Coffee Break w/ NYWICI

Carla Serrano, Chief Strategy Officer, Publicis Groupe  "Not being risky is more risk than actually just going out there."  Ask for what you want and you may just get it! WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich sat down with Carla Serrano, 2026 Matrix honoree and Chief Strategy Officer at the Publicis Groupe. They kick off the conversation with how research and a bold request got Carla her first job in account planning. In this episode, you'll hear the career advice that's been most impactful to her and how she stays grounded. 

"Pay attention to the job you're becoming capable of doing."  In this episode, we hear from Ariel Nathanson, an honoree of the 2026 NYWICI Trailblazers! The Trailblazer Awards celebrate emerging professionals making a significant impact within their organizations and communities. Nominated by respected industry leaders, colleagues, and past Matrix honorees, these individuals represent the next generation of executives, storytellers, strategists, and creators. This year's Trailblazer Awards will be held on September 29, 2026.  Ariel shares how she added value to a role that wasn't a good fit (within a company that was!) and how being "human-centric" is part of her AI methodology. Plus, how the combination of a nose ring and pearls became part of her interview success. 

"How do you bring people into your story?"  In this special episode, our WomenHeard guest host is Linda Descano! A former NYWICI president and current Chief Global Integration & Marketing Officer at Havas Red Agency, she explores the evolving landscape of Chief Communications/Marketing officers with two women at the forefront of the strategic shift. Jennifer O'Neill leads communications for the Americas region at Reckitt, a global hygiene and health consumer products company known for Lysol and more. She recently completed the Reckitt Catalyst Innovator Bootcamp, which scales start-ups founded by women and under-represented entrepreneurs (in collaboration with Serena Williams, the first Entrepreneur-in-Residence!) Sangeeta Prasad is the first CMO at Slalom, a global technology consulting company, who spoke at 2026 Cannes Lions about how digital transformation and the AI revolution have enhanced her team's impact as a growth engine. Listen to this episode for how they build trust, maintain authenticity, and share their perspectives on what's shaping marketing and communications success today. Plus, they discuss how men and women are approaching AI with different lenses - and what that could mean for their career development. 

"You should always be kind. But pushing to be likeable can sometimes mean that you don't have the courage to say the thing that needs to be said."  In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkvovich speaks with Diana Haussling, a 2026 Matrix Honoree and CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) powerhouse! Her background spans Hershey, General Mills, Campbell and Colgate-Palmolive. As the CEO of Hello Products, a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive, Diana sits at the intersection of marketing technology and digital operations.  How quickly are you able to rebound from a conflict? Diana challenges listeners to determine their "plastic balls" of lower priority that can bounce and protect "glass balls" of high priority that can't be dropped. Plus, you'll hear Diana's method to evaluate feedback and learn two of our favorite phrases: "Leverage 'no' as a complete sentence!" and "Get rid of the little hater in your head!" 

The Matrix Awards is NYWICI's flagship event recognizing rising talent in the communications industry. In this episode, you'll hear from some of our scholarship honorees on their incredible accomplishments so far and what they're most looking forward to next! Sarah Ng, three-time NYWICI Scholarship recipient, interviewed this year's recipients on the red carpet.

The Matrix Awards by NYWICI serves as our opportunity to recognize exceptional leaders in the communications industry. This year’s theme is The Butterfly Effect: Women Who Transform the World and Inspire the Future! Sarah Ng, three-time NYWICI Scholarship recipient, interviewed award-winners on the red carpet of this star-studded event.  Listen to this episode for insights from emcee Sheinelle Jones, co-host of TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle! You’ll also hear from our honorees: Tamsen Fadal, Emmy Award-winning journalist;, Debra OConnell, Chairman, Disney Entertainment Television; Khartoon Weiss, VP Global Customer Solutions, Google; Diana Haussling, CEO, hello Products; Abbey Klaassen, CEO, Tinuiti; Carla Serrano, Chief Strategy Officer, Publicis Groupe; and Ashley Miles, former NYWICI president and founder/CEO at Franklyn West.

