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Presented by New York Women in Communications, WomenHeard is a career-focused podcast where guests share personal stories and practical advice. Hosted by career expert Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich, the series features women at various stages of their career journeys to explore—career advancement, equity in the workplace, compensation, and more. The series also features WomenHeard Changemakers, hosted by NYWICI Past President Georgia Galanoudis, featuring our industry’s most influential voices to discuss pivotal career moments, influences, and the lessons that shape effective leadership.
103 Episodes
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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:
Nancy Rabstejnek Nichols, Senior Vice President, External Affairs, Interpublic Group and Past President of NYWICI
Lauren Hurwitz, Founder and CEO of MediaHouse, Freelance Writer, and Real Estate Agent at Compass
Chelsea Orcutt, Associate Director, Strategy and Operations, Thirty Madison and Co-Vice President of Scholarships & Grants for NYWICI
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!
“The speed at which information is traveling has changed. That also means the speed at which myths and disinformation is traveling, and how it’s shared and amplified especially with AI and search engines, is really a whole new factor for consideration.”In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich interviews public relations powerhouse Sam Wolf. Her “strategic sparkle” has woven her career threads through small, midsized and global agencies, showcasing storytelling expertise across media, tech, and governmental sectors. Sam walks through the tenets of crisis communications: factors that go into an assessment, the importance of trust, and how silence is increasingly not an acceptable response.Listen to this episode for how Sam brings vulnerability to her leadership. She shares a story with our audience about a job that didn’t work out early on and how to lean on both your gut feelings and mentors. Plus, how the “flexibility stigma” is related to what she thinks is the biggest challenge facing women in the workforce today.
"Bring people onto your team that might have skill sets that you don't have, that complement the overall team. Bring them along with you. Don't be intimidated by their talents."In this episode, Womenheard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Beth Feldman, the incoming 2026 President of NYWICI! As a leading network television communications professional, she's launched wide-reaching campaigns for Emmy-award winning shows on CBS including CSI, The Amazing Race, as well as Everybody Loves Raymond. Listen to this episode for the benefits of being transparent about what you don't know, following what lights you up, and why writing is the foundation for everything.
NYWICI’s Trailblazer Awards is a celebration of the next generation of industry leaders in communications, marketing, advertising, and public relations. Sarah Ng, Digital Content Producer at The New York Post and three-time NYWICI Scholarship recipient, took to the red carpet to interview the four honorees.Listen to this episode for insights from Jessica Ling, Executive Vice President, Global Advertising at American Express; Danielle Wallis, Chief Marketing Officer, Connected Commerce & Head of Card Marketing at JPMorgan Chase; Talia Bender Small, President at The Female Quotient; and Leah Seay Anise, Consumer Communications Lead at OpenAI. You’ll also hear from our Trailblazer emcee, Alexis Christoforous at ABC News and Beth Feldman, Senior Vice President at Nexstar Media Group and President-Elect for NYWICI!
"I think you're a great leader when you make other leaders." In this episode, Womenheard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Elizabeth Donovan, a visionary media executive at global agency and technology firm Acxiom/IPG. As a SVP, Head of Retail and Commerce Networks, she spearheads strategy, tech innovation, revenue acceleration and strategy across retail, hospitality, finance, and beyond.Formerly, Elizabeth architected and led the successful launch of the Marriott Media Network, the hospitality industry’s first media network. She built a multi-functional organization from the ground up, reshaping how brands engage travelers through meaningful, data-enriched advertising experiences. Listen to this episode for stories from over 18 years in the media industry, including how to build a strong foundation of support.
“In most mainstream news, women’s stories are not prioritized. They’re not centered. Women are often covered as an afterthought, as a sidebar to the main event, as if women are not an integral part of the story.”In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich interviews Francesca Donner, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Persistent. Dedicated to amplifying women’s voices and stories, the platform’s mission is to "cover women for a change". Francesca honed her storytelling skills and newsroom expertise at The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes, launching initiatives that brought together a rich variety of perspectives. Listen to this episode for Francesca's thoughts on AI's effect on the newsroom and hear her perspective on what it means for allies to step in.
"We're really in a moment of people having to reinvent, redefine, rediscover themselves. Our world changes so dramatically that I think it's helpful for us all to remember that there's no deadline and it isn't over. We'll keep finding things inside of us." In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich interviews Bellamy Young, a 2025 Matrix Honoree and film, TV, and Broadway actress. After her iconic role as President Mellie Grant on the Shonda Rhimes's award-winning series Scandal, for which she earned a Critics’ Choice Award, she hasn't stopped! She's an ambassador for the global humanitarian organization CARE, for whom she created the podcast She Leads with Care to uplift the stories of incredible female leaders from around the world who have changed their lives and communities. Her first novel The Aetherion Code, a futuristic coming-of-age story co-written with her dear friend Fay Masterson, was published in July 2025. Listen to this episode for her perspective on support systems and what it means to "adventure in all directions".
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. During her seven years at the helm, the magazine boasted one of the largest monthly magazine circulations and was named Advertising Age’s Magazine of the Year. Listen to this episode for behind-the-scenes info on her collaboration for Katie Couric's memoir and how Lucy puts storytelling's impact at the intersection of everything she does.
"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 for communicators worldwide. As the first female CEO in Ragan's 57-year history, Diane has led the organization to unparalleled growth for the past 5 consecutive years. Listen to this episode for her thoughts on AI's impact in the industry and why asking for help is the key to success.
"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 interviews Eleanor Reece, a 2024 NYWICI Trailblazer Honoree and communications leader. Eleanor is responsible for guiding Whirlpool Corporation’s global communications function and corporate communications strategy to support the company’s vision of improving life at home. Her natural curiosity about the world led her to crave experiences in journalism, public policy, strategy, and anything with a sense of urgency. Listen to this episode for why having a growth mindset can be the best asset in your career toolbox.
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 studded event. Listen to this episode for insights from Kristen Welker, moderator of NBC's Meet The Press; Bellamy Young, actor, film producer, and host of the She Leads with CARE podcast; Rachel Lindsay, media personality, attorney, and Higher Learning podcast co-host; and more!
"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 of Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff and co-founder of the Female Founder Collective, Rebecca's encouragement stems from her 20 years of entrepreneurship - both the successes and the frustrations. Moderated by Jackie Hyland, NYWICI member and Associate Director of Corporate Affairs, Sustainability at KPMG US, this conversation focuses on taking educated risks and transforming setbacks into opportunities. You'll also hear tips for how to establish your unique vision and get to know the audience you hope to serve.
"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 mission to amplify community voices. Listen to this interview for her perspective on the future of work, along with the career paths she followed and the ones she created for herself.
"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 how to manage your money instead of it managing you. Whether it's building a diversified investment portfolio, shoring up an emergency fund that fits a tight job market (potentially 9 months of runway) or leveraging your earning potential, you'll come away with actionable tips to explore your next steps to long-term wealth building. Resources mentioned: Free Financial Helpline; CFP Board; Podcast: Power of the Ask; Ellevest; Jean Chatzky
"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 this role, Tracy-Ann filled executive roles at media agencies in New York, LA and Ireland where she is from. Listen to this episode for why simplicity can be a strategic advantage, along with how to build trust with your team and trust in your brand.
“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 NYWICI podcast in 2023 and she’s back with her trademark honesty and updates! The former Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire, Lesley has been at the editorial helm of beloved and influential magazines: Vogue, Women’s Wear Daily, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, YM, Redbook, and More. She launched CoveyClub.com in 2017, a lifelong learning community empowering women ages 40+. Listen to this episode for insights on entrepreneurship and knowing when to make a change.
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; Annie Lohmeyer Riva, Principal, Global Corporate Affairs at management consultancy Korn Ferry and NYWICI Programming member; and Singleton Beato, Global EVP and Chief DE&I Officer at global ad group McCann and NYWICI Chief Strategy Officer and board member. Listen to this episode for the panel's perspectives on return to office (RTO) and flexibility, the impact of career breaks, ageism, and actionable ways to break through barriers. Other resources mentioned: Carla Harris.
"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-time Editor-in-Chief (formerly Condé Nast Traveler, Martha Stewart Living, and Cookie Magazine) who started her career journey writing travel guides! From road tripping through Italy to having a front row seat to all things digital media in New York, Pilar worked in both print and multi-platform magazine focuses. She also co-founded The Swell, a global community and learning platform helping people navigate the second half of their lives. Listen to this episode for the career advice that solidified Pilar's path in creative endeavors. Plus, how she elevated awareness for women's health issues by crowdsourcing wisdom from new mothers.
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