NYWICI 3rd Annual Trailblazer Awards
On September 29th, Midtown Manhattan became a gathering place for women from across the communications industry, who are charting new paths and redefining what it means to lead. The evening brought together trailblazers at every stage of their careers to honor the women who have forged new ground, celebrate those carrying that legacy forward, and spotlight the next generation of leaders shaping what comes next.
The ceremony opened with remarks from our emcee, Cindy Hsu, Anchor and Reporter for CBS News, whose insight on creating a path for oneself set the tone for an evening centered on courage, perseverance and the power of creating new precedents. Building on that sentiment, Cindy welcomed our first speaker, Laura Brusca, Chief Communications Officer at Forbes. Laura acknowledged the women at every stage of their careers who are creating opportunities not only for themselves, but for those who will follow. She then shared a quote that has remained close to her heart from the late Gloria Steinem: “The future depends entirely on what each of us do everyday.” The words served as a fitting tribute to Steinem, a pioneering journalist who used her voice to challenge and reshape the frameworks of what it means to be a woman in communications. Honoring her legacy as NYWICI’s first ever Matrix Award recipient in 1971, a testament to the lasting impact of a woman who dared to use her voice to create change.
From having first met in the White House to now standing side by side on the sideline at their kids games, our first presenter, Lisa Caputo, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Communications and Customer Experience Officer at Travelers Companies, presents the first trailblazing award of the night to Christa Robinson, SVP External Communications for Bank of America. Navigating her career outside the frame and behind the scenes, Christa lets us know that “no one blazes trails alone.” Juggling motherhood, work and a life still full of things worth discovering, wouldn’t happen without the pieces falling where they need to, when it comes to those assisting her in life.
A similar understanding closely follows with Moira Forbes, Executive VP of Forbes whose foundation and support came before she was even born from her great-great grandfather B.C. Forbes. We listen in on Moira as she reflects on the meaning of having an amplified voice introducing our next honoree, Ariel Nathanson, Executive VP Executive and Brand Strategy for Full Picture. Being well known as this firestarter and natural connector, Ariel’s ability to take big ideas and turn them into cultural moments is what makes her a trailblazer. While embracing the true essence of who she’s become, Ariel acknowledges how deeply rooted her family dynamic is and the parts of herself that continue to sustain and motivate her. She speaks to the human side of leadership, the power of listening, the wisdom women carry, and the ways those strengths are too often mislabeled as “emotional” rather than recognized for what they truly are: essential leadership skills.
What connects these perspectives is an understanding of asking the better questions and remaining curious about what is possible. Nancy Reyes, Global President and CEO, BBDO Worldwide, a NYWICI 2024 Matrix Awards honoree, begins by sharing this point on how growth begins with seeing what others overlook and reaching people through that vision. There is an importance to creating pathways, and that diverse perspective stems from the ability to ask relentless questions. As our next presenter of the night, Nancy introduces Lauren Prescott, SVP of PepsiCo Beverages Portfolio Marketing. As a first-generation professional who did not grow up hearing many of the conversations she now finds herself a part of, Lauren describes her journey as one fueled by curiosity. She realized that the individuals in the rooms she was entering were often the ones asking those questions. It was curiosity that opened the door for Prescott. Starting her career through a L’Oréal internship, she learned the power of saying “yes” to opportunities, “yes” to learning, and “yes” to stepping into spaces before she fully knew what she might find there.
Navigating uncertainty within any communications path is an experience familiar to many women in our field. It is one that Talia Bender Small, President of The Female Quotient, has lived and continues to embrace every day. What once began as an idea has become something she has led with conviction. In sharing her story, Talia introduces our final honoree of the night, Elise O’Neil, Director of Communications Strategy and Operations for Adobe, a woman whose philosophy stems from, “I see it. Let’s make it happen.” Elise reflected on how her own path has been shaped by people who opened doors for her, and that experience has made her deeply aware of the responsibility to do the same for others. As best expressed by our President-Elect, Abi Evans, trailblazing does not happen in a single moment of a career. It happens when possibility is created. NYWICI helps create those possibilities. When women take risks, it matters that someone is there to open the door, extend a hand, and bring someone along.