In this special interview, we hear from 2021 Matrix honoree Marisa Thalberg who's presenting Ashley Miles as an honoree at the 2026 Matrix Awards! The Matrix Awards is a prestigious event honoring and celebrating the accomplishments of women in communications and the arts, starting with its inaugural honoree, Gloria Steinem. WomenHeard host Georgia Galanoudis chats with them about their friendship and career journeys leading up to this milestone moment. Listen in for pragmatic perspectives about authenticity, generosity, and AI integration. 

Join us for this special episode honoring the legacy of Beverly Wettenstein: an award-winning journalist, author and women’s advocate! Creative production leader and NYWICI podcast committee member Leisel Kober interviewed a range of speakers, panelists, and leaders at this March event, whose work has influenced sports, hospitality, and media.  You'll hear insights from a Paula Ngon, PR & Brand Communications Strategist at the NFL; Tiffany Townsend, Executive Vice President Global Communications at NYC Tourism & Conventions; Maneet Ahuja, Editor-at-Large at Forbes and the Iconoclast Summit; Emily K. Graham, Global Chief Inclusion & Impact Officer at Omnicom; Rachel Carr, Executive Director at Dan Klores Communications; Youmie Jean Francois, founder of Flex-n-Fly; Sara Baiyu Porritt, Chief Inclusion & Impact Officer at Omnicom; and Lauren Kaufman, Managing Director of Public Relations at MMGY.  

"Don't forget the other women. Don't forget to be an advocate, a champion, a kind voice when feedback is needed." In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich speaks with Emily K. Graham at Omnicom, a global marketing and sales company with over 100K employees! She oversees thoughtful systems and empathetic strategies to ensure the employee experience is one that welcomes diverse perspectives and contributions. This level of care extends to Omnicom's clients and a unified team approach within the agency, requiring a breadth of corporate communications expertise. Listen to this episode for why Emily thinks of herself as the "check engine" light and why impact equals action. 

"There's so much content and so many opportunities for storytelling. If one thing doesn't work, we'll try again, pivot to the next thing, or expand!"  In this episode, WomenHeard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with PR powerhouse Paula Ngon. Paula established her communications expertise in a wide range of well-known brands: People, Vanity Fair, GQ and GQ Sports, as well as The Estée Lauder Companies. After attending the Super Bowl live, she loved the sheer joy of the fandom and was intrigued by working in the sports industry. At the NFL, she puts on some of the biggest events in the world and intersects her experience and passion for media, events, entertainment and public re​lations. Recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, an ADCOLOR Future Honoree and a Black Pioneer by PR News, Paula drives cultural moments that reach millions. Listen to this episode for the importance of hands-on learning and finding balance after facing a serious health challenge. 

"If you're young [in your career] and something is of interest to you, take the chance and just do it because you never know."  In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich interviews Caitlin Girouard at PayPal, a fintech company revolutionizing online payments and commerce infrastructure. Caitlin started out with strong interests in politics and law, transferring her skills in conflict resolution to crisis communications. Julie and Caitlin talk about how her line of work is actually "anti hair on fire" and the value of building a strong foundation of trust to maintain a company's mission. Plus, you'll hear the advantages of "learning by osmosis" and the value of taking a risk. 

"As you rise in your own career, you look around and you realize you have this incredibly powerful network, and you want to make sure that you keep it close.” In this episode, WomenHeard: Changemakers host Georgia Galanoudis speaks with Alia Lamborghini - a senior leader in digital advertising and revenue strategy. She invites us to learn more about the world of DSP (demand-side platform) as an advertising exchange - similar to buying and selling in the stock market with real-time bidding of assets. Listen to this episode for how strategic revenue building connects to the media industry, as well as leadership lessons for how to make your team feel supported and motivated in a fast-paced environment. 

“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". 

“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.