What happens when someone has brilliant ideas, but nobody in the room is listening? Sometimes, the difference between being overlooked and being recognized is one person willing to open the door. In the age of AI, when everyone wants visibility, who actually gets heard?

In this episode of Women in Tech Trailblazers, Tiffany Benitez sits down with Marcus Britt to explore what it really means to be an ally in technology, especially when bias, confidence, and opportunity collide. Because being brilliant means little if nobody notices your potential.

Marcus challenges us to move beyond good intentions and “show up and show out.” Through a powerful workplace story, he reveals how one simple act of advocacy can completely change someone's career trajectory.

But there's more to allyship than speaking up. From recognizing unconscious bias to creating opportunities for the next generation, Marcus explains why “representation matters” and what it takes to make people feel they truly belong. He also believes “AI is a great equalizer,” opening technology to people with unconventional skills and backgrounds. But if the same voices keep dominating the conversation, are we really changing anything?

Here are the key takeaways:

(3:36) Authenticity Through Personal Stories

(6:25) Recognizing and Addressing Bias

(10:27) What Real Allyship Looks Like

(13:22) The Power of Diverse Perspectives

(16:47) Turning Overlooked Talent Into Opportunity

(19:52) Making Allyship a Habit

(21:08) Why Representation Matters

(24:34) Two Essential Mentorship Questions

(26:10) Recognizing Young Talent

(29:20) Success Beyond Traditional Expectations

Whether you're navigating your career or leading others, this conversation will make you rethink your influence. Listen now and discover what real allyship looks like in action.

About Marcus Britt

Marcus Britt is a technology leader and Senior Manager of Digital Employee Experience at Under Armour, with 15+ years of experience in digital transformation, AI strategy, and innovation. He is passionate about using technology to drive meaningful change, support nonprofits, and create opportunities for others. As a mentor and advocate for women in tech, he champions allyship, professional visibility, and empowering the next generation.

Connect with Marcus:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Connect with Host:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should not be considered professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

What if the thing holding you back in tech isn’t a lack of skill, but waiting until you feel “ready” to use it?

Jennifer Baker joins Tiffany Benitez for a candid conversation about what it actually takes to build influence, credibility, and leadership presence in technology. Her definition of authenticity today? Being “unapologetically competent” without shrinking, overperforming, or pretending to know everything.

Jennifer challenges one of the most repeated pieces of career advice: just speak up. Because leadership isn’t always about being the loudest person in the room. Sometimes it’s about asking the question that changes the conversation, making sure overlooked ideas get credit, and knowing when your voice will have the most impact.

She also breaks down why networking needs to start earlier, how stretch assignments can completely redirect a career, and why validation, advocacy, and mentorship are three very different things. Her reminder is one worth keeping: “Ready is now about interest, not about permission.”

Here are the key takeaways:

(2:23) Redefining authenticity as unapologetic competence

(5:15) Why networking should start earlier than you think

(7:04) When “lean in” stops meaning speak louder

(10:07) Supporting women before the mid-career drop-off

(15:16) How an “accidental CIO” built career range

(19:00) Raise your hand, but protect your reputation

(22:02) Spotting invisible bias in the room

(25:55) The ponytail comment that never fully disappeared

(28:30) Why your boss cannot be your validation system

(32:33) Building a 360-degree circle of support

(36:43) Grit, grace, and choosing your puzzle pieces

If you work in tech and you’re figuring out how to get noticed, grow into leadership, or stop waiting for someone else to open the door, this episode is worth your time.

Listen to the full episode and rethink what it means to raise your hand.

About Jennifer Baker

Jennifer Baker is a transformational technology executive specializing in financial services and enterprise technology. She began her career in HR before stretch assignments led her into technology leadership, a path she describes as becoming an “accidental CIO.” She is also a strong advocate for women in technology, with a leadership philosophy centered on competence, curiosity, growth, grit, and grace.

Connect with Jennifer:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Connect with Host:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should not be considered professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.

What happens when you finally get close to the top and start wondering whether the title is worth the sacrifice? For many women in tech, the question is not just “Can I get there?” It is “What will getting there cost me?”

Tiffany Benitez sits down with Lavonne McLean, CEO of Aparo, to talk about being the only woman at the table, watching louder voices take up space, and the pressure women can feel to work twice as hard just to prove they belong.

Then there is the story behind the episode title. More than 20 years ago, Lavon wrote her college honors thesis, “The CEO Still Wears Wing Tips,” about the glass ceiling and the men occupying most CEO seats. Today, she is sitting in one of those seats herself.

But this is not a “keep climbing no matter what” conversation. Lavon argues that it is completely valid to look at a C-suite opportunity and say, “This doesn’t align.” She and Tiffany also get into the part of executive ambition that rarely makes the glossy career posts: the years, family time, expectations, and trade-offs women are often asked to absorb.

Here are the key takeaways:

(3:45) Authenticity as alignment, not a leadership persona

(6:53) Why authenticity can require courage and build trust

(9:14) Staying quiet when your voice feels less valued

(11:42) The everyday assumptions allies need to notice

(12:57) The story behind “The CEO Still Wears Wing Tips”

(16:09) Normalizing women leaders for girls and boys

(18:37) Rethinking the sacrifice attached to C-suite ambition

(21:14) When a leadership opportunity simply does not align

(23:46) Growing into a role without changing who you are

(25:11) Doing the thing before confidence catches up

And if the opportunity does matter to you, Lavon has one rule: “Do it not ready, do it scared.” She has had the shaking-voice moments too. Watch this episode for a candid look at taking the seat, questioning the price, and changing what the person sitting there can look like.

About Lavonne McLean

Lavonne McLean is the CEO of Aparo, with nearly 25 years of experience across financial services and the nonprofit sector. During her decade with Aparo, she has helped expand its reach to more than 500 nonprofits annually, contributing to over $51 million in value delivered back to the community. Her background includes Fortune 500 project management and General Electric’s Financial Leadership Development Program. In 2020, she was named one of Charlotte’s 50 most influential women.

Connect with Lavonne:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Connect with Host:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should not be considered professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.