The STEMINISTS Podcast

Security teams have more data than ever before. More dashboards. More alerts. More telemetry. More AI. So why is answering the simple question, "Are we actually secure?" still so difficult? 

In this episode of The STEMINISTS Podcast, Phoebe Goh sits down with Cole Neumark, Security Analytics professional at NetApp and Vice Chair of Proud, NetApp's LGBTQ+ employee resource group, to unpack why cybersecurity isn't just a technology challenge, it's a people challenge.  

With a career path that started in English and art history rather than computer science, Cole brings a refreshingly different perspective to cybersecurity. Together, Phoebe and Cole explore the reality of security analytics: turning mountains of signals, alerts, and vulnerability data into meaningful decisions that leaders can actually use. Because data alone doesn't create security. Context does. And context is still a very human skill.  

The conversation dives into the promises and pitfalls of AI in security, why faster isn't always smarter, and why the most valuable skill in an AI-powered future may be asking better questions. They also discuss the often-overlooked role of communication, creativity, and storytelling in helping organizations understand risk and take action.  

Cole shares how they transformed a cybersecurity training exercise into an immersive fictional world called Pineland, complete with fake social media posts, characters, and realistic incident scenarios. The goal? Make security memorable. Because people don't remember dashboards. They remember stories. And when security awareness feels more like solving a mystery than surviving a PowerPoint presentation, people pay attention. 

The episode also explores the importance of belonging, diverse perspectives, and community in cybersecurity. Through their work with Proud, Cole reflects on how creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and empowered ultimately leads to better collaboration, stronger teams, and smarter security decisions.  

Key takeaways: 

Why security analytics is as much about communication as it is about data 

How storytelling can turn cybersecurity from forgettable to unforgettable 

Where AI accelerates security teams, and where human judgment remains essential 

Why humanities skills are surprisingly powerful in technical careers 

How diverse perspectives help organizations solve complex security challenges 

Why "security is defended by people" may be the most important cybersecurity lesson of all  

Plus: a conversation about metal music, live concerts, and why even cybersecurity professionals need a great soundtrack. 

 

Learn more: 

https://www.netapp.com/cyber-resilience/  

 

Connect with us!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cole-neumark/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/

We were promised that AI would make information easier to find. Nobody mentioned we'd also need a PhD in figuring out what to trust. 

In this episode of The STEMINISTS Podcast, Phoebe Goh sits down with Julia Fedorova, who leads Analyst Relations at NetApp, to tackle one of the biggest challenges in the AI era: making smart decisions when everyone, everything, and every chatbot seems to have an opinion.  

As generative AI floods our feeds with answers, recommendations, and hot takes, access to information is no longer the problem. The real challenge is knowing which sources are credible, which insights are backed by evidence, and which recommendations deserve a healthy dose of skepticism.  

Julia pulls back the curtain on the often-misunderstood world of industry analysts and explains why many of the biggest technology purchasing decisions still rely on research grounded in rigorous methodologies, market validation, and years of expertise. Together, she and Phoebe explore the idea of "pools of trust," the risks of AI-powered echo chambers, and why trusting the first answer you get is rarely a winning strategy.  

The conversation also dives into how enterprise buyers can avoid blind spots, why getting a second opinion matters just as much in technology as it does in healthcare, and how the smartest leaders are balancing AI-driven insights with human judgment. Along the way, Julia shares a surprisingly simple piece of advice for navigating a rapidly changing market: pause. Before you click, buy, migrate, modernize, or panic. Just pause.  

In this episode: 

Why more information doesn't automatically lead to better decisions.  

How industry analysts build credibility and trust through research and methodology.  

The growing challenge of AI-generated echo chambers and personalized information bubbles.  

Why enterprise buyers should seek multiple perspectives before making major technology decisions.  

How to evaluate whether a source is genuinely trustworthy.  

Why storage and data infrastructure have suddenly become central to AI conversations.  

The surprisingly underrated power of slowing down before making a decision.  

Plus, Julia weighs in on an age-old debate: do audiobooks count as real books? (Spoiler: yes, and she's willing to defend that position.)  

Because in a world overflowing with AI-generated answers, the real competitive advantage might just be knowing which questions are worth asking in the first place. 

As always, if you enjoyed this conversation please gives us a follow to stay in the loop for all things STEMINISTS. We would also love to hear what topics would you like for us to discuss. Feel free to share what you want to hear next.  

 

Learn More: 

https://www.netapp.com/artificial-intelligence/generative-ai-solutions/  

 

Connect with us!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-fedorova-she-her-012a9624/  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/

Everyone loves to say RAG is the answer to AI hallucinations. But what if the real answer is a little more complicated? 

In this episode of The STEMINISTS Podcast, Phoebe Goh sits down with Ramya Ravi, AI Developer Advocate at NetApp Instaclustr, to unpack what Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) actually does, why it's become a cornerstone of enterprise AI, and where organizations are still getting it wrong.  

