In the first Changemakers episode, NYWICI President Georgia Galanoudis interviewed Nancy Weber, former NYWICI President. After an illustrious career in marketing, including almost two decades at Dotdash Meredith, Nancy retired in July 2023. Listen to this episode for tips on pivoting in periods of immense change.  How do we create a way of working that's more integrated with our personal lives? What does it take to be an empathetic leader? Nancy shares lessons learned and her advice for the next generation of communication professionals. 

NYWICI is excited to announce its relaunching the Mentorship Program! It's never too late to learn how to advocate for yourself, especially in a professional environment that's rapidly changing. In this panel, you'll hear from: Georgia Galanoudis, NYWICI President; Melissa Weisstuch, Co-Chair of the NYWICI Mentorship Program; and Linda Descano, NYWICI Treasurer. Listen to this episode to hear all about the benefits of being a mentor and mentee, and how mentorship can both help you develop your "True North" and refine strategies with a supportive sounding board.

Plus, hear about the value of "peer-to-peer" and "1-to-2 or 1-to-a-few" mentorship. The NYWICI Mentorship Program will kick off on National Mentoring Day (October 27) and pairings will be announced around International Mentoring Day (January 17). For more information and details on how to apply, visit nywici.org.

The new WomenHeard: Changemakers podcast series is all about inspiring conversations with industry groundbreakers, including Matrix winners and past NYWICI presidents. Hosted by Georgia Galanoudis, the current NYWICI President, these interviews uncover personal and professional stories of inspiration and resilience. Through this series, we’ll learn the motivations that have propelled these Changemakers to use their platforms to open doors, elevate diverse voices, and ensure a more equitable future for all.

In this first episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich speaks with Georgia about this exciting new series and introduces our audience to the host of these compelling new interviews. In addition to meeting Georgia, listen for their thoughts on leading with empathy, sustainable growth, and realizing we're not alone in our ambitions.

A former Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire, Lesley Jane Seymour has run the gamut of fabulous magazine editorial jobs at Vogue, Women's Wear Daily, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, YM, Redbook, and More. After the latter publication folded, over 600 loyal readers asked Lesley to create something new. This birthed CoveyClub.com, a community giving women confidence in the midst of difficult life transitions. What would it mean to have a "reinvention plan" in your back pocket? Listen to this episode for tips on developing an open mindset and an actionable strategy for personal growth - it might just help you leap into your next exciting endeavor.

If you've felt like you need to protect your energy lately, this is the episode to queue up next! Devika Bulchandani, Global CEO at Ogilvy and a 2022 NYWICI Matrix Award Honoree, talks about how to be a "radiator" of energy while protecting time to replenish yourself. In this conversation, she shares how she fell in love with the advertising industry and why she took another job to start a "new chapter". As the first woman of color to run a global agency network, and the driving force of the "Fearless Girl" statue in front of Wall Street's "Charging Bull", Devika has produced work that's inspired countless conversations. She talks about why "Fearless Girl" is so important to her and how personal stories are told through the work that we do. Plus, her advice on why to open up your own mind before asking others to open theirs.

What does it mean to give yourself permission to show up more authentically? In this episode, Ellen Johnson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at IPG, gives tactical tips for how to become more vocal about your priorities. Bringing her business background to the communications field, she explains how she was part of the team to bring IPG from a “fallen angel” to a “rising star”. Listen to hear what it’s like leading in the C-suite: from diversifying your skill set to understanding the ways a wide variety of challenges can strategically influence your career and brand equity. Plus, how she follows the advice that "if you're going to put your name on something, make sure you're proud."

Join us for a conversation between two storytelling powerhouses at 'The Wall Street Journal'. Jamie Heller, Business Editor, and Annie Minoff, Senior Producer, tell us how the pandemic has affected business reporting and give us a behind-the-paywall look at how they source and produce the news. What factors contribute to compelling journalism and the lens of money, business and power? Listen here! 

This conversation was previously recorded in October 2022. 

You won't want to miss this episode! In this unfiltered and honest conversation, Atoosa Rubenstein shares her origin story leading iconic magazines that helped a generation of women come into their own. She discusses comeback culture and re-entering the conversation, along with how media has changed in her decades of industry experience. Listen to this episode to hear behind-the-scenes information about the business, personal revelations and the importance of manifestation. Plus, hear why creating quality content should be top of mind and why it "isn't a time for capable managers, it's a time for pirates."

Please note that this episode includes explicit language and themes.

From crisis management to in-house agency work to collaborating with iconic brands, Melody Lee has achieved a lot in the communications industry! This episode dives into where Melody got her start and how her career path consistently challenges her to "make herself as uncomfortable as possible". Listen for details on how she's navigated career transitions, when being an outsider can be beneficial, and how to pay it forward when it comes to mentorship. Plus, Melody shares her experience being a part of the NYWICI Board of Directors and her recommendations for how to get more involved.

This episode was recorded in the fall of 2022. 

Could you be the next NYWICI scholarship winner? NYWICI believes in empowering future generations in communications and wants to support your professional path. Tune into this episode with former scholarship recipients and review committee members, as they share how they got their start, reflect on why you should put yourself in the running, and discuss the exciting opportunities that could open up. Plus, you'll hear tips for how to make your application stand out! Apply by February 28, 2023 and get more information here.

This episode features three exceptional panelists: