription learning. Vida s...
2025-12-101h 07
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerBoys & Girls Club Youth of the Year, First Gen Grad | Xitlali CurincitaJoin us for the inspiring and deeply personal story of Xitlali Curincita, a first-generation college graduate, current UC Irvine graduate student, and former 2022 Youth of the Year award winner from the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula. Raised in North Fair Oaks, she shares what it felt like growing up between cultures and often navigating spaces where she didn't fully feel she belonged. Â From first grade, the Boys & Girls Club and the Redwood City Public Library became her second homes. Through Project Read, she learned to read, write, and learned how to smile and feel l...
2025-11-2653 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerPressure To Be 1st: Scarcity Thinking of a COO | Anu MuralidharanJoin us for a candid conversation with Anu Muralidharan, COO of Expensify, as she shares the deeply personal story of the intense drive and competitive pressure she inherited from her late mother, who taught her that "being second was unacceptable." Anu opens up about how this drive led to debilitating stress and "scarcity thinking," culminating in a rock-bottom moment where she risked it all with the "Seinfeld experiment," quitting her role for an unstructured position at Expensify.  Expensify is the financial software company behind the payments and expense management platform that automatically handles billions of do...
2025-11-1246 min
The STEM Career CoachLeadership Moments That Move Us with CEO & Founder, Erica LockheimerErica Lockheimer shares her journey from VP of Engineering at LinkedIn to founder of Humanize Her. In this episode, she opens up about the power of vulnerability in leadership, the importance of inclusive culture, and how mental health shaped her approach to team building. From personal stories to practical advice, Erica offers a blueprint for leading with empathy and intention.🚀 Looking to get ahead in your career?Sign up to our newsletter for expert advice, industry trends, and job opportunities: https://www.airswift.com/newsletter-s...✅ Explore our global jobs board: https://hubs.ly/Q02GXf-90🔔 Subscribe to Airswift’s YouTube: h...
2025-11-0439 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerSJSU: Silicon Valley's #4 U.S. University | Cynthia Teniente-MatsonIn this insightful conversation with Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President of San José State University (SJSU), shares her journey from being a first-generation college student and CFO to leading the oldest public university on the West Coast.  She explains how SJSU, often called "Silicon Valley's Public University," is now at the forefront of the AI revolution. Learn about the groundbreaking partnerships with tech giants like Nvidia and Adobe that provide students with essential AI learning labs and digital literacy tools, ensuring every graduate is prepared not just for current generative AI tools, but for the "convergence of tec...
2025-10-2949 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerMenopause & Midi Health | Joanna StroberJoin us for a deeply informative conversation with Joanna Strober, Founder and CEO of Midi Health, the pioneering telehealth platform transforming women's midlife health.  Joanna clarifies the hormonal chaos of perimenopause (which often starts in your 30s) and the shocking truth behind the decades of fear surrounding Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). She reveals data showing estrogen alone may actually reduce breast cancer risk and improve bone/brain health.  We dive into how Midi Health delivers rapid, personalized care from expert Nurse Practitioners, often covered by insurance. Joanna details their focus on com...
2025-10-1548 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerTiger Sisters / Sisters Matcha | Hitting #1 on Spotify PodcastsJoin us for a lively conversation with Cherie Brooke Luo and Jean Luo, the Tiger Sisters! This dynamic sister duo, both successful tech product managers from LinkedIn and Snapchat, made a radical pivot to earn their MBAs from Harvard Business School and Stanford GSB to then become full-time content creators and entrepreneurs. Â They pull back the curtain on how they built their brand and business in just over a year, achieving phenomenal success by hitting #1 Business Podcast and Top 3 U.S. Podcasts overall on Spotify! This episode is a masterclass in modern entrepreneurship and personal r...
