Episode 10: Dream. Leap. Lead - Kristina Brencheva on Building a Career (and Life) You Love.

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On The Mic...WIT Shaz - Women in Tech Leadership: The Upsides

TechtoExec by Sharon (Shaz) Daly

10 episodes

6 days ago

On the Mic…WIT Shaz is more than just a podcast; it’s a movement - Dedicated to inspiring and empowering more women in tech to enter into & remain in C-suite, Exec and leadership roles and to encourage this we need to be talking more about the UPSIDES of being in tech leadership roles. The more we talk about positive impact, the more we attract more positive impact!! What to expect? 🎙️ Each week I sit down with incredible humans in tech leadership who keep it real — no sugar-coating, just raw, honest stories. From zig-zag career paths to turning rejection into redirection.

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Episode 10: Dream. Leap. Lead - Kristina Brencheva on Building a Career (and Life) You Love.

On The Mic...WIT Shaz - Women in Tech Leadership: The Upsides

59 minutes 24 seconds

1 week ago

Episode 10: Dream. Leap. Lead - Kristina Brencheva on Building a Career (and Life) You Love.

Kristina is a Tech Lead and front-end engineer who’s passionate about building meaningful, inclusive digital experiences.

Over the past few years, she has worked on large-scale projects like HESTA’s digital transformation, helping shape tools that support real people in managing their financial futures. She cares deeply about user experience, clean code, and team culture — and she aims to bring heart into everything she does.

Quote from Kristina: “I’m still learning, still growing, and always trying to build things that matter — with people who care.”

Episode Summary:

In this uplifting episode of On The Mic WIT Shaz, Shaz chats with Kristina Brencheva, a Technical Lead at AKQA, whose career journey has taken her from a small Siberian town to leading digital innovation in Melbourne.

Kristina opens up about courage, mindset, leadership, and what it really means to build with heart — from learning English as a second language to becoming a finalist in the Women Leading Tech Awards.

Together, Shaz and Kristina unpack the magic that happens when you back yourself, trust your gut, and choose workplaces that align with your values. They dive deep into authentic leadership, handling imposter syndrome, protecting your peace, and the power of never settling for less.

In This Episode:

● How Kristina went from a junior developer in Russia to a tech lead in Australia

● The mindset shift that turned “I can’t” into “I can do everything”

● Why leaders must create cultures of empathy, learning, and experimentation

● What it means to “build digital experiences with heart”

● How to stop comparing yourself to others and focus on your own growth

● The role of boundaries, mindset, and kindness in leadership

● Why being “comfortable with being uncomfortable” is the true superpower

Quote of the Episode:

💬 “Once you set it in your mind, it’s already half done.”

Takeaway for Listeners:

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to step up, lead, or make your next big move — this is it.