9 to 5ish with theSkimm

Build-A-Bear CEO Sharon Price-John on Why Defining Values is Key to Achieving Goals Oct 30, 2024

Early in her career, Sharon Price-John literally put pen to paper and wrote what she dubbed her “price values.” AKA: the qualities that guided her in work and life. She reasoned that if she had time to write a grocery list, she could take a second to define what was important to her. Although her price values have inevitably evolved as she got older, Sharon shares that defining her values made the path to achieving her goals a lot clearer.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Sharon shares:

The brownie points she scored from her kids being a toy company exec
Why she follows the age-old advice “love what you do”
What influenced the changes to her “price values” list
How she managed to bring Build-A-Bear its three most profitable years ever after COVID
The difficulties of succeeding a founder-led business, and how she overcame them

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Jenny Slate on Finding Peace with Herself through Motherhood Oct 23, 2024

Through her twenties and thirties, comedian Jenny Slate couldn’t find peace. By all accounts, she was succeeding. She earned a spot on Saturday Night Live, and became recognizable through her on-screen appearances next to actors like Amy Poehler and Nick Kroll. But she still felt stuck in a cycle of self-criticism and a pressure to always be on. Then she became a mom and it all clicked. Listen as Jenny shares why becoming a mom made her feel less desperate to get jobs, please others, and “perform her tricks”.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Jenny shares:

Why living in Massachusetts instead of Los Angeles is helpful for her creative work
What traits her parents were most concerned about in her upbringing
How leaving Saturday Night Live led her to a major learning about success
Why perfection isn’t worth aiming at, and how she unlearned doing that
How the unconditional love she feels for her kid helped heal her own inner child
A skimm of her new memoir, “Life Form”

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NFL Reporter Erin Andrews on Addressing the “Shelf Life” of Her Career Oct 16, 2024

Erin Andrews has become one of the most recognizable sideline reporters in the sports industry. She started out at ESPN in her early twenties, and eventually moved to Fox NFL where she continues to give fans updates on their favorite players and coaches. While Erin’s worked in the biz for nearly two decades, she says she knows there’s a “shelf life” to her job. But the only way she’ll stop is if they drag her off the sidelines – and Erin says, it ain’t gonna be pretty.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Erin shares:

The news junkie side of her, and how it’s ruined family vacations
How she’s proactively addressing the “shelf life” of her on-camera career
The trauma she endured after being stalked, and how it informs her boundaries today
How she’s built genuine relationships with her colleagues and the people she covers
Why work became such a safe haven for her after going through her cervical cancer diagnosis and IVF treatments

PS: Check out Erin Andrews podcast, Calm Down.

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Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego on Why Paid Family Leave is Good for Everyone Oct 09, 2024

Before she decided to run for mayor, Kate Gallego was newly divorced with a young child. Her support system drastically changed after her mom was diagnosed with cancer. Her only income was through her job on the city council, and she questioned whether Phoenix could stomach a young, unmarried woman as mayor. She won the race and has led the city for five years now. As mayor, Mayor Gallego implemented one of the most generous paid family leave policies for government employees and established an office to respond to Phoenix’s rising heat. Another part of her legacy so far? Redefining what’s possible for young working moms who don’t have perfect personal lives.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Mayor Gallego shares:

How climate defined her childhood and early professional career
Why people should run for office even if their personal life isn’t perfect
The women in government who guided her through her own public service career
How she implemented a 12-week paid family leave policy for public employees, plus a surprising fact on who uses it the most

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Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz on Staying Innovative in Your Industry Oct 02, 2024

Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz said “I do” to Kevin Hartz twice: once when they got married, and again when she decided to become a co-founder with him. Julia says she doesn’t even remember the latter moment. All she knows is she trusted Kevin’s entrepreneurial instincts and it paid off. But when Kevin needed to step down as CEO and have Julia step in, she describes the transition as going from “Candyland” to “Tron”.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Julia shares:

What her internships on “Friends” and “Jackass” taught her
The unofficial exit strategy she and Kevin agreed on in case they didn’t work out romantically
Why it was bittersweet stepping up as CEO while Kevin navigated health struggles health struggled
How Eventbrite’s IPO was the most diverse in NYSE history
Why she takes it personally when female executive leadership exit the business after going public

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Rachel Zoe on Finding Success Without a Plan Sep 25, 2024

On the literal first day Rachel Zoe decided to be a freelance stylist, Tommy Hilfiger called her up to style a 2-week campaign with the biggest celebs and supermodels. She had 0 faith in herself, but he trusted she could do it. Rachel spent her career mainly behind the camera until her clients – who were the it-girls of our time – started pulling her in front of the paps with them. That turned into a Bravo TV show about her life, “The Rachel Zoe Project” and several fashion-focused brands centered around her styling. The best part? She never planned any of it.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Rachel shares:

The subconscious impact of growing up near New York City
Her biggest fashion pet peeve in the workplace
How she managed her limelight career as an introvert
Why she decided to allow Bravo to film her life, despite swearing it off initially
Whether or not she’d be able to launch her styling career in the age of social media
How not having a plan for her whole career ended up working out

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Chef Claudette Zepeda on Building a Hospitality Empire as a Single Mom Sep 18, 2024

Claudette Zepeda grew up as a border kid between San Diego and Tijuana. On top of that, she spent summers in Guadalajara, watching her aunt run a bustling restaurant. She didn’t know it then, but those summers created the foundations for Mexican cuisine and hospitality in her mind. Then, she became a mom at 18-years-old. Claudette was a kid raising her own kid. She needed to pay the bills, sure. But what Claudette wanted more was to figure out how to build intergenerational wealth – and how to inspire young single moms to believe they could do it too.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Claudette shares:

Why she never allowed herself to dream beyond getting off food stamps and paying her bills on time
How she stumbled into being a celebrity chef thanks to “right place, right time”
Why it’s detrimental to not talk about failures publicly
A recent on-air mess up she can’t stop thinking about, and what it taught her

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General Motors CEO Mary Barra on Making it in a Male-Dominated Industry Sep 11, 2024

Mary Barra grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, aka: the heart of the auto industry. Her father worked at General Motors for 40 years, and Mary became a second generation GM’er. She worked her way up the company, studying at the General Motors Institute (yes, it was a thing) to eventually becoming the CEO in 2014. Mary claimed GOAT status in the auto industry for steering the company through several crises – and for being a mentor to other women in the biz.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Mary shares:

Who would make the cut on her cross-country road trip roster
Why she’s never blinked twice at the rarity of being a woman in the auto industry
The most difficult crisis she had to navigate a CEO
Advice to her daughter and other women on when it’s time to leave a job
Why she views herself as a caretaker to General Motors and what that responsibility means

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Jamie Kern Lima on Unlocking Your Self-Worth Jul 31, 2024

Jamie Kern Lima sold her company, IT Cosmetics, for $1.2 billion to L’Oréal. The sale made Jamie the first female CEO of a L’Oréal brand and safe to say, she made a pretty penny. She'd made it. At least that’s what everyone thought. In reality, Jamie says she couldn't find the self-worth to make her feel like she deserved any of it.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Jamie shares:

Why befriending Oprah deepened her understanding of being “enough”
How she distinguishes between self-confidence and self-worth
Her struggles with work addiction and how it affected her relationship with her family
The story of learning to quiet self-doubt and learning to trust herself with her new book, Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life

PS: 9 to 5ish is going on summer vacation. We'll be back in your feed in September.

