Women Lead

In this insightful episode of "Women Lead," I had the privilege of speaking with Regional Director Hispanic Latam at Showheroes Group, Raquel Baranda. 

Raquel has had an impressive career journey that spans various roles and continents. Starting as the Vice President of Platforms and Formats at IAB Mexico, Raquel's career led her to smartclip Spain, then smartclip LATAM, where she climbed the ranks to the prestigious title of "Directora General" (General Director) before moving into her current role at ShowHeroes.

Some key takeaways from this episode:

Stay Present: Raquel advises focusing on immediate tasks and taking them one step at a time. By living in the present and not getting overwhelmed by future concerns, you can handle daily challenges effectively.

Connectivity Across Borders: Managing a team across different countries requires strong connectivity. After the pandemic, her team relies on video conferencing, WhatsApp, and internal chats to maintain close relationships and ensure effective communication.

Cultural Awareness: Recognize and respect the diverse cultures in Latin America. Understanding that each country has unique traditions and ways of doing business is crucial for success.

Trust Your Team: Avoid micromanagement when managing a diverse team. Trust your team members as experts in their fields, allowing them to communicate and share their insights without needing to know every detail.

These key takeaways emphasize the importance of staying in the moment, fostering strong communication across borders, understanding cultural nuances, and trusting your team for success in a global and diverse work environment.

Raquel’s recs:

Encuentra tu persona vitamina by Marian Rojas Estapé 

Connect with Raquel on LinkedIn

Produced and Hosted by Nadia Koski
Engineered by Phil McDowell / YUNE

Get in touch with us at [email protected] or go to the website.

Find us on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Nadia attended The Digital Distillery Conference in Innsbruck - part digital marketing conference and part group discussion between industry experts. It was a roaring success thanks to the lions and lionesses who attended and spoke.

It's been remarkable to get not one, not two, but three of those formidable industry experts onto Women Lead for inspiring conversations!

Joining me on this special episode are:

🎙️  Katrin Erben, Sustainability Expert at the Austrian National Tourist Board
🎙️ Alina Heiner, Founder of Social Media and Influencer agency maven vienna
🎙️ Andreea Dumitru, Director of Media Strategy & Planning at Saint Elmo’s Tourism

We spoke about approaching sustainability in meaningful ways, making a living doing what you love, the cookieless future of digital marketing, and more.

Check it out!
______

CONNECT WITH

Katrin Erben - LinkedIn
Austrian National Tourist Board

Alina Heiner - LinkedIn
MavenVienna

Andreea Dumitru - LinkedIn
St. Elmo’s Tourism

Produced and Hosted by Nadia Koski
Engineered by Phil McDowell / YUNE

Get in touch with us at [email protected] or go to the website.

Find us on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Welcome back to Women Lead's second season!

For our second episode, Nadia's sitting down with Anika Howard, CEO of the online gaming entertainment company WONDR NATION.

Not only does she have fifteen years' experience in the online gaming industry, Howard is also co-founder and co-chair of African Americans in Gaming and is on the Board of Directors for Global Gaming Women (GGW) where she serves on the Executive Committee and is the Chair of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee.

Howard is brimming with insights into leadership, diversity, and technology.

Three big takeaways:

1. If you’re more of an introvert, be a “situational extrovert” and put yourself out there! Take advantage of the communities and groups that you have in your industry to network and connect.
   
   
2. Recognize those immediate connections you have with others, grow them, ask for help, and take some risks. This is how career opportunities will emerge.
   
   
3. Share your knowledge. A true leader shares their knowledge to empower others. Sharing insight will NEVER take away your power, only pass it on to others who can thrive with it.

f you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!

Produced and Hosted by Nadia Koski
Engineered by Phil McDowell / YUNE

Get in touch with us at [email protected] or go to the website.

Find us on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Welcome back to Women Lead for the first episode of Season 2.
 
If you’re new here and just discovering us, go back and check out all the great interviews and discussions with successful professional women in Season 1 of the show.

In this episode, Nadia welcomes Liz Kislik, a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience as a management consultant, business coach, and prolific contributor.

Liz delves into her experiences in conflict management and resolution and explores the dual aspects of conflicts: interpersonal feelings and structural or procedural underpinnings within organizations.

Nadia shares how understanding individual team members' learning styles and preferences improves productivity and communication and learns a few tips about keeping a team in harmony.

Key Takeaways:

1. Stay Curious. Being curious to understand more about people and clarity in communication is crucial.
2. Build Trust. Understanding team members' individual strengths, weaknesses, and preferences enhances communication and productivity.
3. You can’t force anyone to do anything. Finding a common goal will help align people when there is conflict and allow your team to move forward together.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!


