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.