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Special Episode: Governor Gretchen Whitmer on the Stakes for Women in this Election Jul 25, 2024

Today, we’ve got a bonus episode of “9 to 5ish” for you with a guest whose name has been in the news a lot lately. Our guest is Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, the co-chair of Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, and author of the New York Times bestseller “True Gretch: What I’ve Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between.” As a popular governor of a swing state, Governor Whitmer’s name has been floated in convos about who might be on the Democratic ticket since Biden ended his re-election campaign.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Governor Whitmer shares:

Whether you’ll see a Harris-Whitmer ticket in 2024
What politicians can do to stop political violence
How democrats should think about reaching conservative and independent voters
What most people are surprised to learn about her after reading her book

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Venus et Fleur Founder Seema Bansal Chadha on Protecting Your Customer Jul 24, 2024

When Seema Bansal Chadha was in her early twenties, she was in a very new, long distance relationship with a guy named Sunny. In classic LDR-status, he sent her flowers for Valentine's Day. It was supposed to be a romantic gesture, but the flowers arrived wilted. NBD though. The flop would lead Seema to move to New York to be with Sunny…and to co-found Venus et Fleur with him too.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Seema shares:

Why her father’s lighting and plumbing store informed her own entrepreneurship
How she rationalized starting a biz with her boyfriend of less than a year
The moment Venus et Fleur blew up (shout out to the Kardashians)
How the hustle of the early days compares to the hustle now
Why protecting your existing customers sometimes outweighs trying to attract new ones

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Mandana Dayani on What's Motivating Millennial Voters Jul 17, 2024

In 2018, Mandana Dayani watched as the family-separation policy played out at the southern border. It was deeply unsettling. Her family fled as refugees from Iran to the US as an authoritarian regime took over. She asked herself: how could a country that saved my life do this? Mandana quickly learned that civic engagement was the only way things could meaningfully change. Enter: I am a voter., Mandana's org that's on a mission to rebrand voter identity to get young people to the polls.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Mandana shares:

The culture shock of being a refugee in the US
How she went from being a lawyer to a brand strategist to the co-founder of a political org
The advice she got from Mom's Demand Action founder, Shannon Watts (spoiler alert: women get sh*t done)
How trust in existing brands and celebrities jumpstarted I am a voter.

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Allison Statter on Leaving the Security of a Family Business Jul 10, 2024

Most nepo babies deny the privileges afforded to them by their parents. Allison Statter isn’t one of them. She’s never been shy about having entertainment industry titans for parents, or about being Kim Kardashian’s lifelong BFF. But after working at her dad’s management company for 17 years, people started whispering about her legitimacy. To prove she could make it on her own, Allison kissed job security goodbye and launched her own entertainment marketing agency, Blended Strategy Group. Talk about a full 180.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Allison shares:

A fact about Kim K that most people don’t know
How her parent’s working relationship stayed strong despite separating multiple times
How a temporary 2-week stint at her dad’s company turned in 17-year long career
Why the stakes are so much higher working in a family business
How she’s learned more launching a company than she has her entire career

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Rebroadcast: Lisa Ling on Conquering Self Doubt Jul 03, 2024

Today, we’re going back into the 9 to 5ish archives to bring you one of our favorite episodes with journalist Lisa Ling. Despite reporting the news professionally since she was a teenager, Lisa says she doubts herself constantly in work settings. She shares how she quiets the voice in her head that makes her question her worth at work, plus the value she sees in women of color advocating for each other in the workplace. We'll be back with a fresh episode next week.

In this episode, Lisa shares:

The reporting experiences she had as a teen (alongside Anderson Cooper)
Why her two male agents told her to leave negotiating to them
The one lesson she wishes her young self learned
How having kids reframed her boundaries around how far she’d go for her job
Why it’s key for women of color to learn to advocate for each other in the workplace

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Alexis McGill Johnson on Paving a Path for Planned Parenthood’s Future Jun 26, 2024

Planned Parenthood president and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson is a self-described “movement baby" as her parents fought for racial equality during the civil rights movement. As an adult, she mixed pop culture with civic engagement to turn out young voters of color. Even though she credited her success to the women who raised her, she wasn’t specifically thinking about the role of gender in social justice issues. Then she walked by a billboard in SoHo depicting the dire state of reproductive health care for Black women. It quickly became all she could think about.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Alexis shares:

Her go-to bagel order as a certified Jersey girl
The biggest lesson her mom taught her about community organizing
Why a Princeton professor thanked her after she called out his racial prejudice
How she finds time to plan for the future of the org with so much uncertainty
Her secret to getting people to see her perspective on politicized issues like abortion

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Blueland Co-Founder Sarah Paiji Yoo on Reimagining the Role of Work as a New Mom Jun 19, 2024

When Sarah Paiji-Yoo became a mom, she started rethinking her serial entrepreneurship life she’d led since leaving Harvard Business School. She loved it, but early-stage startup building isn’t exactly a walk in the park. If she was going to hustle again, it had to mean something to her. Meanwhile, she was learning about the effects microplastics in our water have on us (spoiler alert: it’s scary stuff). Naturally, the serial entrepreneur in her was hungry for a solution to both of these issues. She found it in her plastic-free cleaning product company, Blueland.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Sarah shares:

The classic new-mom research rabbit hole she fell in
Why she hid from her in-laws that she wasn’t working for a year after having her son
How having unclear choices as a consumer and mom led her to found Blueland
Why recruiting her #1 pick for the Head of Product was crucial to Blueland’s success
The difficulty of being a sustainable business while being beholden to outside investors
Advice for listeners who feel too small to make an impact (hint: no action is too small)

Psst…this episode of “9 to 5ish” is brought to you by New York Life. Their financial professionals can help you navigate life’s decisions, big and small.

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Meghan McCain on Being a Nepo Baby and Owning It Jun 12, 2024

SNL called Meghan McCain the “Princess of Arizona”, and she’s embracing it. Her last name is nearly synonymous with Arizona as her father, the late Senator John McCain, led a 30+ year political career in the state. Her family name laddered Meghan up to big career moves, from regularly commentating on Fox News to repping conservative view points on “The View”. And she says: more nepo babies like her should own it, not shy away from it.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Meghan shares:

The cringiest photo op she had to do as the Senator’s kid
Why opting out from having an opinion was never an option growing up
How her family settled political disagreements and why all politics are celebrated in her family
The event that changed her views on paid family leave – and why all moms deserve it
Why she’s not voting for Trump or Biden, and what her dad would do

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Drunk Elephant Founder Tiffany Masterson on Trusting Your Gut in Business Jun 05, 2024

Tiffany Masteron’s grandma told her the name “Drunk Elephant” was the most asinine thing she’d ever heard. Granny wasn’t the only one – her friends thought so too. But Tiffany never bent when it came to her vision of the company, even though she was a stay-at-home mom with zero experience in skincare. Instead, she had this gut feeling about her ingredient formulation and trusted it was different enough to take the company far. Spoiler alert: it did.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Tiffany shares:

Why she chose to disrupt stay-at-home mom life to become an entrepreneur
When she realized her first entrepreneurial journey was kinda sketchy
How she discovered the Drunk Elephant “Suspicious Six” philosophy – and why it works
The moment she knew her company had “made it” (hello, Sephora)
Her response when consumers claim Drunk Elephant markets to kids

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Christy Turlington Burns on Going from Model to Maternal Health Advocate May 08, 2024

In the 1990s, Christy Turlington posed alongside icons like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista as one of the world’s first supermodels. She retired by 25 before going to college, earning her degree, and getting married. Then came her first baby – and a life-changing birthing experience that would inform her future work and advocacy.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Christy shares:

The benefits of her sister marrying her brother-in-law (hint: holidays are a breeze)
Why she has “survivors’ guilt” about getting out of the modeling industry unscathed
Her thoughts on building a career out of being a supermodel
Her traumatic birthing story and how it led to the founding Every Mother Counts
Advice on how to advocate for yourself in medical settings

Psst…this episode of 9 to 5ish is brought to you by New York Life. Their financial professionals can help you navigate life’s decisions, big and small.

PS: A new episode of 9 to 5ish will be back in your feed next month.

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Jordan Taylor and Edith Cooper on Running a Business as Mother and Daughter May 01, 2024

At 59, Edith Cooper never thought she’d make a career pivot. She spent nearly 30 years working her way up at Goldman Sachs, but then, she was approached to co-found a company called Medley. Who was the other co-founder? Jordan Taylor, AKA her daughter. The mom and daughter duo launched Medley, a coaching platform equipping Millennial-aged workers with the skills they need to be dynamic, inclusive, and authentic leaders.

In this episode, Jordan and Edith share:

Whether Jordan calls Edith “mom” or “Edith” in the workplace
The parts of her Wall Street HR career that Edith misses
Why we forget to support middle-level managers – and how Medley solves for it
The moments Jordan relies on Edith as “mom” vs. “co-founder”
Why boundary setting is crucial to success as co-founders who are friends or family

Psst…this episode of “9 to 5ish” is brought to you by New York Life. Their financial professionals can help you navigate life’s decisions, big and small.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

YSE Beauty Founder Molly Sims on Leaving a Job with Dignity Apr 24, 2024

Kentucky-born model Molly Sims never met a biscuit she didn’t like. Her southern charm brought her to college at Vanderbilt University, where she made the boldest move of her career: quitting her pre-law studies to become a full time model. Molly was in her early 20s, alone, and homesick halfway across the world. But with placements on the cover of Sports Illustrated, French Vogue and more, it’s safe to say she made a name for herself.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Molly shares:

Why southern sorority culture wasn’t for her
How her mother encouraged her to think beyond the US for her career + life experience
Why she’d never want her daughter to become a model
The secret to building resilience and the “thick skin” that helped her survive the modeling industry
How confronting her mental health challenges helped her be OK with work curveballs

Check out Molly's beauty brand, YSE Beauty.