Together, they demystify the mechanics behind RAG, from embeddings and vector search to semantic search and hybrid search. Ramya explains why RAG isn't magic (it's math), how it helps AI systems find relevant business knowledge, and why simply implementing RAG doesn't automatically eliminate hallucinations.  

The conversation also explores one of the biggest challenges facing AI projects today: data quality. From duplicate documents and stale content to weak evaluation practices, Ramya shares practical advice on what organizations should tackle before rushing into a RAG implementation.  

Looking ahead, Phoebe and Ramya discuss long context windows, the next evolution of enterprise AI, and why the future may not be a choice between RAG and large context models, but a powerful combination of both.  

In this episode: 

What RAG actually is and how it works behind the scenes 

Why RAG reduces hallucinations but doesn't eliminate them 

The difference between keyword, semantic, and hybrid search 

Why data quality is often the hidden factor in AI success 

How to properly evaluate a RAG implementation 

When to use long context windows versus retrieval systems 

Why the future of enterprise AI will likely rely on both approaches  

If you've been told that RAG is the silver bullet for enterprise AI, this episode offers a smarter, more practical perspective on what it can do, what it can't do, and how to make it work in the real world. 

 

Connect with us! 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramya-ravi19/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/

Fan Favorite Replay: As AI continues to reshape how organizations work, lead, and grow, we're bringing back one of our most popular conversations on preparing people and businesses for the future. The insights in this episode are just as relevant today as when it first aired, making it a must-listen for leaders navigating the age of AI. 

Are you ready to lead in a world transformed by AI? You'd better be, and this episode will help you get there. 

Hosts Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams sit down with Sarah Bartel, Accenture's Global Cloud Talent and Organizational Change Lead, for an engaging discussion about what it takes to prepare teams, cultures, and organizations for the future of work. Drawing on her extensive experience helping organizations navigate technology-driven transformation, and her role co-teaching MIT's Leading the AI Driven Organization course, Sarah offers practical strategies for leading through change while keeping people at the center. 

Together, they explore how leaders can build more adaptable organizations, why traditional approaches to talent management are evolving, and what it takes to create a workforce ready to thrive alongside AI. You'll learn why skills-based hiring and team design are becoming critical competitive advantages, how trust serves as the foundation for successful transformation, and why AI works best when it's used to elevate human potential rather than replace it. 

Key Takeaway: The future belongs to organizations that invest in both technology and people. Leaders who embrace continuous learning, build cultures of trust, and focus on skills over job titles will be best positioned to succeed in an AI-powered world. 

Whether you're leading a large-scale transformation, building the next generation of talent, or simply looking to become a more effective leader in a rapidly changing environment, this fan-favorite episode is packed with actionable insights and fresh perspectives. 

Tune in and discover how to lead with confidence, adaptability, and a people-first mindset in the AI era. 

 

Work, Workforce, Workers Age of Generative AI Report 

https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/accenture-com/document-2/Accenture-Work-Can-Become-Era-Generative-AI.pdf  

 

Leading the AI Driven Organization MIT Course  

https://executive.mit.edu/course/leading-the-ai-driven-organization/a054v00000r9U5cAAE.html  

 

Develop your skills with NetApp  

https://www.netapp.com/support-and-training/netapp-learning-services/learning-paths/  

 

Connect with us! 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-gottry-bartel/  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/

DORA may be a financial services regulation, but don’t let the name fool you, it’s rapidly becoming everyone’s problem. 

In this episode of The STEMINISTS Podcast, Phoebe Goh sits down with Katy Rankin, Cybersecurity Counsel at NetApp, to unpack the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and why technology vendors are suddenly finding themselves at the center of some very detailed and very urgent customer conversations.  

From supply chain risk and subcontractor transparency to regulatory scrutiny and personal liability, Katy explains why the days of simply pointing to a compliance certificate and calling it a day are long gone. As financial institutions race to meet DORA requirements, they're asking tougher questions of their vendors and expecting far more specific answers. The catch? Those answers aren't always easy to find.  

Phoebe and Katy explore what DORA is really trying to achieve, why regulators are worried about a single cyber incident taking down multiple financial institutions at once, and how organizations can move beyond box-ticking exercises toward meaningful operational resilience. They also discuss the growing role of cybersecurity counsel, the challenges of managing third-party risk at scale, and why asking better questions is often the key to getting better answers.  

In this episode: 

Why DORA is much more than "just another compliance requirement" 

The rising importance of cybersecurity counsel in modern organizations 

How third-party and supply chain risk have become board-level concerns 

What financial institutions should be asking their technology providers 

The balance between transparency, security, and practical risk management 

Why operational resilience is ultimately about keeping critical services running when things go wrong  

And because no STEMINISTS episode is complete without an unexpected twist, Katy shares a fascinating archaeological discovery. History, it turns out, may have had its own STEMINISTS.  

As always, make sure to like, follow and share with your inner circle.  

 

Learn More:

https://www.netapp.com/industries/financial-services/dora/

 

Connect with us! 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katyrankin/  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/