Links and Recs

Watch Liz’s TEDx Talk, “Why There’s So Much Conflict at Work and What You Can Do to Fix It”

Liz’s book rec: The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander

Connect with Liz:
Website: https://lizkislik.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizkislik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizkislik
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizkislik

About Lis Klisik
https://lizkislik.com/media

Discover Liz's free ebook:
Workplace Wisdom: How to Resolve Interpersonal Conflicts in the Workplace

Liz Kislik is a management consultant and executive coach, and a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review and Forbes. Her TEDx “Why There’s So Much Conflict at Work and What You Can Do to Fix It” has received almost half a million views. She specializes in developing high-performing leaders and workforces, and for 30 years has helped family-run businesses, national nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies like American Express, Girl Scouts, Staples, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Highlights for Children solve their thorniest problems.

Produced and Hosted by Nadia Koski
Engineered by Phil McDowell / YUNE

Get in touch with us at [email protected] or go to the website.

Find us on LinkedIn & Instagram.

We're very proud and excited to say we've wrapped up our very first full season of Women Lead!

In this season wrap-up, Nadia addresses some of the highlights of these past 13 episodes including:

• Learning about Tiana Madera's and our guest, Caroline Mastromauro’s personal journey with career shifts and new job opportunities.
• How Ursula Ringham keeps her team motivated and creative.
• Michelle Sarpong’s drive and ambition with establishing the DE&I structure within her company and leading some amazing initiatives to promote diversity in the industry.
• Lauren Palmer’s no-holds-bar dedication to encouraging self-promotion and branding, speaking out, and recognizing your professional accomplishments.
• Dishing with Stefanie Leonardi on empowering teams and the differences between managing and leading.

We're on a short break and will be back in September to kick off Season 2 of Women Lead.  Rest assured it will be jam-packed with even more powerful conversations and group discussions with experienced professionals in the media, advertising, gaming, and coaching fields.

Now is the perfect time to check out any of the episodes you may have missed these past 6 months.

If you want to get in touch with us, be a guest on our show, or just provide your feedback, reach out at [email protected].

If you want to hear about all things new in our Podcast Network, head over to our site and sign up for our newsletter: https://the-digital-distillery.com/

If you have enjoyed any or all of our episodes, we would love it if you could leave us a review on Spotify or Apply podcasts. It would be greatly appreciated!

Produced and Hosted by Nadia Koski
Engineered by Phil McDowell / YUNE

Get in touch with us at [email protected] or go to the website.

Find us on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Welcome back to Women Lead! We’re wrapping up this first full season of Women Lead with, as our copywriter Chris Kanski says, “a real banger” of a final ep!

Nadia and Tiana delve into the intricacies of effective time management,  the pitfalls of multitasking, and the strategies they employ to maintain productivity. They talk all about the hacks and techniques you can use, and pitfalls to avoid, when managing time in your personal and professional life.

They introduce the Pomodoro Technique, a time management method involving short focused work intervals followed by breaks stress, and discuss the significance of blocking out time in the calendar, ensuring flexibility to rearrange tasks as needed. Breaking down tasks into smaller sections and dedicating specific time slots for each part helps prevent feeling overwhelmed and maintains concentration.

They explore the strategy of "eating the frog," inspired by the book of the same name, which encourages tackling the most challenging task of the day first, and Tiana reveals her extensive time management plan....which is quite different from Nadia's.

Enjoy the episode!

Key Takeaways:

1. Multitasking may feel productive, but research reveals that the brain can truly focus on only one task at a time. Attempting to multitask can lead to mistakes, decreased attentiveness, and lower life satisfaction.

2. Try the Pomodoro Technique which involves concentrated work intervals followed by breaks, aids in enhancing focus and reducing distractions.

3. 'Eating the Frog' is when you take on the most challenging task early in the day. It fosters a sense of accomplishment and paves the way for e rest of your day to be more productive.

4. Effective time management involves strategic planning, categorization, and setting priorities for tasks and goals. Planning the night before and adapting to changing circumstances is crucial to maintaining a productive routine.

Links and Recommended Reading:

Nadia’s recs:

1. TED Talk by Dr. Lindsay Blooms, “Multitasking is the Mindkiller”
2. Off Topic: the best natural skincare company and products, run by talented female squad: Sulina Shop - shout out to Susan and Shelena!

Tiana recs:

1. Decision Fatigue and How Multi-tasking Drains Your Brain
2. The Pomodoro Method: Timer, The Pomodoro Timer Chrome App
3. Eat the Frog - Book by Brian Tracy
4. Tiana’s Priority Map - including “clean bathtub” ;)

If you’re interested in being a guest on the pod, get in touch with us at womenleadpodcast@the-digital-disti

Produced and Hosted by Nadia Koski
Engineered by Phil McDowell / YUNE

Get in touch with us at [email protected] or go to the website.

