Systems Create Behaviour She Talks Tech

In this episode, we sit down with Palesa Sibeko, co-founder of Better Work and Girls Invent Tomorrow, for a conversation that goes well beyond the buzzwords. Palesa has spent over a decade asking a deceptively simple question: what would it take to make work more human? From the digital agency frontier of early social media in South Africa, to building custom PCB hardware through Signal, to coaching leaders navigating change, her career is a masterclass in following curiosity without apology.

We talk about why systems create the behaviour we complain about, what it really means to listen in an organisation, and why fixing culture in a two-hour workshop is a fantasy. We also get into Girls Invent Tomorrow, the girls in STEM organisation she has poured her heart into for over 14 years, and what it will actually take to change the numbers.

What we cover

• Growing up in Soweto, reading everything in sight, and how curiosity became a career
• The early days of social media for brands in South Africa and pioneering digital engagement on Mxit
• Why systems create behaviour and how Better Work approaches change from the inside out
• The gap between an organisation's intent and what employees actually experience every day
• Return to office, trust, and why one-size-fits-all workplace policy rarely works
• Signal: building custom hardware, PCB boards, and gesture-controlled experiences, until COVID ended it
• Girls Invent Tomorrow, what has shifted for girls in STEM and what stubbornly has not
• The invisible barriers in the home that shape what young girls believe is possible for them
• What Palesa would tell her 10-year-old self

Support the show

If She Talks Tech has added value to your life, consider buying us a coffee. It helps fund guest research, production, and keeps the stories coming. buymeacoffee.com/shetalkstech

Also follow us on instagram @she_talks_tech_podcast

Connect with us #SheTalksTech

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding Your Voice in Rooms That Make You Feel Small

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately questioned whether you belonged there? In this episode of Emerging Tech Voices, your hosts Hlulani, Modeni, and Lanni get candid about the moments their voices trembled, faded, and eventually found their footing in professional spaces.

From boardrooms to consulting firms, the trio reflects on the universal experience of imposter syndrome and what it actually takes to speak up when everything in you wants to stay quiet.

In this episode, we cover:

• The first time each host felt small in a professional space
• What "having a voice" really means and how it evolves over time
• How upbringing and birth order shape the way we show up in rooms
• The role of community, mentorship, and relatability in building confidence
• Why identifying gaps and taking ownership can amplify your voice in tech
• Practical advice for anyone who has shrunk for too long and wants to start speaking up again

Key takeaway: You were chosen for the room you're in. The moment you truly believe you belong, everything changes, including your voice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creators, Not Consumers: Lisle Jenneke on the Future of AI in Africa and Beyond

In this episode, we sit down with AI consultant and technology leader Lisle Jenneke, whose career journey spans continents, industries, and roles. From falling into tech by accident to founding Love Africa, Lisle brings a refreshingly human lens to one of the most rapidly evolving fields of our time.

She shares her thoughts on what leaders get wrong about AI adoption, why diversity is a business performance issue and not just a values conversation, and why keeping humans at the centre of AI decision making is non-negotiable.

You'll also hear about:

• The ethics and bias embedded in AI systems
• Why she coined the term "experts in the loop"
• How vibe coding platforms are democratizing innovation in Africa
• What she would tell her younger self about leadership and uncertainty

Also follow us on instagram @she_talks_tech_podcast

And connect with She Talks Tech Podcast on LinkedIn for episode updates and guest highlights.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.