OWA Talks Podcast
Welcome to the OWA Talks podcast from the Optical Women's Association! Our two hosts, Carissa and Tatiana, interview esteemed guests who connect, inspire, and lead women in the optical, optometry, and ophthalmology industries.
Episodes
From Optician to Industry Leader: Creating Your Own Career Path. Katie Lauver and Cathy Firman share their journeys from working in optical practices to leading teams and driving innovation on the corporate side of the industry. Tune in as they discuss career growth, leadership, mentorship, and why some of the most rewarding opportunities in optical may be the ones you never expected.
About the guests:
Katie Lauver, ABOC, FNAO, is a ...
Beyond the Lens: Creating Experiences That Keep Patients Coming Back. Kelly Rosemann joins OWA Talks to share insights from her 28-year career in optical—exploring how practices can move beyond transactions to create memorable, experience-driven care that keeps patients coming back.
About the guest:
Kelly Rosemann is a seasoned optical industry professional with more than 28 years of experience spanning independent practice, la...
Purti Kanodia Talks Real-World AI Applications. On this episode of OWA Talks, Purti shares a practical, no-hype approach to building AI fluency. Join us as we get beyond the ‘theory’ and talk implementation. If you’re curious about AI but overwhelmed, this one’s for you.
About the guest:
Purti Kanodia is a fractional AI transformation leader and founder of Clarity Prompts, an AI consulting firm and weekly ...
Change shapes us in unexpected ways. For this episode, Shannon Talbo joins OWA Talks to reflect on navigating change — whether it is leadership changes, consolidation, career evolution or even personal changes.
About the guest:
Shannon Talbo is the Vice President of Sales, Core Channel West at Kering Eyewear. With a career that began in event production at a young age, Shannon developed an early passion for bringing people toge...
Join us for an honest conversation with Jackie Janiec about the seasons of life. We talk about leadership, perimenopause, motherhood, and how emotional intelligence has guided her both at home and in the optical industry.
About the guest:
Jackie Janiec is a marketing leader, brand strategist, and coach with a career built on turning complexity into clarity. As SVP of Marketing at Zyloware, she's leading the integration of two iconic ...
The Future of the Industry and Innovation at Vision Expo 2026. In this episode, we sit down with Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council, to explore the innovations, trends, and big‑picture forces shaping the industry and how to see it all at Vision Expo 2026.
About the guest:
Ashley brings over 20 years of progressive trade association management, marketing and leadership experience to The Vision Council. Ashley returned to The ...
What does it take to transform a family business into a powerhouse for independent eyewear? And why would a former comedian be the one to do it? In this episode, Scott Shapiro shares his journey from the stage to the boardroom.
About the guest:
Scott Harris Shapiro is the Executive Director of Europa Eyewear, a company founded by his parents in 1977, where he grew up in the business and now leads its growth, including pioneering Amer...
New Year, New President: Ring in 2026 with ‘OWA Talks’ and Megan Molony! It’s a new Year and OWA Talks is kicking 2026 off with a bang! Listen to this episode as we sit down with new OWA President Megan Molony to hear about her vision for the future of the organization.
About the guest:
As CEO of Europa Eyewear, Megan Molony oversees the full Europa platform, including Europa Eyewear and eyebobs, as well as fut...
Amanda Frugé joins us to talk smart eyewear and leadership. From Ray-Ban Meta to coaching top-performing teams, she shares insights on innovation, growth, and empowering women in optical.
About the guest:
With 25 years of sales experience, Amanda Frugé joined the EssilorLuxottica team in 2014 as a Ray-Ban sales consultant. She quickly rose within the company, and was named Vice President of Sales, Ray-Ban. She has received ...
How do you lead a top-performing luxury sales district while juggling newborn diapers, elder care, and grief - all with a smile? Francesca Pucci joins us to share her refreshingly honest take on leadership, motherhood, and the power of not folding the laundry.
About the guest:
Francesca Pucci is a Luxury Sales District Director with an MBA in Executive and Organizational Leadership. Her career includes demonstrated success in both th...
In this episode, Kasandra Riggs shares how her passion for service, leadership, and community engagement fuels her work at HOYA and beyond—empowering teams, mentoring future leaders, and creating lasting impact.
About the guest:
Kasandra ‘Kas’ Riggs is a passionate advocate for community service and volunteerism, with over 25 years of leadership experience in customer care. As Director of Customer Care at HOYA, she ...
This month, Erin Peshoff joins OWA Talks to talk about applied positive psychology and teach us how to not just survive — but to thrive! Plus, she teases a fun event coming to Vision Expo West.
About the guest:
Erin Crotty Peshoff is the Director of Development at KeraLink International, where she leads all fundraising efforts with a strategic mindset and a heart for impact. With 25 years of experience across national...
As VSP Vision celebrates 70 years of helping people see, Chief Marketing Officer, Wendy Hauteman joins ‘OWA Talks’ to discuss how giving back can help you live a more meaningful and fulfilled life — both personally and professionally.
About the guest:
As the chief marketing officer (CMO) for VSP Vision, Wendy Hauteman leads the enterprise marketing and communications strategy to deliver products, services, and brand...
Charismatic and respected eyecare industry legend, Jim McGrann, joins OWA Talks to share his passion for the industry and shed a light on the benefits of ‘spreading your wings’ in optical.
About the guest:
Jim McGrann is an engaging, decisive and adaptable leader with a demonstrated history of delivering results in the healthcare, insurance, technology, supply chain and consulting industries. Mr. McGrann is an exper...
In this episode, longtime OWA supporter Ed Buffington, Executive Advisor and former CEO of GPN Technologies, joins OWA Talks to share about the women who have impacted his personal life and 46-year career in optical.
About the guest:
C. Edward (“Ed”) Buffington has been deeply engaged with the eye care industry for more than 46 years. His experience includes senior management in the contact lens and eye care technolog...
In this episode, we are joined by Yang Yang, President, Vision Care at Bausch + Lomb, who shares her experiences throughout her 11+ years in the eye care industry, wisdom she learned throughout her career, and advice for others to grow their careers and leadership opportunities. Yang Yang also provides insights on mentorship, how travel can enrich your role, and her hopes for the future of eye care.
About the guest:
Yang Yang was...
Tax season is upon us! Listen to this timely episode as we’re joined by Benitha Mintz, the CFO of Zyloware, as she offers unique insights on her approach to personal finances.
About the guest:
Benitha Mintz is an experienced Chief Financial Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the apparel and optical industry. Skilled in Cash Flow, Budgeting, Microsoft Excel, Cash Management, Human Resources, Logistics an...
This episode features three women from the newly formed International Expansion Committee — we hear how their careers were shaped, major differences in corporate culture abroad, and learn about all the exciting ways the OWA is going international!
About the guests:
Nancy Gries grew up in a small farming community in Wisconsin, and by the age of 17, was dreaming of exploring the world. With the encouragement of my supportive par...
Kristy Stone, Director of Member Education at PECAA and OWA Membership Committee representative, provides insight into the importance of education within the industry, what she is most proud of, and what the Membership Committee is all about.
About the guest:
Kristy started her optical career as an optometric technician and worked her way up to area manager, working in all facets of a multiple location eye car...
In this episode, we learn how to “PIVOT!” Colleen Arbus teaches us the value of being able to pivot both personally and professionally. She also shares tips and tricks for how to apply sales techniques in your everyday life.
About the guest:
Colleen Arbus, National Sales Director, INNOVA Medical Ophthalmics, at Advancing Eyecare.
Results-driven multiple award-winning leader with a strong background in...
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