Find us on LinkedIn & Instagram.

How to Empower and Develop Your Team to Become the Best Versions of Themselves

In this episode of Women Lead, Nadia and Stefanie discuss the importance of empowering and developing your team to become the best versions of themselves. They share practical tips and strategies that leaders can use to create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their ideas and strengths, identify their blind spots, and develop new skills.

One of the key takeaways from this episode is that self-promotion is an important part of the empowerment process. However, it's important to do it in a way that feels natural and authentic. Stefanie shares some specific tips on how to do this, such as starting by testing out self-promotion within a circle of trust and then gradually expanding your reach.

Another key takeaway is that leaders need to create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their ideas and strengths. This means creating a culture of open communication and feedback, and providing opportunities for people to learn and grow.

If you're a leader looking to empower your team, this episode is a must-listen. Stefanie's practical tips and strategies will help you create an environment where your team can thrive.

Here are some additional thoughts on how to empower and develop your team:

• Set clear expectations and goals. When people know what's expected of them, they're more likely to be motivated to achieve their goals.
• Provide regular feedback. Feedback is essential for helping people grow and develop. Make sure to give feedback that is specific, timely, and constructive.
• Offer opportunities for learning and development. Help people develop their skills and knowledge by providing them with opportunities to take classes, attend workshops, or read books.
• Celebrate successes. When people achieve their goals, be sure to celebrate their successes. This will help them feel valued and appreciated.

Produced and Hosted by Nadia Koski
Engineered by Phil McDowell / YUNE

Get in touch with us at [email protected] or go to the website.

Find us on LinkedIn & Instagram.

After a wild few months of professional changes, Tiana is back and on mic and dishing about starting her new job, leaving her old one, and all the do's and don'ts in between.

It was such a pleasure to sit down with my work wife again and hear all about what a "day in the life" is like in her new position at a major US ad agency.

We talk about what it looked like for her coming in and managing an established team, juggling the unknowns in any new position, as well as how to successfully and gracefully leave your old job without dropping the ball on all your soon-to-be ex-colleagues.

Produced and Hosted by Nadia Koski
Engineered by Phil McDowell / YUNE

Get in touch with us at [email protected] or go to the website.

Find us on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Welcome back to another exciting episode of Women Lead! I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with Lauren Palmer, the Vice President of Agency Sales at Foundry.

Lauren's career journey began in the fields of journalism and psychology before transitioning into sales. She shares how each experience has played a vital role in shaping her professional trajectory.

In our discussion, Lauren and I dive deep into the captivating topic of authentic self-promotion and highlighting your career accomplishments. We explore the importance of embracing confidence and openly discussing the remarkable work you and your team are doing.

Lauren guides us through overcoming imposter syndrome and encourages us to proudly proclaim our outstanding achievements. She provides valuable insights on how we can all get more comfortable displaying our achievements and promoting ourselves.

Here are the top three key takeaways from our conversation:

1. Authentic self-promotion is a powerful tool when it stems from a place of authenticity. It's a way to acknowledge your accomplishments and inspire others. 
2. It's essential to recognize and celebrate not only the significant wins but also the smaller victories of both yourself and your team. Share them with your colleagues, create a personal achievement list, and take a moment to revel in your success.
3. Document your achievements. Regularly revisit and update your accomplishments in various platforms such as internal newsletters, public and personal social profiles, and during one-on-one meetings with senior management.

Join us as we delve into this enlightening conversation with Lauren Palmer, where we explore strategies to unleash your self-promotional prowess and propel your career to new heights.

Tune in and get ready to be inspired!

Oh, and don't forget to check out Lauren's excellent recs below:

Podcasts to check out:

High Performance - Listen

The Science of Success

“How to fail” Podcast by Elizabeth Day

“How to Fail” - Book by Elizabeth Day

Apps: Headway

Produced and Hosted by Nadia Koski
Engineered by Phil McDowell / YUNE

Get in touch with us at [email protected] or go to the website.

Find us on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Your company’s diversity & inclusion needs to be more than a pledge to put on paper. It needs action that reinforces it on a daily basis.

But what if you don’t know which steps to take first?

Michelle Sarpong, Head of Display, Audio, and OOH Activation at the UK’s largest independent media agency the7stars, hopped on the mic with Nadia Koski for an electric conversation on the topic.

Michelle recommends the High Performance podcast!

Produced and Hosted by Nadia Koski
Engineered by Phil McDowell / YUNE

Get in touch with us at [email protected] or go to the website.

Find us on LinkedIn & Instagram.