2025-10-011h 04
The Stacy Mayer ShowHumanize(ing) Her with Former LinkedIn Exec Erica LockheimerEp #282: Humanize(ing) Her with Former LinkedIn Exec Erica LockheimerIn this conversation, Stacy Mayer and Erica Lockheimer discuss the inception and mission of the HumanizeHer podcast, which is to elevate women's stories and experiences. Erica shares her journey from a corporate career at LinkedIn to launching her own media platform, emphasizing the importance of in-person connections and authentic storytelling. They explore the impact of networking, leveraging platforms like LinkedIn, and the significance of empowering women in various industries. The discussion also touches on the challenges of transitioning to entrepreneurship and the value of mentorship and community...
2025-09-1845 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerAbigail Hing Wen | Netflix Film Love in Taipei | Author | Ex-Lawyer💡 "I play in the spaces where tech, storytelling, and entertainment intersect." Author–filmmaker Abigail Hing Wen joins us to talk about her newest universe, The Vale—a novel with a short-film prequel and a companion Roblox experience about a boy navigating an AI-driven virtual fantasy world. We dig into how she builds story worlds with real AI literacy behind them, drawing on years as an AI tech exec and as the Director & former host of Intel's AI Podcast, plus her work on fairness, transparency & accountability in AI policy. Abigail also opens up about the decade before her "yes," the four "b...
2025-09-1651 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerKirthiga Reddy | Facebook India to Verix CEOKirthiga Reddy, a trailblazing leader and first female Investment Partner at SoftBank Vision Fund, shares her incredible journey from growing up in India to becoming an influential figure in tech. She details her time as a Director of Engineering at Silicon Graphics and the first employee to launch and lead Facebook (now Meta) in India. This episode is packed with invaluable insights, including: The Power of the "And": How she embraced the "superpower" of having a career and a family, even when societal pressures suggested it was an "either/or" choice The Career Jungle Gym...
2025-09-031h 01
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerNidhi Gupta | Founding SheTO & Building CommunityJoin us on The HumanizeHer Podcast for a powerful and candid conversation with Nidhi Gupta, a trailblazing leader with a chemical engineering background who rose to become a Chief Technology & Product Officer - then ventured out to create her own business and become a Co-Founder and CEO! Nidhi shares her incredible journey from growing up in India, where she was one of just a few women in her engineering class, to navigating pervasive biases and microaggressions in the tech industry. She reveals how these experiences fueled her passion to create SheTO.org, a non-profit dedicated to accelerating women's leadership in...
2025-08-191h 01
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerCatherine Fisher | LinkedIn Career ExpertIn this episode of The HumanizeHer Podcast we sit down for an insightful conversation with Catherine Fisher, LinkedIn's esteemed Career Expert! Catherine shares her journey in communications, from Netflix to LinkedIn, revealing how she became a go-to voice for career navigation.  This episode dives into crucial topics like the evolving job market, the impact of AI on careers, challenging traditional growth paths (the "squiggly line"), and the art of asking for what you want. Tune in for candid advice on handling workplace setbacks, the power of delegation, and building a resilient network.  J...
2025-08-0641 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerSabrina Ellis | CPO & Career BreaksJoin us on The HumanizeHer Podcast for an incredibly candid conversation with Sabrina Ellis, a powerhouse product leader as VP at companies like Google and Yahoo, and former Chief Product Officer at Pinterest!  Sabrina shares her remarkable career journey, revealing the highs and lows of navigating top executive roles in the tech industry. From the early days of the dot-com boom and making Yahoo Mail #1 globally, to steering product at Google and Pinterest, she offers an unfiltered look at what it takes to innovate and lead.  This episode is packed with inv...
2025-07-2351 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerLeela Srinivasan | Parity and Women in SportsIn this empowering episode of the HumanizeHer Podcast, we welcome Leela Srinivasan, CEO of Parity, for a compelling conversation that spans her dynamic career journey and her impactful work in women's sports. Leela, who transitioned from a successful CMO background at companies like LinkedIn and SurveyMonkey to leading Parity, shares authentic insights into career pivots, the value of an MBA, and navigating the challenges of leadership, including the elusive "work-life balance" as a new mother.  The discussion takes a deep dive into the mission of Parity, an organization dedicated to closing the gender income and op...
