The Power of First Steps
NYWICI events usually welcome members from every stage of their careers. But on September 27, the Communications Career Conference at Spotify HQ broke that mold. Shining a spotlight exclusively on emerging professionals, often called Rising Stars at NYWICI, a group still feeling the ripple effects of COVID and eager for in-person connection.
Every professional still remembers what it feels like to take those first steps into the industry – the anxiety of the unknown, the sting of rejection, and the confusion about where to begin or what resources even exist (just me? Okay, maybe I’m projecting). These were the very things the planning committee set out to address. At the heart of NYWICI’s mission is community, and this event brought the community aspect to life by creating a space where the next generation of leaders could gain practical advice and meaningful connections.
“You can tell that this is a demographic eager to network, learn, and carve out their own path,” Donna-Jean Plante, NYWICI’s Executive Director explained.
Behind the Planning
During the initial stages of planning, NYWICI board members gathered to brainstorm by asking themselves, what do young professionals and students need to start their careers – and who can help them get there?
“We always listen to member feedback – that’s how we decide which topics will resonate most with Rising Star members,” Julia Chappell, NYWICI’s Vice President of Rising Star Programming told me.
Pulling off a seamless half-day event took both strategy and creativity – from securing the space to arranging catering, seating, and scheduling breaks. “Every detail shapes the attendee experience,” Julia explained. “Event planning is both an art and a science.”
Finding the right speakers was often the trickiest part. “Preparing them well was definitely one of the biggest challenges in creating an inspiring yet practical event,” Lori Greene NYWICI’s Vice President of Communication shared. For the committee, it’s not just about booking speakers with impressive job titles; it’s about choosing speakers who were ready to share their authentic and actionable stories. Leaving nothing up to chance, all aspects of the panel sessions are prepped before the event.
At the end of the day, it is all about working as a team. “It takes a village – volunteers and board members are behind the scenes making this event possible,” Lori emphasizes.
Ultimately, what matters most to NYWICI, are the tangible takeaways attendees can apply to their careers tomorrow. “Hopefully, attendees walk away with something both tactical and inspirational. Networking is everything – sometimes the best connections happen in the coffee line,” Julia says.
We’ve All Been There
What makes NYWICI such a unique organization is the wealth of knowledge each member has as well as the shared understanding of what it felt like to just be starting out in their careers.
For Donna-Jean, the challenge was visibility. “I began working in finance and didn’t have opportunities like this to see different career paths,” she recalled. “That’s why creating these opportunities now is so important.”
For Chelsea Orcutt, NYWICI’s Chief Student and Early Affair’s Office, the journey started with the NYWICI scholarship program as a college senior. “That experience showed me the value of community. Now, being on the other side, I want to give students the same opportunities I had.”
For Julia, the challenge was finding opportunities to get experience. “I did a lot of internships, but I also know not everyone has that option. That’s why events like this – where you can meet professionals and practice positioning yourself – are so valuable.”
Showtime at Spotify HQ
Stepping off the elevator on the 72nd floor of Spotify’s NYC headquarters located in 4 World Trade, felt like entering a VIP lounge floating above Manhattan, the clouds serving as velvet curtains. The space itself set the tone – fun, fresh, and elevated – perfectly reflecting the next generation of communicators. “Spotify is a brand this audience loves, and the venue brings an energy that makes the event feel exciting and premium”, Chelsea told me.
When I arrived a few hours before the event started, the room already buzzed with energy. Volunteers arranged plates of food on tables as others lined chairs in neat rows before the glitzy stage – the space slowly transformed with anticipation. Every detail had clearly been thought planned down to the last detail.
Guests would never know it, but even after the event begins, things rarely settle down until the very end. I was chatting with Julia when Donna-Jean hurried over to say one of the speakers was running late and asked whether to adjust the schedule. Once things were sorted, Julia sat back down and laughed, “Half the battle is just securing the space and making sure people show up — but once they’re here, the energy of both speakers and attendees makes it special.”
As the panels began, the orchestration continued behind the scenes. “Every panel had a liaison, each speaker had a point person, and a team handled every detail. It really took a village,” Lori said.
At the heart of Spotify’s DNA is sound – fitting, then, that two of Spotify’s sound engineers, Alex and Beayanka, were among the unsung heroes behind the scenes. When I met them before the event, they were running sound checks and replacing microphone batteries. “It takes about 30 minutes to set everything up,” Beayanka says. “But,” Alex interjects with a grin, “we always add in time for dilly dallying.” Once batteries are swapped, PowerPoints loaded, and volume levels set, they conduct a final run-through to ensure everything goes smoothly. During the event, they stayed in the booth, monitoring for any hiccups. It was very evident that both Alex and Beayanka loved the work they do, fitting the overall energy in the room. I will admit though, they tried to explain to me all the equipment being used – complete with technical jargon – which definitely went over my head, but their precision and pride are unmistakable.
Ultimately, the success of the Communications Career Conference wasn’t just in the panels or polished production. It was in the connections sparked, the stories shared, and the reminder that every leader starts with a first step.
NYWICI’s strength has always been its ability to bring women together — and for the next generation, this event made the path just a little clearer.
A quick shout-out to Erin Styles, NYWICI’s Chief Matrix Officer and Global Head of Communications at Spotify, who hosted the event. I didn’t get the chance to chat with her – she was that busy – but her presence and leadership were felt in every detail. The conference simply wouldn’t have been the same without her.
So, to anyone who feels they’re not ready for a new role, a leadership challenge, or a bigger project, remember this: You don’t have to be ready; you have to move forward.