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Drybar Founder Alli Webb on Scaling a $200+ Million Dollar Business without a College Degree Apr 17, 2024

Alli Webb was a stay-at-home mom for five years when she realized she needed to get out of the house more. So she started a mobile hair business. She’d go house-to-house and offer $40 blowouts to moms in LA, something that pretty much no one was doing at the time. She soon opened her first brick and mortar and called it Drybar. 100+ locations later, Alli sold the company for more than $200 million. All without a college degree or formal business training.

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Alli shares:

The sunshine and beach-haired days of her childhood growing up in Boca Raton
How having parents who operated a small biz gave her life lessons in entrepreneurship
Why it felt intoxicating building and scaling Drybar, plus the mental cost that came with it
How her divorce, son’s visit to rehab, and burnout led to her book, “The Messy Truth”
Why she felt intimidated when fundraising + curating the Drybar board – and how she got through it

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Christine Blasey Ford on Detaching Yourself from the Outcome Apr 10, 2024

Before September 2018, the public didn’t know Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. She was a busy mom and professor at Palo Alto University and Stanford. Then, she leveled a sexual assault accusation against Judge Brett Kavanaugh, a SCOTUS nominee. She testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee and 5 million people tuned in. From then on, any concept of a private life went out the window. Christine needed security to go…well, anywhere. Strangers sent her and her family death threats. Five years later, Christine shares how she navigates her new normal, plus the story behind the headlines and soundbites.

In this episode, Christine shares:

The behind-the-scenes leading up to her testimony against Judge Kavanaugh
What she makes of her unique connection to Anita Hill
Suggestions on what to say to sexual assault survivors instead of “I believe you”
What parts of working on her memoir, “One Way Back”, were therapeutic – and which were re-traumatizing

Content warning: this topic deals with sexual assault. Please take care when listening.

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Zibby Owens on Starting a Career Later in Life Apr 03, 2024

Zibby Owens witnessed first-hand the payoff of great entrepreneurship as she watched her father build his company, Blackstone, from the ground up. She freelanced as a writer earlier in her career. She focused on raising her kids for 10+ years. Then her marriage ended. So she spent her weekends without the kids rekindling her love of literature – and developing a media empire focusing on all things books.

In this episode, Zibby shares:

The story behind her iconic color-coordinated bookshelf
What she learned watching her father build his private equity business, Blackstone
Her recent Vogue article she published – and why she almost wishes she hadn’t
How her podcast became the vehicle to sell her first book
Why building your personal brand is key in almost any industry today

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Ancestry CEO Deb Liu on Taking Your Power Back at Work Mar 27, 2024

Ancestry CEO Deb Liu grew up in one of the only Asian families in South Carolina. To avoid being teased, she mostly kept to herself. It wasn’t until Deb got to Stanford Business School when she realized: she had to learn to speak up. That realization spurred her long career in Silicon Valley. But Deb says, without some openness and vulnerability from herself and others, it never would’ve happened.

In this episode, Deb shares:

Why she should’ve been fired from her first product management role
How being open and vulnerable with her boss actually helped her career
Key moments from her tech-heavy product career at eBay + Facebook
Why being a “strategic introvert” allowed her to contribute more effectively at work
Her most used tip from her new book, Take Your Power Back

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Mandy Moore on Not Letting Competition Distract You Mar 20, 2024

The late-90s bubblegum pop music defined Mandy Moore’s career. She always knew she was her record label’s answer to Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Mandy also knew she’d never be them – and that was okay with her. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Mandy shares advice on how to know your competition without becoming distracted by it.

In this episode, Mandy shares:

The boy band she’d tour with again
Why having parents who didn’t want to manage her was the secret to her success
How she managed to be unbothered by the pop industry’s comparison loop
Her go-to practices for easing her public speaking anxiety
A skimm of her latest project, The Boars’ Nest

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Alex Wagner on Being Persistent to Get What You Want Mar 13, 2024

Growing up with a politico father in Washington D.C., Alex Wagner initially swore off any career that dealt with politics. 25-ish years later, Alex is the primetime anchor of MSNBC's “Alex Wagner Tonight,” a show about the news and politics shaping our world. Talk about a 180. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Alex tells us how doing everything she was not “supposed” to do jump-started her media career.

In this episode, Alex shares:

How a pair of vintage heels nearly ruined her job interview with George Clooney
The influence her father’s political work had on her own career
How she wiggled her way into media with zero connections in the industry
Why writing her memoir was the hardest thing she’s done professionally
The lessons she learned from Rachel Maddow when she took over her primetime slot

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Ava DuVernay on How Listening Will Help You Level Up Your Career Mar 06, 2024

Award-winning director and producer Ava DuVernay, known for her groundbreaking films like “Selma,” “A Wrinkle In Time,” and “Origin,” didn’t actually start her career behind the camera. She spent years working in public relations before taking the plunge and pivoting in her 30s. Spoiler: it paid off. And she’s got an Academy Award to show for it. To kick off our new season of "9 to 5ish," we spoke to Ava about how she embraced change and found joy in her career.

PS: Ava’s film, “Origin,” will be streaming on demand starting March 12.

In this episode, Ava shares:

Why she’s intentional about finding joy in her work
What “ear hustling” is – and why it’s helped her level up in her career
How she’s learned to embrace change in her industry
The secret to a good working partnership (plus, what she’s learned from Oprah)

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Special Election Episode: Governor Nikki Haley Feb 22, 2024

Today, we’ve got a special bonus episode of “9 to 5ish” for you. Our guest is Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and former US Ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump Administration. She’s currently running for the Republican nomination for president. In this episode, we talk to Governor Haley about the job she wants, running against her former boss, and her positions on reproductive rights, the economy, and more.

At theSkimm, we’ve mobilized hundreds of thousands of women to vote. And it’s important that we hear directly from the candidates about the policy positions that impact women. We’ve also invited President Biden and former president Trump to sit down with us.

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"Fashion’s Godmother," Fern Mallis on Why Being Nice is Underrated Jan 31, 2024

Fern Mallis – aka “fashion’s godmother” – is a legend in the industry. She’s the founder of New York Fashion Week and the former executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Over decades working behind the scenes, Fern has seen it all – from disasters, to demanding personalities, to less-than-friendly behavior. So it makes sense that Fern told us her best piece of career advice is refreshingly simple: Just be nice. Your move, Miranda Priestly.

In this episode, Fern shares:

Her behind-the-scenes look into the fashion world
The origin story of Fashion Week
How she’s thought about reinventing herself and her career
Why she’s never stuck to a career plan
How she got her biggest opportunities by raising her hand

Psst: Need a movie rec? Catch “Scrambled,” at a theater near you starting February 2nd. Rated R, under 17 not admitted without parent.

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Summersalt's Co-Founders on the Secrets to Growing a Business Jan 24, 2024

Lori Coulter and Reshma Chattaram Chamberlin are the co-founders of Summersalt, the clothing brand that launched in 2017 with perfect-fit swimsuits. Now, Summersalt has expanded to offer activewear, apparel, and loungewear, and has raised over $25 million dollars. In today’s episode, Lori and Reshma walk us through how they built the brand, why they decided to partner with each other, and what people don’t tell you about being an entrepreneur.

In this episode, Lori and Reshma share:

How they created a brand that’s unapologetically for women
Their advice for future entrepreneurs
How the fundraising landscape has changed for brands
Why connecting to your customer is critical

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Marianna Hewitt on How to Set, Keep, and Work Towards Your Intentions Jan 17, 2024

Influencer, Summer Fridays co-founder, and podcast host Marianna Hewitt does everything with intention. She’s become an expert at creating habits and routines that set her up for success and allow her to prioritize her own happiness. Today, we spoke with the beauty creator and founder about how she’s been intentional throughout her career, and about her most successful habits and hacks.

In this episode, Marianna shares:

How growing up living between Ohio and Germany influenced her career
Her process for taking inventory of her career and checking in with herself
How she sets boundaries and says “no”
Her journey launching Summer Fridays
How to actually reduce your screen time and mend your relationship with social media

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Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler on How to Improve Your Relationships Jan 10, 2024

Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler are two-time wellness founders. Their first business, SoulCycle, revolutionized the wellness, fitness, and fashion industries (they basically invented athleisure). Now, their second venture is focused on exercising a different muscle – our relational fitness. We spoke with Julie and Elizabeth about how relationships have been the key to their success, and how they’ve learned to navigate hard professional and personal conversations.

