Behind the Scenes: Celebrating Five Years of Pass the Mic

After five incredible years, Pass the Mic has amplified the voices of women in leadership, sharing their stories to inspire the next generation. But behind every powerful story is a team of dedicated women working tirelessly to bring these conversations to life. 

From producers and editors, to writers and interviewers, these women are the backbone of Pass the Mic, shaping narratives, elevating voices, and ensuring every story is heard. We’re pulling back the curtain to celebrate the women behind Pass the Mic, the changemakers who make it all possible.

Meet our team and discover how they get inspired to keep the mic moving. 

The Visionary

Jocelyn Hudak

Jocelyn Hudak, Senior Director, Content and Digital Marketing is the brains and the voice behind Pass the Mic. Her vision for this initiative is shining a spotlight women breaking barriers and reinventing what it means to be a leader. 

Biggest Lesson: Be the last one to speak.

Highlight: “Always be the last person to speak, especially if you're the decision maker in the room or on the call… It was an ah-ha moment to me to think that, ‘You know what? No, I should let everyone else talk and consciously be the last person to speak so that everyone else gets to express their ideas.’ So I've tried to live by that since then.” - Jocelyn Hudak

Her advice: Don’t stress.

Highlight: “Don't stress. At the end of the day, you're a good worker. You're going to get it done, and you're going to do a great job. But there's other things to life. And I think having that balance is really important and also helps you to approach the work and the urgent situations with more calm and patience than if you were super, super stressed.” - Jocelyn Hudak

The Interviewers

Deirdre Locksley

Deirdre Locksley, Associate Director, Content Marketing is a leader in the content space. Leading thought provoking conversations and turning them into inspiring written content for all to consume and enjoy. 

Biggest lesson: Set boundaries.

Highlight: “Sacrificing your time will have a negative impact on your personal life and happiness. Jobs will come and go, but you'll always need family, friends, hobbies, adventures, self-care. Setting boundaries and preserving a work-life balance will ultimately make you better at any role, both inside and outside of work.” - Deirdre Locksley

Her advice: Perform like there’s no net.

Highlight: “Perform like there's no net…. When you reach the point where you're looking to take that next leap, whatever that is for your career, the best way to demonstrate that to your boss, your teammates, and, most importantly, yourself is to do your job and perform every task as though there is no one there to catch inaccuracies, inconsistencies, or mistakes. And everyone will notice.” - Deirdre Locksley

Nidia Serrano

Nidia Serrano, Vice President, Sales Marketing, is a visionary in her field, pioneering change for culture and media alike. Nidia’s leadership focuses on inclusivity and empowerment for all.

Biggest lesson: Find your confidence. 

Highlight: “You have the confidence to say, ‘I can do it.’ And for me, it wasn't until I found my confidence and my voice and applied it the second I set foot at SiriusXM Media, that I started succeeding. And I'm trying to remember that as I move forward in my career.” - Nidia Serrano

Her advice: Embrace your uniqueness. 

Highlight: “Embrace your uniqueness, your skills, your experiences and perspectives. They may be different from others, but that uniqueness is your strength. Empower other women…to embrace their own uniqueness. Sometimes you need someone to remind you that you got it and that you deserve to go for that new job, or that new role, or that new responsibility.” - Nidia Serrano

Sophie Anderson

Sophie Anderson, Associate Director, Sales Marketing, Podcasts, has a special calling when it comes to the podcasting world. Her abilities to lead thoughtful conversations and tell a story are part of what make her an impactful part of Pass the Mic 

Biggest lesson: Appreciate feedback. 

Highlight: “She stressed the importance of really acknowledging and cherishing the feedback that you get, whether it's from a peer or a manager, because if someone's going out of their way to give you advice, it means that they really care about you, and they're invested in your career and in your growth… And it's something that I hold really close, and I keep top of mind every time I receive feedback.” - Sophie Anderson

Her advice: Stay Malleable. 

Highlight: “Stay malleable and really be open to changing your process and your approach to each unique situation.” - Sophie Anderson

The Writers and Creatives

Morgan James

Morgan James, Content Marketing Specialist, is a part of developing content for Pass the Mic and beyond. Turning these inspiring Pass the Mic conversations into blogs, podcasts, and articles.

Biggest lesson: Find ways to grow. 

Highlight: “With those tasks come opportunities for you to take notes, work with your colleagues, grow your connections, really sit back and learn and educate yourself on how to improve the way that you work. When you get done with that task, you can look back on that and say, 'I did that. I'm proud of myself.' And when we're accomplishing new things, we can only go up from there.” - Morgan James

Her advice: Believe in yourself. 

Highlight: “The best way to approach a situation where you may feel uncomfortable or scared is to just believe in yourself. You got where you are today because of your perseverance, your hard work, and your willingness to take on a new task. The only way that we improve is to keep pushing forward. And if you doubt yourself, you're never going to grow.” - Morgan James

Gabi McGarvey

Gabi McGarvey, Senior Manager, B2B Social Media, leads the social media team for SiriusXM Media. Gabi’s carefully crafted posts are the powerhouse that keep advertisers, clients, and audio lovers engaged and entertained. 

Biggest lesson: Keep on moving.

Highlight: “Sometimes taking a step back is exactly what you need to make a giant leap forward. Embrace the twists and turns, take what you need from them, and keep on moving… Realizing that many successful people have navigated similar paths brought me a sense of comfort and validation.” - Gabi McGarvey

Her advice: Do the best work you can.

Highlight: “Every time in my career when I have taken a big risk or leaped into the deep end of the pool, it has paid off. And yeah, I was afraid. But honestly, if you are not feeling a tingle of fear, you aren't pushing yourself enough to fight any negativity that creeps up. I always tell myself, ‘Just do the best work you can and it will all work out.’” Gabi McGarvey

Dana Smith

Dana Smith, Copywriter, B2B Marketing, is the mechanic behind some of our eye-catching and witty copy from places like our website, events, newsletters, and on Pass the Mic.

Biggest lesson: Take risks. 

Highlight: “These things work out whether or not we ask… I got to take risks rather than ask for permission. I did it, and then asked for forgiveness. So, I would say that taking risks is the piece of advice that stuck with me the most, because you don't really get the things you want just by hoping for them, so why not ask?” - Dana Smith

Her advice: Just be you.

Highlight: “Just be you… I've been really lucky to have had amazing women in leadership positions who brought their genuine selves to work each day. They were very warm, very caring, but firm and fair. They didn't really let the ‘being a woman in the business’ define them. They were just being themselves. So, just be yourself.” - Dana Smith

Special Guest Interviewers and Creatives

Pass the Mic would not have been possible without all of the creative and intelligent minds who have played a role in bringing it to life. We’d like to give a special shoutout to some of the other women who have led conversations, crafted special design assets, and worked on the copy to make Pass the Mic a truly impactful initiative for all. 

• Joanne Easton, Associate Director, Design

• Kendel Goonis, Manager, Copy & Messaging

• Priscilla Valls, Sales VP, Agency Partnerships

• Laura Fernandez, Sales VP, Travel & Tourism

• Monica Robles, Sales Director

• JulieAnne Evanina, VP Brand and Consumer Marketing, SiriusXM + Pandora

Plus all of the others who have played a part in interviewing, writing, designing, and more behind the scenes.

Let’s Keep Passing the Mic

The impact of Pass the Mic isn’t just the voices we amplify, it’s the dedication, passion, and hard work of the women who make it all happen. The commitment to storytelling, leadership, and female empowerment ensures that every voice is heard, every story matters, and the next generation is inspired. As we celebrate five years of passing the mic, we also celebrate the women behind the scenes working hard to give it the spotlight all women deserve. Here’s to the next chapter, empowered by the women keeping the mic open for all.

Interested in reading more Pass the Mic content? Check out the Pass the Mic page.

Get Inspired Now.