2025-07-091h 12
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerJory Des Jardins | Optionality is the Future of WorkWhat if success didn't mean choosing one path, but embracing many? In this episode of The HumanizeHer Podcast, We sat down with the incomparable Jory Des Jardins —co-founder of BlogHer and, more recently, the co-founder of Optionality, a platform dedicated to reimagining how we work, lead, and live. Jory takes us on a deeply personal and professional journey through her unconventional career—from couch-surfing in New York while reading manuscripts at Penguin, to co-founding BlogHer and growing it into a movement that reached over 100 million users, to today—championing the rise of fractional roles, community-powered leadership, and portfol...
2025-06-251h 02
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerFlorina Grosskurth & Vicky Fang | Linden Tree Books & Children's Book AuthorIn this insightful episode of The HumanizeHer Podcast, Florina Grosskurth and Vicky Fang delve into their remarkable career journeys, sharing personal stories of navigating the tech industry, embracing entrepreneurship, and finding true fulfillment via the world of literature. Florina Grosskurth, a force in tech from program management to event planning, shares her inspiring transition to owning Linden Tree Books, a beloved local bookstore. She discusses the challenges of balancing a demanding tech career with motherhood and the liberating decision to prioritize family and passion. Flo recounts co-founding "Women in Tech" (WIT) at LinkedIn, highlighting the power of...
2025-06-111h 08
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerTelle Whitney | Grace Hopper Conference | Pioneer of Women in ComputingTelle Whitney—a pioneering computer scientist, co-founder of the Grace Hopper Celebration, former CEO of AnitaB.org, and now, author of the book Rebooting Tech Culture: How to Ignite Innovation and Build Organizations Where Everyone Can Thrive. Telle shares her incredible journey as one of the first women in tech to step into leadership and has been on a mission to ensure no other woman feels isolated in their career like she once did. Her path, from being one of the only women in engineering meetings to co-founding one of the largest global gatherings for women technologists, is...
2025-05-281h 10
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerErin Gore | The Garden Society | Cannabis🎙️ EPISODE: From Corporate Grit to Cannabis Grit – Erin Gore's Journey with Garden Society In this bold and deeply human episode of HumanizeHer, we sit down with Erin Gore, the powerhouse founder and CEO of Garden Society. From a chemical engineering background and climbing the ranks in a male-dominated corporate world to pioneering in the cannabis industry, Erin shares how pain, perseverance, and purpose led her to build one of the most innovative and woman-led cannabis brands in the country. We unpack: The shocking realities Erin faced as the first woman in a chemical plant
2025-05-1550 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerAdrienne Bankert | Live from SXSW | Faith in Media & Kindness | Emmy-Award Winning JournalistIn this special HumanizeHer live episode from SXSW, Adrienne Bankert, who is an Emmy-award winning journalist who has worked as a broadcast journalist for NewsNation, ABC News, Good Morning America with a mission to deliver unbiased news. From covering major events like the 2011 tsunami to interviewing Lady Gaga and The Rock, Bankert's reporting shaped her empathetic style. Now, she embarks on the fearless endeavor to discuss faith at work, including in her special series "One Nation Under God," and her new YouTube personal podcast series where she has conversations about where faith lives in culture, current events, sports and m...
2025-04-2949 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerLizzi Smith | Erin Crownover | Live from SXSW | Paralympic Swimmer | Voice In SportIn this special HumanizeHer live episode from SXSW, we dive deep into the lived experiences and bold voices of two remarkable women reshaping the landscape of sport, identity, and advocacy: Lizzi Smith, Paralympic swimmer and 3x medalist, and Erin Crownover, PhD candidate and Voice In Sport Foundation researcher. From the loneliness that often accompanies the pursuit of excellence to the sisterhood they found in each other, Lizzi and Erin open up about what it truly means to belong—both in and beyond the game. Lizzi shares the emotional journey of growing up with a disability in competitive sw...
