“I am going to be authentically myself… and if you don’t like it, don’t look at my feet.”
In episode 104 of Women Disrupting Tech, Farshida Zafar, Director at the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, shares what happens when you stop trying to fit in and start leading as who you truly are.
From her early days as a refugee in the Netherlands to building inclusive, high-performing teams, Farshida’s story is about resilience, authenticity, and creating cultures where everyone can thrive.
It’s leadership that doesn’t require perfection. Just courage.
Insights from this episode
Here’s what you’ll learn from listening to this episode:
🧠 Being yourself is not unprofessional, it's powerful.
🤝 Creating a team where everyone belongs starts with showing up as yourself.
🔥 Success is not about luck. It's about making bold choices, showing up, and having the courage to fail.
If you’ve ever wondered whether authenticity can be your greatest strength as a leader, this episode is for you.
To learn how you can master the art of authentic leadership, find episode 104 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Or hit play above.
✨ Magic Moments
Here are three moments that shaped Farshida’s leadership and left a lasting impression on me.
The sneakers
Someone once told Farshida her sneakers weren’t professional. That was the day she realized that she was tired of pretending. From that moment on, she decided to show up fully as herself, sneakers included.
The exit
When a partner said she’d never make it because of her last name, she quit. No fight. No drama. Just a quiet, firm decision to protect her integrity.
The belonging
She almost didn’t join her current job because the website showed a homogeneous team. But when she met the actual group, filled with international voices, she knew she belonged.
And now over to you. What are your experiences related to authenticity in leadership?
"I think me being me shows my team they can be themselves and they don't have to put on a mask. They can be their authentic self." - Farshida Zafar.
🛠 Practical Tips for Inclusive Leadership
Farshida doesn’t just talk about inclusion—she builds it into her team. Here are three ways you can too:
Measure inclusion with real metrics
Farshida is not the first to mention that inclusion is a condition for diversity. So, only focusing on the number of women is not enough. Use culture surveys to find out if people feel heard, safe, and respected, not just counted.
Ask better questions in diverse teams.
When English isn’t your team’s native language, details and nuances are easily lost on people. Instead of assuming meaning, ask:
”What exactly do you mean?”
”What context am I missing?”
Rethink what ‘best’ means.
We all hear about hiring the best person for the job. But Farshida challenges hiring processes that prioritize familiarity over perspective. Diversity isn’t just fair, it’s a business advantage.
🎧 For more insights like these, listen to Episode 104 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. And for Farshida’s bio and links to connect with her and the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, check out the show notes.
You’ll walk away with practical tools. And the confidence to lead as yourself.
Coming up next on Women Disrupting Tech
One masterclass follows another. Next week, James Felton Keith puts a price on non-inclusive companies. Systems and measurements included. It is a truly insightful episode about his groundbreaking work on building the financial business case for DEI.
Here's a clip from the episode on what motivates him.
So stay tuned for more. And until the next episode, stay curious and remember to Keep Being Awesome!
Dirkjan
PS. Be sure not to miss next week’s episode! Subscribe for updates.
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