In this episode, Julie and Elizabeth share:

Why relational fitness is essential to being a better professional – and how to improve yours
When they knew it was time to exit SoulCycle
How they manage and nurture their partnership
How the brand of SoulCycle exploded
What it takes to build more than one business

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Estée Lauder's Executive Group President, Jane Hertzmark Hudis, on Why Relationships Are Everything Jan 03, 2024

Jane Hertzmark Hudis is one of the most prominent beauty executives in the country. As an executive group president of the Estée Lauder Companies – the organization she’s been at for over 30 years – she oversees some of the biggest beauty brands in the world, including Tom Ford Beauty and La Mer. Her secret to making it to the top? Embrace the beauty of connections, find mentors, and hire a team you can learn from.

In this episode, Jane shares:

Why it’s crucial to hire people who are smarter than you
Her tips for making work travel more bearable
Her experience raising children while on the executive track
How she thought about growing her career at one company
What Kendall Jenner taught her about social media

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Samina Virk on Why You Should Start Career Mapping Dec 20, 2023

9 to 5ish will be back in your feed in January.

Samina Virk is the CEO of North America for Vestiaire Collective, the rapidly-growing luxury fashion resale site. And Samina told us she attributes her rise in the fashion industry to strategic career mapping. Whether it’s engaging in a personal brainstorming session or proactively discussing career plans with mentors and higher-ups, Samina explained how setting intentions can yield big results.

In this episode, Samina shares:

Her approach to negotiating for what you want
How to get leaders and higher-ups thinking about your career path
Why you should lean on your friends more for career support
Her decision to return to Vestiaire, having previously worked at the company
How she conducts her personal brainstorming sessions

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Cynthia Williams on Getting Leaders to Support Your Career Dec 13, 2023

Cynthia Williams is the third generation in her family to work in the auto industry. After joining Ford in 1992, she’s now the company’s Global Director of Sustainability, Homologation and Compliance. The key to rising to a top position in the org? Support from higher-ups. This week, Cynthia told us how she navigated and grew her relationships with company leadership, and got their guidance and support for her career journey.

In this episode, Cynthia shares:

Why the best opportunities come to people who have career flexibility
What to do whenever you get the opportunity to talk to a key leader at your company
Her advice for negotiation
What homologation actually means
Her experience leading a team through a rapidly-changing auto landscape

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Rita Ora on Taking Control of Her Career Dec 06, 2023

From the outside, you would think singer, songwriter, actress, and TV host Rita Ora has always felt fully in control of her career. But like a lot of us, Rita struggled with self doubt about her career direction – on top of facing industry challenges. Still, none of that stopped her from achieving the multidimensional career she wanted. This week, we spoke with Rita about how she remained intentional and purposeful in the face of setbacks, and how she grew her brand and her confidence.

In this episode, Rita shares:

The wellness practice she swears by
How she manages her anxiety
Why - and how - she’s created a “360-degree” career for herself
Her experience suing her former label, Roc Nation, for neglect
The mantra she repeats to herself when she faces adversity

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After 5ish: Flamingo's Anna Wesche on Creating the Opportunities You Want Nov 16, 2023

9 to 5ish will be back in your feed on December 6th!

Anna Wesche is the brains behind a new podcast from Flamingo, an award-winning body hair and care brand whose mission is to champion women, their bodies, and their choices. In this After 5ish conversation, Anna shares her experience making some major career pivots, creating the opportunities you want, and how Flamingo’s brand new podcast, “Unruly”, centers female stories.

In this episode, Anna shares:

Why she struggled to find purpose early in her career – and how she’s found it now
What it was like to work full-time and go back to school
The episodes of "Unruly" you won’t want to miss

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Joanna Gaines on Learning to Let Go of Guilt and Anxiety Nov 15, 2023

Author, businesswoman, designer, and chef Joanna Gaines used to let guilt and anxiety consume her. As a mom of five children, and as one half of one of the most successful lifestyle brands in the country, Joanna is now battling her burnout by letting go of those feelings. This week, we spoke to Joanna about that shift to free herself from the pressure of expectations and what it’s unlocked for her, professionally and personally.

In this episode, Joanna shares:

How she and Chip built a loyal and diverse audience
Why she still has a “small business” mindset, despite all her success
The realities of raising five children and running her business
How she’s dealt with the pressure of other people’s expectations – and her own
Her favorite activities that spark creativity

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Google’s Head of Product Inclusion, Annie Jean-Baptiste, on Building Inclusive Teams and Products Nov 08, 2023

Annie Jean-Baptiste is Google’s first-ever Head of Product Inclusion. TLDR: she’s a tech executive responsible for making all of Google’s products inclusive for every user. Annie is also the author of the critically-acclaimed book, Building for Everyone, the first book about building inclusive products across the intersections of 12 dimensions of diversity. Annie's work has inspired a movement at other tech companies and in other industries to prioritize equity in design.

In this episode, Annie shares:

Why Google created a position for her – and how that came to be
How she’s used her introversion as a leadership tool
What leaders need to understand about designing inclusive products
Why she’s still working on "speaking up" as a leader

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Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power on Evolving Their Careers and Finding Peace Nov 01, 2023

Actress-turned-entrepreneur Cameron Diaz and consumer brand builder Katherine Power (WhoWhatWear, Merit Beauty, Versed) had been friends for years before they decided to launch Avaline, their transparently produced organic wine brand. After realizing the wines they loved were full of additives and hidden ingredients, they saw an opportunity to create a new kind of bottle – and transform the wine industry in the process. We spoke with them about how they've transformed their careers, and their lives, by launching this brand.

In this episode, they share:

Why Cameron left acting behind – and what that’s unlocked for her
Katherine’s tips for time management and efficiency
What we can’t Google about Cameron
How they broke into the alcohol industry
The surprising things you should look for when choosing wine

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Jen Psaki on Raising Kids While Working at the White House Oct 25, 2023

When Jen Psaki became President Obama’s White House Communications Director, she was pregnant. Later, she became President Biden’s Press Secretary, and she had to navigate her role as a mom and as the White House’s chief spokesperson. And considering when you work for the president, you’re expected to be on call 24/7, that's a big challenge. Today, we spoke to Jen about what doing both actually looked like for her – from the hard realities to the help she got along the way.

In this episode, Jen shares:

What a job interview with the president is like
Why she regrets not seeking feedback early in her career
Her non-traditional approach to mentoring
What she learned from not getting the job she wanted the first time
How she set boundaries, even when on call 24/7

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Jada Pinkett Smith on Why She’s Reclaiming Her Story Oct 18, 2023

Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir, Worthy, has made a big splash for its bombshell revelations … and it hasn’t even been out for a week. But the book from the award-winning actress and talk show host is not just tabloid fodder – it’s also a critical part of Jada’s “reclamation journey”. In this episode, Jada tells her career story – how she’s navigated Hollywood, having a world-famous spouse, death threats, and public judgment. And come out stronger for it.

In this episode, Jada shares:

Her dream Red Table Talk guest
Why she had to learn to deal with her self-judgment
How to have difficult conversations with friends and family
Her perspective on *that* Red Table conversation between her and Will
Why her alopecia diagnosis has been a great “teacher”

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Michelle Crossan-Matos, CMO of Ulta Beauty, on How Your Intuition Helps You Win at Work Oct 11, 2023

Michelle Crossan-Matos, the CMO of Ulta Beauty, is one of the most prominent marketing executives in the country. And she told us she didn’t just get to her position by crunching the numbers and digging into data. She used her intuition and gut instinct to launch new campaigns, solve problems, and grow brands. Today, we spoke to Michelle about how your intuition can be your professional superpower … if you know how to listen.

In this episode, Michelle shares:

Why she wakes up at 4:30am every day
Why everyone needs to develop a sense of personal leadership, even if you’re not in the c-suite
The interview question she always asks candidates
The professional mistake she learned the most from
How she combats decision fatigue at work

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Joey Wölffer on the Secret to Creating a Unique Brand Oct 04, 2023

Joey Wölffer didn’t ever think she’d take over her family’s business, the Wölffer Estate winery. But over a decade after surprising herself and becoming the co-owner and chief brand officer of the beloved vineyard, Joey has transformed the brand and the business. You’ve probably seen their famous Summer in a Bottle rose or their sparkling ciders on shelves near you. And Joey’s done all of that while building her own fashion business, Joey Wölffer. On today’s episode, Joey shares her secrets to creating a unique and relevant brand.

