In this special episode of the Underrepresented in Tech Podcast, Michelle and Samah introduce an exciting global initiative for International Women’s Day 2026. Instead of looking back at history, this year is all about celebrating women in tech right now.

On March 8, 2026, Underrepresented in Tech will host a live, six-hour global event, featuring interviews with women in technology from around the world. Streaming live on YouTube, the event will spotlight diverse voices, personal journeys, challenges, successes, and leadership stories across time zones and regions.

Women at all stages of their careers, from those just starting out to seasoned leaders, are invited to join, share their stories, and be part of a global conversation about equity, representation, innovation, and community in tech. Registration is open for attendees and for those interested in being interviewed. This event is about visibility, connection, and celebrating women exactly as they are, where they are.

In our first episode of 2026, Michelle and Samah are joined by Dragana Babić and Sanja Hunyadi to explore a bold regional initiative: a digital platform designed to support children with learning disabilities and learning difficulties, along with the parents and educators who support them.

We talk about what sparked the project, why access to modern learning tools remains unequal across smaller communities, and how a volunteer-led team is building a “one place” hub for resources, communication, and collaboration, grounded in one core belief: we all belong together.

The conversation also expands into digital citizenship, media literacy, cybersecurity, and critical thinking, especially in an era of AI and misinformation. Dragana and Sanja share lessons from their work (including workshops for children with developmental disabilities and youth-led teaching moments) and how listeners can support inclusion locally and globally.

Promotions aren’t just about performance; they’re about power, bias, and access.
In this timely and deeply honest conversation, Michelle and Samah unpack what promotion really looks like for women, women of color, and experienced professionals in today’s workplace. Drawing on recent research and real-life experiences, we examine why minority women are the least likely to be promoted, why Gen X talent is often overlooked, and how structural bias, rather than a lack of ambition or skill, continues to influence career outcomes.
The discussion includes gatekeeping, age bias, self-advocacy, unequal pay, and why diversity efforts often overlook age and lived experiences. Most importantly, we discuss what needs to change in organizations, leadership, and ourselves if we truly want equitable career progression.
This episode isn’t just a conversation. It’s a call to do better.