Women Authors of Achievement (WAA) Podcast

Today’s episode was recorded in partnership with flaconi , Germany’s leading online destination for beauty and fragrance. And it’s one of those conversations that reminded me why I love doing this podcast so much. We're sitting down with Alicia Lindner , who runs a third-generation family business in the beauty industry called Annemarie Börlind . But this conversation is about so much more than a...

This time, the roles reverse as our very own host Daria Suvorova-Konstandin joins Cynthia Mensah-Neglokpe on the other side of the mic. Together with moderator Paloma Frau , Director of Cultural Programming at Fotografiska Berlin, the two authors and cultural curators discuss their new book, The Feeling of Berlin . Written as a love letter to Berlin, it tells the city's story through 33 portraits...

It’s our very first conversation recorded in Denmark at Soho House Copenhagen. To mark this moment I invited to the show local star and global thought leader: Veronica D’Souza , social entrepreneur, artist, author and activist. In this episode, we speak about what it really means to build a life that actually feels like your own, and the courage it takes to step away from societal expectations. Ve...

This is our first episode recorded live in Sweden, here at Fotografiska Stockholm. And I couldn’t imagine a better guest to open this chapter. In this episode, I get to interview the brilliant Keika Lee , Director of Global Public Affairs at IKEA . Keika grew up in Sweden with Korean heritage, in a family where discipline and hard work were part of everyday life. She was on her way to becoming a c...

I’m really happy to welcome Preeti Malkani , Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board and Co-founder of Women for Women International Germany . With Indian and German roots, and a career that spans global advertising, entrepreneurship and humanitarian leadership, Preeti has dedicated her work to empowering women in conflict zones and rethinking how we talk about power and inclusion. In this conversatio...

It’s about time we really talk about beauty tech, what it already looks like in parts of Asia, and what it could become in our homes in the next few years, in ways we probably can’t even imagine yet. That’s exactly what I explore in this episode with Wanfen Xia , CMO and Managing Director at Ulike Europe. Wanfen brings a clear and grounded perspective on where the beauty-tech sector is heading. We...

This episode is brought to you in partnership with flaconi , Germany’s leading online destination for beauty and fragrance. But flaconi is more than a retailer, it’s a platform that celebrates individuality and empowerment. Values that deeply align with today’s guest and everything she stands for. Linda Hallberg is a name many in the beauty world already know. A visionary makeup artist, founder of...

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...

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 prom...

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 expans...

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...

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 pol...

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 co...

Today’s guest is Marina Paulenka , exhibition 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....

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 pl...

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...

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...

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 extraordina...

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 steerin...

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...

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 b...

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,...

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 betwe...

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 w...

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 w...