Episode 455: Why Advocacy Matters: Hope Yin on Modern Leadership and Women in Tech

Hope Yin 00:00
We’re social creatures. We do not exist alone. To me, social media is part of my community.

Intro 00:09
Welcome to the Making Sales Social Podcast, featuring the top voices in sales, marketing, and business. Join Brynne Tillman and me, Bob Woods, as we bring you the best tips and strategies our guests are teaching their clients so you can leverage them for your own virtual and social selling. Enjoy the show.

Brynne Tillman 00:34
Welcome back to Making Sales Social. I’m Brynne Tillman, and I’m really excited to introduce my guest today. Hope Yin is not only an award-winning technology executive but also a coach, speaker, and advocate for women in tech. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, leading global engineering teams and driving innovation, Hope has a proven track record in high-performing team development, software engineering, and enterprise application development. Currently, as the founder and owner of Blueprint Coaching, Hope partners with global companies and executives to elevate their leadership presence, foster collaboration and team cultures, and drive extraordinary business growth. Hope, welcome to the show.

Hope Yin 01:22
Hi, Brynne. Nice to be here with you.

Brynne Tillman 01:25
I’m thrilled, and I’m excited to jump into your journey and explore what Blueprint Coaching means and the value it brings. But first, we ask all our guests the same question: What does Making Sales Social mean to you?

Hope Yin 01:46
When I think about that, I think about how human beings are social creatures. We do not exist alone. Social media is part of my community, my circles—family, friends, and my close network—but also an online community where I build credibility, a brand, and my reputation. I provide value to the community, and we learn from and grow with each other. Along the way, we can support each other in our businesses.

Brynne Tillman 02:28
I love that answer. You were an executive in technology, and it’s a big leap to go from corporate executive to coach and advocate. Tell me a little about that journey.

Hope Yin 02:44
Absolutely. The path from technology executive to coach took many years. It wasn’t obvious in the beginning that I would become a coach, speaker, and advocate for women in tech. Over a decade ago, I asked myself, “If I have everything I need—mortgage paid, children’s tuition covered—what would I do?” The answer was to give back, share my experiences, and contribute to the community.

It wasn’t until six years ago, when I attended coaching school by accident, that I realized coaching was my vehicle. I started coaching part-time while still working a full-time executive role in technology for two Fortune 200 companies. During weekends and evenings, I coached people. The satisfaction of contributing to someone’s life—helping them feel lighter and empowered after a session—became increasingly fulfilling. Even when they came frustrated or in tears, by the end, they realized they had choices and weren’t stuck.

At that life stage, I was ready to leave a high-paying, high-title role and embrace something more meaningful.

Brynne Tillman 04:41
I love that. How did you “accidentally” end up in a coaching course?

Hope Yin 04:51
I have a great friend, Joy. We were business partners for five years. She was pivoting her career and signed up for a coaching school in Chicago—three days, a weekend event—and invited me. I thought it would be a fun weekend getaway. I was there for leadership development, which I love, but after the first day, I realized this was exactly what I had been looking for my whole life.

Brynne Tillman 05:59
Your calling. That’s beautiful. People like you, when purpose aligns with work, create incredible impact. It’s not about the money; it’s about making a difference.

I want to focus on women in tech. Women in sales are a minority, and women in tech even more so. What challenges bring women to tears, and why do they need an advocate?

Hope Yin 06:55
Statistically, about 30% of tech roles are held by women, and the higher you go, the lower the percentage. Systems were built for past structures, like the Industrial and Digital Revolutions, but society is evolving. Women now balance careers with raising children and caring for parents. I experience both. Modern corporate policies should consider humanity—raising children is part of our societal continuation, and women shouldn’t carry that weight alone.

Brynne Tillman 08:17
Exactly. We’re called the sandwich generation, balancing care for parents and children, under tremendous pressure. How do you advocate for women in these complex roles?

Hope Yin 08:42
Advocacy can be small or large. If I see a conference with 90% male speakers, I might email them to suggest more representation. I intentionally attend tech conferences to make connections. Change comes through collaboration, not criticism.

For example, as a single mother leading global teams, I cried at times—struggling at home and work. Great leaders notice these challenges. Burnout is common, and many suffer silently. Leaders and colleagues must recognize struggles and support one another.

Brynne Tillman 10:32
I read that burnout is a top cause of revenue drops—more than economy or innovation. Employees who check in but lack motivation create serious challenges. Your work is vital.

