WomenHeard

"Don't ask for permission" may be your next confidence builder after listening to this episode! WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich interviewed New York Women in Communications' new President, Laura Brusca. Laura started her career at a NYC agency, Ruder Finn, where she found creative outlets by raising her hand for new initiatives. From working on a program for life-saving malaria medicine to sustainability at H&M, she took her six years of experience and went in-house at Forbes. 

Laura recently celebrated a decade at the global media company - collaborating with stakeholders across teams, including working on the infamous "30 under 30" list of entrepreneurs and leaders in a diverse variety of sectors. She was recently promoted to Chief Communications Officer at Forbes and became NYWICI President within the same few months! Listen to this episode for details on how to strategically advance at your company, as well as get the inside track on her vision for NYWICI in the year ahead.

"In order to reach and engage our audience, [marketers] need to invest in culture and in language." In this episode, WomenHeard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Donna Speciale, a 2023 Matrix Award Winner and President of U.S. Advertising, Sales and Marketing at TelevisaUnivison. Through leading a major division at the world's largest Spanish language media company, Donna has provided a wealth of resources for the marketing industry and beyond, breaking stereotypes on what a target audience "should" look like. 

Bringing in over 200 new clients in the past 2.5 years, Donna says that working for a media company that prioritizes education and the power of growth potential has been one of her most exciting opportunities in the industry. Listen to this episode for details on how "zigging and zagging" has been a powerful asset in her career toolbox.

This conversation was recorded in December 2023. 

"Storytelling means sticking with what you want people to feel, not just know." In this episode, WomenHeard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Linda Boff, Chief Marketing Officer at GE and a 2016 NYWICI Matrix Honoree. Linda is accountable for a diverse portfolio of global marketing, advertising, brand, content, digital, sponsorships, as well as corporate communications, crisis communications, media relations, public affairs, and financial communication. 

A member of the Forbes CMO Hall of Fame, Linda's leadership style is one that brings humanity into the workplace - particularly with her perspective of "presuming good intent" in times of conflict as well as times of prosperity. Hear how she managed intentional prioritization with family (she was one of the first female soccer coaches in her town for her daughter's team!) and get tips on kaizen, a Japanese practice that advocates for continuous improvement. 

"You're never at a standstill in terms of your growth." In this episode, WomenHeard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Christine Elliott, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Moody's Corporation and a 2023 NYWICI Matrix Award Winner. Christine's 25-year career in communications started with ABC News and she continued a fast-paced trajectory through American Express and Moody's. Currently, Christine works with policymakers, government officials and the media to deepen understanding of Moody's unique value proposition as a global integrated risk assessment firm addressing corporate, financial, and economic challenges. She also oversees sustainability strategy, optimizing operations for the company. 

One of the biggest parts of Christine's leadership journey has been having the courage for candor, which allows for vulnerability. Flexing this skillset has supported Christine at Moody's as well as with her two teenage daughters! Listen to this episode for how she takes her cues from "lady lions" and how she found the freedom to be her authentic self. 

In partnership with NYWICI and Kaplow, Roadmap for Change is a communications mentorship program aimed at increasing opportunities for members of historically excluded groups. Pairing with another colleague in the early-career stage, Roadmap for Change provides access and exposure to develop professional goals, while also diversifying the pipeline of entry-level talent in the communications sector.  

WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich interviewed Maria Ungaro (Vice President, Member Engagement at Licensing International + VP, Scholarships & Grants, NYWICI), Liz Kaplow (2016 Matrix Honoree + Founder and CEO, Kaplow Communications + Past President, NYWICI) and Brianna Boone (Senior, Temple University + 2022/2023 NYWICI and Kaplow Scholarship recipient whose apprenticeship marked Roadmap for Change's first iteration). Listen to this episode for details on how NYWICI is investing in the futures of communications professionals with the Scholarship Program (honoring over 400 women!), the advantages of peer mentorship, and what questions to ask when you start a new role or internship. For more information, check out these resources: Roadmap for Change (applications open in mid-November!) and Scholarships.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, celebrating a powerful community that advocates for everything from remote work to accessible travel to more positive representation in the media. In this episode, WomenHeard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis talks with Mindy Henderson, Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media. This adaptive lifestyle platform for the Muscular Dystrophy Association supports over a million Americans with tools and resources to help them live their most independent lives. 

An ambassador at the age of 4 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Mindy said she took the disability that could have been negative in her life and turned it into a 20-year career in tech, along with marriage, children and intentionality. However, for the majority of her career, Mindy was often the only person in a wheelchair she saw and she felt exhausted not being able to show up as her authentic self. After a layoff that turned out to be the "best thing that happened for [her] career", Mindy pivoted into motivational speaking, writing a book and engaging in other professional paths that advocate for DEI and the inclusion of a diverse workforce. Listen for details on why accommodations are "success enablers" for disabled employees; plus, how we can continue to support and celebrate resiliency in the disability community. 

It's the topic we all have questions about - how will AI change how we work? Host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich sits down with Cathy McPhillips to discuss how AI can power marketing - making it more approachable and accessible. Listen to this episode for details on how AI can revolutionize communication and examples of how we probably already use it in our day-to-day. If you feel overwhelmed about AI, Cathy suggests starting by asking yourself about a consistent task that's on your plate. "Is it repetitive? Is it data-driven? Is it trying to make a prediction? If it's one, two or three of those things, you probably have a use case for AI," she says. Plus, hear how Cathy made the valuable case for her title as Chief Growth Officer. 

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.