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PODCAST

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast

Women Authors of Achievement Podcast (WAA) celebrates the stories of extraordinary women who are shaping industries, breaking barriers, and redefining success. Each episode offers thought-provoking conversations with visionary leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and change-makers from diverse fields such as business, design, culture, beauty and social impact. Whether you’re seeking inspiration for your own journey or a window into the minds of remarkable women driving change, WAA is your source for

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All Episodes

43:33

E.111 Curating what millions hear and feel with Conny...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/10/29

Today’s guest is Conny Zhang. She is a curious mind, a culture lover and the Head of Music at Spotify DACH. Her journey took her from writing newspaper columns as a teenager to shaping what millions of people listen to every day.Conny grew up with a deep love for stories. Reading constantly, playing music and always finishing her homework before letting herself unwind. That mix of discipline and imagination has stayed with her, whether she was studying in Shanghai and San Diego, interning

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42:17

E. 110 Inside Germany’s women’s football revolution...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/10/07

Today’s guest is Lisa Währer, powerhouse in German football, and the co-founder and managing director of FC Viktoria Berlin. From her early days as a footballer in Hamburg to building campaigns at Jung von Matt Sports and OneFootball, Lisa has always worked with strong purpose in mind. Now, alongside a team of five other women, she’s leading one of Berlin’s boldest football clubs, which was promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga. In this conversation, Lisa opens up about what it really means to be

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45:39

E.109 Choosing ambition in London and finding...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/09/15

Welcome to a very special live edition of the Women Authors of Achievement Podcast, hosted for the first time in UK, right here at the Amano Hotel Skybar in London, overlooking Covent Garden. My guest today is Nikki Trott, strategist, podcast host and author of her new book Sacred Business. Her story bridges two worlds: the ambitious drive of London’s fashion and branding industry, and the expansive, intuitive energy she discovered in Berlin.Nikki started out leading global fashion and

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47:39

E.108 Mastering Berlin's high-end culinary...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/08/20

Today’s guest is Jen Florin, co-founder of Cookies Events & Catering and someone who’s been shaping Berlin’s cultural and culinary scene from behind the curtain for almost two decades. But titles aside, Jen is a true master of atmosphere. She knows how to turn a room into an experience you’ll never forget.We talked about the art of curation (yes, the lighting, the playlists, the menus), but also the mindset. Jen opened up about her early years growing up in West Germany, organizing

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52:52

E.107 Raving into Berlin's club culture future with...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/08/07

My guest is Katharin Ahrend, co-managing director of the Clubcommission Berlin, a pivotal force in protecting and shaping the city’s club scene. Born in East Germany just before the fall of the Wall, Katharin grew up navigating the grey zones of youth culture, rave spaces, and political shifts.We talk about everything from abandoned buildings turned dance floors to her journey into cultural policy. Katharin opens up about leadership in male-dominated spaces and her deep-rooted belief that

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52:33

E.106 Turning your passion into profession with...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/07/08

Today I’m sitting down with someone I’ve known for quite some time. Watching her grow, build, reinvent, and create from the inside out has been inspiring, and honestly, a little wild, in the best way. Cynthia Mensah-Neglokpe is the founder of clicqui and KORE. In this conversation, we talked about starting over, more than once. About what burnout really looks like when you’re the one everyone counts on. And how community, when done right, can quite literally bring you back to

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41:20

E.105 Making space for underrepresented voices with...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/06/17

Today’s guest is Marina Paulenka, program director of Fotografiska Berlin and a fearless voice in contemporary photography. Born in Yugoslavia before the war, Marina’s story is one of resilience. From growing up during conflict to building a global platform for artists, often without institutional support.We talked about using photography as a tool for empowerment, activism, and storytelling. Marina shared what it really takes to launch a festival from scratch, the importance of making

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51:45

E. 104 Unpacking purpose-driven leadership with...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/05/14

Today’s episode marks an exciting milestone: it’s the official launch of our year-long partnership with flaconi, Germany’s leading online retailer for beauty and perfume. Flaconi stands for more than just beauty products, it’s a brand that celebrates diversity, mental well-being, empowerment, and culture. Values that align deeply with what we do here at WAA. And to celebrate this moment, we’ve planned this special edition of the show.Alexandra Szarmach is flaconi’s CHRO and Managing

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46:34

E. 103 Reimagining photography through abstraction...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/04/15

Viviane Sassen doesn’t just take photographs, she creates entire worlds. Known for her dreamlike use of light and shadow, she moves seamlessly between fashion, fine art, and documentary photography, always pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling, often exploring themes of identity, memory, and mortality.In this conversation, we’ll uncover the influences that shaped her artistic vision, from her childhood in Kenya to her fascination with abstraction. Whether you’re an artist, a

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62:09

E. 102 Decoding the world of luxury with Maria von...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/03/25

I’m joined by Maria von Scheel-Plessen, who traveled all the way from Munich to meet me at Fotografiska’s cozy Bar Clara—bringing luxury straight to the show. As a senior marketing leader for a top luxury brand, Maria is a powerhouse in her field, blending strategy, tech, and business. But her path wasn’t conventional. Instead of stepping into her family’s 300-year-old legacy, she carved her own path—moving across the world, taking bold risks, and redefining what leadership looks like.In