In this episode, shares:

How losing her father unexpectedly changed her mindset about her career
Why she wasn’t a fit for corporate America
Her experience building two businesses at once
What it’s like to work with her brother and her husband
How she calls out a lack of gender representation in the alcohol industry

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Colleen Cutcliffe on Challenging Outdated Thinking in the Workplace Sep 27, 2023

Colleen Cutcliffe, co-founder and CEO of the groundbreaking probiotics company Pendulum Therapeutics, started the company with a big goal in mind: changing the way people think about their gut health. And on her journey, she’s had to challenge traditional – and sometimes outdated – thinking from the medical community and investors. In this episode, Colleen told us how she’s been able to disrupt the industry, and gives her advice for making changes in any workplace.

In this episode, Colleen shares:

How she convinced the dean of her PhD program to let her stay – despite almost getting kicked out
Why her daughter’s birth inspired her to start Pendulum
How she dealt with being told “no”
The ways she’s cultivated trust and transparency with her team
Why she’s got Halle Berry on speed dial

PS: Skimm'rs get 20% off their first month of any Pendulum product(s) with code SKIMM9TO5.

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Alicia Menendez on Avoiding the "Likability Trap" at Work Sep 20, 2023

Alicia Menendez, MSNBC anchor, award-winning journalist, and host of the Latina to Latina podcast, was so concerned about being likable at work that she wrote a whole book about it. She even created a name for that pressure women feel to be amenable in the office – "the likability trap." And as an on-camera journalist, she’s fallen into that trap throughout her career. In this episode, we spoke with Alicia about her journey with likability, how that affected her professional and personal wellbeing, and her recommendations for carving out your own professional identity.

In this episode, shares:

Why she didn’t go into politics like her father
How she’s dealt with the pressure of other people’s expectations
What she’s done to carve out her own leadership style and professional identity
How she talks to her daughters about likability
Her advice for avoiding getting caught up in the trap, and getting your coworkers and managers to do the same

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Emily Tisch Sussman on What Happened After Her Kids “Killed” Her Career Jul 26, 2023

For over a decade, Emily Tisch Sussman was one of the top political strategists in the country, advising Democratic candidates and campaigns. Then, after having three children in four years, and faced with no childcare during a global pandemic, Emily realized she couldn’t get back to the top of her game… or back in the game at all. So, she stepped away from politics and the professional identity she had known for 15 years. Now, after going through her own major pivot, she’s talking to other women about their career journeys on the 'She Pivots' podcast.

In this episode, shares:

The line she used that got her every job she’s had
Why she wrote an article saying her children “killed” her career – and how she felt after writing it
Why she wasn’t connecting to the traditional narratives around being a working mother
Her advice for women who’ve also had to shift their professional identities
What it'll take for politicians to pass policies that better support families

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Hill House Home Founder Nell Diamond on Paving the Way as an Influencer and Entrepreneur Jul 19, 2023

When Hill House Home first started, founder and CEO Nell Diamond wasn’t focused on selling the now-famous “Nap Dress”, or cultivating her Instagram presence. Rather, the brand started as a bedding company, and Nell’s Instagram was a space for her creativity. Seven years later, the Nap Dress is a cult-favorite, selling out in minutes, Nell’s created the model for the influencer-entrepreneur, and Hill House is now valued at $150M.

In this episode, shares:

Why she followed her instincts to go into fashion, despite people telling her it wasn’t a “serious” profession
What her first job at Abercrombie taught her
Why you don’t need to be a natural risk-taker to be an entrepreneur
The thing she wishes more executives would understand
The tools she’s leaned on as a manager and executive

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Elizabeth Chambers on Rebuilding and Healing Jul 12, 2023

Elizabeth Chambers has been through… a lot in the past few years. But the founder and CEO of BIRD Bakery isn’t letting her ex-husband or the headlines define her. She’s focused on expanding her business (which now has four locations) and helping her family heal. This week, we spoke to Elizabeth about how she’s found professional and personal stability.

In this episode, shares:

Why she started BIRD Bakery
How she’s set boundaries in her professional and personal life
What’s helped her on her healing journey – and why there’s no one size fits all path
Her outlook on parenting
How she’s learned to sort through advice

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Lunya Founder Ashley Merrill on the Misconceptions About Being a Working Parent Jul 05, 2023

Ashley Merrill, founder and chairwoman of the restwear brand Lunya, started the company when she was pregnant. As she built her brand, she was also growing her family, and her big career moments and her big parenting moments always seemed to align. On this episode, we spoke with Ashley about the misconceptions that being a parent is just a part time job, why we need to speak up about childcare support, and how she’s shifted her career as her children have gotten older.

In this episode, Ashley shares:

Why we need to adjust our expectations about being a working parent
How she made the decision to hire a CEO for Lunya
What it was like to run two businesses during COVID
Why the flexibility of entrepreneurship isn’t always a good thing

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Isa Watson on How She Stopped Obsessing Over Achievements Jun 28, 2023

For most of her career, Isa Watson felt like she was living somebody else’s life. She started out as a chemist working her way up the academic ranks, and then she became a world-traveling VP at JP Morgan. And a lot of people online started to take notice of her impressive career. Isa felt she was always chasing the validation of a ‘30 under 30’ or ‘40 under 40’ list, while neglecting her relationships and her own happiness. So, she stopped obsessing over that public praise. And founded Squad, the app that provides the easy and fun way to talk to your friends – away from social media.

In this episode, Isa shares:

How she’s dealt with the pressure of other people’s expectations
The life event that put everything into perspective for her
How she rebuilt her relationship with herself
Why she added 'professional skydiver' to her resume
Her advice for setting better boundaries with social media

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PR Expert Lauren Wesley Wilson on Making Competitive Industries More Inclusive Jun 21, 2023

Lauren Wesley Wilson worked for politicians and crisis comms firms for years before she decided to start her own organization, ColorComm. ColorComm started as a luncheon series over ten years ago, and now has grown to become the nation’s leading women’s platform addressing diversity & inclusion across the communications, marketing, advertising, and media industries. This week, Lauren told us how she sought out to make the notoriously competitive communications industry more inclusive.

In this episode, Lauren shares:

How she navigated a cutthroat industry when she was starting out
Why she knew she needed to start ColorComm
What she gave up to found ColorComm
How she made the time and space for her personal life
The goals she created for her personal life

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Erin and Sara Foster on How to Take Career Risks Jun 14, 2023

You know Erin and Sara Foster as the sister-act behind the VH1 hit show “Barely Famous”, the co-founders of the fashion brand Favorite Daughter, and as the creative minds who’ve helped brands such as Bumble and the Mirror. After growing up in the entertainment world, the sisters not only decided to take on that industry, but also to take on fashion and investing. We spoke to the Fosters about the value of taking career risks – and why they’ve decided to redefine what success means to them.

In this episode, Erin and Sara share:

The unexpected famous person they are related to
What they think of the “nepo baby” label
Why accolades can actually be depressing
How their relationship has changed now that they’re in business together

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Nyakio Grieco on What They Don’t Tell You About Entrepreneurship Jun 07, 2023

Nyakio Grieco has been paving the way for inclusive beauty and supporting Black entrepreneurs for her whole career. She launched her first beauty brand, Nyakio Beauty, in 2002. Then in 2020, she launched Thirteen Lune, the e-commerce platform dedicated to elevating Black and Brown beauty founders. While Nyakio is one of the most celebrated entrepreneurs in the industry, the road to the top was paved with hurdles. Including shuttering and relaunching her original brand, watching that brand take off after she sold it, and starting over as a founder at 47.

In this episode, Nyakio shares:

Her perspective on failure
How her optimism has served her throughout her career
Why she’s focused on bringing her friends along on her journey
How she stopped being a “people-pleaser”

PS: Skimm listeners can get 20% off Thirteen Lune products using the code SKIMM20. Valid for 30 days from June 7, 2023.

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Bonus Episode: Author Avery Carpenter Forrey on Pivoting Your Career May 10, 2023

To wrap up this season of 9 to 5ish, we’ve got a bonus episode with author Avery Carpenter Forrey. She was one of the first employees at theSkimm, who pivoted her career to become a writer. Her highly-anticipated debut novel, Social Engagement, drops on May 23rd, and explores millennial wedding culture, class, and relationships. This week, we spoke to Avery about how she pulled off the pivot, what tactical steps she took to get started, and how she maintained relationships with her former colleagues. Plus, she shares what it’s like to be a new mother while promoting her book.