2025-04-1558 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerCindy Lee | Avumile Qongqo | Live from SXSW | Oscar 2025 NominatedIn this special HumanizeHer live episode from SXSW, 🎙️ we sat down with Oscar-nominated director Cindy Lee & actor Avumile Qongqo to chat about their powerful film, "The Last Ranger." by Kindred Films This intimate conversation, held within the bustling energy of the SXSW Expo Hall, provided a unique opportunity to delve into the heart of the film's creation and its profound message.   Cindy and Avumile shared insights into the deeply personal nature of "The Last Ranger," a film that tackles the urgent issue of rhino poaching in South Africa. They discussed the importance of authentic storytelling, highligh...
2025-03-3157 min
BOSS by Ali LevitanBOSS with Erica Lockheimer, LinkedIn's former VP Engineering and now Founder & CEO of HumanizeHer made the leap from corporate into entrepreneurship“How did I make that decision? I’ll tell you, it was scary as hell.”That’s how Erica Lockheimer, LinkedIn's former VP Engineering and now Founder & CEO of HumanizeHer, described her leap from corporate leadership into entrepreneurship.We talked about the fear, the courage, and the mindset shift it takes to bet on yourself, build a movement, and create impact.💡 Why she left LinkedIn after 13+ years💡 How she built a global community of women in tech💡 Why “If you don’t ask, the answer is always...
2025-03-1910 min
SheSpeaks: Women of InfluenceOn Her Terms: Redefining Success with Erica Lockheimer of HumanizeHerIn this episode, we welcome Erica Lockheimer. Known for her remarkable career in tech, Erica shares insights from her career journey at LinkedIn, where she not only played a crucial role in the growth of the platform, but also founded the Women in Tech initiative. Erica shares her story and challenges she faced as one of the few women in her field. We discuss the pivotal moments that led her to redefine success on her own terms, breaking away from expectations to pursue what she had a passion for. Now, as the founder and CEO of HumanizeHer, Er...
2025-03-1435 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerLinkedIn VP to HumanizeHer CEO | Erica Lockheimer | Engineering LeaderJoin us in this deeply insightful and vulnerable conversation with Erica Lockheimer, CEO and Founder of the HumanizeHer podcast and ex-VP of Engineering at LinkedIn. Erica opens up about her remarkable career journey from being the first person in her family to graduate from college from San Jose State University to sharing the highs, lows, and pivotal moments that shaped her path. From navigating the complexities of the tech industry from the early Dot-com days, mobile era to championing diversity and inclusion, Erica's story is one of resilience, leadership, and the power of authenticity. Discover the challenges she overcame, t...
2025-03-061h 23
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerAishwarya Srinivasan | Data Scientist | AI AdvisorIn this insightful episode of The HumanizeHer Podcast, get ready to be inspired! We have a true force of nature joining us today: Aishwarya Srinivasan! Currently she heads Developer Relations and Growth at Fireworks AI. Â She was previously at Microsoft as a Senior AI Advisor to help Y Combinator startups build machine learning solutions leveraging Microsoft's core OpenAI products. Prior to this, Aishwarya was working as a Data Scientist in Google Cloud and an AI & ML Innovation Leader at IBM. She's a Columbia Data Science post-grad, and an advocate for open-source technologies and is a contributor to Deepchecks, Lightning A...
2025-02-1851 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerLinda Aiello | DraftKings | Chief People OfficerIn this insightful episode of The HumanizeHer Podcast, we're diving deep into the world of company culture and talent with a true leader in the field - Linda Aiello Linda is the Chief People Officer at DraftKings, where she leads all aspects of the employee experience for the online sports entertainment and gaming giant. She's responsible for finding and growing top talent, developing future leaders, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace – which is a crucial element for any successful company. Linda has an incredible track record of success in the HR world. She's held CP...
2025-02-031h 15
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerPam Kostka | Startups | Magnify Ventures | All RaisePam Kostka, a seasoned executive with nearly 30 years of experience driving growth at enterprise startups and building successful companies. Pam's career spans across various leadership roles, including CEO, CMO, and currently sits on multiple boards, is an advisor and executive in residence.  As an executive-in-Residence at Magnify Ventures, Pam is focused on the "care economy" – a sector that's revolutionizing how we support families, care for aging populations, and manage our households. Prior to Magnify, Pam was the CEO of All Raise, a non-profit dedicated to increasing the representation of women in venture capital.They've supported thous...
