Advice for young writers and communicators: “Care about storytelling, care about voice, care about the opinions that you are honing and developing as a person in the world.” In this episode, Womenheard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Lucy Kaylin, 2025 Matrix Honoree and Editorial Director at the world's largest lifestyle publisher, Hearst Magazines. Prior, Lucy served as executive editor at Marie Claire and deputy editor at O, The Oprah Magazine before becoming editor-in-chief....
Jul 09, 2025•45 min•Ep. 98
"The areas where I think it can be really helpful for communicators to think about are business fluency and thinking about communicators being a business partner. Aligning what they're doing right now, and the decisions they need to make, with a business strategy that has the mission of the company front and center: the North Star." In this episode, Womenheard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Diane Schwartz at Ragan Communications, the leading training and networking community f...
Jun 24, 2025•40 min•Ep. 97
"What it truly means to be at the top of your game - that really is not perfection. At the top of your game is when you're contributing and when you're feeling like you're adding value. Part of that is also sharing everything. Part of it is being vulnerable...we're all on this journey together and I think that's part of the culture I want my own daughter to grow up in: understanding that she does not have to be perfect to succeed." In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich inter...
Jun 10, 2025•45 min•Ep. 96
The Matrix Awards by NYWICI serves as our opportunity to recognize exceptional leaders in the communications industry. This year’s theme is Leading Luminaries! The 2025 Matrix honorees are lighting the path of success and influencing the future. The light within our honorees showcases their unwavering spirit of human resilience and the power of perseverance. Sarah Ng, Digital Content Producer at The New York Post and three-time NYWICI Scholarship recipient, took to the red carpet of this star st...
May 28, 2025•18 min•Ep. 95
"I find that most often I take the risk and not only do I grow, I learn. I'm furthering not only my career and whatever it is I'm taking the risk in, but when I fail I've also learned something. And you only learn the most valuable lessons, unfortunately, when you fail." In this special event recording, you'll hear behind-the-scenes info and career lessons from fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff! As the author of Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success , podcast host...
May 13, 2025•56 min•Ep. 94
"That 'people piece' has value. There's a value to having empathy in a corporate environment, in an organizational environment." In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich interviews Francesca Larson, founder and CEO of creative and technology agency Studio Mosaic. She got her storytelling start as a NYWICI Scholarship Recipient, which she credits with launching her career and her sense of self. After stints in politics PR, she was inspired to work on projects and products with a...
May 06, 2025•51 min
"Money should be working for you." It's never too late to level up! In this special event recording sponsored by Yahoo!, you'll learn from Judy Herbst, financial expert and the Executive Director of Savvy Ladies . This nonprofit is dedicated to providing free financial education and resources to women, empowering them to achieve financial independence. Moderated by Jackie Hyland, NYWICI member and Associate Director of Corporate Affairs, Sustainability at KPMG US, this conversation focuses on ho...
Apr 22, 2025•57 min•Ep. 92
"As part of a daily practice, I think about earning trust and earning reliability in the eyes of those that I work with — and work for. It's about what I advocate for and the behaviors that I model." In this episode, Womenheard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Tracy-Ann Lim, a NYWICI Trailblazer Honoree in the 2024 inaugural class and a powerful storytelling strategist. As the Chief Media Officer at JPMorganChase, she manages a fast-paced global team of 100+ people. Prior to thi...
Apr 09, 2025•45 min•Ep. 91
“That’s why people came to work for me – because they were going to learn and they were going to grow. That, to me, is the whole beauty of work. If you’re just going to go somewhere and be a cog in the wheel, then you can do that anywhere. You know, if you’re an intelligent, creative person, that’s going to get old really fast.” In this episode, Womenheard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis reconnected with Lesley Jane Seymour , founder and CEO of CoveyClub.com . Lesley first joined our NYWIC...
Mar 25, 2025•49 min•Ep. 90
It's a special episode of WomenHeard with guest host Linda Descano ! A former president of NYWICI, Linda is the Global Chief Integration & Marketing Officer at Havas Red . In this conversation, she sits down with a panel of experts to discuss the 2024 Global Women in PR Annual Index , the only in-depth global research study of women working in the PR and communications industries. Linda is joined by three powerhouse executives: Sue Hardwick , co-founder and president of Global Women in PR ; ...
