Navigating Gender Bias in Tech – PhD Career Advice with Kae Kronthaler-Williams

What does it take to thrive in a system that wasn’t designed for you? In this candid conversation, tech executive and author Kae Kronthaler-Williams joins David Mendes to discuss building a career in male-dominated spaces - and the hard-won lessons she shares in her book Not Made for You.

Drawing on her 30-year journey from telemarketing to the C-suite, Kae breaks down the subtle and systemic biases women still face in STEM, academia, and industry, and how you can equip yourself to overcome them. She also shares powerful insights on confidence, strategic visibility, and why women must learn to name and speak to bias without fear.

💡 You’ll learn:

• Why tying your work to business goals boosts visibility and influence

• How self-doubt affects women's careers and how to break that cycle

• Tools and language to handle workplace bias constructively

• What academic women in STEM can learn from business leadership

Whether you’re navigating graduate school, your first industry role, or a leadership path, this episode offers practical, empowering strategies to lead with purpose in tough environments.

Kae Kronthaler-Williams' website: https://www.kaewilliams.com/

Not Made For You - https://www.kaewilliams.com/book/

🎧 Tune in and share with someone who needs a reminder: it’s not you — it’s the system.