2025-01-221h 13
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerAmy Wong | Always On Purpose | Living On PurposeAmy Wong, founder of Always On Purpose is an executive leadership coach, author, and keynote speaker who has worked with some of the most influential organizations and individuals, including Salesforce, PWC, Berkshire Hathaway, LinkedIn, and universities like Stanford and Berkeley. Amy draws upon a diverse range of disciplines and practices, integrating them into a unique approach that focuses on three key lenses: Self, Relationships, and Results. Her book, "Living On Purpose," was honored with the 2022 Book of the Year award by The Magic Pen. Get ready to gain valuable insights and practical tools that can...
2025-01-0758 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerAdriana Boas | High Heels & Wheels | Luxury CarsIn this insightful episode of The HumanizeHer Podcast, wheels are a girl's best friend, right? We're sitting down with Adriana Boas, one of Bentley's award-winning sales liaisons - but she didn't start out in the sales industry.  Adriana was born in Brazil with degrees in journalism and holistic medicine, and when she migrated to the US, she gets real about going from food stamps to a six-figure commission-based gig. She's earned multiple awards under Bentley's prestigious, banner and notably holds this distinction of being the only female to receive a perfect score on Aston Martin's rigorous test ab...
2024-12-171h 01
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerStacey Gordon | UnBias & Reworking WorkIs the way we work working? In this episode, we're sitting down with Stacey Gordon, MBA who is a leader in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space - or as she prefers to describe DEI: the Disrupt, Evolve, and Innovate space. She shares her first-hand experience of witnessing bias which led her to becoming the Founder and CEO of Rework Work - a company that does DEI differently on their mission to reduce bias in global talent acquisition and management and creating workplace cultures where employees feel they belong. She touches on the power of mentors and dives into the...
2024-12-031h 02
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerPadmasree Warrior | Fable & Leading Teams with TrustWhat does it take to be on the Forbes "100 Most Powerful Women in the World" list? In this episode, we're sitting down with Padmasree Warrior as she shares her experience of being an executive in technology and her journey of becoming a renowned businesswoman. Formerly holding roles in the C-suite at Cisco Systems, Motorola, and NIO USA, she took her corporate experience and decided to follow her passion - motivated to find a way to apply data and machine learning to focus on mental wellness. This led her to her current role as Founder and CEO of Fable, a soc...
2024-11-1359 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerJenny Obiaya | The Boys & Girls Club | Closing The Opportunity GapHave you found your calling? We're sitting down with Jenny Obiaya, CEO of The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, as she shares her story of finding her calling - starting as a teacher through Teach for America, moving into the the role of Principal at a school in Hells Kitchen at the age of 26, and finally finding the perfect fit for her passion of closing the opportunity gap & empowering young people with access to opportunities through her work with BGCP. She gives a nod to the power of having mentors and people that believe in you to push yo...
2024-10-2958 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerCaroline Ghantous | Artist & Voice of the VoicelessIn this episode, we're sitting down with Caroline Ghantous, a Middle Eastern watercolor artist who is creating a movement of her own through her art. Her paintings are a celebration of women who are activists, feminists, and who are making a difference in different societies and cultures - aiming to give a voice to the voiceless with her unique mixed media artistic style. Caroline is now a part of the HumanizeHer family and movement with us, and we are proud to showcase her work as a staple in the HumanizeHer podcast studio. Instagram Where to bu...
2024-10-1550 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerJennifer Dulski | Purposeful & Lifting Teams UpIn this insightful episode of The HumanizeHer Podcast, how do you live your life with purpose? We're sitting down with Jennifer Dulski, CEO & Founder of Rising Team and executive leader with experience at tech giants like Facebook, Google, and Yahoo and former President & COO of change.org. Jennifer shares the stories that led her to the formula of how to start a movement, build teams with connection, and do so in a purposeful way. She talks about her life hardships, her journey of being a start-up founder (multiple times!) and her successful current startup, Rising Team. Jennifer Dul...
