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 writing Challenging resilience narratives and embracing honest conversations Re-thinking validation from others vs. self-importance Navi ..read more

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 marketplace What makes a successful mental health product  Why prioritizing healing is vital to making the most of a maternity leave Learn more: •Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoia •Courtney Carlsson (Guest): htt ..read more

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 initiative at a corporation Why curiosity and portfolio-career thinking are critical to leadership  ..read more

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 corporations Implementing innovation initiatives at large corporations Learn more: Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoia Shyv ..read more

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-side How to stay user-centric without having all of the data The skills needed to succeed in innovation The role of experimentation in building hardware products Learn more: Zoia Kozakov (Host): http://www.linkedin.com/i ..read more

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 your vision What makes someone stand out when seeking a mentor/sponsor Why women's superpower is r ..read more

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 resiliency  The extreme optimism and pessimism of being an entrepreneur  Holdin ..read more

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 person Building in learning opportunities to develop and learn new skillsets The importance of the customer experience when building t ..read more

In this episode, Zoia sits down with Sharon Gauci, Executive Director, of Design at Global Buick, GMC, and GMC Hummer at General Motors. They discuss Sharon’s career and rise in the world of automotive. They touch on big trends in the electric car industry and how Sharon thinks beyond innovating on a “feature level.” Listen for advice on: Navigating innovating 5-10 years ahead (vs. for the short-term) Working cross-functionally with Engineers, Designers, and Product managers The importance of finding the right mentors How to think about career growth in traditionally male-dominated industrie ..read more

In this episode, Kat Wang, Head of Product at Jasco Games talks about what it’s like to develop a card game and player experience for one of the most loved anime series in the world, “My Hero Academia.” Kat breaks down how she is building out her team and thinking about innovation simultaneously, and balancing forging ahead.  Learn more about:  Why being a different background and demographic from your customer can help you build better products How to develop complementary and additive digital experiences to physical products  What it means to execute and innovate in a start ..read more