Women to Watch Media® with Sue Rocco

Sue Rocco
Women to Watch Media® with Sue Rocco

Women to Watch® Media is the premier global media platform for women leaders. We tell the real story behind the titles of some of the most accomplished women worldwide. Our mission is to inspire and encourage more women to pursue leadership roles worldwide.

  1. Maria Grasso, Chief Sales Officer at PHLCVB: "Finding your voice"

    DEC 5

    Maria Grasso, Chief Sales Officer at PHLCVB: "Finding your voice"

    Maria Grasso, the Chief Sales Officer at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), shared the story behind her title with us on December 4, 2024. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5. Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: “Listen in as I sit down with Maria to talk about her younger years growing up in Philadelphia, playing varsity soccer on a boy's team, the loss of her father to Colon Cancer, her best advice for women in sales, and why she loves her job so much!” ABOUT MARIA: Maria Grasso is the Chief Sales Officer at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), leading three business development divisions, the convention sales team and destination services team in growing convention bookings, while positioning Philadelphia as the premier destination for meetings, conventions and major events. Actively involved in Philadelphia's hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Maria serves as the hotel accommodations expert, representing Philadelphia and the PHLCVB with FIFA and U.S. Soccer. She has served in similar capacities for other historic events including the 2015 World Meeting of Families & Papal Visit, 2016 Democratic National Convention and the 2017 NFL Draft. A 25 year veteran of the organization, Maria joined the PHLCVB in 1999 as senior director of national accounts, quickly establishing herself as the organization's top-producing sales director. She most recently served as vice president of sales and convention services, a customer-facing role focusing on organizational growth in key industry verticals. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-to-watch-r/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    41 min
  2. Shauna Sweeney, Founder & CEO of Tender

    NOV 20

    Shauna Sweeney, Founder & CEO of Tender

    Shauna Sweeney, Founder & CEO of Tender, shared the story behind her title with us on November 20, 2024. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5. Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "This interview with Shauna was a personal one for me. Having lost my mother, her two sisters and my grandfather to Alzheimer's, the new tech company Shauna founded would have been a Godsend.  Shauna talks about growing up with her single dad and the tight bond they formed, his later diagnosis with Alzheimer's and her decision to leave a successful job at Meta to develop an app that would assist caregivers as they maneuver the complex and frightening world of taking care of a loved one with chronic disease." ABOUT SHAUNA: Shauna's personal journey of caring for her father, who has early-onset Alzheimer's, inspired her to help millions of family caregivers like her through technology. Prior to Tender, Shauna was a tech executive and led a significant Employee Resource Group, Caregiving@, for aging parents and caregivers. Before that she was a professor of rhetoric at USC. Beyond her professional roles, she contributes to her community, having served on the boards of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and the Asia Society. Shauna resides in New York in a historic, converted 1850s barn with her husband, daughter, two step-children, and their pet sheepdog, along with a small flock of chickens. LEARN MORE: Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-to-watch-r/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    46 min
  3. Mara Smith, Founder & CEO of INSPIRO Tequila: “Being a Learn-It-All”

    OCT 30

    Mara Smith, Founder & CEO of INSPIRO Tequila: “Being a Learn-It-All”

    Mara Smith, Founder & CEO of INSPIRO Tequila, shared the story behind her title with us on October 30, 2024. ★★★★★ Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Mara to talk about motherhood, her career as an attorney in a large firm, her work as a corporate strategist at McDonald's Corporation, and going on emergency bedrest while pregnant with her twins, which led to the difficult decision to leave the corporate world and start something new." MORE ABOUT MARA: Mara Smith, a former attorney in Chicago, started drinking tequila when she was looking for a clean, gluten-free spirit that fit into her active lifestyle. She and her friends enjoyed the versatile, carb-free and zero sugar spirit but they were not drawn to the traditional offerings. For years, Mara searched for a tequila brand that was additive-free with a look, taste and aroma that appealed to her and that she could share with her friends and family and proudly display on her bar. That perfect tequila simply did not exist, so she decided to create one. Mara went to work studying the industry, and more importantly researching and testing what mindful consumers like her were looking for in a tequila. Her goal was to create a clean, smooth and sippable 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila without any of the additives often found in other tequilas, and with every detail thoughtfully crafted, from the meticulous production process to the sophisticated and sleek bottle that is easy to hold and pour. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-to-watch-r/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    30 min
  4. Liz Hirsh Naftali | Hostage Advocate & Podcaster: "Just Keep Pushing"

    OCT 23

    Liz Hirsh Naftali | Hostage Advocate & Podcaster: "Just Keep Pushing"

    Liz Hirsh Naftali, Hostage Advocate & Podcaster, shared the story behind her title with us on October 23, 2024. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5. Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: “Listen in as I sit down with Laura to talk about the loss of her father when she was 8, why it led to a deep understanding of the fragility of life, how an internship at Madison Square Garden opened her eyes to her love of business and creativity and why becoming a mother was the best thing that ever happened to her career." MORE ABOUT LIZ: Liz Hirsh Naftali is the great-aunt of Abigail Mor Edan, a three-year-old who was held hostage in Gaza for fifty-one days. Abigail was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, from her community, Kfar Aza, after her parents were both murdered in front of her by Hamas terrorists.  In the wake of that attack, Naftali became a fervent advocate working for the release of the hostages. Even after Abigail’s release on November 26, 2023, she remains dedicated to working for all those who remain in captivity in Gaza. Liz is author of “Saving Abigail: The True Story of the Abduction and Rescue of a Three-Year-Old Hostage”. Liz is also businesswoman and the host and creator of The Capitol Coffee Connection podcast, a platform where she invites prominent, diverse leaders to talk about the common thread that binds us all together—our shared experiences, stories, and the very essence of our heart and humanity—leaving out politics and policy. She was raised in Los Angeles where Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam were an important part of her upbringing. Her father, Stanley Hirsh, was the publisher of the Jewish Journal, president of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles and chairman of the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. Her mother, Anita Hirsh, was a leader in the Soviet Jewry movement and Jewish Family Service in Los Angeles. Naftali is the mother of five children and has lived between Israel and the US since 1992.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-to-watch-r/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1 hr
  5. Laura Miranda, B. Partners: "Create your own rules"

    OCT 16

    Laura Miranda, B. Partners: "Create your own rules"

    Laura Miranda, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, B. Partners, shared the story behind her title with us on October 16, 2024. ★★★★★ Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Laura to talk about the loss of her father when she was 8, why it led to a deep understanding of the fragility of life, how an internship at Madison Square Garden opened her eyes to her love of business and creativity and why becoming a mother was the best thing that ever happened to her career." Laura started her career at just 19 years old with an internship at Madison Square Garden and went on to excel at selling sponsorships—generating millions for many preeminent sports properties within a global marketing agency. Having grown up in rural Middle America, it was a dream come true. In 2014, she began applying sports best-practices to non-traditional properties, pioneering an innovative partnership-led solution that drove significant revenue and brand equity. Passionate about the art of possibility and driving success for her clients, Laura is a catalyst for growth. Laura and her husband Bryan live in Westfield, NJ with their four children (two sets of twin toddlers) and what seems like an army of much appreciated childcare givers. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-to-watch-r/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    43 min
5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Women to Watch® Media is the premier global media platform for women leaders. We tell the real story behind the titles of some of the most accomplished women worldwide. Our mission is to inspire and encourage more women to pursue leadership roles worldwide.

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada