Coffee Break W/ Nywici

We're thrilled to share our conversation with 2022 Matrix winner Stephanie Mehta! Stephanie spoke about the advice she received that lit a fire under her - "be better than the 10%" - that was the encouragement she needed to distinguish herself professionally. Listen to this episode to hear about her former roles in business journalism (including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune and Fast Company) and what it's like being a CEO. Plus, she shares her perspective on what the "next normal" mindset should be in future workplace culture.

Did you know that there are five generations in the workplace? Just that fact makes this conversation about intergenerational communications so important! The panel featured in this episode was originally recorded at NYWICI's 2021 Student Career Bootcamp and features experts discussing how to bridge the communication gaps between generations in the workplace. You'll hear tons of advice about how to communicate effectively in the workplace as well as anecdotes that are both educational and entertaining. The bootcamp is relaunching this year as an exciting new event: the Communications Bootcamp. The 2022 Communications Bootcamp is an exclusive event for rising students and early professionals. It will feature industry icons and speakers discussing the tools, skills, and expertise young women need to develop their careers and succeed in today’s dynamic communications industry. The Bootcamp will be held on Monday, November 7th, 2022 at the Spotify Headquarters in New York City. Here is more information and a

We had the incredible honor of interviewing two amazing women and 2021 NYWICI Matrix winners: Hoda Kotb, co-anchor of NBC's TODAY, and Yamiche Alcindor, anchor and moderator of Washington Week on PBS and NBC News Washington correspondent. Both spoke candidly about their career paths, mentors, and the challenges facing women in the workplace. In this episode, Hoda shares advice given to her by Maria Shriver and Yamiche delves into how she's handled tough situations while covering politics. Listen to hear more about their fascinating career trajectories and the lessons they've learned along the way. This interview was originally recorded in the fall of 2021.

As Lowe's executive vice president, chief brand and marketing officer (plus a 2021 Matrix winner!) Marisa Thalberg had a lot to share about her career with the WomenHeard audience. In this episode, Marisa gives advice about career changes (she's worked for some of the biggest brands, including Estee Lauder and Taco Bell), taking risks, challenges for women in the workplace, and so much more. This episode will also be a particularly meaningful one for current and future working moms, as she shares the origin story for creating the organization Executive Moms. This interview was originally recorded in the fall of 2021.

This episode features a candid conversation between Sally Susman, executive vice president and chief corporate affairs officer at Pfizer and Dustee Jenkins, president of New York Women in Communications and the global head of communications for Spotify. As part of our new WomenHeard podcast, we're thrilled to be sharing conversations with incredible women and this one features insightful advice about networking, navigating career changes, and effective leadership. It also includes an exclusive look into what it was like inside Pfizer at the beginning and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic so far. This interview was recorded as part of the exciting new "In the Room" series, brought to you by New York Women in Communications. For more information about future events like this one, please visit nywici.org.

Welcome to Season 4 of our podcast! We have a new name (WomenHeard) and a new look, but we’re still featuring the same thoughtful conversations with inspiring women in the communications industry. In episode 44, we check in with Ashley Miles, president of NYWICI and founder and CEO of Franklyn West, a business growth collective. She talks about NYWICI’s relaunch of the powerful #WomenHeard initiative, what it was like starting her own business, how to network with purpose, the importance of diversity in the workplace, and more. Plus she even has recommendations for your next binge watch!

As the vice president, global communications at Peloton, Letena Lindsay has the unique opportunity to help tell the story of one of the world's most compelling brands. In this episode, she opens up about her time working in public relations for organizations of all sizes, and shares how her experience running her own business helped prepare her for working from home during the pandemic. Letena told us how she carves out time for "mental wellness moments" and revealed her best actionable tips for supporting friends, colleagues, and ourselves during stressful times. And don't miss Letena's advice for unplugging from the workday and creating boundaries. It’s definitely something we can all use right now!

Jackie Fields has a dream job. As the senior style and beauty editor at People magazine, she gets to interview celebs, attend big events (such as the launch of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty), and get the inside scoop on all the latest trends. Naturally, we were thrilled to have her on the podcast! After sharing her passion for ice coffee all year round, Jackie chats about attending fashion school, diversity in the beauty industry, the importance of networking, and more. And you’ll never guess which celebrity interview is her all-time favorite!

Missed our Ladies Who Laugh event? We’ve got you covered. The hilarious annual event may have gone virtual this year, but emcee Nicky Sunshine and comedians Jackie Fabulous, Negin Farsad, and Liz Simons still had us cracking up in our living rooms with jokes about quarantine self-care, growing up in the ‘90s, politics, and more. Plus, you’ll “meet” the amazing 2020 NYWICI scholarship winners. So kick back, relax, and enjoy this special mini-episode of the podcast! (A quick heads up: This episode contains some explicit language and themes. It’s all very fun, but you’ve been warned!)

Just in time for the upcoming presidential election, we spoke with Rachel Dry, the deputy politics editor for enterprise at The New York Times. In this fun conversation between two good friends, Rachel talks to Julie about the pandemic’s effect on political engagement, how booking guests for NPR made her a better journalist, and why this election will be decided by women. She also explains what “enterprise” means in a newsroom (so interesting!)—and you won’t want to miss one of the most amazing pieces of career advice that we have heard on this show, which Rachel got from Marty Baron, editor of The Washington Post. Talking to Rachel was a great way to celebrate 100 years of women’s suffrage!

From working at non-profits to starting her own communications business, Timi Lewis has made a career out of helping others. Now the founder and principal of Lewis Media Company, she’s full of essential advice for entrepreneurs, which she shares in this episode of the podcast. Plus, tune in to hear her talk about working in public policy, serving on the NYWICI board, and figuring out how to play to your strengths.

Johnita Due is making the workplace more welcoming to everyone. As senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at WarnerMedia News and Sports, she’s focused on building an organization where all employees can feel free to be their true selves. In episode 38 of the Coffee Break w/NYWICI podcast, Johnita chatted about how she got this important job and why it’s crucial for companies to have a diversity and inclusion action plan right now.

Sally Susman (executive vice president and chief corporate affairs officer at Pfizer) and Lisa Sherman (president and chief executive officer of the Ad Council) have been friends for more than three decades. They’ve sought each other’s professional advice countless times—and it’s made a huge difference in their careers. On episode 37 of Coffee Break w/ NYWICI, the two Matrix Award winners walk us through how they became best friends, their techniques for getting work done, and their rules for talking politics with colleagues. (And psst, if you’re one of those people who feels guilty about turning down work, you’re definitely going to want to hear their thoughts on the power of saying no.) This episode was recorded in December of 2019.

Are you thinking about starting a podcast? You won’t want to miss this episode! Recorded live at a New York University panel event, host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich spoke with go-getter college students who have launched their own inspiring and informative podcasts: Kelly Drake (Theatre-in-the-Sound), Jordan Marley Powell and Anuka Sethi (WOC Makin’ It Big), Charitssa Stone (Color Me Nerd), and Guru Ramanathan and Michael Oluokun (The Passion Project). These impressive students discussed everything from the details of their recording processes to their strategies for social media promotion. Check out this lively discussion and then start recording your own show! (This episode was recorded in the fall of 2019.)

From the White House to the Oxygen network, Jeanine Liburd’s career path has led her to a variety of fascinating places. Jeanine—now the chief social impact and communications officer for BET Networks—prefers Earl Grey tea over coffee, but she’s still ready to spill all the details in this episode. She talks about her networking strategies, how she uses handwritten lists to prioritize her time, and what it was like to work in the government under President Bill Clinton. She also shares her insightful ideas on how the communications industry can get better at hiring people of color for leadership roles. Tune in for a captivating conversation with this 2019 Matrix Award winner.

On this episode of the podcast, we're tackling a topic that's top of mind for so many women: how to pivot in your career. To really dig into this topic, we spoke with New York Women in Communications board members Georgia Galanoudis, Executive Vice President of Media at HIMSS, and Leslie Pitterson, Vice President of Communications, Global Media at Nielsen, about their own experience pivoting in their careers and some of the most surprising results of NYWICI's latest study on women's attitudes about career pivoting. Tune in for Leslie and Georgia's great advice for transitioning roles internally within an organization and how to be an active participant in your own professional development. Find more information about the NYWICI PIVOT Development Grants here: https://nywici.org/pivot-grants/

Start the new year off right with can’t-miss advice from Ann Mack, director of business solutions, global business marketing at Facebook. In this episode, she talks about her early days working in journalism (starting at the very beginning with a paper route and later working as a crime reporter), making the big move to New York City for a job, transitioning from journalism to internal communications, and what it’s like overseeing Facebook IQ. Ann’s journey is inspirational for anyone working in communications and you’ll definitely want to take her advice when looking for your next job (“If a job doesn’t stretch you in new and interesting ways, why consider it?”) and steal her strategy for annual goal planning and vision setting.

For this special mini-episode of the podcast, we checked in with the five hilarious comedians who participated in NYWICI’s Ladies Who Laugh event: Katina Corrao, Samantha Ruddy, Maysoon Zayid, Alison Leiby, and Atheer Yacoub. This funny group of hard working women talked side hustles, work-life balance, and the importance of confidence, especially in a male-dominated industry. Plus, they’ve got can’t-miss advice that’ll help you ace that next presentation for your boss!

After more than 10 years in podcasting, Kristen Meinzer has a lot of incredible career advice that applies for anyone who wants to get started in that or any industry! She currently co-hosts By the Book, a comedic reality show/self-help podcast with a feminist spin—and her inspiring new book, So You Want to Start a Podcast, is out now. On Episode 31 of Coffee Break w/NYWICI, Kristen talks about how to be a successful podcaster, how to create content that is true to yourself, the importance of networking, and what it’s like to write a book. Learn more about Kristen’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/You-Want-Start-Podcast-Community/dp/0062936670/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1547579332&sr=1-2

Whether or not you work in advertising, you won’t want to miss this panel of powerhouse women who have crashed through glass ceilings to become the leaders of their industry! Recorded live at our Original Fearless Girls of Advertising event, this discussion is moderated by Cindi Leive (former editor-in-chief of Self and Glamour) and features Shelly Lazarus (chairman emeritus of Ogilvy & Mather), Daisy Expósito-Ulla (chairman and CEO of d expósito & Partners), Carol H. Williams (CEO and owner of Carol H. Williams Advertising), Charlotte Beers (former chairman/CEO of Oglivy & Mather Worldwide), Nina DiSesa(former chairman and chief creative officer of McCann Erickson), and Cathie Black (former chairman of Hearst Magazines). These amazing women shared their can’t-miss advice that’ll help you find your edge and stand out in any industry. The Original Fearless Girls of Advertising panel was presented by New York Women In Communications, McCann New York, Bloomberg Media Group, and the American Advertisi