What if your next career move didn’t require starting over—but evolving forward? In this episode, Zoe sits down with powerhouse networker and community builder April Uchitel—CEO and Founder of The Board, co-founder of Dish Studios, and former CEO of Violet Grey and ONDA Beauty—to explore how the future of work is shifting toward a more agile, connected, and collaborative model.April shares her journey from a career in fashion to launching The Board, a hybrid community and agency that helps companies solve problems with on-demand expertise from trusted, fractional talent. Whether you're a leader trying to fill gaps on your team or a seasoned professional wondering what’s next, this conversation is a roadmap to the new world of work.

In this episode:

• April’s evolution from fashion to tech, beauty, and now community building

• What it really means to work fractionally—and why it’s more than just consulting
• Why “networking” needs to be rooted in generosity, collaboration, and trust
• The rise of communities that blend strategy with support (and how to find yours)
• How The Board helps brands build dream teams without bloated budgets
• The reorg of the future: blending operators, outsourced experts, and tech
• Why upskilling and specialization matter more than ever
• Real talk on burnout, boundaries, and choosing work that aligns with your life

Connect with April:

Learn more about The Board: https://www.wearetheboard.co/about

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-uchitel-2b56b414/

Connect with Zoe:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-weisberg-coady-57aab37/

Ever wonder who’s behind the speeches, op-eds, and books of the world’s most powerful leaders? Meet Pauleanna Reid, celebrity ghostwriter and founder of WritersBlok, who’s built an empire on storytelling, strategic relationships, and showing up with confidence.

In this conversation, Pauleanna shares how she went from failing high school English to becoming the go-to storytelling partner for C-suite executives, cultural icons, and global change-makers. She breaks down her philosophy of relationship capital, how she built a network from scratch (often sleeping in airports to make it happen), and why asking for help is one of the most powerful moves you can make.

In this episode:

• The surprising way she got her first 5-figure ghostwriting retainer
• How she teaches her team to lead with a powerful pitch
• What spreadsheets, email cadences, and preferred contact columns have to do with authentic networking
• Why storytelling is more than just words—it’s a brand asset
• How becoming a new mom has shifted her perspective on help, harmony, and success

Connect with Pauleanna:

Website: https://www.thewritersblok.com

Email: info@thewritersblok.com

Book: Everything I Couldn’t Tell My Mother

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pauleannareid/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauleannareid/

Connect with Zoe:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-weisberg-coady-57aab37/

How do you build a business by launching other people’s careers? Keva Dine, creative powerhouse and founder of the Keva Dine Agency, joins the show to talk about bold networking, thoughtful follow-ups, and the kind of persistence that turns passion into legacy.

In this episode we are joined by Keva Dine—founder and CEO of the Keva Dine Agency—to unpack the art and science of creative recruiting, what makes a great candidate stand out, and how intentional networking can supercharge your career.

With a background as an art director, brand strategist, trend hunter, and “girl who got sh*t done” in the skateboarding and fashion world of the 1990s, Keva brings an energy that’s equal parts punk rock and executive precision.

In this episode:

• How Keva went from splash-painting t-shirts as a kid to running a thriving agency
• The #1 mistake creatives make when pitching themselves (and how to fix it)
• Her exact system for keeping up with thousands of contacts (spoiler: she uses Boomerang and Google Sheets like a boss)
• Why LinkedIn is non-negotiable—and how to show up there without selling your soul
• How to network without being sleazy and what “don’t make yourself a puzzle to solve” really means

Connect with Keva Dine:

The Keva Dine Agency https://www.kevadine.com/

Connect with Zoe:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-weisberg-coady-57aab37/

What happens when two longtime best friends combine Emmy-winning experience, financial brilliance, and a shared passion for supporting women? You get WOMEN WORK F#%K*NG HARD—a national movement built on kindness, connection, and seriously impressive results.

In this episode, we are joined by powerhouse best friends and co-foundersKristin O'Keeffe Merrick & Lindsay Shookus—two women who truly walk the walk when it comes to helping other women rise. Lindsay spent two decades producing television at the highest level, including Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, and Miley Cyrus’s NYE Party. Kristen built a career in finance, helping high-net-worth clients (especially women) make powerful money moves.

Together, they launched Women Work F#cking Hard (WWFH), a platform that unites impressive and heart-forward women across industries—and across the country. What started as a one-night-only event to support a single founder has exploded into a national series of thoughtfully curated events, legendary gift bags, and a wildly supportive community that’s redefining what real networking looks like.

In this episode:

• The hilarious (and heartfelt) story of how they met in college
• Why heart-forward > hustle-only
• What really goes into throwing their signature WWFH events
• How they decide who makes the invite list
• The power of curating vs. scaling
• Common networking mistakes—and how to avoid them
• The business case for kindness

Connect with WWFH:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-work-fucking-hard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenworkfinghard/

Connect with Zoe:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-weisberg-coady-57aab37/

What do personal style, sustainable fashion, and building a nonprofit from scratch all have in common? According to Jessie Freschl—it’s the power of real, authentic connection.

Jessie Freschl is a seasoned professional in the fashion industry, combining her expertise as a stylist with her entrepreneurial spirit, all while emphasizing conscious consumption. In 2011, she founded Freschstyle, a personal styling business based in New York City. Eight years later, she established Shop Repurpose, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainable fashion and workforce development. Her most recent venture is Turnstyle, a fashion tech platform designed to help stylists and consumers enhance the functionality of fashion.

