Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast

Hosted by Daria Suvorova-Konstandin

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117

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Apr 2026

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About the show

Women Authors of Achievement Podcast (WAA) celebrates the stories of extraordinary women who are shaping industries, breaking barriers, and redefining success. Each episode offers thought-provoking conversations with visionary leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and change-makers from diverse fields such as business, design, culture, beauty and social impact. Whether you’re seeking inspiration for your own journey or a window into the minds of remarkable women driving change, WAA is your source for authentic voices and powerful stories. Hosted by Daria Suvorova-Konstandin, join us as we explore what it truly means to achieve in today’s world.

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April 28, 2026Episode 1171 hr 2 min

E.117 The Feeling of Berlin with Daria Suvorova-Konstandin and Cynthia Mensah-Neglokpe (Live)

This time, the roles reverse as our very own host Daria Suvorova-Konstandin joins Cynthia Mensah-Neglokpe on the other side of the mic. Together with moderator Paloma Frau, Director of Cultural Programming at Fotografiska Berlin, the two authors and cultural curators discuss their new book, The Feeling of Berlin.Written as a love letter to Berlin, it tells the city's story through 33 portraits of women, each an icon in her own unique way. From club legend Britt Kanja and Love Parade co-founder Danielle de Picciotto to Michelin-starred chef Sophie Rudolph and next-gen creatives like Cloudy Zakrocki – the book reveals their insider tips and favorite spots.In this episode, Daria and Cynthia offer insights into the project: which stories touched them most, how they chose their protagonists, and how they managed to write an entire book alongside many other projects. They discuss challenges and successes, discipline and motivation – and how an idea evolved into 250 carefully curated pages.If you enjoy this conversation, don’t forget to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform.Read more about the Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast via waa.berlin/aboutFollow us on Instagram & find us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletter via waa.berlin/newsletter ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

March 24, 2026Episode 11647 min

E.116 What happens when you stop living someone else’s life with Veronica D’Souza (Live from Copenhagen)

It’s our very first conversation recorded in Denmark at Soho House Copenhagen. To mark this moment I invited to the show local star and global thought leader: Veronica D’Souza, social entrepreneur, artist, author and activist.In this episode, we speak about what it really means to build a life that actually feels like your own, and the courage it takes to step away from societal expectations. Veronica shares what she learned from working closely with women in prison, how that experience reshaped her understanding of dignity and agency, and why music became a way back to her inner voice after years of building companies.If there’s one thing to take away from this episode, it’s this: living fully often starts with listening to yourself, and to the stories of others.If you enjoy this conversation, don’t forget to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. I love reading your thoughts! Now, let’s dive in.Read more about the Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast via waa.berlin/aboutFollow us on Instagram & find us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletter via waa.berlin/newsletter ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

February 24, 2026Episode 11544 min

E.115 Knowing how to read the room with Keika Lee (Live from Stockholm)

This is our first episode recorded live in Sweden, here at Fotografiska Stockholm. And I couldn’t imagine a better guest to open this chapter.In this episode, I get to interview the brilliant Keika Lee, Director of Global Public Affairs at IKEA.Keika grew up in Sweden with Korean heritage, in a family where discipline and hard work were part of everyday life. She was on her way to becoming a classical pianist, with auditions at Juilliard and the Conservatoire in Paris, and then she made a decision that surprised many: she walked away.What followed wasn’t a straight career path, but years of trial and error. Keika tried many different roles: from bartending and working airport security to studying political science, building a fashion brand with her sister and working in consultancy. From the outside, It might look scattered, but it became one of her biggest strengths: learning how people behave and how to read the room.This episode might make you pause and ask yourself whether what you’re building is actually aligned with who you are, and remind you that nothing you try is ever wasted.Read more about the Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast via waa.berlin/aboutFollow us on Instagram & find us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletter via waa.berlin/newsletter ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

January 29, 2026Episode 11440 min

E.114 How change happens when women are given power with Preeti Malkani (Live)

I’m really happy to welcome Preeti Malkani, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board and Co-founder of Women for Women International Germany. With Indian and German roots, and a career that spans global advertising, entrepreneurship and humanitarian leadership, Preeti has dedicated her work to empowering women in conflict zones and rethinking how we talk about power and inclusion.In this conversation, we speak about the moments that shaped her path, the stories she’s witnessed in places like Rwanda, Iraq and Bosnia. And we’ll also talk about what each of us can do, beyond donations, to support women across the globe.If you enjoy this conversation, don’t forget to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform.Read more about the Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast via waa.berlin/aboutFollow us on Instagram & find us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletter via waa.berlin/newsletter ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

January 15, 2026Episode 11337 min

E.113 Facing the future of beauty tech with Wanfen Xia (Live)

It’s about time we really talk about beauty tech, what it already looks like in parts of Asia, and what it could become in our homes in the next few years, in ways we probably can’t even imagine yet.That’s exactly what I explore in this episode with Wanfen Xia, CMO and Managing Director at Ulike Europe.Wanfen brings a clear and grounded perspective on where the beauty-tech sector is heading. We talk about how advanced Asian markets already are, what Europe can learn from them, and how new self-care routines might soon become a natural part of everyday life at home.What I especially appreciated in this conversation is Wanfen’s gentle, thoughtful approach, shaped by literature, aesthetics, and a deep understanding to what beauty can mean beyond performance or perfection. It’s a reminder that some things are meant to be felt intuitively.If you enjoy this conversation, don’t forget to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform.Read more about the Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast via waa.berlin/aboutFollow us on Instagram & find us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletter via waa.berlin/newsletter ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

