Listen "The Ugly, The Bad, and The Good: A Conversation with Joya Joseph"
Episode Synopsis
In a candid and powerful conversation, trailblazing engineering leader Joya Joseph pulls no punches as she recounts the ugly discrimination, bad biases, and good self-belief she's experienced navigating the male-dominated field as a Black woman.
From professors telling her she should be a janitor instead of an engineer to colleagues dismissing her ideas until a white male coworker repeated them to job candidates openly disrespecting her during interviews, Joya lays bare the overt and insidious racism and sexism that threatened to derail her dream career at every turn.
Yet Joya persevered with incredible determination, resilience, and courage. She offers invaluable insights on finding supportive allies and building your tribe, prioritizing self-care and work-life balance, mentoring others, and boldly being the change you want to see in unwelcoming workplace cultures.
Whether you have faced similar challenges or want to be a better ally, Joya's empowering story and hard-won wisdom will motivate you to overcome obstacles and create more inclusive spaces, especially in STEM. Her forthrightness underscores there is still much more progress to be made.
Get ready for a real, raw, and ultimately uplifting listen filled with ugly truths and inspiring advice from this pioneering Black woman engineer. Share this essential episode to spark necessary conversations.
About Joya:
Joya Joseph is a forward-thinking engineering leader with over a decade of experience driving technological excellence in software development, team scaling, and process optimization. As a seasoned expert, she has successfully spearheaded high-performing engineering teams that deliver innovative, high-quality solutions.
Joya's strategic vision, technical depth, and commitment to continuous improvement have allowed her to navigate complex challenges and streamline operations to achieve maximum productivity. Her ability to foster cultures of innovation has propelled teams towards achieving short- and long-term objectives.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Joya is deeply involved in community service. She has volunteered with organizations like the Caribbean Community Theater, 4-H, school boards, and senior citizen communities.
A pioneering voice for diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM, Joya has been featured in influential publications and continues to inspire the next generation of engineers through mentorship.
Follow Joya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joya-joseph/
From professors telling her she should be a janitor instead of an engineer to colleagues dismissing her ideas until a white male coworker repeated them to job candidates openly disrespecting her during interviews, Joya lays bare the overt and insidious racism and sexism that threatened to derail her dream career at every turn.
Yet Joya persevered with incredible determination, resilience, and courage. She offers invaluable insights on finding supportive allies and building your tribe, prioritizing self-care and work-life balance, mentoring others, and boldly being the change you want to see in unwelcoming workplace cultures.
Whether you have faced similar challenges or want to be a better ally, Joya's empowering story and hard-won wisdom will motivate you to overcome obstacles and create more inclusive spaces, especially in STEM. Her forthrightness underscores there is still much more progress to be made.
Get ready for a real, raw, and ultimately uplifting listen filled with ugly truths and inspiring advice from this pioneering Black woman engineer. Share this essential episode to spark necessary conversations.
About Joya:
Joya Joseph is a forward-thinking engineering leader with over a decade of experience driving technological excellence in software development, team scaling, and process optimization. As a seasoned expert, she has successfully spearheaded high-performing engineering teams that deliver innovative, high-quality solutions.
Joya's strategic vision, technical depth, and commitment to continuous improvement have allowed her to navigate complex challenges and streamline operations to achieve maximum productivity. Her ability to foster cultures of innovation has propelled teams towards achieving short- and long-term objectives.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Joya is deeply involved in community service. She has volunteered with organizations like the Caribbean Community Theater, 4-H, school boards, and senior citizen communities.
A pioneering voice for diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM, Joya has been featured in influential publications and continues to inspire the next generation of engineers through mentorship.
Follow Joya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joya-joseph/
More episodes of the podcast From a Woman to a Leader
How to Become a CTO: Lessons on Leadership, Resilience & Neurodiversity from Meri Williams
04/11/2025
How to Say No Without Guilt: The Confidence Formula Every Woman in Tech Needs with Sharon Ehrlich
14/10/2025
Lead With Fairness: How to Earn Trust, Get Promoted, and Lift Your Team with Soumyasree Vinod
30/09/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.