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 wheel
• Lowering barriers to create stronger ecosystems
• Community beats competition - collaboration, shared learning, and trust are core to scaling a platform
• Human expertise matters more in the age of AI

Learn more:

• Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoia
• Henley Vazquez (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/deedunne/
• Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.co
• Audio Editor: Samantha Gattsek

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 silo
• Taking a multifaceted approach to measuring ROI for events
• Why marketing is the middle point between people and data
• The impact of rapid technological advancements on marketing

Learn more:

• Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoia
• Dee Dunne (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/deedunne/
• Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.co
• Audio Editor: Samantha Gattsek

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 points
• How to accept a fundraising ‘no’ as a data point, not an identity
• The superpower of starting a company later in life/career

Learn more:

• Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoia
• Joanna Strober (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannastrober/
• Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.co
• Audio Editor: Samantha Gattsek

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 care
• What “wartime innovation” really looks like in a fast-scaling startup
• Building empathy for customers—even when you’re not (yet) the end user
• Leading through uncertainty and crisis with resilience and clarity

Learn more:

• Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoia
• Marissa Steinmetz Israel (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissa-steinmetz-israel-1b101511/
• Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.co
• Audio Editor: Samantha Gattsek

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 goals
• Why mindset and confidence matter more than hard skills
• Strategies for breaking through common innovation blockers
• The power of inclusion and “finding your tribe”

Learn more:

• Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoia
• Catherine 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.

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 roles
• Nurturing a culture of experimentation and co-creation
• Sustaining confidence while navigating uncertainty
• Identifying and addressing biases in product and service design

Learn more:

• Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoia
• Ariba Jahan (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribajahan/
• Ariba's podcast - Unmissables: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unmissables-with-ariba-jahan/id1707384312
• Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.co
• Audio Editor: Samantha Gattsek

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Scout Brisson, CEO of De Soi, discusses her journey from corporate life to leading a startup in the booming non-alcoholic beverage industry. She reflects on the importance of celebrating achievements, the challenges of transitioning from a corporate environment to entrepreneurship, and the complexities of recognition in her career. Scout also shares insights on the regulatory challenges in the beverage industry and the future trends indicating a shift towards non-alcoholic options, especially among younger generations.

Listen for advice on:

• How to navigate ‘getting on the shelf’ in the world of beverage
• The importance of community and mentorship for women in leadership
• Balancing vision and execution in business
• Figuring out the role of recognition in your personal life and career

Learn more:

• Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoia
• Scout Brisson (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/scout-brisson-558674121/
• Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.co

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Mallory Contois, Head of Community at Mercury and founder of Old Girls Club, joins Zoia on the podcast. Mallory has had many chapters in her career, including being an early-stage employee at Pinterest and Compass, working at LinkedIn, and being a COO at an early-stage startup. Today, she epitomizes what it means to be a true leader and woman in innovation, juggling a multitude of roles, projects, and initiatives in what is an inspiring career for all.

Listen for advice on:

• What it takes to build a flourishing community
• How to navigate ego vs. intuition in career decisions
• The pillars of creating safe and authentic spaces for women
• Why community is a business-driving lever

Learn more:

• Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoia
• Mallory Contois (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorycontois/
• Women in Innovation: http://www.womenininnovation.co

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.