In this episode you’ll hear from Sahar Danesh, Senior Government Advisor atThe British Standards Institution. Sahar works to influence government policy in response to emerging technologies such as AI, Quantum, Data, Telecoms, and Cyber Security.

“I found the problem-solving element the best part and that's really what made me into an engineer”, Sahar says reflecting on her initial entry into STEM. She began her career in construction before pivoting into communication and policy. Sahar wanted to turn her technical fluency into public impact, asking important questions like ‘how do we govern AI so it helps more than it harms?’. Sahar explains that policy is about ‘bringing information together and talking to experts and then coming up with the best solutions’.

Sahar talks about emerging tech such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and AI, and explores the complex potential issues: bias in data, the danger of deepfakes, manipulative targeting on social platforms, the tension between safety and innovation and more. Good AI policy requires input from a wide range of people: technologists, policymakers, standards bodies, users, civil society, philosophers, and artists all carry part of the answer.

Sahar explains how few women she’s worked alongside, and how in-awe she has been of fellow female engineers. She encourages women to be louder voices in the design room, in standards meetings, and in public consultations. You don’t need an engineering degree to shape technology; you need lived experience, and the confidence to press it into the policy requirements.

To learn more about STEMazing, and this week’s guest, head to https://www.stemazing.co.uk/podcast

In this episode you’ll hear from Amanda Kangai, Graduate Trackside Engineer at Pirelli as she shares her journey from Vice President of the University Engineering Society at Cambridge to now working trackside in Motorsport. Her incredible story reveals how determination and self-belief can overcome the double minority status of being both a woman and a person of colour in engineering. "You need to be your own biggest supporter, your own cheerleader," she says.

Growing up watching Formula 1 with her father sparked Amanda's passion, but she never initially considered motorsport as a viable career path without seeing people who looked like her in those roles. This changed dramatically when a chance conversation during her student ambassador role with Extreme E led to a life-changing opportunity.

Amanda shares the extreme thrills she experiences in her role. Her first race weekend in Scotland encapsulates this perfectly—facing mechanical failure one day and standing on the winner's podium the next, champagne spraying as her team celebrated victory.

Amanda is passionate about creating pathways for others. "Not every woman has to love engineering or motorsport," she says, "but it's so important that girls know these careers exist and are accessible to them."

To learn more about STEMazing, and this week’s guest, head to https://www.stemazing.co.uk/podcast

In this episode you’ll hear Dr Marzia Bolpagni, Head of Building Information Modelling International at Mace. Marzia is passionate about Digital Transformation for the Built Environment and is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of professionals; helping young talent bridge the gap between academia and industry.

Marzia grew up with one simple goal: to be happy. From her early love of both art and science, she found her way into architectural engineering — a path that combined creativity with the precision of math and physics. Along the way, she discovered that success doesn’t come from chasing a job title, but from cultivating curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to learn new skills.

She shares her experiences of entering the male-dominated worlds of construction and digital innovation: from boardrooms where her presence was questioned to moments of unconscious bias, she reflects on the challenges of being underestimated.

Marzia also offers heartfelt advice for young professionals: don’t wait for permission, ask for what you want, and surround yourself with people who lift you up. Confidence, curiosity, and courage, she insists, are the foundations not just for a career in digital construction, but for a fulfilling life.

To learn more about STEMazing, and this week’s guest, head to https://www.stemazing.co.uk/podcast