Mar 03, 2025•44 min•Ep. 89
"The big lesson for life is no matter how prepared you are, life will throw you curveballs - and actually, those are sometimes the most wonderful and serendipitous stories that you will ever get a chance to create." In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich interviews Pilar Guzmán, Editorial Director at Oprah Daily - the eponymous media and membership community from Hearst Magazines and Oprah Winfrey! Pilar oversees content strategy across the brand's platforms. Pilar is a three...
Feb 18, 2025•49 min•Ep. 88
“I’ve always been a person who has strong opinions. But having an opinion is not always the same as making a decision… I try to balance gut instinct with data.” In this episode, Womenheard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Leah Meranus, CEO, North America of dentsu X - a global media agency within dentsu, known for its unique ability to defy convention to deliver meaningful outcomes for leading brands. She leads over 1,000 people - no small task! Listen to this episode for tips o...
Jan 28, 2025•27 min•Ep. 87
"You have to master the art of seeing things unseen. Whether you're looking at trends, whether you're looking at data - the data, the trends - tell a story." In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich sits down with Brandi Boatner, incoming 2025 President of New York Women in Communications! Brandi has been recognized and named by PR News as a Changemaker and one of the Top Women in PR. She also received an Honorable Mention for PR Week’s Outstanding In-House PR Professional. In ...
Jan 09, 2025•48 min•Ep. 86
"Whatever the context is, whatever the setting that we're operating in - ultimately, as leaders, we are in the business of building relationships." In this episode, WomenHeard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Jill Cress, Chief Marketing & Experience Officer at H&R Block - a leader in tax preparation services. A 2024 Matrix Awards honoree, Jill's extensive brand experience also includes PayPal, National Geographic and MasterCard. She has been recognized for numerous accol...
Dec 06, 2024•43 min•Ep. 85
"You know, nobody's working on their Plan A... I'm in the middle of the alphabet somewhere - but most people are on Plan B, Plan C, Plan D - particularly when you get to my age. So, I think that's healthy for people to realize. Your first act doesn't have to be your only act.” In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich speaks with Liz Georges, Senior Director of Climate Communications at WWF . The World Wildlife Fund works in nearly 100 countries to advocate for sustainable polic...
Nov 21, 2024•47 min•Ep. 84
"Am I going to be uncomfortable and leave here with nothing? Or am I going to be uncomfortable and make a connection?" In this specially recorded conversation from NYWICI's Communications Career Conference at Spotify Headquarters, you'll hear a fireside chat with two inspiring leaders: Tammy Tibbetts, Co-Founder and CEO of She’s the First , a global nonprofit advancing girls' education and leadership opportunities, and Dana Canedy, Managing Editor of Guardian US , an award-winning publication co...
Nov 07, 2024•53 min•Ep. 83
"Your career is not a yellow-brick road. It's not going to begin one place and end neatly someplace else." In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich speaks with Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday - a global giving network that embodies radical generosity. What started as a hashtag in 2012 following Black Friday's shopping surge (#GivingTuesday) has become a powerful network of local leaders in over 80 countries! They inspire communities to both donate and volunteer, which can be ...
Oct 24, 2024•47 min•Ep. 82
"Every day is an opportunity to learn something, to challenge yourself. It doesn't end - especially in a business like ours." In this episode, WomenHeard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Daisy Expósito-Ulla, 2018 inductee of the Advertising Hall of Fame by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and CEO of d exposito & partners . A former Matrix Awards winner, she supports several scholarships including NYWICI's The Esperanza. Daisy's strategic approach has reshaped the ad...
Sep 26, 2024•41 min•Ep. 81
"There's a huge percentage of the population that's not thinking about their potential." In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich speaks with Erin Loos Cutraro in a pivotal presidential election year. As the Founder and CEO of She Should Run , Erin leads this national, nonpartisan nonprofit seeking to drastically increase the number of women considering a run for public office. After teaching middle school history, she got her master's degree. She pivoted into politics after a ...
Sep 12, 2024•49 min•Ep. 80
“From Day 1, my experience in life is [that] you fight. You’re resilient. No matter what life hands to you, you take it and you make lemonade out of it.” In this episode, WomenHeard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Zain Habboo, Chief Marketing & Mobilization Officer at International Rescue Committee – one of the world’s largest emergency relief organizations. The ability to build your own path is one of the greatest legacies of Zain’s family. From grandparents who helped bui...
