Flip the Focus

This is an episode about keeping people at the centre of tech, and building an industry whose success is measured by the opportunities it creates for everyone, not by how much it can automate or replace. Jen and Producer Nico sit down with Steven Miller, VP of Microsoft Australia and New Zealand*, to talk about what happens when one of the world's biggest tech companies decides its real job is to help humans thrive. Steven talks about the realities of bias in AI, the productivity crisis, and why companies must be honest about the messy journey to progress rather than only the perfect end point. He hopes the industry gets serious about building for the people it serves. You'll hear Steven talk about the gender funding gap in tech, why diverse interview panels matter, the communities and mentors that shaped his thinking, and why inclusion is not just common sense but a structural requirement. He also shares how tech succeeds only when the people closest to the problem help shape the solution. If you love this episode, subscribe, leave a star rating and give us a quick review. It helps more people find the show and supports our mission to share stories from leaders shaping tomorrow's tech, startups and impact-led innovation: like Brittany Fox, Amy McLennan, Victor Dominello, Cindy Gallop, Ida Tin and more. * Steven is now the Vice President, Public Sector - Asia.

This is a story about staying human while solving serious problems, and building a business whose success is measured by the size of the problem it helps solve, not by how long it remains the only company doing it. In this episode of Flip the Focus , Jen and Producer Nico sit down with Maddi Ingham, co-founder of GreenPay, Australia’s green payment processor, to talk about what happens when you take an ordinary piece of business infrastructure and give it a much bigger purpose. Maddi’s story begins in management consulting, moves through startup operations, hypergrowth and impact finance, and eventually leads to GreenPay: a full-stack payment processor that donates 50% of its profits to protecting Australian nature. Rather than reinventing how payments work, GreenPay is looking at how an existing, widely used system can become a force for good. Maddi is not building GreenPay from a place of commercial naivety. She talks about the realities of growth, funding, pricing and competition, and why she hopes GreenPay becomes enough of a threat that larger players are forced to do something significant for the planet too. This is also a conversation about redefining founder success. Maddi says individual success is not really a thing, and that if another company took GreenPay’s idea and delivered even greater environmental impact, that would be an excellent outcome. It’s a powerful challenge to the scarcity mindset that says there is only room for one winner. You’ll hear Maddi talk about the gender funding gap, the communities and mentors that helped her find her way into tech, the difference between progress and perfection, and why impact businesses should not be held to an impossible purity test. She also shares how GreenPay is thinking about brand, community and building a company people want to talk about when it is not in the room. If you love this episode, subscribe, leave a star rating and give us a quick review. It helps more people find the show and supports our mission to share stories from leaders shaping tomorrow’s tech, startups and impact-led innovation: like Brittany Fox, Amy McLennan, Victor Dominello, Cindy Gallop, Ida Tin and more.

What advice would you give younger you if you started over? What would you love to change about your industry? Whose name should we all be shouting? These are the big 3 questions we ask every guest on Flip the Focus. Their answers get real deep, real fast.

Why Brittany Fox stopped waiting for permission and built a funded customer journey mapping tool. In this episode of Flip the Focus , Jen and Producer Nico sit down with Brittany Fox, founder of Nevam , for a conversation about what happens when a sharp operator stops seeing mess as a nuisance and starts seeing it as a market. Britt’s story is one of founder conviction: she went from marketing and consulting across huge systems to building a customer journey mapping tool designed to expose the cracks, connect the dots, and turn invisible friction into something businesses can actually act on. Britt doesn’t just talk about building a product, she talks about building the right thing. After years of watching teams bury insights in spreadsheets, dead emails, PowerPoints, and disconnected tools, she built Nevam to give businesses a shared view of the customer journey, so the work stops stalling in theory and starts moving in reality. It’s a tool for clarity, for alignment, and for finally making the invisible visible. And what makes this episode land is Brittany herself: A rare, funded female founder in a system that still vastly underfunds women, underestimates operators, and rewards polished noise over actual insight. Brittany is now in a place of real confidence; not the performative kind, but the kind that comes from knowing exactly what she’s solving, why it matters, and how to land funders who back her hard enough to build it her way. You’ll hear why she chose to sell the house and create room to bet on herself, and how confidence can be built through action, not just mindset. This is a story about momentum, clarity, and the powerful simplicity of knowing that if you want the system to change, sometimes you have to build the thing that the system was missing. If you love this episode, subscribe, leave a star rating, and give us a quick review. It helps more people find the show and supports our mission to share stories from leaders shaping tomorrow’s tech, startups, and female-founded innovation — like Brittany Fox, Amy McLennan, Victor Dominello, Cindy Gallop, Ida Tin and more.

