In this episode of the Hello Moxie Podcast, Maren shares an honest and deeply relatable conversation about women in tech, leadership, workaholism, AI in the workplace, and the growing loneliness epidemic. From asking herself, “would a man say that?” when doubting a job application to reflecting on how she once defined her entire identity through her career, Maren opens up about ambition, burnout, and the pressure women feel to be both likable and high performing.
She challenges us to stop shrinking our dreams, prioritize respect over approval, build purpose outside of work, and lead with hope, reminding us that powerful leadership can be “so gentle, but a large force.”
“Would a Man Say That?” — Women in Tech & Self-Doubt
One of the most powerful moments in the episode comes when Maren shares this:
“When I’ve been in periods of applying for jobs and I’ve shown jobs to my partner and I’ve been like this job is really interesting but I don’t have xyz and he’s like would a man say that?”
That single question reveals something so many women experience:
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We downplay our qualifications
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We disqualify ourselves before applying
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We soften our ambition
Maren continues:
“Like you box that dream down a little too small.”
For women in tech leadership, this pattern can show up in negotiations, fundraising conversations, promotions, and public speaking.
The takeaway?
Stop shrinking before anyone asks you to.
Respect Over Likability: A Leadership Shift for Women
Another powerful theme in this episode is the tension between being liked and being respected.
Maren shares advice from a longtime mentor:
“They don’t all need to like you. They need to respect you.”
In corporate environments — especially startups — women are often socially conditioned to prioritize harmony over clarity.
But effective leadership sometimes requires:
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Direct feedback
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Difficult conversations
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Uncomfortable decisions
As Maren explains, many men in business can debate fiercely in a meeting and walk away without personalizing it. Women, on the other hand, often internalize those moments.
Learning to separate business from identity is a crucial skill for women in leadership roles.
Workaholism in Tech: When Your Identity Becomes Your Career
One of the most vulnerable parts of the conversation centers around workaholism — a common but rarely addressed issue in high-performance environments.
Maren reflects:
“It was like I was trying to find purpose in work and I’ve defined my whole identity as this career.”
In startup culture — where chaos is constant and speed is glorified — boundaries can disappear quickly.
She shares:
“If you let yourself into the chaos, you’ll always be like, one more thing, just one more thing today.”
And eventually:
“There’s not any more things that you should do today.”
For women balancing leadership, motherhood, ambition, and identity, burnout often isn’t about laziness — it’s about over-identification with productivity.
Finding Purpose Outside of Work
So what’s the antidote?
Maren emphasizes building purpose outside your career:
“So I think to anybody who’s sort of struggling with that and workaholic and feeling like they’re not enough, find purpose outside of maybe the job.”
For her, that once meant volunteering. For others, it might mean:
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Community involvement
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Creative projects
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Friendships
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Physical movement
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Therapy or reflection
When your identity expands beyond your job title, resilience grows.
Work stops feeling like your entire worth.
AI in the Workplace: Tool or Threat?
The episode also explores how AI is changing leadership and startup culture.
Maren sees AI as a tool — not a replacement for human thought:
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AI can assist with note-taking and tone adjustments
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It can help non-technical founders prototype ideas
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But it doesn’t replace judgment, leadership, or accountability
As she points out, just because AI can build something doesn’t mean you’re prepared to manage the infrastructure, security, and responsibility that comes with it.
The deeper leadership question isn’t “Can AI do this?”
It’s “Should we — and how responsibly?”
The Loneliness Epidemic in a Remote World
Remote work, meal delivery, AI chat tools, and digital convenience have made life easier — but also more isolated.
Maren observes a growing loneliness epidemic, especially among older adults.
Her advice?
“You just gotta leave your house. You gotta put on real pants and you have to leave your house. Look up from your phone and go somewhere.”
Sometimes the solution isn’t complicated.
It’s showing up.
Even when it’s uncomfortable.
The Woman Who Inspires Maren: Jane Goodall
When asked which woman in history inspires her most, Maren didn’t name a tech founder.
She named Jane Goodall.
“She says like when hope dies, all you have is apathy.”
Maren describes her as:
“so gentle, but a large force.”
A reminder that leadership doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.
It can be steady.
Purpose-driven.
Rooted in hope.
Final Takeaways for Women in Tech
If you take nothing else from this episode, take this:
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Stop shrinking your ambition
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Separate business from personal identity
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Build purpose outside your job
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Respect matters more than being liked
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Community is not optional
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Hope is leadership
And maybe most importantly:
You are more than your job title.