Aug 28, 2024•41 min•Ep. 79
"We are not the people this [system] is designed for so there's this whole scarcity energy to fight so hard... but there's room for all of us." In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich interviews Sara Rodriguez . A former ballet dancer who studied political science, she became passionate about how policies and grassroots work can create impactful, societal change. Through Sara's internship with Day One , a nonprofit providing critical education and guidance to NYC's youth on da...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 79
Caroline Hofmann, Chief Business Officer, Thirty Madison “Don't get discouraged by the first interruption.” In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich interviews Caroline Hofmann of Thirty Madison , which offers virtual-first healthcare access. Working as a consultant at McKinsey gave her the "itch to build something" and she pivoted to an early-stage fintech startup, Republic, before joining Thirty Madison to build their migraine business, Cove. Caroline oversees Nurx , a telehe...
Jul 31, 2024•43 min•Ep. 77
"I've always gone into things with a lot of curiosity and learned by doing." In this episode, WomenHeard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Katherine Barna. As the Head of PR for Waymo (formerly the Google self- driving car project), a pioneering technology company on a mission to be the world's most trusted driver, she's built upon her strong foundation of brand building. Katherine's woven storytelling throughout her communications journey, both at media and tech companies - full...
Jul 11, 2024•45 min•Ep. 76
"I know that it means a lot to me when I see people who have gone through a lot in their lives and have overcome it." In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich interviews Checkey Beckford , an Emmy® Award-winning reporter for NBC 4 New York. A Jamaican immigrant who got her start in PR, Checkey transitioned to broadcast reporting - writing, shooting and editing her own stories in Florida, Illinois, and California - ultimately landing in the #1 largest TV market: New York. Now sh...
Jun 27, 2024•49 min•Ep. 75
"The way I've had to show up in rooms, [I've] done my fair share of swimming upstream... but when you're someone who's faced adversity, there's a confidence that exudes after that." In this episode, WomenHeard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Matrix 2024 Honoree Rakia Reynolds! As the Founder and Executive Officer of an award-winning strategic communications agency, Rakia has been named by Inc. Magazine as one of the 27 Business Leaders Aiming to Change the World , listed as one...
Jun 13, 2024•40 min•Ep. 74
The Matrix Awards by NYWICI serves as our opportunity to recognize exceptional leaders in the communications industry. This year’s theme is Rule Breakers! The 2024 honorees don't just accept the status quo, they are carving their own paths forward and rewriting the rules to success. Listen to this episode to hear directly from some of our honorees, host, scholarship recipients, and attendees! Sarah Ng, senior journalism major at Hofstra University and three-time NYWICI Scholarship recipient, too...
May 23, 2024•9 min•Ep. 73
“Always learn the ‘other thing’ – it doesn’t hurt to have an extra skill set.” In this interview, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich speaks with Tess Quinlan, a NYWICI Scholarship Winner, Content Planning Lead for the NBA, and MBA graduate. Tess began her career in broadcast communications at Marquette University and an internship at Yahoo Sports. Learning a little bit about every sport was key to growth in her roles - she covered college basketball and football for USA Today, as well as ...
May 16, 2024•51 min•Ep. 72
"Get comfortable talking about yourself... it's not bragging if it's based on facts." Cate Luzio spent two decades in financial services, most recently as the Global Head of Multinational Corporate Banking for HSBC, before she made a sharp career pivot. In 2018, she launched and self-funded Luminary , a global, membership-based professional education and networking platform offering resources, programming, and community to propel women to the top of their industries. Cate speaks with host Julie ...
Mar 28, 2024•52 min•Ep. 71
"You may lose a job you love, you may have someone betray you... this will not define you." In this episode, WomenHeard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Kristi VandenBosch, President at OLIVER Agency. Formerly the CEO of Publicis, Chief Digital Officer of MXM (now Accenture Song) and Senior Vice President at Revlon, Kristi's leadership in communications has given her a wealth of expertise - not just in industry knowledge but in cultivating her values. After speaking at a confere...
Mar 14, 2024•37 min•Ep. 70
"Pull others up with you as you climb." If you're seeking a new role, striving for better pay, or preparing yourself for layoffs affecting the communications, media and tech industries, this episode will give you clarity on resilience in all types of career transitions. With an effective coaching style that's been highlighted in TIME, Fortune, and Fast Company (to name a few!), Phoebe Gavin works with clients to customize growth plans and leverage tactics to navigate the fast-paced and ever-ch...
Feb 29, 2024•50 min•Ep. 69
