WIN/WIN: Women in Innovation

Hosted by Zoia Kozakov

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143

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

WIN/WIN is an original podcast from Women In Innovation featuring conversations between Zoia Kozakov and women leaders who’ve carved careers in the historically male-dominated innovation space (innovation consultancies, innovation departments in Fortune 500 companies, and the startup ecosystem) — defining their own futures and creating a world where we all win. Each episode presents a one-on-one interview with a compelling innovator, delivering practical advice, strategies, and the stories of what drives them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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60 recent

June 15, 202623 min

#140 Niamh Martin | Managing Director, UK @ Convene Hospitality Group

In this episode of Win/Win: Women in Innovation, Zoia Kozakov sits down with Niamh Martin, Managing Director UK at Convene Hospitality Group, to explore what it looks like to lead at the intersection of hospitality, innovation, and scale. Niamh oversees 12 venues, nearly 600 people, and the entire UK operation of a company that has grown from a single premium meeting venue into a global hospitality group with 40 locations across nine cities. She shares how falling into restaurants by accident over 20 years ago turned out to be the best leadership education she never planned for — and how a question she kept asking ("why aren't we doing this?") led to one of the most in-demand large-scale event experiences in the UK.Listen for advice on:Why you can't build something meaningful alone — and what that actually looks like in practiceHow to make a career move when you weren't even looking for oneWhat happens when you borrow an idea from one industry and ask why it doesn't exist in yoursThe difference between being the best person in the room and being responsible for the roomLearn more:Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoiaNiamh Martin (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/niamh-martin-26252a30/Women in Innovation: http://www.womeninnovation.coAudio Editor: Samantha Gattsek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 1, 202633 min

#139 Zerlina "Zee" Jackson | VP, Experience & Design Strategy @ New York Life Insurance

In this episode of Win/Win: Women in Innovation, Zoia Kozakov sits down with Zerlina "Zee" Jackson, VP of Experience & Design Strategy at New York Life Insurance, to explore what it looks like to build something genuinely new inside one of the oldest institutions in America. Zee shares how a childhood spent counting back change in her grandmother's garage store in Bessemer, Alabama, shaped her belief that innovation isn't just about building products — it's about building possibility. From launching New York Life's first Design Center of Excellence to navigating a promotion, a newborn, a cross-country move, and a pandemic all at once, this conversation is about what it really takes to lead with both ambition and humanity.Listen for advice on:The four foundational skills that will serve you in any seat, any industryWhy the best innovation happens when you don't wait for a blueprintHow to drive real change inside a 180-year-old company without losing what makes it greatWhat it means to build a team that shows up for each other — and why that's the whole pointLearn more:Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoiaZerlina Jackson (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/zjackson/Women in Innovation: http://www.womeninnovation.coAudio Editor: Samantha Gattsek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April 27, 202632 min

#138 Chris Konya | Chief Strategy Officer @ Sylvain

In this episode of Win/Win: Women in Innovation, Zoia Kozakov sits down with Chris Konya, Chief Strategy Officer at Sylvain, to explore what twenty years in strategy and innovation actually teaches you — about business, about creativity, and about yourself. Chris shares how the field has evolved from generating a plethora of ideas to finding the one right idea, why the best insights can come from the most unexpected places, and how she thinks about navigating change, loss, and reinvention both professionally and personally.Listen for advice on:Why the right idea always beats a room full of ideasHow to find the insight that unlocks an entirely new categoryReframing gender from disadvantage to different advantageWhat it means to choose your people — and bet on them — when it's hardLearn more:Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoiaChris Konya (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskonya/ Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.coAudio Editor: Samantha Gattsek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April 13, 202637 min

#137 Anisha Kamat | COO @ ShopMy

In this episode of Win/Win: Women in Innovation, Zoia Kozakov sits down with Anisha Kamat, COO of ShopMy, to explore what it means to build and operate a fast-scaling company at the intersection of creator culture, commerce, and taste. Anisha shares how she made the leap from Goldman Sachs and BCG to the startup world, what it's really like to grow into a C-suite role in real time, and why ShopMy is betting on human recommendation as the future of how we discover and buy.Listen for advice on:Why the best career moves often don't make sense on paperHow to build operating systems that create space for creativity — not just efficiencyNavigating ambiguity without letting perfectionism block progressHuman taste as a competitive advantage in the age of AILearn more:Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoiaAnisha Kamat (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/anisha-kamat-27960591/Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.coAudio Editor: Samantha Gattsek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January 12, 202632 min

#136 Henley Vazquez | Co-Founder @ Fora

In this episode of Win/Win: Women in Innovation, Zoia Kozakov sits down with Henley Vazquez, co-founder of Fora, to unpack how she’s reimagining the travel advisor industry through technology, training, and community. Henley shares how Fora is lowering barriers to entry, empowering a new generation of travel entrepreneurs—most of them women—and using thoughtful innovation to modernize an industry long overdue for change.Listen for advice on:Why innovation doesn’t always mean reinventing the wheelLowering barriers to create stronger ecosystemsCommunity beats competition - collaboration, shared learning, and trust are core to scaling a platformHuman expertise matters more in the age of AILearn more:Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoiaHenley Vazquez (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/deedunne/Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.coAudio Editor: Samantha Gattsek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

