Episodes
In this episode, Mehera O’Brien, Head of Creative, New York, at argodesign, discusses her extensive experience in the design industry, the evolution of design consultancies, and the importance of client partnerships. She shares insights on navigating the intersection of creativity and data, the significance of taking leaps of faith in one's career, and how AI is re-shaping the industry.  Listen for advice on: Finding the balance between risk-taking and data in innovationDefining success as...
Published 11/13/24
Published 11/13/24
In this episode, Anneliese Olson, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, at HP North America, shares her extensive experience in leading go-to-market strategies across various business lines. She discusses her career journey, the importance of risk-taking, and the value of personal growth through a gap year.  Listen for advice on: Understanding one’s purpose and its role in effective leadershipNavigating multi-generational workforcesMost surprising elements of a business...
Published 11/04/24
In this episode, Jelena Joffe Weil, Worldwide Venture Innovation Lead at AWS, discusses the importance of curiosity and creativity in driving innovation, the challenges of establishing a venture innovation program, and the role of failure as a learning opportunity. They share insights on managing stakeholders and complex challenges, using real-world examples. Key Takeaways: How to navigate starting a corporate venture 0-to-1The need for respectful persistence in execution and strategy What...
Published 10/23/24
In this episode, Andrea Hopelain, GM and SVP of Publishing at EA Sports, discusses her career in the entertainment, media, gaming, and sports industry. She focuses on emotional connections with fans and the intersection of entertainment and sports participation. She also shares insights on engaging with Gen Z and Gen A, brand changes, innovation, and the role of women in sports and gaming. Key Takeaways: How to stay closely connected with large-scale audiencesThe impact of Gen Z and Gen A on...
Published 07/08/24
In this episode, Zoia Kozakov, the host of the WIN/WIN podcast and Head of Device Digital Wallets @ JPMorgan Chase, shares her journey of launching the podcast and how it has shaped her, along with how she’s evolved throughout her career. Zoia emphasizes the importance of having a growth mindset and continuously learning and growing, talking about the shift in her definition of success and power, focusing on being true to herself and embracing her vision. Key takeaways:  Using a passion...
Published 06/25/24
In this episode, Cheryl Sew Hoy, founder and CEO of Tiny Health, shares her entrepreneurial journey and the challenges she faced in building her startups. She discusses her experience as a first-time founder and the lessons she learned from her first company and its acquisition process. In a conversation focused on both Cheryl's trajectory and her experience building Tiny Health, a microbiome testing the episode reveals the challenges and opportunities for female entrepreneurs and how they...
Published 06/10/24
In this episode, Amy Divaraniya, Founder & CEO of Oova, shares her unexpected journey to becoming a founder of a data-first, at-home hormone-tracking solution. She shares the ins and outs of building a multi-sided marketplace and how she turned her own struggles with fertility and the medical system into Oova. Throughout the conversation, Zoia and Amy touch on the challenges of the medical system that are specific to women and women's health and how data can be used to empower women to...
Published 05/06/24
In this episode, Amruta Moktali, Chief Product Officer at Skyflow, shares her journey in product management and discusses the challenges and decisions she has faced throughout her career. Amruta also explains the role of a Chief Product Officer at a Series B company and the need for a strong partnership between product and engineering. Amruta encourages women to overcome imposter syndrome and seek feedback to grow their careers. Key takeaways:  Surround yourself with intelligent people who...
Published 04/22/24
In this episode, Nisreen Hasib, CEO and founder of Signoff, shares her journey from being the COO of Unbound to starting her own company that focuses on solving the housing crisis. Nisreen challenges the traditional definition of success in the startup world and shares insights on getting into Techstars. Key takeaways:  Align your career choices with your foundational values.Trust your intuition and take risks when making career decisions.Challenge the traditional definition of success and...
Published 04/08/24
This episode explores Betsy Cohen and Amanda Abrams’ journey and experiences in the finance and investment industry. They discuss the skills and qualities they seek in founders, the vision for Cohen Circle and Radiate Capital, and their role in innovation in fintech. Through a discussion of their personal and professional experiences, Zoia, Amanda, and Betsy touch on what diversity means to them and conclude with a discussion on gender dynamics in the workplace and the industry. Listen for...
Published 03/26/24
In this episode, host Zoia Kozakov shares her personal experience with elective egg freezing and interviews Dr. Fahimeh Sasan, Chief Innovation Officer and Founding Physician at KindBody. They discuss the importance of proactive fertility care, the challenges and barriers in the industry, and the need for accessibility and equity in women's health. They also provide an overview of the egg-freezing process, debunk misconceptions, and highlight the benefits of being proactive about fertility....
Published 01/22/24
In this episode, join Zoia as she interviews Patrice Meagher, CEO and founder of Milkmate, a revolutionary breast-pumping solution for the workplace. Milkmate’s solution is comprised of modular furniture components, including a multi-user breast pump, and single-use parts that are all ready for immediate use. Patrice shares her journey, from her career in commercial real estate to developing and running her own company. They also discuss the importance of inclusive workplaces and the power of...