2024-10-011h 07
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerAishetu Fatima Dozie & Merline Saintil | Bossy & BoardsLet's get bossy for a moment!! We're sitting down with Merline Saintil, angel investor and co-founder of Black Women on Boards (among many other badass titles), who shares her journey towards becoming a highly sought after board member and loves investing in other women - like Aishetu Fatima Dozie, who joins our conversation talking all about her transition from being a Wall Street wonder woman to founding her own cosmetics company called Bossy Cosmetics - electrifying women to live their best lives by empowering them to look, feel, and do good. Aishetu Fatima www.BossyBeauty.c...
2024-09-1658 min
HumanizeHer with Erica LockheimerHumanizeHer Trailer | Erica LockheimerWelcome to the HumanizeHer Podcast - where we celebrate and elevate women's voices and share their stories. We are on a mission to cultivate a world where every woman thrives, shattering glass ceilings and redefining success on her own terms. We're so grateful to have you as a listener and member of our community!! 🤩💫 Â
2024-09-1101 min
Software MisadventuresBuilding Diverse Engineering Teams | Erica LockheimerErica is a former VP of Engineering at LinkedIn. Having almost dropped out of college, Erica’s journey in tech is a testament to her perseverance and dedication. In addition to leading engineering teams at LinkedIn, Erica founded WIT (Women In Tech) to empower women within the company as well as the broader tech community. We discuss: How to create incentives for diversity-building work. Building your personal “board of directors”. Balancing mentoring work vs sprint tickets. Structuring a community for long-term success. Much more.  Segments: ...
2024-02-201h 20
Elevate - Women in TechS1 EP3 - Elevate - Women in Tech - Meets Erica Lockheimer - VP of Engineering - LinkedInWelcome to Episode 3 of the Elevate - Women in Tech Series - Elevating women and girls in tech from the classroom to the boardroom.
In this inspiring episode, we meet Erica Lockheimer - VP of Engineering at LinkedIn, overseeing the LinkedIn Talent Solutions suite. Tune in as Erica shares her journey in the tech world spanning over 20 years.
Sharing her early days at San Jose State University, where she embarked on her tech adventure.From facing the brink of dropping out to discovering her true inspiration and sense of...
2023-07-2531 min
The Engineering Leadership PodcastCelebrating 100 episodes - our favorite moments from the Engineering Leadership Podcast so farToday’s episode marks a special occasion – 100 episodes of The Engineering Leadership Podcast! To celebrate, we’ve compiled some of our favorite moments from the past hundred episodes, featuring a wide range of high-energy guests and compelling topics. We cover tension points while scaling eng & product orgs, why you should seek existential issues, how to get unstuck in your career, helping engineers outgrow their positions, hyper-growing your eng org/career, identifying burnout, understanding workplace injustice, confronting your fear of failure, and much more!Our in-person conference ELC Annual returns 10/27-28!Learn from 60+ of the best engine...
2022-09-201h 30The Engineering Leadership PodcastAddressing Burnout in Your Engineering Org with Erica Lockheimer, Sabry Tozin & Lori Allen #66This conversation is about BURNOUT! You’ll hear holistic perspectives to help you identify the causes, conditions, & early indicators of burnout. Plus organizational & individual practices to address & become resilient to burnout with Sabry Tozin (VPE @ LinkedIn), Lori Allen (VP HR @ LinkedIn), & Erica Lockheimer (VPE, LinkedIn Talent Solutions, LinkedIn Learning & Glint @ LinkedIn).About Erica LockheimerErica Lockheimer is VP of Engineering, Talent Solutions, Learning, and Glint @ LinkedIn. During her more than 10 years at the company, she built the Growth Engineering team into a high-performing 120-person team, focused on increasing membership, and deepening member engagement. In January 2018, sh...
2022-01-0448 min
The Women Who Code PodcastThe Women Who Code Podcast - Episode 17Learn about how Erica Lockheimer, Vice President of Engineering at LinkedIn Learning handles work-life balance, career progress, and her views on the importance of interviewing.
