Introducing WomenHeard Changemakers: A New Podcast Series
There’s a new way to listen to NYWICI! Georgia Galanoudis, NYWICI President, joins Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich, WomenHeard host, to introduce an exciting new podcast series: WomenHeard Changemakers. You’ll find it in the same feed as the WomenHeard podcast, so make sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite place to listen!
Changemakers
The Changemakers series, alternating with traditional episodes of WomenHeard, will recognize women who have “a body of experience we can all learn from and be inspired by.” Each episode will highlight a particular story, a poignant moment, or a special lesson that holds exceptional meaning for executive women who continue to pave the way for the rest of us. Guests on Changemakers “have found ways to lead with empathy,” Georgia said. “They have gone that extra mile to include diverse voices, to hold others up. And to really take that approach in leading their teams [or their companies] towards success.”
Leading with compassion
“We can mindfully lift others up, open doors, but also keep our eye on the business, on the numbers and the success that you’re aiming for,” said Georgia. Through new initiatives such as hosting Changemakers, she hopes to highlight stories that show us humanity and growth are not only not mutually exclusive, but they can be symbiotic in a way that establishes an even greater model for progress.
What fuels us?
“The time of running on fumes is over,” said Georgia. Finding a sense of calm – while not compromising on expectations – has become a project all on its own. Re-energizing can come from a range of activities: from joining a community such as NYWICI, or participating in social impact work, but the mentality of work as our only focus is a thing of the past. Georgia notes that for leaders in particular, it is important to give space for this, building in recovery time to fuel greater excellence.
Take stock
The reshifting of energy may look different to each individual, and taking stock of things can sometimes mean reevaluating elements we need to let go of. Strategies such as taking notes at the end of the week can be particularly enlightening, “Think about the last week that you just had: the things that you did, how you felt before and how you felt afterward,” Georgia said.
Trust in your relationships
“Trust is predicated on a relationship that’s predicated on listening,” Georgia said. For her, the emphasis is on empathy. Without empathy, it is impossible to actively listen to formulate the kinds of relationships that establish trust. This may mean choosing which connections to invest in, and where it may be necessary to sacrifice.
Lead Like a Woman
While Georgia labeled her career journey “meandering,” there are several uniting threads that weave her professional life together in creating progress. “Find that win/win between what your audience needs and the power of content and experiences to deliver, educate, inspire and provide validity to where people are in their world,” Galanoudis said. Progress is always at the center of her focus, whether on a human level, for a business or for a brand. Her motivation is always to drive forward, to grow, and to create a more humane, productive environment.
NYWICI—Focused on the Future
There will soon be a new membership strategy, which Galanoudis credits to concentrating on listening to members and their evolving needs. “We will be coming out with a strategy that offers free membership for retired professionals as well as students and young professionals starting out their careers (18-26),” she said. “We’ll also offer 6-month free membership extensions to members that have been affected by job loss.”
CHANGEMAKER— Georgia Galanoudis
To wrap up the episode, Georgia shares her personal Changemakers story which highlights how a small gesture can be the motivation that turns a situation around. She also shared the importance of organizations like NYWICI, through which she found support in a particularly emotional turn in her career. Subscribe and listen to WomenHeard for this inspirational story and much more!
Thanks to Georgia Galanoudis for sharing her words of wisdom. To hear the full interview, catch up on NYWICI’s WomenHeard podcast, and access new Changemakers episodes, listen here.
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