Alana Karen is an award-winning tech leader, author, and speaker with over 25 years in tech, including two decades at Google. She has worked across Google Search, Ads, Fiber, and Grants, helping build products and teams that have touched billions of people globally. Alana is also the author of the best-selling book "Adventures of Women in Tech", now releasing a brand new edition that explores how work, culture, and careers are shifting in the AI era.

In this episode of the Femmes Finance Podcast, we talk with Alana Karen about her journey after Google and moving on to new opportunities. We discuss her thoughts on future careers, Big Tech layoffs, and adapting to major cultural and technological shifts. Lastly, Alana Karen shares great advice on how to build a financial and career resilience in today’s fast-moving tech era.

Follow Alana Karen:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanakaren/
• Website: https://www.alanakaren.com

Follow Assel Altayeva:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asselaltayeva/
• Instagram: @femmesfinance

🔊 #26 – Cathy Hackl on Spatial Computing, Apple Vision Pro, and Building with AI, XR & Immersive Tech

Cathy Hackl is one of the world’s leading tech futurists and a driving force behind the next wave of innovation in spatial computing. She is the CEO of Future Dynamics, Co-founder and Chief Futurist at Journey, and an Apple Vision Pro developer. Cathy also advises Boston Consulting Group, hosts Adweek’s TechMagic podcast, and was recently named one of Newsweek’s Top 25 AI Visionaries.

In this episode of The Femmes Finance Podcast, we talk about the next era of human-computer interaction, where computing leaves the screen and becomes more immersive, ambient, and intuitive. Cathy breaks down what spatial computing really is, how it blends AI, hardware, and XR, and what this means for industries across the board. We talk about her work building experiences for the Apple Vision Pro, the business opportunities emerging in this space, and why spatial computing is set to reshape how we live, work, and communicate.

This is one of those episodes you’ll be thinking about long after it ends.

Follow Cathy Hackl:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathyhackl/
• Instagram: @cathyhackl
• Website: https://www.cathyhackl.com/
• Podcast: https://www.adweek.com/podcasts/tech-magic/

Follow Assel Altayeva:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asselaltayeva/
• Instagram: @femmesfinance

We’re honored to be joined by Robin Wood Sailer, a powerhouse in both media and venture investing. Currently a Venture Partner at Helena Capital, Co-Founder of Le Labs Group, and a Consultant at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Robin holds a rare blend of editorial insight and investment acumen.Robin has an impressive background from CBS News, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, and Dow Jones. As Bloomberg's Editorial Director, Robin played a key role in building Bloomberg’s events division and curated founder-investor showcases at top tech conferences. As Vice President at Dow Jones, she led the development of events and brand partnerships, expanding the company’s event business during the pandemic.

Robin is channeling her expertise into venture capital by supporting & advising founders to build the next wave of innovation. At Helena Capital, she’s backing women-led startups at the Series B+ stage through a $200M growth fund. The fund focuses on deep tech, fintech, and impact ventures across the U.S. and Europe, with an eye on companies ready to scale globally.

🔍 In this episode, we explore:

• How Robin’s media background gives her a unique edge in the venture capital

• What makes Helena Capital’s approach to female founders different

• How founders can navigate the leap from early traction to Series B+ stages