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Rebroadcast: Christine Chang on Leaving Your Desk Job May 03, 2023

Today, we’re going back into the 9 to 5ish archives, to bring you one of our favorite episodes from last year - with Glow Recipe co-CEO and co-founder Christine Chang. We hope you enjoy Christine’s advice on how to make the jump from a corporate job to a startup, and we’ll be back with fresh episodes next week. Until then, please enjoy our conversation with Christine.

Every weekend growing up, Christine watched her mom and grandma go to the Korean bathhouses, rubbing things like tea and spoiled milk on their skin. And she’s been hooked on skincare ever since. Now, she’s the co-founder and co-CEO of the skincare brand, Glow Recipe. But before leading this new venture, she actually worked her way up the corporate ladder at L’Oreal. In this episode, Christine gives her advice on how to make the jump from corporate to startup, and what she learned at her desk job that she still uses today.

In this episode, Christine shares:

How she learned to lean on colleagues and mentors
How having a co-founder eases the growing pains of a new business
How her corporate experience helped in the startup mindset
Why she and her co-founder turned down an offer from Shark Tank investors
The important role that emerging technology like TikTok has played in her business

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Anastasia Soare on Revolutionizing the Beauty Industry Apr 26, 2023

When Anastasia Soare started her brand Anastasia Beverly Hills from one room salon back in the 1990s, eyebrows were pencil-thin and an afterthought. 25 years (and one legendary appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show) later, she’s become synonymous with eyebrows, created a multi-billion dollar brand and revolutionized the beauty industry. Today, we spoke to Anastasia about how she’s still an industry pioneer after all these years, and why she had an unshakeable belief that she’d be successful.

In this episode, Anastasia shares:

How her upbringing in Romania influenced her as a businesswoman
The story of how she convinced a landlord to give her space in Beverly Hills
How Oprah changed her life
What it’s like to work with her daughter to grow her brand

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Mary Celeste Beall on Learning to Run Her Late-Husband's Business Apr 19, 2023

Mary Celeste Beall’s life drastically changed in 2016, when she lost her husband Sam in a tragic ski accident. Just weeks later, her professional life also changed, when she was asked to step into the role of proprietor of the legendary Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain resorts, a role Sam had occupied for years. We spoke to Mary Celeste about her experience becoming a leader, while also navigating her grief.

In this episode, Mary Celeste shares:

The conversation that led to her becoming proprietor
How she gained the team’s trust
What it was like to have her work and her life completely integrated
The motto that gets her through
Her tips for being a great host

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Kristin Cavallari on Going from Reality TV Star to Mogul Apr 12, 2023

Kristin Cavallari created the archetype for the reality-TV star-turned-mogul. She was on the OG reality show, Laguna Beach, when she was in high school. And she turned that fame (and notoriety) into a business empire. She’s now the owner of a jewelry and skincare brand and a New York Times bestselling author. And she made the jump from TV to the boardroom by following her instincts and leaning into her personality.

In this episode, Kristin shares:

Her best tips for negotiating
Why she cried when she watched the first episode of Laguna Beach
What she’s like as a boss
Why she decided to own 100% of her business
Her advice for the Vanderpump Rules cast

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Lovevery Co-Founder Jessica Rolph on Managing 'Micro Failures' at Work Apr 05, 2023

Two-time entrepreneur Jessica Rolph is embracing what she calls “micro failures” at work. You know, when you say the wrong thing to a team member, make a mistake on a project, or you don’t communicate about something. These moments can feel small, but they can take a big toll on us. But Jessica believes it doesn’t have to be that way. As the co-founder of baby food biz Happy Family, which sold to Danone in 2013, and as the current co-founder of the child development company Lovevery, Jessica’s learned to push through the shame and lean into those moments to become a better leader.

In this episode, Jessica shares:

Why she scaled back on her friendships when she was working at Happy Family
How she thinks about “micro failures”
Why she was sad when they sold Happy Family
A moment where she felt lost at work
When she decided to launch Lovevery

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Thasunda Brown Duckett on Living Your Life Like a Diversified Portfolio Mar 29, 2023

Thasunda Brown Duckett, the President and CEO of TIAA, had a “meteoric rise” in the world of finance. As the former head of Chase Consumer Banking, and now as one of two Black women who currently leads a Fortune 500 company, she realized early on that “work-life balance” was a myth. Instead, Thasunda lives her life like it’s a diversified portfolio, allocating time and shifting her investment in different areas. So over time, she always outperforms. Tune in to learn how.

In this episode, Thasunda shares:

How to live your life like “a diversified portfolio”
Her secret to building relationships at work
What it means to “rent your title, own your character” at work
Why she almost turned down her dream role
What you need to know to prep for retirement

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CNN's Kaitlan Collins on Setting Boundaries While Working in TV News Mar 22, 2023

Kaitlan Collins, co-anchor and chief correspondent for CNN This Morning, is no stranger to sleeping four hours a night, or packing up to travel at a moment’s notice. Which is great if you love the news…but it’s not so great if you love your boundaries. This week, we spoke to Kaitlan about how she’s learned to set boundaries – from the anchor desk to the White House Briefing Room.

In this episode, Kaitlan shares:

The moments where she’s had to keep her composure on live TV
Her public speaking advice
How she’s dealt with public scrutiny – and political landmines
Her advice on dealing with change in the workplace

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Debra Lee on Stepping Into Her Power Mar 15, 2023

Debra Lee was the chairman and CEO of BET, where she worked for over three decades. But even though she was a leader in the entertainment world, Debra said her biggest career weakness was being “too nice”. This week, we sat down to talk about Debra’s new memoir, I Am Debra Lee, and how she stepped into her power as a leader – from taking back control of her senior staff meetings, to literally finding her voice.

In this episode, Debra shares…

How she dealt with getting denied a raise
Why men are promoted based on potential, and women are promoted based on experience
How she took her power back as an executive
The celeb who left her the most starstruck

And PS: There’s so much Debra shares in her new memoir – including some things we weren’t able to get to in our interview. You can find her book here.

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Bozoma Saint John on Navigating Grief and Work Mar 08, 2023

Bozoma Saint John is one of the most celebrated marketing execs out there. She’s worked for Apple, Uber, Endeavor, Pepsi, and Netflix…just to name a few. But while those big names are on her resume, Boz told us about the other titles that have influenced her and her career. Like ‘single mom.’ And ‘widow.’ This week, Boz explains how her story of love, loss, and survival has made her live “urgently”, especially when it comes to work.

In this episode shares:

What it means to live urgently at work
Why you need to take the credit for what you do
How we can better show up for our colleagues that are grieving
Why grief has made her a better leader
The hardest part of writing her memoir, The Urgent Life

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Chantel George on Seeing Opportunity Everywhere Feb 01, 2023

Chantel George had a plan to go to law school. Then, she found out she was good at sales. Really good. In fact, she became one of the best sellers in the tech world. Chantel’s experience learning how to turn a ‘no’ into a ‘yes’, asking tough questions, and challenging the status quo convinced her she needed to start her own sales community. So in 2017, she started Sistas in Sales, the largest global organization for women of color in sales. In today’s episode, Chantel told us how she saw opportunities everywhere – even when they seemed out of reach or hard to spot.

In this episode, Chantel shares:

The earliest lessons she learned about entrepreneurship
Why she’s not afraid of having tough conversations
The advice she got that made her a better manager
Who would play her in a movie

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Amy Griffin on Stepping Back Into Her Career Jan 25, 2023

For Amy Griffin, being one of the most successful venture capitalists actually has a lot in common with being a college athlete. Amy played volleyball at the University of Virginia, and now as the founder and managing partner of G9 Ventures, she helps early-stage startups perform their best in a different kind of arena. And some of the companies she’s coached include Goop, Athletic Greens, and Bumble. This week, we ask Amy about the secret to her coaching magic. Which, spoiler, is all about relationships.

In this episode, Amy shares:

How her mentality as a college athlete stayed with her throughout her career
Her experience stepping out of, and stepping back into, the workforce
How she supports founders through the good times – and the bad
Her approach to relationship-building
How founders can prepare for an uncertain economic environment

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Emily Hikade on Going from CIA Officer to Entrepreneur Jan 18, 2023

From navigating war zones to negotiating with affiliates of terrorist organizations, Emily Hikade lived for the thrill of working as a CIA officer. But a near death experience at work made her realize: it was time to try a different kind of adventure. While in East Africa, Emily worked nights to start her luxury sleepwear brand, Petite Plume. Today, Emily shares how working in diplomacy prepared her for the challenges of being a founder and CEO.