What advice would you give younger you if you started over? What would you love to change about your industry? Whose name should we all be shouting? These are the big 3 questions we ask every guest on Flip the Focus. Their answers get real deep, real fast.

What is cybernetics, and why does it matter now than ever? In this episode, Jen and Producer Nico sit down with Dr Amy McLennan, a medical anthropologist and systems thinker at ANU School of Cybernetics, for a conversation about cybernetics, leadership, and why the smartest way to understand technology is to stop treating it like a standalone thing. Cybernetics helps us look at tech feedback loops, relationships, and assumptions that shape what happens next. Amy explains why tech is really a systems enabler; and why the real work is in understanding the people, intentions, and power dynamics around it. From a speculative factory called Frank, to the egg oversupply during COVID, this episode shows how small examples can reveal big truths about how systems behave when the world changes fast. You’ll also hear why binary thinking gets us nowhere, why trust needs to be earned, and why the most useful leadership questions are the ones that surface what’s missing, what’s assumed, and what might break when the system is under pressure. For anyone leading teams, shaping culture, or making decisions in a complex environment, this one is a smart place to start. If you love this episode, subscribe, leave a star rating, and give us a quick review. It helps more people find the show and supports our mission to share stories from leaders shaping tomorrow’s health, tech, and inclusion... like Amy McLennan, Victor Dominello, Cindy Gallop, Ida Tin and more. Find out more about the books, people, and ideas in this episode Frank Makes a Factory by Josh Noble and Simona Dango: A piece of speculative fiction Amy uses to show how systems can be shaped by hidden assumptions. Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by (absolute icon) Caroline Criado Perez: referenced by Jen in the discussion about women being left out of data and design. American Sirens by Kevin Hazzard: the book Amy mentions about the Freedom House Ambulance Service and the roots of modern emergency medicine. Sir Ken Robinson : Jen's reference (and one of her heroes) in the discussion about education systems, creativity, and industrial style thinking. Clue and Ida Tin : Jen mentions them as an example of women’s health tech that is thoughtful about data and privacy. (You can hear Ida Tin in Season One of Flip the Focus, she's incredible.) David Ogilvy : Jen references as an example of starting from human insight. Watson : Producer Nico mentions this in the AI history discussion as part of the longer arc of machine learning and pattern recognition.

Why staying curious is a skill - and how you can learn it. In this episode, Jen and Producer Nico sit down with Dr Amy McLennan, a medical anthropologist and systems thinker at ANU School of Cybernetics, for a conversation about AI, health, and why the smartest tech conversations are never as simple as for or against. And it's such a huge one, we've made it into 2 episodes.. so make sure you subscribe and catch both! Dr Amy breaks down why curiosity is a skill, why asking questions can feel weirdly uncomfortable, and why something as ordinary as eggs can reveal how wildly connected our systems really are. If you’re trying to make sense of the AI wave, the health data gap, or the pressure to have a hot take on everything, this one is a smart place to start. You’ll hear about the real world stuff that tech headlines love to skip over: a surgical robot that couldn’t fit through the hospital door, the giant blind spots in women’s health data, and why “AI will save us” is just as unhelpful as “AI will ruin everything.” If you love this episode, subscribe, leave a star rating, and give us a quick review. It helps more people find the show and supports our mission to share stories from leaders shaping tomorrow’s health, tech, and inclusion... like Amy McLennan, Victor Dominello, Cindy Gallop, Ida Tin and more. Watch us on YouTube Flip the Focus Season 3 Amy McLennan Find out more about the books, people, and ideas in this episode: Frank Makes a Factory by Josh Noble and Simona Dango : A piece of speculative fiction Amy uses to show how systems can be shaped by hidden assumptions. Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez : referenced by Jen in the discussion about women being left out of data and design. American Sirens by Kevin Hazzard : the book Amy mentions about the Freedom House Ambulance Service and the roots of modern emergency medicine. Sir Ken Robinson : Jen's reference (and one of her heroes) in the discussion about education systems, creativity, and industrial style thinking. Clue and Ida Tin : Jen mentions them as an example of women’s health tech that is thoughtful about data and privacy. (You can hear Ida Tin in Season One of Flip the Focus, she's incredible.) David Ogilvy : Jen references as an example of starting from human insight. Watson: Producer Nico mentions this in the AI history discussion as part of the longer arc of machine learning and pattern recognition.

