DEI is being rapidly rolled back across corporate America, creating a toxic,hostile environment where the competence of minority leaders is constantlyquestioned. Mamuna and Lola share the unfiltered truth about being confrontedwith the "DEI hire" insult and why you must refuse to shrinkto protect your career.
💡 We cover:
🎙️ Hosts: Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.
The same behaviors that earned you your current success will sabotage your attempt to reach the next level. Mamuna and Lola discuss the brutal truth of the "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" phenomenon, explaining why effective executive leadership requires a complete change in perspective and approach.
💡 We cover:
🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson
📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com
💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod
❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.
OpenAI is opening its platform to verified adult users for erotic content, following its controversial "**treat adults like adults**" policy. Mamuna and Lola dive into the cold capitalist calculations driving this change and the complex safety and societal issues of bringing AI into our most intimate relationships.💡 We cover:• The monetization pressure forcing OpenAI's pivot toward high-yield adult content.• The "anti-human" reality of banning sex, a core human drive• How tech must prevent real human photo abuse for non-consensual content.• Why relational experts are needed to design AI with boundaries and a "training simulator" function.🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.
Ever hit that point where you’re great at your job but… you just don’t care anymore? 😩
In this episode of Lost in Tech, Mamuna Oladipo and Lola Oyelayo-Pearson read a heartfelt listener letter from a mid-level PM who feels stuck — unsure if it’s burnout or a career mismatch — and unpack the universal experience of asking, “Is this still for me?”
💬 We cover:
The fear of making a “step back” move
Redefining success beyond job titles
The courage to pivot — even when it looks risky
Why curiosity and purpose are your real career compasses
Practical ways to reconnect with what fuels you
✨ Whether you’re in product, design, or leadership, this episode will hit home if you’ve ever questioned your path.
🎙️ Hosts:Mamuna Oladipo & Lola Oyelayo-Pearson📩 Email us your letters: help@lostintechpodcast.com💬 Follow us on X/Twitter: @LostInTechPod❤️ Like, share, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life and leadership in tech.
$100M salaries? $50M in one year? Sounds wild — but what does it really mean when a tech company dangles huge packages? In this episode of Lost in Tech, Mamuna and Lola break down the reality of tech compensation:
The Truth About Packages: Salary vs. stock vs. bonus vs. benefits — and why the top number is misleading.
The Tax Trap: Why higher pay can sometimes leave you poorer after deductions.
Negotiation 101: The best time to negotiate (hint: before you sign) and practical ways to push for guaranteed cash.
Global Perspectives: How pay packages differ across the US, UK, Europe, and beyond.
Survival Tips: Avoiding rookie mistakes like ignoring student loans or relying on “play money” stock.
Whether you’re landing your first tech role or stepping into a senior leadership position, this episode will arm you with the tools to negotiate smarter and protect your financial future.
👂 Got a salary negotiation story or a tip from your region? We’d love to hear it — email help@lostintechpodcast.com or DM us on @LostInTechPod.
👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if this episode gave you something to think about!
You’ve worked hard, dreamed big, and earned that promotion. But now what? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna break down the critical mindset and strategy shifts you need to thrive after stepping into your new role.
We explore:
✨ Celebrating your achievement (you earned it!)
✨ Why what got you here won’t get you there
✨ Understanding the “new bucket” you’ve entered — and how expectations change
✨ The books every newly promoted leader should read: The First 90 Days & The Leadership Pipeline
✨ Why connecting your role to the company’s business model is non-negotiable in today’s tech economy
✨ Practical ways to align with your manager and advocate for yourself
Whether you’re a first-time manager, a senior leader, or about to step into a new role, this episode is your guide to setting yourself up for success.
👂 Listen now, and share with someone who’s just been promoted!
💌 Got a tech career dilemma? Email us at help@lostintechpodcast.com or DM us at @lostintechpod.
📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can join the conversation.
We make room for anger and frustration at work, but rarely acknowledge hurt or sadness. Why? In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dive deep into what it really looks like when emotions show up at work — and why pretending they don’t belong can hurt careers, teams, and culture.
From personal stories to practical coaching, we unpack how to recognize, process, and use emotions constructively instead of suppressing them. Whether you’re a new manager, a senior leader, or navigating your own career, this conversation will help you rethink how you show up and how you support others.
