WomenHeard

Hosted by New York Women in Communications

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Episodes

110

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Presented by New York Women in Communications, WomenHeard is a career-focused podcast where women across the communications industry share personal stories and practical advice. Hosted by career expert Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich and NYWICI Past President Georgia Galanoudis, the series explores career growth, equity, and the pivotal moments that shape confident, effective leadership. Real Stories. Real Advice. Real Talk.

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60 recent

June 5, 2026Episode 11116 min

56th Annual Matrix Awards: Red Carpet Recap

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.

May 8, 2026Episode 11034 min

Marisa Thalberg, EVP & Chief Customer and Marketing Officer, Catalyst Brands LLC and Ashley Miles, CEO, Franklyn West & Former NYWICI President

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.

April 16, 2026Episode 10941 min

Celebrating Women’s History Month & Beverly Wettenstein

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.

April 2, 2026Episode 10836 min

Emily K. Graham, Global Chief Inclusion & Impact Officer, Omnicom

"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.

March 17, 2026Episode 10734 min

Paula Ngon, PR & Brand Communications Strategist, NFL

"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 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 relations.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.

February 24, 2026Episode 10646 min

Caitlin Girouard, Head of Crisis Communications & Director of Corporate Communications, PayPal

"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.

January 28, 2026Episode 10535 min

Changemakers: Alia Lamborghini, SVP Global Revenue, Yahoo DSP

"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.

December 19, 2025Episode 10446 min

Sam Wolf, Executive Vice President of Corporate & Public Affairs, Burson

“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.

November 11, 2025Episode 10346 min

Changemakers: Beth Feldman, SVP Communications, The CW Network & SVP Communications, Nexstar Media Inc./Networks

"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.

September 25, 2025Episode 10219 min

2025 Trailblazer Awards: Red Carpet Recap

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!