In this inspiring episode of the Women in Tech podcast, host Espree Devora sits down with Mariyam Shamshidova, a dynamic growth and product lead at Wefranch. Hailing from Uzbekistan and now based in New York, Mariyam shares her unique journey of moving to the U.S. for college, finding her calling at the intersection of technology and franchising, and what it truly means to build something meaningful from scratch. Mariyam opens up about the challenges and rewards of working with early-stage startups, the stigma and opportunity within franchising for women and young entrepreneurs, and how building confidence in lesser-known industries can be a powerful career advantage. She also discusses the importance of believing in your own potential, the realities of balancing ambition with well-being, and actionable networking and growth strategies for anyone breaking into tech. Whether you're aspiring to start your own business, interested in unconventional career paths, or looking to be inspired by someone who's been there and done it on her own terms, this episode is packed with honest insights, empowering advice, and plenty of “If she can do it, so can I” moments!