We cover:
🧠 It’s normal, not weakness — why emotional reactions don’t make you “unprofessional”
🔎 Recognizing triggers — and why sometimes it takes time to realize you’re having a response
⏸️ Pausing before you react — tools to slow down and reset
⚠️ The cost of suppression — how bottling things up leads to burnout & toxic cultures
🪞 Role vs. self — learning that feedback is often about the role, not you personally
🗣️ Practical scripts you can use in the moment:
“I need a moment before I respond.”
“This is hitting me harder than I expected — let’s regroup.”
👩🏽💼 Leaders set the tone — how empathy and emotional honesty build trust & safety
💡 Pro Tip: Empathy always wins as a leader
✨ Like, Subscribe & Share!
We want to hear from you: email us at help@lostintechpodcast.com or DM us on Twitter @lostintechpod with your own dilemmas. Your challenge might feature in a future episode!
Let’s get real, let’s get human, and let’s stop pretending emotions don’t belong at work.
When you’re finally on a break, should work still follow you?In this episode, Lola and Mamuna unpack the all-too-common dilemma of bosses who don’t respect boundaries — and how to handle it without burning bridges (or burning out).We break down:- 📵 Setting healthy work boundaries- ⚖️ How expectations shift for junior vs. senior roles- 🧠 The long-term cost of never truly disconnecting- 💡 Real strategies to protect your time offWhether you’ve been there or you’re heading into your next vacation, this one’s for anyone trying to balance ambition with actual rest.💬 **Your turn:** Would you speak up… or keep the peace? Email us at [**help@lostintechpodcast.com**](mailto:help@lostintechpodcast.com) or DM us on X (**@lostintechpod**).📌 **Subscribe & follow** on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts so you never miss the real talk about tech careers, leadership, and the messy human side of the industry.
What is the line between building your brand and just… being annoying?
In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dive into the evolving world of LinkedIn — from professional resume archive to personality-powered feed. Whether you're quietly job hunting, loudly repping yourself, or silently judging other people’s posts, this episode is for you.
We break down:
💼 Can you still get hired without a personal brand?
🔍 What hiring managers really look at on LinkedIn
🧠 Why representation ≠ oversharing (but a little celebration never hurts)
🤖 The AI arms race: job screeners are crawling your LinkedIn — are you ready?
🔥 When LinkedIn posts go too far: trolls, tone, and getting yourself fired
🌍 Cultural tensions in showing off: British modesty, Nigerian pride, American hustle
Whether you're posting to be seen, scrolling to learn, or staying silent and strategic — your LinkedIn is saying something. Are you telling the story you want?
What does it actually take to stay employed and valuable in tech right now?
In this episode, Mamuna and Lola unpack the new expectations for builders in the era of layoffs, lean teams, and AI-enhanced tooling. Spoiler: you can’t afford to say “that’s not my job” anymore.
We break down:
🧩 Why job titles like “PM” or “Designer” no longer mean what they used to📐 How today’s most valued team members operate horizontally🛠️ The rise of the product/design/eng hybrid — and the tools enabling them📊 Why some roles are quietly disappearing — and how to avoid being next🦄 Whether the new bar is reasonable… or if we’re describing unicorns
This episode is a wake-up call and a pep talk. The bar is high — but the tools are everywhere. The question is: are you learning how to use them?
👀 Whether you're a new grad or a seasoned product leader, if you're trying to stay sharp and stay relevant — this one's for you.
Everyone wants “a seat at the table.” But what’s actually going on in that room — and who gets let in?
In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dissect the mythology around “the room where it happens” (yes, Hamilton fans, this one’s for you). We explore why seniority often requires managing people, how individual contributors hit ceilings, and what it really means to grow in your career without chasing a title.
We break down:
🏛️ What “the room” is and who usually gets in
👥 Why ICs often hit a ceiling — and why that’s not necessarily bad
📊 Why people management is the currency of leadership in most orgs
🎤 How to ask for growth without asking for a promotion
🎭 What Hamilton’s Aaron Burr teaches us about entitlement and access
This one’s part coaching, part clarity. If you’ve ever wondered why your title didn’t get you into the big strategy meeting, this is your backstage pass.
👀 For ambitious ICs, new managers, and anyone wondering what’s behind the closed doors — listen in.
What happens when your CEO and Chief People Officer end up on the kiss cam at a Coldplay concert?
In this episode, Lola and Mamuna unpack the viral moment that put a unicorn tech company — Astronomer — at the center of internet gossip. But we’re not here for the tabloid drama. We’re here to talk about the real implications of workplace relationships at the highest level.
