For a second week, with the help of Andrea Solomonides, co-founder of Black Lemon TV and partner at Giraffes in the Kitchen, we unravel the complex legacy of Peter Thiel and the PayPal Mafia in Silicon Valley. We explore their rise from PayPal pioneers to tech titans, dissecting how their libertarian ideals and strategies have sculpted today’s tech culture, often at the expense of diversity and inclusion. With Andrea we explore Thiel's controversial actions and ideologies—from his involvement in the Gawker lawsuit to his political machinations—offering a compelling narrative on the power dynamics that shape the digital age.
In the concluding installment of this dual-part series, we delve deep into the narrative surrounding PayPal, tracing its inception, the tumultuous internal conflicts among its founders, and the ensuing cultural impact the company had throughout Silicon Valley. Furthermore, we scrutinize the notorious Gawker lawsuit and the intricate political maneuvers orchestrated by Peter Thiel.
This week, with the help of Andrea Solomonides, co-founder of Black Lemon TV and partner at Giraffes in the Kitchen, we unravel the complex legacy of Peter Thiel and the PayPal Mafia in Silicon Valley.
In the opening segment of this two-part series, we introduce you to the legendary Paypal Mafia. Coined in a 2007 article, they are depicted as a "hyperintelligent, superconnected pack of serial entrepreneurs" who emerged from the ranks of the pioneering payment service, PayPal, and after leaving Paypal they founded, funded, and led some of the most influential tech companies of our time, cementing their status as icons of entrepreneurial prowess. In the process, they reshaped the landscape of Silicon Valley forever. We then focus on the "Don" of this group, Peter Thiel, tracing his upbringing and his early years as a conservative libertarian student at the liberal Stanford University.
This week Andreas Constantinides, a renowned cybersecurity expert, joins me to help me uncover the alarming case of Jia Tan—a fabricated identity at the center of a sophisticated cyber espionage operation. Andreas lends his extensive expertise as we analyze how Jia Tan, seemingly a diligent contributor to open-source projects like XZ Utils, was a cover for a collective executing a long-term backdoor placement in critical software infrastructure. This episode not only explores the broader implications of trust and security in the open-source community but also discusses the fact that female personas are commonly used by hackers in long-sting operations. Join us as we piece together the digital puzzle that nearly compromised millions of servers worldwide.
This week I am joined by Xenia Miscouridou, a pioneer in the realm of artificial intelligence and a beacon for women in science. Celebrated on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Xenia stands at the forefront of machine learning research. Her academic journey has taken her from Imperial College London, Cambridge, and Oxford University, to New York and Switzerland, to her current lectureship at the University of Cyprus, intertwining research with a dedication to teaching. We explore her academic ventures, her influence on global health through AI, and explainability in machine learning. We also illuminate her dedication to fostering female representation in the science and tech world.
In this episode, I am joined by Alexander Davidian, an insightful observer of the Cypriot startup scene. Together, we unpack the no-holds-barred narrative of Kara Swisher in her latest book, "Burn Book". We dive into Kara's fearless world, discussing her unique style that combines tough questioning with biting humor. From an aspiring CIA operative to tech journalism’s most potent force, they explore Kara’s evolution and her revelations about Silicon Valley's tech bros. This episode is more than just a book review; it's a recognition of Swisher's role in holding tech titans to account, her razor-sharp predictions, and her ability to secure groundbreaking interviews.
If the episode leaves you wanting more then buy the book, follow Kara on X, and tune in to listen to her 2 podcasts, Pivot and On with Kara Swisher.
In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Neofytos about the Future Start-Up Founders Programme, an initiative organized by the CCS and co-funded by the Erasmus+ EU project, Femme Forward. This online school is designed to empower women to turn their tech start-up aspirations into reality, mirroring our podcast's mission to illuminate and support the pivotal role of women in the tech industry. We talk about the program's highlights, including its comprehensive curriculum that spans business and tech concepts, soft skills, and empowerment, all tailored for women eager to pioneer their own businesses in the tech realm but also about the significance of such initiatives in fostering a more inclusive and diverse tech ecosystem, where women are not just participants but leaders shaping the future.
I'm back for another visit with my friends Constantinos Psillides and Pavlos Pavlides, hosts of the HistoriCon podcast! This time, I've brought them a fascinating tale that intersects with one of Constantinos' stories. It's the intriguing saga of the Eckert Mauchly Computer Corporation, the company behind the creation of the first commercial computer, yet it's also a tale marked by repeated failures. As the story unfolds, an unexpected figure emerges, one who is a protagonist in one of Constantinos' narratives. Tune into the episode and let's see if you can identify this mystery man.
This week we leave reality at the door and dive into the world of fiction! Today, we're logging into the mainframe of our imaginations to celebrate the digital divas who've hacked, coded, and innovated their way through some of our favorite stories. 🎮💻👩💻
Joining me to decode the stories of these iconic characters are digital storytellers, Andreas and Christina. As directors, they know a thing or two about crafting compelling narratives, and they're here to help me read between the code lines. So, plug in, power up, and let us know if you agree with our list of selected heroines or not.
Mr. Demetris Skourides is the Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation, and Technology appointed by President Nikos Christodoulides. Since his appointment in September 2023, Mr. Skourides has been entrusted with the pivotal role of leading Cyprus towards becoming a dynamic and competitive economy, propelled by research, scientific excellence, innovation, technological development, and entrepreneurship. Join us in this enlightening interview as we unravel Mr. Skourides' career path, his goals for the future, and his strategic vision for positioning Cyprus as a regional powerhouse in research and innovation. Explore the initiatives and projects driving this transformative agenda, and gain insights into the critical role of businesses, digital transformation, and AI in shaping Cyprus's future landscape.
April 4, 2024
Terry Benzel, the Vice-President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society’s technical and conference sector, announced in a notice, “Starting 1 April, new manuscript submissions will no longer be allowed to include the Lena image.”
March 8, 2024
We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Future Start-Up Founders Programme, an empowering initiative organized by the CCS under the auspices of the Erasmus+ EU co-funded project, Femme Forward.
March 8, 2024
Howard Aiken was born on March 8, 1900. His groundbreaking work centered around the development of the Harvard Mark I, an electromechanical computer completed in 1944. This is the same machine that Grace Hopper will get to meet later in the same year that set her on the path to becoming The Queen of Code.
March 8, 2024
This International Women's Day, "Breaking the 20%" proudly celebrates the indomitable spirit and groundbreaking contributions of women in technology and computing.
March 2, 2024
On March 2, 1931, "Jake" Feinler was born. She was the Network Information Systems Center director at the Stanford Research Institute. Her group operated the Network Information Center for the ARPANET as it evolved into the Defense Data Network and the Internet. Her group also created the naming registry for World Wide Web domains designation behind web addresses “.edu,” “.gov,” “.org,” “.mil” and of course dot com (.com)
Dec. 27, 2023
Betty Jean Jennings (later Bartik) was born on December 27, 1924 and was one of six human computers chosen to work on ENIAC. She and the team taught themselves ENIAC's operation and became its (and, arguably, the world's) first programmers.
Nov. 18, 2023
Has this week's episode left you wanting to learn more about the Voyager mission? Good news, then because NASA is providing. Links to mission status and all kinds of information about the mission are in this article
Oct. 15, 2023
In ep. 2 of Season 2 I had the pleasure of having as my guest Antigoni Komodiki, CEO of JA Cyprus. JA Cyprus is dedicated to educating students on entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy skills through experiential, hands-on programs.