What advice would you give younger you if you got to start over? What would you love to change about your industry? Whose name should we all be shouting? These are the big 3 questions we ask every guest on Flip the Focus. Their answers get real deep, real fast.

Should AI give us the ick - or should we get into it? In this episode, Jen and Producer Nico sit down with Georgie Healy from In the Blink of AI for a conversation on curiosity and innovation in artificial intelligence. You'll get personal stories, a heavy metal POV, and pondering how the three of us each relate to AI. From the pressure to either fully embrace AI or completely reject it, to the possibilities it's already unlocking in healthcare, you'll find out what the three of us think is exciting and what’s unsettling. Help us decide - should we be thoughtfully using AI, should it scare us - or is the smartest place to be in the messy middle? If you love this episode, subscribe, leave a star rating, and give us a quick review. This helps more people find the show and supports our mission to share stories from leaders shaping tomorrow’s health, tech, and inclusion... like Georgie Healy, Victor Dominello, Cindy Gallop, Ida Tin and more. Let’s flip the focus, together. Watch us on YouTube Flip the Focus Season 3 Georgie Healy

Can AI be trusted to help with mental health? Let’s get into it. In this episode, host Jen Dobbie sits down with psychologist and founder Marika Conomos for a courageous, forward looking conversation on the intersection of human care and AI in mental health. Marika brings decades of clinical insight and a personal passion for tech, sharing the challenges and wins as she works to build ethical, accessible solutions for one of the toughest healthcare challenges. Through raw stories and powerful stats, we explore the deep need for timely support, consistent care, and innovative technology. Tech always built and strictly regulated to serve humans first. From heartbreaking wait times to new possibilities for tech supported therapy, Jen and Marika break down what’s working, what isn’t, and why ethical guardrails are non negotiable for tech in care. If you love this episode, help amplify our voice: subscribe, leave a star rating, and give us a quick review. This helps more people find the show and supports our mission to share stories from leaders shaping tomorrow’s health, tech, and inclusion—like Marika, Victor Dominello, Cindy Gallop, Ida Tin and more. Let’s flip the focus, together. Flip the Focus Seasons 1 and 2 are made possible by Hotwire Australia. Mental Health Resources: If this episode raised any issues for you; or you are experiencing poor mental health, you are not alone. Please reach out to your GP, talk to a trusted friend or colleague, or use the following resources. Telephone Support Lifeline Australia, 24/7 help at 13 11 14 SANE Helpline: 9-5 weekdays. 1800 18 7263 Online Support and Resources Suicide Prevention Australia: https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/

Where does digital trust come into our daily lived experiences? What impact should it have, and where does responsibility lie for getting it right? Let's get into it. In this episode, Host Jen Dobbie is joined by the Honorable Victor Dominello. Victor is a globally recognised leader in digital government transformation, renowned for his human first approach to tech. Serving 14 years as a NSW politician, including 4 years as State Minister for Customer Service and Digital, he revolutionised public service with initiatives like Service NSW and the Digital Driver’s Licence. His introduction of revolutionary digital services was not without controversy or difficulty. His willingness to address those issues; along with his huge knowledge of, and passion for, the power of tech for good, continue to keep him at the forefront of the digital conversation. Victor is now Director of the UNSW-UTS Trustworthy Digital Society Hub and Chair of Services Australia Advisory Board, driving ethical digital identity and government innovation strategies. If you love this episode, subscribe and help amplify our voice by giving us a star rating and review. It'll help others find the show and mean we can carry on sharing stories from awesome people like Victor, Cindy Gallop, Ida Tin and more... Let's flip the focus, together. Flip the Focus is made possible by Hotwire Australia.