We break down:
🧠 The power dynamics between CEOs and Chief People Officers
🛡️ The role of HR: protecting people vs. protecting the company
⚖️ Ethics, accountability, and what really happens when the top breaks the rules
📈 What the board should (or shouldn't) do during a reputational crisis
🎯 How companies might spin scandal into spotlight — and what that says about tech culture
This one’s spicy, but grounded. It’s not about them, it’s about us: what we normalize, how we lead, and who gets held to which standards.
👀 Whether you're in tech, HR, or just love real talk about leadership and accountability — this one’s for you.
💡 We made this show for YOU! Got a tech challenge? Need career advice? Send your dilemmas to help@lostintechpodcast.com or DM us on @LostInTechPodcast on Twitter.👍 Like, Subscribe & Follow for real conversations about tech, career growth & everything in between!
What happens when satire hits too close to home?
In this episode, Lola and Mamuna dive into the HBO film Mountainhead—a dark, eerily accurate commentary on tech culture, ambition, and the moral compromises made in pursuit of power. The conversation unpacks the film’s portrayal of founders, intellectual elitism, and the ethical line (or lack thereof) in Silicon Valley’s highest ranks.
They reflect on:
The cult of tech genius and how timing often trumps talent
The dangers of unchecked ambition and performative ethics
The “locker room energy” dominating tech leadership and VC culture
Why some leaders mistake prosperity for progress—and who really pays the price
Whether you’ve seen Mountainhead or not, this episode will leave you questioning how we measure success, who we idolize in tech, and what it actually means to build for the greater good.
📽️ Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27cN2_k0JF0
Watch, listen, and ask yourself: Would you fall for it too?
This week, Lola and Mamuna tackle a big, under-discussed question: What does it mean to onboard a new tech intern in 2025? With layoffs still reshaping the industry and a more cautious work culture taking hold, how do we give interns—especially those without previous experience—a meaningful start?They reflect on a real-world scenario of a student entering the tech world for the first time and explore:- What has changed about internship culture?- How should companies rethink their internship programs?- What signals support vs. exploitation in tech learning environments?- And how can young talent gain traction in a field still recovering?This is a thoughtful, real talk episode about designing better early-career experiences, especially in a hybrid or remote context.💬 Have your own challenge or internship story? Email us at help@lostintechpodcast.com or DM us on X @LostInTechPodcast.
In this episode, Lola and Mamuna break down Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s hot take on AI and jobs from his recent appearance on the Acquired podcast—and let’s just say, we’re clapping 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾.
Huang argues that AI won’t eliminate jobs—it’ll create more. And the key reason? Productivity leads to prosperity, and prosperity leads to expansion. But only if your business isn’t out of ideas.
We dig into why we agree, how AI has changed our work but not made us less busy, and why leaders need to stop assuming they can downsize their way to growth. We also connect this to a classic McKinsey article on why incumbents fail, and contrast it with disruptors like Nvidia—who are growing and staying profitable.
Then we zoom out to talk about what AI can’t do: true innovation. Unlike humans, AI can’t create something from nothing—it needs a prompt, a pattern, a precedent. So if you’re worried about being replaced, maybe don’t be—just lean into your uniquely human sparks 🔥.
Why AI might actually grow the job market
The difference between productivity vs. creativity
How to think about AI augmentation vs. replacement
What companies get wrong when slashing headcount
Why your next best idea may not come from a dataset
📨 Got a challenge? We want to hear it.
Email: help@lostintechpodcast.com
DM: @LostInTechPodcast
🎧 Like, Subscribe, and join us each week as we talk tech, leadership, and the realities of modern work.
🧠 What You'll Learn
You gave them everything—and they still didn’t promote you.
In this episode of Lost in Tech, Mamuna Oladipo and Lola Oyelayo-Pearson sit down to deliver some real talk about the moment you realize your company is never going to give you what you deserve. Whether it’s that long-awaited promotion, a raise, or just recognition, this episode is for anyone who’s heard “just a little longer” one too many times.
We talk about the risk of doing less after doing too much, the trap of being the safety net for poor leadership, and the hard truth: sometimes, the only path forward is out.
This is your reminder that the company will not change—but you can. You don’t owe them over-functioning. You don’t owe them your soul.
📌 In This Episode:
What to do when you’ve been passed over—again
The risk of reducing your effort and being labeled underperforming
Why some promotions will never come, and how to grieve it
The emotional toll of staying too long
How to shift your energy from stewing to searching
💡 We made this show for YOU.
Send your tech or career questions to: help@lostintechpodcast.com
DM us on Twitter: @LostInTechPodcast
👍 Like, Subscribe & Follow for real talk about work, tech, and everything in between.