2021-11-1028 min
The Engineering Leadership PodcastThe State of Hiring w/ Maia Josebachvili, Bret Reckard & Erica Lockheimer #48This special feature from the ELC Hiring Summit explores the current state of hiring and how the rise of remote work will affect sourcing engineering candidates, the interview process, and compensation with Bret Reckard (Talent Partner @ Sequoia), Maia Josebachvili (former Head of People @ Stripe), and Erica Lockheimer (VPE @ LinkedIn)BRET RECKARD - Talent Partner @ Sequoia CapitalMAIA JOSEBACHVILI - Head of M&A and Investing (interim), former Head of People @ StripeERICA LOCKHEIMER - VP of Engineering, LinkedIn Talent Solutions, LinkedIn Learning & Glint @ LinkedInSHOWNOTESIntroduction to Maia, Bret...
2021-07-2043 min
It's Not That Complicated with Snehal PachigarEp # 3 - How to be an effective leader | ft. Erica LockheimerGuest: Erica Lockheimer
"Leaders are not born, they are made". Watch this brilliant conversation with Erica Lockheimer who is a VP of Engineering at LinkedIn. She talks about what does it take to be an effective leader in your role. How to find mentor for yourself? How to support people around you? How much does luck play a role? We talk about why is it important to have Women in Tech and other fields. Erica's personal journey has not been easy and she has put in a lot of hard work to land where she is...
2020-12-1134 min
The Engineering Leadership Podcast"The Imperfect Path" with Erica Lockheimer VPE, LinkedIn Learning @ LinkedIn #28Erica Lockheimer shares with us her imperfect path to engineering leadership, why the unconventional path matters, and what you can do as an individual leader & organization to empower engineering leaders with unconventional backgrounds. Plus you’ll also hear how to overcome self-doubt and launch an apprenticeship program!“Whether you're a manager or whether you're an individual contributor, you are a leader in your role. Use the voice that you've earned in the seat that you own. What can you personally do to create a different outcome. And all of us have that power in a role that we h...
2020-09-2850 min
The Engineering Leadership PodcastGrowing Into a VPE - Patterns & Anti-Patterns ft. Cathy Polinsky, Jerry Krikheli, Richard Wong, Erica Lockheimer & Claire Lew #25A dynamic conversation between 4 current and past VPs of Engineering who cover tons of patterns and anti-patterns about being a VPE! You'll hear how leadership is different in large vs. small companies, mental models to determine your greatest leverage, why you DON’T need to act like an owner, how to put trust into practice when you’re transitioning into a new role, and about the imperfect path to become a VPE. SPEAKERS:CATHY POLINKSY CTO @ Stitch FixJERRY KRIKHELI VP of Engineering @ HouzzRICHARD WONG SVP of Engineering @ Cours...
2020-09-0747 min
Bossed UpHow to Always Be LearningStuck at home? Faced with a career break? Today’s episode is all about embracing an “always be learning” mindset, which is something that’s guided Emilie’s guest Erica Lockheimer, the Vice President of Engineering at LinkedIn of LinkedIn, throughout her career. Related Links: Check out Emilie’s LinkedIn Learning courses here Ep 192: How to Cultivate More Confidence Watch the replays of our live panels: How to Work From Home Without Losing Work-Life Balance How to Handle Your Personal Finances in a Crisis Managing Stress and Maintaining Calm During Through COVID-19 Management Best Practices For...
2020-03-2434 min
LinkedIn Speaker SeriesLinkedIn Speaker Series with Telle WhitneyJoin us as LinkedIn VP of Engineering Erica Lockheimer sits down with Telle Whitney, former CEO of the Anita Borg Institute and co-founder of the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference, to discuss the successes and challenges women in technology face and how to create cultures where women thrive. Whitney has been a force in the industry, truly changing the trajectory for Women in Technology. When the Grace Hopper Conference started in 1994, there were 500 attendees. Today, it sells out within minutes and has over 20,000 attendees!   Get ready to be inspired by Whitney’s key...
2019-05-3058 min