Ellevate Podcast: Conversations With Women Changing The Face Of Business

On this episode, we sit down with Naz Arandi, Global Creative Director at Airbnb, who shares her upbringing in Iran, cultural differences she has faced, and the road that took her to her current success. Naz also talks about the 21st century considerations of design, multiple facets of diversity, as well as how she manages a team of creatives who reflect Airbnb's global community. 

On this week's episode Lynn Perkins, of Urban Sitters talks about her journey as an entrepreneur, the challenges faced when fundraising, and advice on how to find the right investors and partners for your startup. Perkins also talks about how having kids has impacted her work, mistakes parents make around childcare and advice on finding the right care provider for your children.

On this episode Vanessa De Luca, Editor-in-Chief of Zora Magazine, discusses her expansive experiences in media, celebrating voices of women of color, and using her experiences as a building block. De Luca also shares instances from her time as the only women of color in the room as well as her approach to being a better ally in the workplace and creating solutions towards progress. 

On this episode, Cindy Eckert, Founder & CEO of Sprout Pharmaceuticals and The Pink Ceiling, talks about how she got her start in the male-dominated healthcare industry, the gendered narrative around sex and sexual health, as well as her journey as an entrepreneur. Cindy shares her own startup journey from raising funds to selling her company for 1 billion dollars, to becoming an angel investor and starting her "Pinkubator" for fellow female industry disruptors. 

On this week's episode, we sit down with Ann Lewnes, Chief Marketing Officer of Adobe, to talk about her career path, the importance of utilizing multiple skill sets at work, and fostering creativity. Lewnes also talks about her experiences in the C-Suite, representing women and their stories in tech and creative industries, as well as the value of advocating for yourself. 

On this episode, Kate McGuinness, Author of Confidence Lost / Confidence Found: How to Reclaim the Unstoppable You, joins us to talk about the ins and outs of authentic confidence and how you can find it. Kate discusses how she got her start, the unexpected gift of getting fired, accepting loss, and mindfulness. Moderator Kristy Wallace introduces lightning round questions.   

On this episode, we are joined by two strong leaders, Annie Liu and Nikki Arwood of Charles Schwab, as they discuss their career journey from answering support calls to executive positions. The duo tackle peer relationships, advocating for women in the workplace, working remotely with functional leadership, and the art of networking. Liu and Arwood also discuss how to cultivate work, being a mother in the workplace, and the ins and outs of having a successful career in finance as women. 

Kristy and Maricella feature some members of the Ellevate team for a very special end-of-year episode. They are joined by Raquel Ugalde, Sivi Ananthasingam, Charles Wang, Christina Murphy, Calvin Ieong, Rebecca Spitzer, Laura Ackerman, and Samantha Giannangeli, who reflect on their year at Ellevate, and tell both their most inspiring (and embarrassing) moments. Plus, tips on setting up your employees for success in the new year.

A third generation girl scout, Meridith Maskara, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Greater New York is not just passionate about girl scouts, but about supporting the generation of young girls and women who will be the change agents of tomorrow. This week, we talked about inclusivity and diversity within Girl Scouts, their active involvement in legislative decisions, the new programs Girl Scouts is offering including fields of STEM, advocacy, and entrepreneurship and how Girl Scouts are adapting to the fast-paced technological world of today. Meridith also discusses the role Girl Scouts’ program Troop 6,000 plays on girls and women in shelter, how to include men in conversations around equality, as well as teaching girls confidence at a young age.  

On this Giving Tuesday edition, Veena Jayadeva, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Guardian and Sarah Degnan Kambou, PhD, CEO & President, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), join us to talk about women's role in global development, understanding marginalized communities and how they change, as well as how you can pick philanthropic causes yourself. The powerful duo also discuss the importance of working locally, creating individual impact, activating your personal network as well as Giving Circle and the Women and Girls Fund. 

Morra Aarons-Mele is the founder of the social impact agency Women Online, author of "Hiding in the Bathroom: How to Get Out There When You'd Rather Stay Home" and host of the podcast "The Anxious Achiever". In this episode, she talks about living with anxiety, how to navigate tough work situations, and tips on being a small business owner.