In this episode, Emily Hikade shares:

Why she knew she’d have an international career from an early age
The moment she started feeling vulnerable in her CIA career
What a near-death experience put into perspective for her
How she started her business while working full-time and being a mom of three
Advice on how to know which investors are worth working with

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pinky Cole on Helping Others Win Jan 11, 2023

Pinky Cole came up with her business, Slutty Vegan, in her apartment in Atlanta. She started by taking orders through Instagram DMs and eventually expanded to multiple locations outside of ATL. Now, her company’s worth $100 million. But she says: she wouldn’t have gotten there without hitting rock bottom first. Today, how Pinky found her success, and why she wants to help people in the Black community find theirs too.

In this episode, Pinky shares:

Her favorite recipe from her new book, Eat Plants B*tch
How a grease fire that destroyed her restaurant was actually a blessing
Her philosophy on success – and why it’s not about being the only one winning
Why giving up entrepreneurship and returning to a 9-5 job was the hardest thing she’s done in her career

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Kimberly Brown on How to Level Up at Work Jan 04, 2023

When Kimberly Brown wrote a high school paper about her dream of becoming a social worker, she knew helping people would be central to her work. She ended up in higher ed as a career counselor. And after she helped her first student get a job, she was hooked. Since then, Kimberly founded her own company to help people – especially women of color – find meaningful work and level up in their careers.

In this episode, Kimberly shares:

How celebrating her wins has helped her mental health
Her advice to mid-career women on how to find that next step
Who might be missing from your professional development network
Why the transition from higher ed to a corporation was the hardest career challenge she’s overcome

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2022 Year in Review Dec 28, 2022

On this special episode of 9 to 5ish, Carly and Danielle take listeners through their favorite stories and moments from 2022.

In this episode, Carly and Danielle share:

Their favorite moments from guest lightning round answers
How prioritizing mental and physical health came up in nearly every episode
Why many of their guests had to rethink their professional identities
The people who got our guests through the year – and why they’re so important

9 to 5ish will be back in your feed next Thursday. See you in the new year.

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Carey Mulligan on Being Bold in the Face of Rejection Dec 21, 2022

Carey Mulligan was rejected from several drama schools when she was a teenager. But instead of giving up, she sent a letter to a famous actor she’d met once. That letter led to a networking dinner, then to an audition for “Pride and Prejudice", and ultimately, her first role. Today, Carey shares how being bold in the face of rejection landed her in films on the big screen.

In this episode, Carey shares:

Why she reached out to Julian Fellowes for advice on pursuing acting
How she navigated the industry without formal training or experience
The hardest play she’s ever done – and why her director almost canceled it
Why doing a press tour 3.5 weeks after having her kid helped her postpartum depression
Her favorite episode of her new Amazon-exclusive podcast, “I Hear Fear”

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Ashley Mills on Growing from Feedback Dec 14, 2022

Ashley Mills started in the mailroom at the talent agency CAA and worked her way up to becoming a talent agent. But after a decade there, she took a leap of faith and became the founder of obé Fitness, an on-demand exercise company. And Ashley says that on her journey as a founder, she had to listen to a lot of feedback – and grow from it – to be the leader she is today.

In this episode, Ashley Mills shares:

How she uses exercise to gear up for new challenges
The list of things you should think about before becoming an entrepreneur
How the pandemic allowed Obé Fitness to shine
Why getting feedback from her team was the hardest thing she’s endured in her career

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Lisa Ling on Conquering Self Doubt Dec 07, 2022

Lisa Ling started working as a professional journalist when she was only a teenager. Her job flew her across the world as she covered the drug wars in South America to democracy movements in China. She’s grown to be a pro at telling other people’s stories. But she says: advocating for herself is the hardest thing she’s ever done.

In this episode, Lisa shares:

The reporting experiences she had as a teen (alongside Anderson Cooper)
Why her two male agents told her to leave negotiating to them
The one lesson she wishes her young self learned
How having kids reframed her boundaries around how far she’d go for her job
Why it’s key for women of color to learn to advocate for each other in the workplace

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Jill Koziol and Liz Tenety on Empowering Moms Nov 02, 2022

Back in 2015 Jill Koziol and Liz Tenety realized: there wasn’t any empowering content for millennial moms. Instead, there were outdated tropes about what moms should be – and what they shouldn’t. That sparked the idea for their company, Motherly, a digital platform centering moms through non-judgmental content about parenthood, being a working parent, and everything in between. And today, Jill and Liz share how motherhood expanded and nourished their sense of self.

In this episode, Jill and Liz share:

One of the most shocking learnings from their State of Motherhood survey
Why reclaiming your power by setting time for yourself is key
The wake up call that told Jill she needed to prioritize her health
Why Liz reduced her duties as co-founder

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Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers on Finding Your Creative Partner Oct 26, 2022

Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers were writing and producing movies when they realized: it was time to switch to TV. After meeting 1:1, they decided to enter that world together. Because when you know, you know. Since then, they’ve cultivated a partnership spanning nearly two decades. And they say that trust and honesty were key in creating Shondaland. AKA: the company behind our binge worthy faves like Bridgerton, Scandal, and Grey’s Anatomy.

In this episode, Shonda and Betsy share:

How ABC execs reacted to the Grey’s Anatomy pilot (spoiler: not good)
Why skills you’ve learned at old jobs are always useful
What their panic button is + why it’s key to supporting each other
How they set up an environment for their employees to thrive – and why they love it
A Skimm of their book “Inside Bridgerton”

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Deepica Mutyala on Creating Her Seat at the Table Oct 19, 2022

Deepica Mutyala dyed her hair blonde and wore blue contacts trying to be like the cool kids in her Houston suburb. But soon she realized: being herself was in. Fitting into western beauty standards was out. Enter: Live Tinted, Deepica’s brainchild. Today, she shares how she turned her online community into a beauty brand that celebrates every shade of skin and in between.

In this episode, Deepica shares:

What it was like growing up in Texas as a South Asian American girl
When she knew it was time to quit her day job to become a beauty influencer
How she knew she needed to create Live Tinted’s first product, the huestick
Why she decided to vlog her the journey of freezing her eggs
How intentionally celebration her success keeps her from burning out

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Constance Wu on Finding Her Voice Oct 12, 2022

Constance Wu waitressed her way through her 30s in Hollywood while trying to book acting gigs. After multiple rejections, she felt crushed. Then – she decided to shift her mindset by detaching her self-worth from her jobs. That shift unlocked a lot for her – and it helped her find her voice, even as she navigated through trauma, shame, and the pitfalls of Hollywood.

In this episode, Constance shares:

Why she stopped thinking about results and focused on her craft instead
The reality behind her tweets about Fresh off the Boat’s renewal
Why she reluctantly came back to social media after three years offline
What she wants people to take away from her book, “Making a Scene”

Trigger warning: this episode talks about sexual assault.

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Eve Rodsky on Rebalancing Invisible Labor Oct 05, 2022

Eve Rodsky was on a business trip when her husband texted saying someone left a beer bottle and jacket on their front lawn. She figured he’d take care of it. When she returned a day later, they were still there. That was when Eve realized unless she figured out why women take on so much invisible labor at home, she’d spend the rest of her life picking up beer bottles and jackets. Today, Eve shares how treating home like your most important organization can change your life.

In this episode, Eve shares:

How growing up with a single mother shaped the way she thought about work
A skimm of her Fair Play approach to home labor – and why it works
The difference in how society value men’s time vs. women’s time
Why having an identity outside of being a parent, a professional, a partner is essential to a happy life
Ways to start finding your “unicorn space”

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Indra Nooyi on Leading with Respect Sep 28, 2022

As CEO, Indra Nooyi led PepsiCo through its most important strategic pivots and navigated the company through two financial crises. But during her time there, her male colleagues continued to disrespect her. To the point where she threatened to walk out. Today, Indra tells us how she demanded respect in the workplace and how it impacted her career.

In this episode, Indra shares:

How her teachers described her – and why she worked against it her whole life
The way she drew hard lines to be respected in the workplace
How her cultural upbringing influenced why she never asked for a raise
Why not everyone should aspire to be the CEO – and why it’s okay
What you'll learn from her class on MasterClass Leading with Purpose

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Kristen Bell on Mental Health at Work Sep 21, 2022

Before she went to college, Kristen Bell’s mom sat her down for a candid convo. It wasn’t about navigating the quad or the importance of office hours. It was about the mental health struggles that ran in her family. Despite having those struggles too, Kristen never talked about it publicly. Until she decided: she owed it to her fans – and her family. Today, we talk about mental health and how being open with your team makes work better for everyone.