Is AI taking over, unchecked? In this episode, Host Jen Dobbie is joined by Alina Timofeeva. Alina is a globally renowned AI strategist and advocate for women’s empowerment. She champions AI’s power to dismantle hiring biases and promote workforce opportunities, while warning against algorithmic discrimination. Her TEDx talk, “Fail But Never Give Up,” has over 500,000 views. Alina is a sought-after speaker at the World Economic Forum and London Tech Week, guiding governments and business on AI for gender equity and operational resilience. If you want to understand how the societal impacts of AI translate directly to your brand and business, then let's get into it. Love this episode? Subscribe and help amplify our voice by giving us a star rating and review. It will help others find the show and flip the focus, together. Flip the Focus is made possible by Hotwire Australia.

Can big tech companies help normalise working parenthood? In this episode, Host Jen Dobbie is joined by Louise Wilson. With more than 17 years at global tech giants like Yahoo, Twitter and LinkedIn to her name, Louise has delivered year on year revenue growth whilst driving systemic change for caregivers. A Senior Sales Leader at LinkedIn, she's also Global Co-Chair of Families@LinkedIn, where she scaled a community of over 6000 global members and 150 volunteers. Keen to widen the community, she also co-founded The Village, a supportive community for parents in media, and is a Finalist for B&T Women in Tech 2025. If you're a parent who works; not a worker who parents - let's get into it! Love this episode? Subscribe and help amplify our voice by giving us a star rating and review. It will help others find the show and flip the focus, together. Flip the Focus is made possible by Hotwire Australia.

In this episode, Jen Dobbie sits down with Karissa Breen (KB), a prominent figure in cybersecurity media, and the host of the KBKast. They discuss the evolution of media, the impact of AI on both media and cybersecurity, and the importance of execution in entrepreneurship. KB shares insights from her journey, emphasising the need for resilience and motivation in the face of the challenges she's faced as an entrepreneur. From farming to skipping the Christmas party, KB and Jen go to some unexpected places to understand the relentless nature of work and the entrepreneurial mindset. KB also addresses the significance of personal branding, the challenges women face in tech, and the need for respect and collaboration in the industry, offering practical advice for women entering tech and highlights the importance of amplifying female voices in the field. Let's get into it!Connect with UsFollow us on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jendobbie/Have thoughts on this Episode, or Guests? Email us at flipthefocus@hotwireglobal.com

Where does AI belong - in our daily lives, industry and society? In this episode, host Jen Dobbie sits down with Kate Tollenaar, Director of Government and Enterprise for IBM ANZ, to discuss the evolution of AI, its real-world applications, and the importance of gender diversity in tech. Kate, who has a background in AI, cybernetics, and a 20-year military career, shares her insights on AI’s history, the rise of applied AI, and the critical role of trust and transparency in AI governance. Jen and Kate discusses AI hallucinations, the impact of AI on misinformation, and how governments and corporations must ensure AI is used responsibly. A major part of the discussion centres around women in AI and tech, highlighting the underrepresentation of women in AI development and its impact on bias in AI systems. Kate emphasises that more women need to be in the room when AI is built to create safer and more inclusive technology. She also shares insights on AI’s role in public policy, military applications, and ethical concerns surrounding autonomous systems. They close with practical advice for people looking to get into the tech industry; and gives tips on key industry leaders and organisations to follow for anyone looking to stay informed about AI’s rapid evolution. Let's get into it! Resources and Links from the Episode: 1. National AI Centre: https://www.industry.gov.au/science-technology-and-innovation/technology/national-artificial-intelligence-centre 2. CSIRO's Data61: https://www.csiro.au/en/about/people/business-units/data61 3. Genevieve Bell, Vice Chancellor of ANU, AI & Cybernetics Expert: linkedin.com/in/genevievebell 4. Jennifer Robinson – Human Rights Lawyer & Advocate for Online Safety: linkedin.com/in/jennifer-robinson-18607326 5. Slaughterbots: https://youtu.be/9rDo1QxI260?si=DnEWf3goVB7ETw09 Note before watching: this is a dystopian and scary watch. Connect with Us Follow us on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jendobbie/ Have thoughts on this Episode, or Guests? Email us at flipthefocus@hotwiregobal.com Listen & Subscribe: 🔊 Apple Podcasts | Spotify |