Published 12/11/23
In this episode, join Zoia as she delves into the world of brand building and direct-to-consumer (D2C) innovation with Suze Dowling, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Pattern Brands. Discover how Suze and her team are revolutionizing the D2C industry by combining acquisitions and in-house incubations to create a family of home brands. Gain valuable insights into their approach to building successful brands, overcoming challenges, and the importance of staying customer-centric in a...
Published 12/05/23
In this episode, Zoia and Emi Neitfeld, writer of “Acceptance: a Memoir,” have a captivating conversation as they delve into the gripping story of navigating workplace challenges, transitioning from engineering to writing, and challenging societal expectations. Explore the power of personal narratives, resilience beyond traditional narratives, and the future of innovation in journalism.  Listen for advice on: Transitioning from engineering to full-time writingChallenging resilience narratives...
Published 11/27/23
In this episode, Zoia interviews Courtney Carlsson, the founder of Paradym, a mental health platform. They discuss Courtney's journey as a founder, how she approaches building her startup, and the unique features of Paradym that set it apart.  Listen for advice on: What’s it like fundraising as a pregnant female founder How to innovate a two-sided marketplaceWhat makes a successful mental health product Why prioritizing healing is vital to making the most of a maternity leave Learn...
Published 11/20/23
In this episode, Jameelah Calhoun, Eventbrite’s Vice President and Global Head of Product and Customer Marketing, sits down with Zoia. Together, they discuss Jameelah’s tremendous trajectory, ranging from financial services to working at Amazon’s Audible and Eventbrite. Jameelah’s visionary thinking and authentic speaking make for another meaningful conversation about innovation, leadership, and intersectionality on the podcast.  Listen for advice on: How to go about launching a 0-to1...
Published 09/11/23
In this week’s episode, Zoia sits down to talk with Shyvee Shi, Product Lead at LinkedIn. They discuss everything from navigating unconventional careers to mentorship, and the impacts of artificial intelligence on education. Listen for advice on: The most critical skills to future-proof your career growth How to navigate artificial intelligence advances in a tactical and additive way Balancing non-conventional careers and side hustles when working in corporationsImplementing innovation...
Published 08/28/23
In this week’s episode, Zoia connects with Inna Lobel, Creative Director, Head of Industrial Design, North America at frog, a leading innovation consultancy. Inna discusses the craft, art, and science of innovation, along with her role in enabling Campfire to raise $8 million in funding. Listen for advice on: The differences and similarities of working in-house vs. agency-sideHow to stay user-centric without having all of the data The skills needed to succeed in innovationThe role of...
Published 07/31/23
In this week’s episode, Zoia sits down with Evelyn Chou, Senior Product Manager at Coursera, one of the most prominent innovators in the edtech space. Evelyn breaks down the journey of finding her voice through her various career stops and how she embeds innovation into her products (hint: she weaves it into her planning!). Listen for advice on: Navigating the likability trap at work Why this is the most pivotal time for edtechApproaching prioritization as you consider growth...
Published 06/06/23
In this episode, Zoia sits down with Sharifa Murdock, KITH's Chief Impact Officer and founder of ENVSN Festival. She shares her journey going from working in retail to now leading impact initiatives for one of the most established and fashion-forward brands. Sharifa also discusses how she approached building out ENVSN Festival, a culture-first experience to inspire the next generation to be innovative with their careers.  Listen for advice on: Finding a career and company which aligns with...
Published 05/08/23
In this episode, we are joined by Anomaly's Chief Innovation Officer, Natasha Jakubowski. Natasha is an "innovation veteran" with over 20+ years of experience in the industry, building out her own innovation practice, and growing it within Anomaly. Natasha has helped build new brands as well as put others, such as EOS (beauty brand) on the map. Listen for advice on: How to lean into your communication and leadership styleWhy innovation has no singular definition or outputThe importance of...
Published 04/24/23
In this episode, Cynthia Plotch shares how running into her boyfriend’s mom while buying a pregnancy test factored into her journey to start a company focused on women’s healthcare. One of Inc.’s 100 Female Founders in 2021, and the co-founder of Stix, she aims to create better experiences and solutions with women’s healthcare products and talks about the challenge of raising funds from male VCs.  Listen for advice on: Getting close to your customers The importance of building and maintaining...
Published 03/27/23
In this episode, Zoia sits down with Jess Houlgrave, who heads up crypto and go-to-market strategy at Checkout.com, an international payments platform valued at over billions of dollars. The conversation touches on how Jess navigates being a leader in an industry that often draws criticism and doubt, while leaning into being at the helm of innovation.  Listen for advice on: How to balance helpful feedback while blocking out the noiseChoosing the right team for innovative projectsBalancing...
Published 03/13/23
In this episode, we celebrate the 100th episode of the WIN/WIN podcast by bringing back the incredible Enshalla Anderson, who is the Global Head of Brand & Creative at Google Cloud. Enshalla was the very first WIN/WIN podcast guest, and she comes back to discuss her trajectory since the podcast and what she’s learned about the world of innovation through her new role and experiences. Listen for advice on: How to create impact in meetings as an introverted personBuilding in learning...
Published 03/02/23