November 25, 2025Episode 11238 min

E.112 Crafting a beauty brand built on self-expression and belonging with Linda Hallberg (Live)

This episode is brought to you in partnership with flaconi, Germany’s leading online destination for beauty and fragrance. But flaconi is more than a retailer, it’s a platform that celebrates individuality and empowerment. Values that deeply align with today’s guest and everything she stands for.Linda Hallberg is a name many in the beauty world already know. A visionary makeup artist, founder of LH cosmetics and one of Sweden’s most creative forces. From pioneering multi-use products to building a radically inclusive beauty brand, she’s been shaping the conversation long before it was mainstream.But behind the iconic looks and bold colors is a story of resilience. In this episode, Linda opens up about growing up queer in a small town, the early days of makeup school while living in a caravan and the journey of building her own brand, LH cosmetics.This conversation is a reminder that it’s okay to take up space and that sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is return to artistry and play.Read more about the Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast via waa.berlin/aboutFollow us on Instagram & find us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletter via waa.berlin/newsletter ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

October 29, 2025Episode 11143 min

E.111 Curating what millions hear and feel with Conny Zhang (Live)

Today’s guest is Conny Zhang. She is a curious mind, a culture lover and the Head of Music at Spotify DACH. Her journey took her from writing newspaper columns as a teenager to shaping what millions of people listen to every day.Conny grew up with a deep love for stories. Reading constantly, playing music and always finishing her homework before letting herself unwind. That mix of discipline and imagination has stayed with her, whether she was studying in Shanghai and San Diego, interning at Universal Music, or building her career at Google and now Spotify.In this conversation, Conny opens up about launching her first scholarship, finding confidence through coaching and how she’s still learning to rest in a world that rarely slows down.Read more about the Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast via waa.berlin/aboutFollow us on Instagram & find us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletter via waa.berlin/newsletter ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

October 7, 2025Episode 11042 min

E. 110 Inside Germany’s women’s football revolution with Lisa Währer (Live)

Today’s guest is Lisa Währer, powerhouse in German football, and the co-founder and managing director of FC Viktoria Berlin. From her early days as a footballer in Hamburg to building campaigns at Jung von Matt Sports and OneFootball, Lisa has always worked with strong purpose in mind. Now, alongside a team of five other women, she’s leading one of Berlin’s boldest football clubs, which was promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga. In this conversation, Lisa opens up about what it really means to be the only woman in the room, how gut instinct shaped her career more than any five-year plan, and why visibility for women in sports is still a fight worth showing up for.This live edition of the show has been powered by Ancient + Brave, a UK science-based wellness brand that brings a holistic approach to well-being. Treating our live audience to the signature True Collagen which helps with a glowing skin, offers connective tissues, joint and bone support. Read more about the Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast via waa.berlin/aboutFollow us on Instagram & find us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletter via waa.berlin/newsletter ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

September 15, 2025Episode 10945 min

E.109 Choosing ambition in London and finding awakening in Berlin with Nikki Trott (Live from London)

Welcome to a very special live edition of the Women Authors of Achievement Podcast, hosted for the first time in UK, right here at the Amano Hotel Skybar in London, overlooking Covent Garden. My guest today is Nikki Trott, strategist, podcast host and author of her new book Sacred Business. Her story bridges two worlds: the ambitious drive of London’s fashion and branding industry, and the expansive, intuitive energy she discovered in Berlin.Nikki started out leading global fashion and lifestyle campaigns, working with big names across London and New York. But at some point, success as she knew it started to feel off. Thats when she made a radical choice, she left it all behind to follow a different kind of calling.In this conversation, we talk about what it means to walk away from conventional success, how Berlin helped her reconnect with her intuition, and why business can, and should, be an expression of who we are at our core.If you’re in a moment of transition or simply craving more purpose in your work, hear this episode!Read more about the Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast via waa.berlin/aboutFollow us on Instagram & find us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletter via waa.berlin/newsletter ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

August 20, 2025Episode 10847 min

E.108 Mastering Berlin's high-end culinary experiences with Jen Florin (Live)

Today’s guest is Jen Florin, co-founder of Cookies Events & Catering and someone who’s been shaping Berlin’s cultural and culinary scene from behind the curtain for almost two decades. But titles aside, Jen is a true master of atmosphere. She knows how to turn a room into an experience you’ll never forget.We talked about the art of curation (yes, the lighting, the playlists, the menus), but also the mindset. Jen opened up about her early years growing up in West Germany, organizing parties in her parents' light studio, and how a teenage love for club culture led her all the way to building an international agency, hosting Netflix, and throwing over 100 events a year.We also speak about creative partnership and the beautiful chaos of making things happen!And if you love this episode, leave a review, send it to a friend, or just hit replay.Read more about the Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast via waa.berlin/aboutFollow us on Instagram & find us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletter via waa.berlin/newsletter ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★