B The Way Forward is an action-driven conversation about systemic change—how it happens, who drives it, and what it really takes to make an impact. Hosted by AnitaB.org CEO, and battle-tested leader in tech and equity, Brenda Darden-Wilkerson, the show gives listeners the tools they need to step off the sidelines and shape the future themselves.
B The Way Forward Season 2 kicked off with a central question: do you change the system from within, or do you have to break it to build something better?
Now, in our second half of the season we'll celebrate something women often feel they can’t admit to in the tech world - failure.
Through candid conversations with leaders at the top of the tech industry the audience gets authentic, actionable advice that they can apply to their own careers.
Thoughtful, incisive and full of Brenda’s warmth and humor, B the Way Forward is human conversations in a digital world.
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At AnitaB.org, our mission is to enable and equip women technologists with the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to thrive. Through innovative programs and initiatives, we empower women to chart new paths, better prepared to lead, advance, and achieve equitable compensation. Because when women succeed, they uplift their communities and redefine success on their terms, both professionally and personally.
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Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
And for more ways that you can be the way forward visit anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
All content for B The Way Forward is the property of AnitaB.org & Frequency Machine and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
B The Way Forward is an action-driven conversation about systemic change—how it happens, who drives it, and what it really takes to make an impact. Hosted by AnitaB.org CEO, and battle-tested leader in tech and equity, Brenda Darden-Wilkerson, the show gives listeners the tools they need to step off the sidelines and shape the future themselves.
B The Way Forward Season 2 kicked off with a central question: do you change the system from within, or do you have to break it to build something better?
Now, in our second half of the season we'll celebrate something women often feel they can’t admit to in the tech world - failure.
Through candid conversations with leaders at the top of the tech industry the audience gets authentic, actionable advice that they can apply to their own careers.
Thoughtful, incisive and full of Brenda’s warmth and humor, B the Way Forward is human conversations in a digital world.
---
At AnitaB.org, our mission is to enable and equip women technologists with the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to thrive. Through innovative programs and initiatives, we empower women to chart new paths, better prepared to lead, advance, and achieve equitable compensation. Because when women succeed, they uplift their communities and redefine success on their terms, both professionally and personally.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
And for more ways that you can be the way forward visit anitab.org
---
Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
You Can Walk Away - How Amanda Bickerstaff Found Her Way Back From Burnout
B The Way Forward
34 minutes
5 months ago
You Can Walk Away - How Amanda Bickerstaff Found Her Way Back From Burnout
Amanda Bickerstaff had a plan and a goal. When she transitioned from being a teacher in NY to working in Ed Tech, she knew she wanted to make it to CEO - and that the only jobs she’d take would be the ones that would get her one step closer to the C-Suite. In the fall of 2019, at only 39 years old, she moved to Australia to make that goal a reality as the newly minted CEO of an Ed Tech Company whose founding CEO had needed to step back from the role.
It was a dream job. Until it became a nightmare. Leading a startup is always a huge challenge, but Amanda found herself on the other side of the world, locked down during COVID, and caught between her role as an Executive CEO and the company’s founders who just couldn’t seem to let go and let her to do the job they’d hired her for.
So what did Amanda do? Like a lot of ambitious entrepreneurs, she threw herself even more deeply into the role. But 100 hour weeks, sleepless nights, and the lack of trust between her and the company’s founders soon became untenable. Amanda found herself having to choose between her own well-being and the position she’d been working so hard for.
How did Amanda find a way to turn a dream opportunity turned nightmare into the groundwork for the thriving, fulfilling, and successful role she has today as the Co-Founder and CEO of AI For Education? What did she learn about the value of making concessions … and the necessity of knowing when to walk away? And what does any of this have to do with advice on shoes, car leases, and PH.D programs?
The answers are all in this episode of B The Way Forward.
For more, check out Amanda an AI for Education...
On Instagram - @AI_forEducation
On TikTok - @aiforeducation
On X - @AI_forEducation
AI for Education on LinkedIn - /aiforeducation
Amanda on LinkedIn - /amanda-bickerstaff-edu
AI for Education on the Web - www.aiforeducation.io
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At our heart, AnitaB.org is a connector: we connect women in tech to the organizations, opportunities, and tools they need to advance, thrive, and transform the future of technology. We convene transformative events, lead essential discussions, produce groundbreaking research and white papers, and support the tech ecosystem to shape the future for women in tech.
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Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
On the web - anitab.org
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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
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B The Way Forward Is…
Hosted and Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson.
Produced by Avi Glijansky
Associate Produced by Kelli Kyle
Sound design and editing by Ryan Hammond
Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Additional Producing help from Faith Krogulecki
Operations Coordination for AnitaB.org by Quinton Sprull.
Creative Director for AnitaB.org is Deandra Coleman
Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Frequency Machine
Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell with Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org
Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions
For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org
B The Way Forward
B The Way Forward is an action-driven conversation about systemic change—how it happens, who drives it, and what it really takes to make an impact. Hosted by AnitaB.org CEO, and battle-tested leader in tech and equity, Brenda Darden-Wilkerson, the show gives listeners the tools they need to step off the sidelines and shape the future themselves.
B The Way Forward Season 2 kicked off with a central question: do you change the system from within, or do you have to break it to build something better?
Now, in our second half of the season we'll celebrate something women often feel they can’t admit to in the tech world - failure.
Through candid conversations with leaders at the top of the tech industry the audience gets authentic, actionable advice that they can apply to their own careers.
Thoughtful, incisive and full of Brenda’s warmth and humor, B the Way Forward is human conversations in a digital world.
---
At AnitaB.org, our mission is to enable and equip women technologists with the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to thrive. Through innovative programs and initiatives, we empower women to chart new paths, better prepared to lead, advance, and achieve equitable compensation. Because when women succeed, they uplift their communities and redefine success on their terms, both professionally and personally.
---
Connect with AnitaB.org
Instagram - @anitab_org
Facebook - /anitab.0rg
LinkedIn - /anitab-org
And for more ways that you can be the way forward visit anitab.org
---
Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.
