CMU is 'Shattering the Glass Ceiling'
CMO of Franco Nikki Little, far left, CEO of Franco Tina Kozak, middle left, Partner and Vice President of Strategic Communications for Paladin Heather Smith, middle right and CEO and Principal Designer for Concetti Rachel Nelson, far left through WebEx, clap during the Women Entrepreneurs Panel: Shattering The Glass Ceiling in the Townsend Kiva, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (CMLife | Alivia Cranick)
Welcomed by the soft, harmonic melodies of the Central Michigan University jazz band, students, faculty and local business owners filled the Townsend Kiva Theatre on Tuesday night to hear from the panelists of the “Shattering the Glass Ceiling” event.
Hosted by CMU’s College of the Arts & Media and College of Business, “Shattering Glass Ceilings” acted as the university’s early celebration of International Women’s Day, which takes place on March 8. The event included an interactive role-playing performance and a dynamic discussion from the night’s panelists:
- Rachel Nelson, CEO and Principal Designer at interior design strategy studio, Concetti
- Tina Kozak, CEO at Franco, an integrated communications PR agency
- Nikki Little, CMO at Franco
A role-play of the ‘Bakers’ takes place during the beginning of the Women Entrepreneurs Panel: Shattering The Glass Ceiling in the Townsend Kiva, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The role-players were asked questions about what it is like owning a bakery and the gender roles that play along. (CMLife | Alivia Cranick)
The role-playing experience featured the participants depicting bakers from various bakeries, answering questions from an assigned section of the audience as their designated roles. The audience’s questions and their corresponding responses highlighted the misogynistic undertones that many possess when speaking to a female entrepreneur.
Questions were posed such as “This must be a fun hobby for you, right?” and “Are you concerned that your priorities might change when you decide to start a family?”
The panel of role-players included:
- Jacquelyn Gage, academic advisor for the College of Arts and Media and the College of Health Professions
- Kara Lacerna, integrated public relations student
- Emma Massey, director of mentoring initiatives at CMU
- Dr. Sean Baker, faculty member
Dr. Elina Erzikova, professor of Public Relations and coordinator of Strategic Communication Unit, was a primary organizer of the event. Erzikova credits her Public Relations Seminar class with providing all promotional material for the event and assisting in the planning process.
She said that the class wrote news releases and media advisories, promoted the event through social media, distributed flyers and designed the trivia that took place prior to the event.
While providing students with professional experience, Erzikova said she also wanted this event to show her students the realities that they may face in the PR industry, especially as women.
“It’s about us women coming together in solidarity and fighting for our rights,” Erzikova said. “Fighting for those who might not be as brave, who might not be equipped with knowledge (of) how to do it right. But PR students can, because they know how to persuade people to do something or not to do something. They have the skills, they have the right attitude.
"So this is why it's more than about an individual student negotiating a fair salary. It's about all of us coming together to improve our future, our professional future.”
Following a discussion on the constructs of gender from Aiden Kosciesza, faculty member in the School of Communication, Journalism and Media, the event’s featured panelists took the stage.
Central Michigan Assistant Professor of Communication and Media Arts Aiden Kosciesza speaks to the audience about gender communication after the role-play of ‘Bakers’ during the Women Entrepreneurs Panel: Shattering The Glass Ceiling in the Townsend Kiva, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (CMLife | Alivia Cranick)
Moderated by CMU alum and current communication consultant for Paladin Communications Heather Smith, the panelists answered questions relating to their careers as successful female entrepreneurs.
The conversation flowed from panelists’ inspiration behind their entrepreneurial pursuits, to the challenges that they have overcome and lessons that they have learned over the course of their careers.
When facing challenges relating to feeling underqualified for a position, Little urged young professionals to stand firm in their self-assurance.
“It starts with believing in yourself,” Little said. “And believing in the people who believe in you and having that unwavering confidence and conviction in 'I might not know it all today, but I'm going to figure it out. I'm here for a reason, because I know I can do it, and I know somebody else put me in this position or gave me this responsibility because they trust in me too.'"
Little also stressed the importance of taking initiative to achieve one’s goals, especially in the field of business.
“You don’t have to wait for somebody else to give you an opportunity,” Little said. “You can create those opportunities yourself, you can connect with other people, build those networks and make your voice heard through a variety of different channels. You don't have to wait for anything to come to you.”
Kozak shared an anecdote about the challenges she faced as a woman in a man's world as the discussion arrived at the concept of being underestimated as a woman in a professional role.
When working in South Korea, Kozak said she was intentionally and repeatedly left out of professional conversations, forcing her to show up despite her feeling defeated.
Partner and Vice President of Strategic Communications for Paladin Heather Smith, left, CMO of Franco Nikki Little, middle and CEO of Franco Tina Kozak, right, talk before the Women Entrepreneurs Panel: Shattering The Glass Ceiling in the Townsend Kiva, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Smith, who interviewed the panelists during the event, is a CMU alumni who worked in public relations before starting at Paladin. (CMLife | Alivia Cranick)
“I had earned their respect, but it was not easy,” Kozak said. “It would have been very easy to get up and just stay in my hotel. So it was just kind of that persistence and showing them, 'I'm here to help make you look good and I can be valuable.'”
Little added on to the conversation from a perspective of being undervalued.
“Do not be defeated, know your worth and find a different path forward,” Little said. “You just have to find a different path forward. ... Never lose your sense of empowerment.
"If you're in a situation that is not great, recognize it, but don't become a victim. Say, 'I deserve better, I deserve more and let me start to look for solutions.'”
Though Nelson was not able to attend the event in person, she contributed to the discussion over a video call.
“Seek validation from yourself, not from outside sources,” Nelson said. “Not from your parents, not from your peers, not even from anybody else in the industry you're hoping to break into.
“And don't take me wrong, you should have mentors and you should have people that you confide in; but at the end of the day you have to believe in yourself and the vision you have sought out.”