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47:34

E. 101 Expressing yourself through a flower bouquet...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/02/20

This episode's guest is Annett Kuhlmann, co-founder of Marsano—a brand that redefined floristry in Berlin. Annett’s journey is fascinating. With training in photography from the Ostkreuzschule and interior design at St. Martin’s, her unique eye for beauty is what sets Marsano apart. Over the past 20 years, she and her co-founders, Katrin and Andreas, have built Marsano into something extraordinary—a perfect blend of creativity, sustainability, and collaboration.In this episode, we talk

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43:28

E. 100 Going on the wildest roller coaster called...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/01/23

Today, I’m thrilled to sit down with someone truly inspiring—Leyla Piedayesh, the founder and creative heart behind Lala Berlin.For over two decades, Leyla has been at the forefront of redefining contemporary fashion, blending Berlin’s cosmopolitan energy with her Persian heritage to create a brand that’s as bold as it is personal. From navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship and steering through turbulent times to making powerful political statements through her iconic

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57:53

E. 99 Unlocking the longevity lifestyle with Dr. Kati...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2025/01/07

In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that’s not just about living longer but living better: longevity. My guest is the amazing Dr. Kati Ernst, co-founder of ooia, a brand that has transformed the period market in Germany and she is now exploring how to have healthier, more vibrant lives at any age.Kati’s journey is nothing short of inspiring—from consulting for luxury brands to building a purpose-driven company and launching a podcast about healthy aging. We’ll talk about the turning

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57:10

E.98 Turning heritage into a modern-day success story...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2024/12/10

This time around, I’m taking you with me to the Merz b. Schwanen flagship store in Berlin. Picture this: a rainy November evening, yet inside the store, we are welcomed by the whole crew into their world of timeless design. I sit down with Gitta Plotnicki, the co-owner and creative director of the brand, to dive into this fascinating story.Merz b. Schwanen, a brand that dates back to 1911, has been revived in the most inspiring way. Gitta and her husband, Peter, have brought new life to

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36:30

E.97 Pushing boundaries in the contemporary art...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2024/10/29

In this episode, recorded live at the intimate Nomi Winebar in Kreuzberg, we dive into how Anahita Sadighi is reimagining the traditional art gallery, merging art, culture, and music to create spaces that challenge stereotypes and foster deep connection. Anahita’s energy is contagious as she opens up about reimagining what an art gallery can be, turning it into a space for connection, creativity, and dialogue. We even dive into her new secret after-party series called, The Loft, where art

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35:51

E.96 Balancing minimalism and opulence in interior...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2024/10/01

From growing up in Berlin with a multicultural background to creating timeless spaces that balance opulence and minimalism, the story of Ester Bruzkus is filled with inspiration. We’ll dive into how her early love for architecture grew into a celebrated career, what it’s like breaking barriers as a woman in the male dominated area, and her passion for bold colors, and the balance she strikes between trends and timelessness in her designs.If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to rate it on

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46:02

E.95 Practicing mental health hygiene with Milka Loff...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2024/08/20

Milka Loff Fernandes started her career as a presenter at the music channel VIVA TV in 1999. What remained a secret for a long time was that during this colorful period, the peak of Milka’s popularity, she also struggled with depression, eating disorders, and later epilepsy. In 2004, she decided to withdraw from public life and embarked on a "healing journey". Back then she looked for means and ways that enabled her to confront the madness called everyday life, and now, nearly twenty years

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38:52

E.94 Crafting the future for women in Afghanistan...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2024/07/23

Today we would like to introduce you to Hila Limar, chairwoman of the non-profit organization Visions for Children and co-founder of the jewelry brand SEVAR Studios, which aims to enable girls and women in Kabul to train as goldsmiths. After years of voluntary work for the Hamburg-based association, in 2018 Hila gave up her job as an architect to devoted herself full-time to her vision. She is working on improving learning conditions and the quality of education in schools in crisis areas,

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51:31

E.93 Harvesting green gold with Julia Winkels (Live...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2024/07/04

With this episode all roads are leading to Torstraße here in Berlin. Julia Winkels shares some great insights into cultural marketing with her renowned agency BOLD, and talks about the most hyped match brand of Germany - Matchasome which she founded back in 2022 with Nina Bröer! This conversation is all about harvesting green gold, building timely brands, and how Julia turned her passion for matcha into a successful brand and a business success story that Berlin has been craving for a long

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51:00

E.92 Unveiling the power of African Botanicals with...

Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast ·

2024/06/06

Who are the "forgotten" beauty customers and what is hair and scalp neutrality? Let's decode in today's episode. Founded by Nana Addison, Ancient Beauty is more than just another beauty brand. As the mainstream hair care brands overlook diverse hair textures and scalp conditions, Nana advocates for inclusivity and recognition of all beauty customers. Nana shared her impressive founder journey, the economic and agricultural impact of African Beauty, the importance of indigenous botanical

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111 results

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