Behind the Scenes with The KNOW Women: How a Podcast Became a Pipeline
We had the best time.
From the moment I sat down with visionary CEO, publisher and podcast host Sarah Benken Foushee in the brick-lined, light-filled studio, I knew we could have talked for hours. Because the media ecosystem she has built, aptly named The KNOW Women, cares deeply about what Être's mission is centered around - female leadership and the next generation.
And even though I was the one being interviewed on their High Achieving Female Podcast, new collaboration ideas continued to pop up in my head.
That, I thought as we unclipped our mics at the end, is the mark of a great podcast episode. When even as the guest you can't help brainstorming with the host.
As quick background, The KNOW Women is a global media company and community dedicated to amplifying the voices of female leaders, executives and entrepreneurs. Founded by Benken Foushee in 2018, the organization honors 100 Women to KNOW every year at their annual gala in Phoenix, AZ (I was delighted to join them on stage in 2024), publishes a city by city Women to KNOW hardcover book (also thrilled to be part of this year's inaugural New York City edition), and looks for ways to amplify the impact of future innovators at every turn.
That's what made our recent conversation so much fun - because we inevitably turned to the next generation, breaking down topics like...
how to secure partnerships with brands that really listen to Gen Z
when to pivot from a longtime career expertise to complete rookie status
why commissioning data that underpins your mission matters
who to ask when you need fast and forthright founder feedback
what the next gen truly needs from IRL mentor moments
What collab ideas do we have percolating? Stick around to see. But in the meantime, tune into this summer's podcast episodes spotlighting other Women to KNOW and share them with inquisitive students home for the summer.
Podcasts can become pipelines when the younger set discovers new role models to follow - I'm grateful to The KNOW Women for having me on...and excited for all the fun that lies ahead.
Looking forward,
Illana
ÊXTRAS: Three platforms to listen to our podcast episode you won't want to miss: here on YouTube, right here on Spotify and over here on Apple. Like I said, we had the best time!
