In Her Ellement Podcast: Interviewing Inspiring Women In Tech

 Celebrating Second Anniversary & One Million Downloads

 If you asked me if I thought a consulting company could do a good job at podcasting, I would scoffed and said, "no way." And I would have been as wrong as Daryl Zanuck of 20th Century Fox when he said in 1946 that, "TV will never last."

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG to its friends and clients) has produced some superb podcasts that maximize thoughtful reflection, destruction of confirmation bias, and critical thinking.

For example, BCG’s Imagine This… is hosted by BCG’s Editor-in-Chief Paul Michelman and GENE, his generative AI co-host. The show is more than the conventional wisdom on AI's impact on the future—it’s a guide filled with actionable insights.

This innovative series takes listeners on a thought-provoking journey into potential future scenarios that could redefine our world and the way businesses operate within it. The podcast brings an analytical yet empathetic perspective to the fast-paced growth of AI.

 
BCG's Climate Vision 2050 transports listeners 30 years into the future to show how the world radically reduced carbon emissions and saved itself from climate catastrophe. This show offers a creative approach to talking about climate, getting into technical solutions without losing the beauty of an engaging, immersive narrative.

The In Her Ellement podcast has AI and digital expert Suchi Srinivasan and fintech practice leader Kamila Rakhimova from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) talking to women at the vanguard of business, digital, and technology. They’re digging into how these powerhouse leaders got where they are—everything from the joy of projects gone right to the realities of family responsibilities.

And crucially, asking: what was that moment you knew you weren't merely getting there...you had arrived? That's when you know you're in your element.

The podcast -- now in its second season -- was also developed by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which is the sunlight in the darkness of consulting created by the machinations of the McKinsey Company. Founded in 1963, BCG promotes itself this way: "We work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact."

 Co-host Kamila Rakhimova is the managing director, fintech practice leader and partner at BCG. Every few years, Kamila gets the itch to try something new. Back in her home country, her proficiency in English and her qualifications in international relations made her an asset in her field. She quickly discovered that microfinance could have a significant impact on underprivileged communities. This niche brought her to the US and eventually to Amazon.

Co-host Suchi Srinivasan grew up with a dad who worked as an engineer, and vividly remembers the tech he brought home with him from work. After her studies, she went on to work as a software engineer at the former Bell Telephone Laboratories, moving on to Microsoft during a time of huge change and innovation in the company. Suchi is passionate about using technology to solve some of our world’s most complex and pressing challenges, such as climate change.

 

Most recently, the podcast hit one million downloads. Recent guests include Women Who Code’s CEO Alaina Percival, Verizon’s CPO Debika Bhattacharya, and Intel’s VP and GM of Datacenter, AI, and Cloud Execution and Strategy Kavitha Prasad.


On Mother's Day, In Her Ellement not only celebrated mothers but also marked its second anniversary with a special episode featuring Jennifer Smith, CEO of Scribe, a platform that builds documentation to make processes efficient. Host Suchi Srinivasan engaged with Jennifer, who is a mother herself, in a candid conversation exploring the unique challenges and expectations faced by women in leadership during pregnancy.

In this episode, Jennifer Smith shares her personal experiences and the often-unspoken societal expectations of pregnant women in high-powered roles. These stories are not just about struggles, but are also a testament to resilience and breaking stereotypes in the corporate world.

Here’s a quote from Jennifer Smith’s appearance on the episode that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the episode:
“To me, it ultimately came down to building something. I didn’t really care whether it was my thing or someone else’s thing, but to me, it was being part of building something with a group of people that I really liked and respected. Feeling like we really tried and if we succeeded, built something that endured beyond us.”

In Her Ellement continues to empower and inspire by highlighting the triumphs and trials of women at the forefront of business, digital, and technology sectors. As co-hosts, Suchi Srinivasan
and Kamila Rakhimova don't have a traditional co-host connection. Instead, they seem to take turns handling episode interviews, probably based on area of expertise. But their system works, since a one-on-one interview is often cleaner than co-hosts double-teaming a guest.

 This is one of those podcasts with a specific audience in mind -- successful women in business and tech and women who want to be successful. The podcast delivers for that niche audience perfectly. Yet, I can't help but wonder how men would benefit from listening to this show. While the Jordan Petersons, Joe Rogans, and Andrew Tates of the world whine about masculinity, the women featured on this podcast have reached their apex and have truly arrived.

This podcast -- In Her Ellement -- delves deep into the personal and professional journeys of female leaders who are defining and redefining the digital age and explores the pivotal moments of these influential figures.