Time zone math broke us. Google Calendar betrayed us. And don’t even get us started on hybrid meetings.
In this episode of Lost in Tech, Mamuna Oladipo and Lola Oyelayo-Pearson unpack the very real—and very annoying—limitations of today’s remote work tools, especially when working across 9–12 hour time zone gaps.
We get into the failure of basic systems like Google Calendar, the end of beloved tools like FIO, and how even the best-planned asynchronous culture falls apart when platforms just don’t keep up. This episode is a love letter to the builders—if you’re looking for a viable AI-augmented product opportunity, this one’s for you.
We also share the toll remote chaos took on our health, habits, and headspace, and how AI (including ChatGPT and Gemini) has quietly stepped in to fix what some SaaS giants haven’t.
📌 In This Episode:
Why remote work should be easier by now—but isn’t
The failure of scheduling tools for global teams
Health and lifestyle impacts of working out of sync
Where Gemini and ChatGPT succeed (and where they still fall short)
A pitch for a new AI-augmented product that needs to exist
💡 We made this show for YOU.
Got a tech or career challenge? Email us at help@lostintechpodcast.com or DM us on Twitter: @LostInTechPodcast
👍 Like, Subscribe & Follow for honest, practical, and real conversations about life, leadership, and technology.
In this episode of Lost in Tech, Lola Oyelayo-Pearson and Mamuna Oladipo get personal—talking about failure, false starts, and the internal shifts required to move forward in both life and work.
From failed driving tests to navigating ego, this episode is about the space between survival mode and self-awareness. It's where growth actually happens—if you're willing to set aside your ego, learn new things, and show up with honesty.
We talk about what happens when we finally ask ourselves what actually makes us happy, how hard that question can be to answer, and what to do when we feel stuck between doing what we know and becoming who we want to be.
This is one of those episodes that’s both soft and sharp—a conversation about identity, change, and being honest with yourself.
📌 In This Episode:
How failure forces humility (and why that’s a good thing)
What “passing the test” actually means—on and off the road
The tension between ego and growth
Asking yourself: What actually makes me happy right now?
Why reflection beats perfection—every time
💡 We made this show for YOU.
Got a story or challenge to share? Email us at help@lostintechpodcast.com
DM us on Twitter: @LostInTechPodcast
👍 Like, Subscribe & Follow for real conversations about tech, growth, and navigating the messy middle of life and work.
Burnout is real. Layoffs are brutal. And returning to work—whether after time off, a layoff, or just a mental health dip—requires more than just logging in. It takes clarity, courage, and confidence in your own story.
In this episode of Lost in Tech, Mamuna Oladipo and Lola Oyelayo-Pearson get real about how to come back stronger, why storytelling your skills matters more than ever, and how to navigate a tech landscape that demands both resilience and reinvention.
We also get honest about the only leadership model left standing right now: the player-coach. If you're managing people, you're probably also still doing the work. This episode breaks down how to lead, build, delegate, and develop your team without burning yourself out or letting people sink.
📌 Topics We Cover:
How to talk about your value after a layoff or break
Why the "player-coach" model is the new standard in tech
How to think like an apprenticeship manager, not a babysitter
What managers must do now to survive and help their teams grow
The myth of “just managing” and why it no longer exists
💡 We made this show for YOU.
Send us your tech or career challenge: help@lostintechpodcast.com
DM us: @LostInTechPodcast
👍 Like, Subscribe & Follow for unfiltered conversations on growth, leadership, and work that works for you.
The market is shaky. Return-to-office mandates are inconsistent. Promotions feel like a moving target. But one thing hasn’t changed: you’re still responsible for your own career growth.
In this episode, Mamuna Oladipo and Lola Oyelayo-Pearson get real about what it takes to build and own a growth plan, especially when the rest of work feels unpredictable. Whether you're remote, hybrid, or just tired, now is the time to stop hinting, stop waiting, and start showing receipts.
We break down how to have clear, direct conversations with your manager, how to track your own value, and why owning your development plan is a power move—not a performance review form.
We also flip the mic to managers: If you're leading people and not offering clarity, structure, or meaningful feedback—do better. Coaching is a skill. Use it.
📌 In this episode:
💡 We made this show for YOU.
Got a tech or career challenge? Email us at help@lostintechpodcast.com or DM us on Twitter: @LostInTechPodcast
👍 Like, Subscribe & Follow for unfiltered conversations on career growth, tech leadership, and figuring it all out in a shifting world.