Has tech evened the playing field for women? In this bonus episode, Host Jen Dobbie is joined by Commandant Anthea Larken CBE. Former Director, Women's Royal Naval Service and Aide de Camp to Queen Elizabeth II, for over five decades, Anthea used tech and innovation to pave the way for future generations of women. From film cameras as simulated weapons, to advocating for women's roles in increasingly tech-driven naval environments, she and Jen get into using tech to give women equality of opportunity; and discuss how to challenge authority to keep your organisation on the right side of progress. Let's get into it! Love this episode? Subscribe and help amplify our voice by giving us a star rating and review. It will help others find the show and flip the focus, together. Flip the Focus is made possible by Hotwire Australia.

Can tech help women retire richer? In this episode, Host Jen Dobbie is joined by Lucy Kough. Award Winning Creative, and newly minted Founder, Lucy is on a mission to solve the gender wealth gap, starting with Super (aka Pensions). With the gender wealth gap at $103 Trillion as of now - her mission is in the national interest. Lucy's Tap the Gap App proves tech can both help solve women’s wealth inequality, and provide a new career path for all those who think creatively. Let's get into it! Love this episode? Subscribe and help amplify our voice by giving us a star rating and review. It will help others find the show and flip the focus, together. Flip the Focus is made possible by Hotwire Australia.

How can we build more billion dollar businesses? In this episode, Host Jen Dobbie is joined by Nicole Cook. Chief Executive and Advisory Board Chair, alumni of several billion dollar startups, and former Head of Jobs for NSW, Nicole thinks big - and doesn't pull punches. From the first $100,000 to the first $1BN revenue, and beyond; she and Jen explore the very real risks Australia is taking if it doesn't start backing more of our brave female entrepreneurs. Like continuing its slide down global rankings in economic complexity and innovation. Nicole gets into it on creating systems that seek, support and sustain female entrepreneurs to break that cycle through tech innovation, and build billion dollar businesses. Let's get into it! Love this episode? Subscribe and help amplify our voice by giving us a star rating and review. It will help others find the show and flip the focus, together. Flip the Focus is made possible by Hotwire Australia.

Why don't funders follow the facts? In this episode, Host Jen Dobbie is joined by Advertising and Tech badass, Cindy Gallop. TED igniter, MakeLoveNotPorn founder, and the Michael Bay of LinkedIn, Cindy loves to blow shit up. She and Jen get into the joys and challenges of creative and tech life, in a wide ranging conversation tackling learnings from Cindy's extraordinary career, and bringing them to bear on challenges she faces as a founder. Like, why female founders don't get funding - despite being proven as a better return on investment. From curry in Cardiff, to SXSW Sydney, if Cindy's learned anything, it's that playing by the rules doesn't make life interesting. Let's get into it! Love this episode? Subscribe and help amplify our voice by giving us a star rating and review. It will help others find the show and flip the focus, together. Flip the Focus is made possible by Hotwire Australia.

What does it take to stay optimistic about tech? In this episode, Host Jen Dobbie is joined by Heather Kernahan - Global CEO, Author, SXSW Speaker, Investor and Mum. Heather and Jen get into the detail on being female in tech; how swearing can be a superpower for women in business, and why getting seriously stuck at work happens to all of us - and can be a simpler solve than we think. Let's get into it. Did you love this episode? Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and help amplify our voice by giving us a star rating and a review. This'll help others find the show and flip the focus, together! Flip the Focus is made possible by Hotwire Australia.