How April Hicke and Toast Put $10M+ in Women's Hands in Tech

If you're a woman+ in tech, a neurodivergent leader, or a founder navigating a system that wasn't built for you — this episode is for you.   Host Angela sits down with April Hicke — Founder and CEO of Toast, a talent partner dedicated to increasing gender diversity in tech. Since founding Toast, April and her team have put over $10 million in salaries into the hands ofwomen — all while building a 7-figure company that sits within the 1.9% of women-founded businesses to ever reach that milestone.   April shares what it looks like to lead as a neurodivergent woman from an unstable childhood, how a megaphone and a counter in a chaotic airport became her definingleadership origin story, and why the question she asks herself in every hard moment isn't "whose fault is this" — but "what is my responsibility here."   You'll learn: - The 60% satisfaction rule that freed April from people-pleasing as a leader - How rest became her most strategic business tool after burning out in year one - Why psychological safety isn't a buzzword — it's what actually unlocks high-performing teams - How "fault vs. responsibility" applies to every kind of leadership baggage - What the data says about gender diversity in tech — and why the mission at Toast is more urgent than ever   If you're searching for gender diversity leadership, ADHD founder stories, or how to build psychological safety in your team — start here.   Because leadership isn't about having a perfect origin story. It's about taking responsibility for the one you have — and building something meaningful out of it.   Music intro credit: ⁠https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-uplifting-2463/⁠   Connect with April: - LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilhicke/⁠ - Toast:⁠https://www.trytoast.ca/⁠     🔔 Ready to empower the leader within? Click that ➕ button!   #LeadershipPodcast #WomenInTech #GenderDiversity #NeurodivergentLeadership #SelfLeadership#FounderLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #PsychologicalSafety