FDNY First female chief on Zohran Mamdani

Natasha sits down with former FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, the first woman to lead the NYC Fire Department in its 150-year history. Laura is opening up about this pivotal moment in New York City: the upcoming transition of power and her perspective on Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s new administration. With two decades of political and campaign experience, multiple mayoral transitions under her belt, and years running one of the largest operational agencies in the country, she breaks down how power really shifts in this city and who actually gets to shape policy. We also dive into her next chapter from mentoring rising leaders in the prestigious 92nd Street Y Women in Power program, to serving as an Urban Fellow and teaching leadership at NYU. This conversation goes beyond headlines into the realities of governing, shifting culture inside male-dominated institutions, navigating pressure, and leading when the stakes are high.