December 22, 202529 min

#135 Dee Dunne | Sr. Director, Global Lifecycle Marketing & Operations at Intuit Mailchimp

In this episode, Dee Dunne shares her extensive experience in lifecycle marketing, discussing her journey from PayPal to Mailchimp, where she is currently Sr. Director, Global Lifecycle Marketing & Operations. She emphasizes the importance of understanding customer behavior, the challenges of event marketing, and the complexities of measuring ROI. Dee also delves into the role of innovation in marketing, particularly in the context of AI, and reflects on the dynamics of gender in her career. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of marketing and the future possibilities driven by technology and strategic thinking.Listen for advice on:Integrating innovation into daily operations vs. having it exist as a siloTaking a multifaceted approach to measuring ROI for eventsWhy marketing is the middle point between people and dataThe impact of rapid technological advancements on marketingLearn more:Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoiaDee Dunne (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/deedunne/Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.coAudio Editor: Samantha Gattsek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

December 9, 202529 min

#134 Joanna Strober | Founder & CEO @ Midi Health

In this episode, we are joined by Joanna Strober, CEO and co-founder of Midi Health. Joanna’s career spans venture capital, entrepreneurship, and now category-defining innovation in women’s midlife care. We explore how her own experience navigating perimenopause sparked the idea for Midi, and how she transformed a small pilot into one of the fastest-growing women’s health platforms. Joanna opens up about the realities of fundraising in an underestimated category, the emotional resilience required to lead through “no’s,” and why starting a company in your fifties can be a strategic advantage. Listen for insights on:The advantage of pursuing innovation through addressing personal pain pointsHow to accept a fundraising ‘no’ as a data point, not an identityThe superpower of starting a company later in life/career Learn more:Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoiaJoanna Strober (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannastrober/Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.coAudio Editor: Samantha Gattsek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 18, 202530 min

#133 Marissa (Steinmetz) Israel | Head of Digital Product, eCommerce @ Coterie

In this episode, host Zoia Kozakov sits down with Marissa Steinmetz, Head of Digital Product, eCommerce at Coterie. With over a decade of experience spanning industries from luxury fashion to liquor and now baby care, Marissa shares how she’s built a career on adaptability, empathy, and innovation. She reflects on leading through ambiguity while designing digital experiences that truly make parents’ lives easier.Listen for insights on:Pivoting product skills across luxury, liquor, beauty, and now baby careWhat “wartime innovation” really looks like in a fast-scaling startupBuilding empathy for customers—even when you’re not (yet) the end userLeading through uncertainty and crisis with resilience and clarityLearn more:Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoiaMarissa Steinmetz Israel (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissa-steinmetz-israel-1b101511/Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.coAudio Editor: Samantha Gattsek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 4, 202537 min

#132 Catherine McCourt | Global Technology Consulting Leader @ EY

In this episode, Catherine Ann McCourt, Global Technology Consulting Leader at EY, reflects on her 25+ years in consulting and her journey from Partner to global leadership. She shares how mindset, self-belief, and continuous learning are essential for thriving in fast-changing technology environments, while also addressing innovation blockers like fear of change, siloed cultures, and legacy systems. Catherine discusses overcoming imposter syndrome at the senior level, the role of mentorship and “finding your tribe,” and why diverse, inclusive teams are key to driving transformation and long-term business success.Listen for advice on:How to set new milestones after hitting big career goalsWhy mindset and confidence matter more than hard skillsStrategies for breaking through common innovation blockersThe power of inclusion  and “finding your tribe”Learn more:Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoiaCatherine McCourt (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinemccourt/Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 11, 202539 min

#131 Ariba Jahan | Head of Transformation, North America @ Anomaly

In this episode, Ariba Jahan, Head of Transformation for North America at Anomaly, shares her journey from studying biomechanical engineering and attending medical school to leading innovation and transformation across nonprofit, startup, and agency environments. She opens up about embracing a multi-hyphenated career, navigating ambiguity with confidence, and redefining what it means to “have it all” as a mother, immigrant, and woman of color. Ariba also explores the intersection of innovation and transformation, how to bring others along on the journey, and the importance of anticipating unintended consequences in emerging technologies like AI.Listen for advice on:Building clarity and buy-in for innovation and transformation rolesNurturing a culture of experimentation and co-creationSustaining confidence while navigating uncertaintyIdentifying and addressing biases in product and service designLearn more:Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoiaAriba Jahan (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribajahan/Ariba's podcast - Unmissables: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unmissables-with-ariba-jahan/id1707384312Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.coAudio Editor: Samantha Gattsek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.