RAW with Uma
Dear Corporate: Women Don’t Expire At 40.
Everyone expects the corporate world to be ruthless, but what if the secret to doubling a two-billion-dollar business is simply creating a space where people can be themselves? In this unique cross-generational episode, Uma flips the script and invites her 21-year-old nephew, Kyren, to interview her alongside the man she calls "the best boss in the world" seasoned tech executive and author Duncan Hewett. This conversation explores the rare dynamic of genuine psychological safety and what it actually takes to build it. Duncan shares the unconventional tactics he used to completely transform his leadership team, taking it from one woman to nine and why the diversity premium drives a massive 25% to 30% spike in productivity. From the exact moment Uma broke down crying in the office to the specific "Zoom whisper" hack Duncan used to amplify female voices in meetings, this episode is a masterclass in empathetic leadership. The trio also tackles the shifting career expectations of Gen Z, the hidden stigma against older women in the workplace, and how to future-proof your career in an AI-driven world by simply being unapologetically human. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 | Diversity Isn’t “Woke.” It’s Smart Business. 00:30 | Flipping the Script: Gen Z Takes the Mic 01:13 | Anatomy of a World-Class Manager 04:40 | Normalizing Emotion to Build Team Trust 07:46 | How to Pitch Yourself to a CEO 12:55 | Hiring for Diversity & Women in Leadership 15:24 | The Impact of a Diverse Team 19:32 | What Young Men Are Getting Right 23:49 | Duncan's Book: Accelerating Women 26:43 | Celebrating Women's Wins at Work 30:30 | Red Flags and Green Flags in Leadership 34:02 | Why Gen Z is Redefining the Workplace 37:30 | Shedding Armor & Being Yourself at Work 38:37 | The Stigma of Age of Women & Re-entering the Workforce 45:26 | How to Stand Out Without a Traditional CV 47:51 | Befriending the Algorithm to Future-Proof Your Career 51:33 | Rethinking the Definition of a "Rich Life" Duncan Hewett is a seasoned global technology executive with over 35 years of experience leading massive transformations and growing multibillion-dollar businesses across the Asia-Pacific region. He is the author of Accelerating Women , a practical playbook designed to help managers and organizations support and elevate women in the workplace. Throughout his career, Duncan has been a fierce advocate for diversity, notably spearheading the Taara program in India, which successfully helped thousands of women return to the IT workforce after a career break. Kyren Lavan is Uma's 22-year-old nephew, currently studying at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney. Making his podcasting debut, he brings the sharp, observant perspective of Gen Z—a generation navigating a rapidly shifting economic landscape, the advent of AI, and new definitions of workplace culture. Do you feel like you're working harder than everyone around you but still getting overlooked for the opportunities you deserve? Take the free Discover Your 2026 Visibility Stage assessment and find out what's actually standing between you and being seen. → https://form.jotform.com/252218729975470 Follow RAW with Uma: On Instagram → https://instagram.com/rawwithuma Follow Uma Thana : Follow Uma on Instagram → https://instagram.com/uma_raw Connect with Uma on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana Listen on: Apple Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raw-with-uma/id1821559768 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/1R7vwGXeHLcJLsX8HjOX4e Share this episode with a manager who wants to build a more inclusive team, or a young professional trying to find their footing in a changing corporate world. And if you have your own experience of finding a great boss or navigating generational shifts at work, drop it in the comments. Please subscribe and leave a review. It helps more women find these conversations. ace #CareerAdvice