Let’s say I lead a team where 20% are women and 80% men, and culture clashes exist. What’s the first step as a leader?

Hope Yin 11:35
Look at each person individually. Don’t give special treatment simply because someone is a woman. Support each person’s needs. For instance, a female employee may log off at 3 PM to care for her family and return later. Accommodating schedules respects life outside work and enhances performance.

Brynne Tillman 12:35
Exactly. Advocacy isn’t just for women—it’s for humans. Supporting individual needs improves performance and morale.

Hope Yin 13:16
Yes, and when someone is supported, they will be there when you need them.

Brynne Tillman 13:25
That creates a high-performing team culture. Now, as a leader, if my team is more productive and engaged, I still need to manage up. How would you coach me to do that?

Hope Yin 14:06
Managing up means keeping your leaders informed. Communicate your priorities, ensure alignment, and address gaps. Often, miscommunication leads to mismatched priorities. Weekly check-ins maintain alignment.

Also, manage up by advocating for your team—highlight excellent performers, identify those needing support, and communicate honestly. This strengthens collaboration with leadership.

Brynne Tillman 15:34
Reporting up builds trust and collaboration. People want to feel needed, and bringing team challenges to leadership fosters support and buy-in.

One final question: Blueprint Coaching—your concept of a blueprint as a map to success. How did you decide to launch this coaching program with the “blueprint” concept?

Hope Yin 16:59
Yes, that’s a great question. When I wanted to start my business, I considered many different names. In the end, I realized that for anyone to be successful, there needs to be a blueprint. Just like my son studying architecture, you can change the design over time, but the foundation remains. Once the foundation is built, it is built. Some foundational pieces need to be laid out first, but while we build, we can still make adjustments.

Brynne Tillman 17:42
Closet?

Hope Yin 17:45
Yes, that’s the idea. I want to support women in technology to co-create their blueprint while understanding that adjustments can be made. Some foundational abilities are critical: you must communicate strategically, deliver results, make decisions, build great teams, and develop strong relationships with everyone around you. Managing down with your team and managing up with your leaders are also part of the blueprint.

Brynne Tillman 18:25
When you work with a company, do you start with leadership? At what level do you come in? Often in training and coaching, the ROI is hard to measure. How do you position your work as a necessity rather than a “nice to have”?

Hope Yin 19:21
I approach all levels. Sometimes I talk directly to the founder. Yes, there is an expense, but the return is long-term. It’s hard to measure, but consider: raising a child to become an amazing human being takes years and significant resources. Similarly, investing in employees is crucial for culture and performance. Some people come to me for one-on-one or group coaching, see the results, and then bring me into their companies to scale that impact.

Brynne Tillman 21:13
Absolutely. Founders see it differently because these are their “children” in a sense. This is an investment in the future of both your people and your business. Culture and value matter. DEI programs may have been removed from conversations, but these principles remain critical. Ignoring them can devastate companies long-term.

Hope Yin 22:28
I completely agree. Even within the same race, there is diversity. We also have to manage family responsibilities.

Brynne Tillman 22:45
Exactly. Just because a DEI program went away doesn’t mean your workforce isn’t diverse. Each individual has unique needs, and leaders must understand them—not just treat everyone the same. It’s about understanding each person as a human, not just an employee number.

Hope Yin 23:45
I completely agree.

Brynne Tillman 23:46
I agree too.

Hope Yin 23:48
Yes. We may look different and have different backgrounds, but we share the same passion: to help and learn from others. That’s fundamental to being human.

Brynne Tillman 24:09
Love that. I think we’re friends now.

Hope Yin 24:22
Yes, we are.

Brynne Tillman 24:22
My last question: Is there a question I should have asked you but didn’t?

Hope Yin 24:22
You could have asked about leading a team with a different composition, like 20% women and 80% men. I ensure that all genders are treated fairly, including salaries and bonuses.

Brynne Tillman 25:06
Love that you said all genders.

Hope Yin 25:14
You can find me on LinkedIn, which is my community. I’ve made many friends there, including through Innovation Women. Search for Hope Yin to connect with me.

Brynne Tillman 25:31
Wonderful. Thank you so much. I really enjoyed this. And to all our listeners, when you’re out and about, don’t forget to make your sales social.

Outro 25:42
Thank you for streaming this episode of Making Sales Social. Remember, make your sales social every week. Join us for more guest instructors bringing marketing, sales training, and social selling strategies. Subscribe to get the latest episodes on  Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube Music, and Amazon Music. Visit our website, socialsaleslink.com, for more information.