Before launching her entrepreneurial endeavors, Jessie managed her family-owned high-end women’s boutique in Milwaukee, WI. Her impactful work has garnered recognition in the fashion communities of New York City and Los Angeles, with features in prominent publications including NY Magazine, The New York Times, Time Out, WWD, NY1, and NBC News.

In this episode:

• How Jessie broke into NYC fashion with no formal plan
• The emotional (and strategic) side of closet styling
• Why your network is the most valuable business asset
• How Shop Repurpose empowers underserved communities and builds workforce pathways
• What’s trending in fashion right now—and what Jessie can’t live without

Connect with Jessie:

Website: https://www.jessiefreschl.com

Jessie's Substack: https://www.jessiefreschl.com/substack

Shop Repurpose: https://shoprepurpose.org

Connect with Zoe:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-weisberg-coady-57aab37/

What happens when you say yes to the coffee meeting, the late-night event, or the bookstore dream? Fran Hauser’s story proves that some of the best career moments happen when you show up with no expectations—and an open heart.

Fran Hauser is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, champion of women in the workplace, and a LinkedIn Top Voice. She is the bestselling author of The Myth of the Nice Girl and Embrace the Work, Love Your Career, angel investor, keynote speaker, and now, bookstore owner! Fran shares her layered career journey: from leading digital innovation at Time Inc., to investing in over 40 female-founded companies, to founding Book Bound for aspiring nonfiction authors, and opening Bedford Books, her town’s first independent bookstore.

In this episode:

• How one coffee meeting pivoted her entire career
• Why an open network—and an open mind—are her greatest assets
• The surprising challenges of running a brick-and-mortar business
• How community building is at the heart of everything she does
• Her approach to creating inclusive spaces in business and life
• Lessons learned on letting go of perfection and trusting the process

Connect with Fran:

Website: https://www.franhauser.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franhauser/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fran_hauser/

Connect with Zoe:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-weisberg-coady-57aab37/

What happens when you lead with curiosity, ask bold questions, and build empires from authentic relationships? Vicky Boudreau, the powerhouse behind PR firm bicom and now the tech platform Heylist, joins us to talk about networking with heart—and how it’s fueled every chapter of her entrepreneurial journey.

Vicky, CEO & Founder of Heylist, leads a tech marvel revolutionizing influencer marketing, empowering creators to monetize content. With a seasoned background in PR & Marketing, Vicky champions democratizing influencer marketing, ensuring broad access to the expanding creator economy.

Alongside co-founders Alex & Nico, Vicky fosters innovation and inclusivity at Heylist. Their dedicated team levels the digital playing field with tech prowess and customer-centricity.

Before Heylist, Vicky co-founded bicom, refining industry expertise and guiding a thriving team of 40+ professionals across cities. Recognized with the Arista Prize and Top 40 under 40 PR in Canada, Vicky's entrepreneurial journey is distinguished.

Incubated at Zù by Guy Laliberté, Heylist earned the Emerging Entrepreneur Award at C2 Montreal in 2023 and an invitation to SXSW in 2024.

Beyond entrepreneurship, Vicky is a thought leader, inspiring others to actualize dreams. Through philanthropy with the Lise Watier Foundation and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Vicky shapes brighter futures for industries and communities.

In this episode:

• How Vicki went from a small fishing village in Quebec to building one of Canada’s top PR firms
• The origin story behind Hali and how it's democratizing influencer marketing
• Vicki’s personal networking philosophy (spoiler: curiosity is queen)
• Why handwritten notes still matter
• Building business karma and giving more than you take
• The power of asking for help (even when it’s hard)
• The difference between mentors and sponsors—and how to find both
• How Vicki leverages her network for impact, community, and unexpected joy

Connect with Vicki:

• Vicki on LinkedIn
• Hali Platform

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-weisberg-coady-57aab37/

What happens when two powerhouse women decide to reimagine what networking could look like—on their own terms? Amy Parker, co-founder of The What, joins us to talk about how she and her business partner Gina Pell turned an idea into one of the most powerful female-led communities out there—where real connection, generosity, and impact lead the way.

Amy Parker is the Co-Founder and CEO of THE WHAT, an independent media and community platform for visionary female leaders to spark impact and action. Together, with longtime business partner, Gina Pell, they preside over The What Alliance, a private accelerator for ideas, connection and personal, professional growth, as well as their beloved weekly newsletter for curious people. Previously Amy co-founded Splendora, a pioneering online style and culture portal acquired by JOYUS.

In this episode:

• The origin story of Amy and Gina’s 25-year business partnership
• How The What evolved from a newsletter into a deeply connected community
• The unexpected launch of The What Alliance during COVID
• Why real connection starts with authenticity, not your resume
• The power of “meeting people where they are”
• Amy’s favorite advice for women hesitant to network
• A peek behind the scenes of their upcoming retreat in New Orleans

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Connect with Amy:

Subscribe to the newsletter: thewhatHQ.substack.com

Join the community: thewhatalliance.co

LinkedIn: Amy Parker

Facebook: The What Women

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-weisberg-coady-57aab37/