The dynamic podcast duo Kristy and Maricella are joined by Raquel Ugalde, Chapter Program Manager, to talk about Ellevate's newest programming, Raise Her Voice: Untold Stories of Women in the Workplace. The event series sets the stage to inspire a path forward to gender equality in honor of International Women’s Day and Women's History Month in March through the telling of over 125 unique, diverse, and candid stories. To give you a taste of what's in store, Maricella shares with us how growing up in El Salvador has shaped her and her values. As a part of Raise Her Voice, your inspiring stories could take the stage at a local #RaiseHerVoice event or right here on the Ellevate Podcast!    Interested in nominating a strong women or yourself as a storyteller for a Raise Her Voice event? Visit www.RaiseHerVoice2020.com

Jami McKeon, the Chair of Morgan Lewis, joins the podcast to share her experiences directing the largest law firm in the world led by a woman. She talks about why law professions are beneficial for women, the reason "work life balance" may not be the best term, and gives advice to company leaders on managing change and growth. Morgan Lewis is a proud corporate partner of Ellevate Network. To find out more about how Ellevate works with companies, visit our website.   

On this episode, we're going behind the scenes with Ellevate's own Kristy Wallace, CEO, Maricella Herrera, VP Operations & Strategy, and Allison Matejczyk, Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships, to dive into the newest resource on workplace diversity & inclusion: Driving Equality in the Workplace Part 2. The trio talk about some of the topics covered in the white paper, such as Allies and Ambassadors, Making Your ERG More Effective, and Returning to Work After a Caregiving Pause; as well as share tips on how you can utilize partnerships for your own workplace. 

Jessica Holscott, EVP and CFO of Warner Media Entertainment, sat down with us this week to dive into what it is like to hold a CFO position and important skills to have in your tool kit to thrive in the world of finance as a woman. Holscott explains how to "relax and figure it out when you get there", having a "momteurage", and the art of leaning in and leaning out in your career at the right times. She also shares the impact of her mother on her work ethic, teaching kids the willingness to learn, and advice she has for her mentees. 

Lindsay Pattison, Chief Client Officer of WPP, joins our podcast this week as she packs years of experience through her non linear career path. Pattison, with experience in companies large and small, from New Zealand to U.K., shares the importance of being on the client side, the art of showing up, as well as the impact of targets versus quotas in teams. She also explores the inspiring yet terrifying aspects of creating a business, the imposter syndrome, and the importance of networking throughout her career. 

On this episode, we are joined by Michelle Gadsden-Williams, Managing Director, Inclusion & Diversity Lead - North America of Accenture and an award-winning author, to hear her journey and progress in Accenture and beyond. Gadsden-Williams shares how she stimulates unheard conversation on race and gender, championing for others, as well as best practices for gender parity across the globe and work-life balance learnings from the Nordics. She gives an inside look into what it means to hit the "glass cliff", why women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs, tackling roadblocks, and her new book, Climb.

On this episode, Piper Anderson, writer, educator, and cultural organizer, sits down with long-time friend Kristy, CEO of Ellevate, to talk about the start of her entrepreneurship journey and who her commitment to social justice affects her work career. Piper also shares her thoughts on the impact of generational trauma, creating change on a local level, and how storytelling can be an impactful step toward creating change. She also answers the age old question: "Who should have a seat at the table?"

This week, our CEO, Kristy Wallace has a conversation with our friends at Gartner, Robin Kranich, EVP HR, and Ania Krasniewska Shahidi, Global Advisory Leader, HR Practice.On this episode, Kristy, Robin, and Ania take a deep dive into the biggest challenges facing women in the workplace, including unconscious bias and confidence. They also discuss some of the research findings and trends that Gartner sees in the workplace. Kranich and Shahidi also share their tips on how you can help mitigate the risks of unconscious bias in your organization, what we can do to help women be more confident in the workplace, and how leaders of any gender can help women achieve their full potential. Ellevate works with companies committed to diversity and inclusion and has a proven track record of changing business culture from the inside out. Gartner is a $4 billion research and advisory firm that equips leaders with indispensable insights, advice and tools to achieve their mission critical priorities. ᐧ  

Emile Aries, founder and CEO, Bossed Up, joins the Ellevate podcast once again following the release of her new book, Bossed Up: A Grown Woman’s Guide to Getting Your Sh*t Together. On this episode, Emily talks about the science of burnout, the point of diminishing returns and being inefficient as a result of working too hard, as well as the relatable idea of "being a martyr" due to a busy schedule. Emily shares her tips on how to have a balanced program between business, travel, and other commitments; how therapy has helped her, and coming up with communication norms to be able to "plug out" and achieve a work-life balance. Aries also gives a inside look into her book and how being physically and mentally healthy is key to professional success.