This week on SHeCOMMERCE, Cristina and Jacqui are joined by Christine Nikolaou of The FMCG Guys for a bold, no-fluff conversation on Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day, and the work still left to do.

This is not a celebration episode. It’s an audit. An unfiltered conversation about power, progress, and the systems still holding women back at work.

Together, they unpack the hard truths behind corporate gender equity conversations — from the “broken rung” keeping women from that critical first promotion, to the gap between visibility and actual power, to the reality that sponsorship, not just performance, still shapes who advances and who gets left behind.

They also dig into the uncomfortable questions companies love to avoid:

• Are women being supported — or simply showcased?
• Has leadership equity become more of a branding exercise than a business priority?
• And are flexible work policies really helping women, or quietly penalizing them?

With sharp insight, real talk, and zero patience for buzzwords, this episode explores what progress actually looks like, what’s still broken, and what needs to change next.

If you’re tired of pink-washed corporate messaging and ready for a more honest conversation about women, leadership, and power in the workplace — this one’s for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• The “broken rung” and why early promotions matter so much
• The difference between representation, influence, and authority
• Why sponsorship changes careers
• Performative allyship vs. real structural change
• Flexibility, caregiving, and the hidden penalties women still face
• What companies continue to get wrong about women and ambition

Smart. Sharp. Honest. And exactly the kind of conversation Women’s History Month should make room for.

Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood.

SHeCOMMERCE:

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

What’s the biggest e-commerce lie brands still believe? According to Aisha Khan (WPP Media, Head of Retail Media & Digital Commerce for Unilever U.S.) that retail media alone is going to save the growth plan.

In this unapologetically honest episode of SHeCOMMERCE, Cristina and Jacqui sit down with the one and only Aisha Khan for a conversation that goes way beyond buzzwords and straight into the real work behind modern commerce leadership.

Aisha brings the heat on why brands need to stop treating retail media like a magic wand and start thinking bigger. From social’s role in driving retail demand, to the reality that all media is now commerce media, she lays out a sharper, smarter playbook for growth.

But this episode doesn’t stop at strategy.

Aisha also gets real about the human side of leadership: the bold career pivots, the moments where things nearly caught fire, the lesson that creative still drives performance, and the truth about what women really need to lead transformation inside complex organizations. She opens up about sponsorship, boundaries, feedback, self-awareness, and recovering from toxic leadership without losing yourself in the process.

This one is equal parts commerce masterclass and career therapy session.

In this episode, we get into:

• Why retail media isn’t the only answer to growth
• How social, culture, and demand creation fuel commerce
• The mistake brands make when they over-focus on media and ignore creative
• What it really takes for women to lead boldly in high-pressure environments
• Why one sponsor is not enough
• How to protect your power, trust yourself, and stop apologizing for being great

Smart, sharp, and wildly relatable, this episode is for anyone building brands, leading change, and refusing to play small.

Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood.

SHeCOMMERCE:

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

During the month of March Cristina and I are providing sparkling sips and cocoa cups of hot takes from a whole array of gorgeous humans for Women's History Month and International Women's Day.

In this Cup of Cocoa episode, the Dynowski and Marinucci kids weigh in on why the International Women's Day is so very important. It's cute, unfiltered, and a ringing endorsement of kids who make us feel like maybe, the future is in good hands. Give it a listen for unfettered adorability (we might be biased)!

Their Give to Gain? Showcasing how women are the mainstay of historical achievements and the reason why we are all here.

SHeCOMMERCE:

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.