In this episode, Kristen shares:

How one story about her family’s mental health struggles was a gift
Why she felt guilty about not sharing her mental health struggles earlier
Her definition of confidence – and how it has nothing to do with being perfect
Why having A+ creative partners enabled her to pursue jobs beyond acting
A Skimm of her children’s book, The World Needs More Purple Schools

Want in on our upcoming Skimm Reads event, Book’d with Kelly Ripa? Get your ticket here.

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Jen Wong as Leading as an Introvert Sep 14, 2022

Born to immigrant parents on Long Island, Jen Wong says she was an introverted latch-key kid. Fast forward to today, and Jen leads people and business growth as Reddit COO. Talk about a turn of events. And as an LGBTQ+ woman, mother, Asian American and more, Jen says: holding these identities has given her the empathy she needed to lead effectively.

In this episode, Jen shares:

Her fave sub-reddit (gardeners, this one’s for you)
Her approach to prepping for events + talks as an introvert
How working as a consultant gave her the business ed. she uses everyday
Why her gut is her BFF when making decisions
How being curious about people has led her to rewarding relationships

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Rachel Bilson on Taking a Pause Sep 07, 2022

Back when low-rise jeans and shoulder bags reigned supreme, Rachel Bilson played the iconic Summer Roberts on The OC. She later starred in TV shows and movies like Hart of Dixie and Jumper. And then…the pandemic happened. And she learned the importance of taking a pause to focus on what matters most. This week, we’re talking about reassessing your career and taking a pause when you need to.

In this episode, Rachel shares:

The 2000s trend she wants to see come back (hello, platform flip flops)
How the pandemic pushed her to take a pause on acting + focus on podcasting
Her new criteria for projects + what kinds of work she says “no thank you” to
How her friendships + support system has changed since the start of her career
The episode she’s most excited to share on her new podcast

PS: You can check out Rachel’s podcasts: Broad Ideas and Welcome to the OC, Bitches!

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Kerry Washington on Choosing Work with Intention Jul 27, 2022

Kerry Washington blessed our TV screens on movies + shows like Django Unchained, Little Fires Everywhere, and Scandal. But before she popped off as Olivia Pope, Kerry says she was choosy about roles offered to her. Even if saying “no” meant having less financial freedom.

In this episode, Kerry shares:

How J-Lo subbed for her dance teacher in the Bronx (shout out @ Jenny from the block)
Why she’ll never compromise on roles that perpetuate stereotypes about Black women + women of color
How side hustles gave her creative freedom – and the ability to say no to roles
Her process of becoming her characters and why she nerds out about it
A quick Skimm of Prophecy, her upcoming narrative fiction drama podcast

PS: 9 to 5ish is going on vacation for the next few weeks. We’ll be back in your feed with new episodes with some amazing women in September. Until then, keep up with Carly and Danielle @carlyanddanielle on Instagram.

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After 5ish: Shiza Shahid on Balancing Purpose and Profit Jul 25, 2022

As a kid growing up in Islamabad, Shiza Shahid volunteered in grassroots initiatives to help Pakistani women get an education. And that early interest in service pushed her to always advocate for important issues through her career. From the founding Malala Fund to her current biz, Our Place, Shiza says: a lot of good can be achieved through a combo of non-profit advocacy work and for-profit businesses.

In this episode, Shiza shares:

Why she took on a variety of jobs and how that choice shaped her life
How you can always find ways to create positive change – no matter how old you are
Why ditching the idea of “perfection” is key to creating quality products
The importance of understanding a brand’s history as a way to make better choices as a consumer

PS: use THESKIMM15 to score 15% off Our Place kitchenware.

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Carly and Danielle on 10 Years of theSkimm with Hoda Kotb Jul 20, 2022

Hoda Kotb is a pro at a lot of things. And speaking with other incredible women is at the top of that list. In this special episode, Hoda flips the script and interviews our co-founders and co-CEOs, Danielle Weisberg & Carly Zakin, about the past ten years of theSkimm. This week, they discuss how they — as leaders — have evolved in the last decade, why being told no was important to their growth, and how theSkimm will continue to meet women where they are in the years to come.

PS: Keep up with Carly and Danielle between episodes. Follow @carlyanddanielle on Instagram.

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Carolyn Childers and Lindsay Kaplan on Reframing Your Strengths Jul 13, 2022

Lindsay Kaplan and Carolyn Childers were killing it as startup VPs. But as they put it: it gets lonely at the top. Especially for women. Enter: their company, Chief, a women’s exec network that takes networking beyond sticky name tags and awkward icebreakers. This week, we sat down with the Chief co-founders who tell us that everyone – even those with unconventional skill sets – has a place in a business.

In this episode, Lindsay and Carolyn share:

The moment Lindsay realized a network like Chief needed to exist
Carolyn’s unconventional rise to becoming an entrepreneur
The conflict that taught them the importance of always assuming best intent
How Chief thrived during the pandemic by democratizing access for members
Advice on how to take networking to the next level and develop meaningful work relationships

PS: Keep up with Carly and Danielle between episodes. Follow @carlyanddanielle on Instagram.

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Rebroadcast: Brooke Shields on Learning To Compartmentalize Jul 06, 2022

This week, we’re throwing it back to one of our favorite episodes from last year.

Brooke Shields has been a household name ever since she did her first commercial, at just 11 months old. As a teenage model and actress being managed by her mother, Brooke found her own image sexualized — but refused to play along with the media’s expectations. Since then, she’s acted on Broadway, starred in sitcoms and TV dramas, raised two daughters and written two memoirs. We spoke to Brooke about how to survive and stay sane amid intense public scrutiny.

In this episode, Brooke talks about:

Working with her mother — and choosing to fire her
The small things she does to help her compartmentalize
Staying true to herself under pressure
Not taking criticism personally

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Dana Bash on Being Patient in your Career Jun 29, 2022

From freelancing as a college student to logging tape, Dana Bash worked her way up the ladder at CNN. Now, she comes to us live on TV as CNN’s chief political correspondent, covering elections and the biggest political news. Dana says she wouldn’t have gotten there without luck– and some good old fashioned patience. This week, she spills the secrets of her career marathon, and how to pace yourself.

In this episode, Dana shares:

The show she’d most like to make a cameo on (RHONJ lovers, rejoice)
How she went from freelancing to getting the FT gig at CNN
The career-defining move she made – and why it looked like a step backwards
Advice on how to talk to your boss about transitioning to a different role
Why being in the same workplace as her ex-husband actually isn’t so bad

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Maria Shriver on Turning the Bad into Good Jun 22, 2022

Maria Shriver never felt the pressure to go into politics like the rest of her family. Instead, her parents asked her: what moves you? She took that question and ran with it. Fascinated by storytelling, Maria led a decades-long career in journalism. But then she became first lady of California. And NBC asked her to leave. Looking back, Maria says: it was a blessing in disguise.

In this episode, Maria shares:

Why she started at smaller stations before hitting the big networks
How getting fired opened space for new opportunities for her
Why her Alzheimer’s work specifically centers the impacts on women
A quick skimm of her brain-healthy food company, Mosh

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Audie Cornish on Motherhood and Work Jun 15, 2022

Before Audie Cornish made the jump to CNN, she was a longtime co-host of NPR’s All Things Considered. And while she made interviewing politicians and celebs look like NBD, she says she had to deal with a “professional identity crisis” after becoming a new mom. This week, we sat down with Audie to talk about how her professional life changed after she had kids, and how motherhood impacted her mindset at work.

In this episode, Audie shares:

How she figured out her own communication style
Why having kids allowed her to reframe her ideal career success
How recognizing her own accomplishments reframed her ideal career success
Why fostering work + personal relationships is the key to success in all aspects of life
Her go-to bagel order

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Beth Ford on Finding Success At Every Level Jun 08, 2022

When you look at Beth Ford’s resume, you probably didn’t know the Land O’ Lakes CEO started out detasseling corn for $2 an hour and cleaning toilets as a janitor. And Beth told us she wouldn’t have ever become CEO without those jobs. Because being successful in business comes from learning about people – and celebrating wins at every level.

In this episode, Beth shares:

The string of odd jobs she did to get by as one of eight children in Iowa
How taking the job in the field helped her learn about business and people
Why she decided to grow her career laterally instead of vertically in her early career
The importance of asking for feedback regularly, and why it’s a gift
Why humility is key to being a good leader

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Victoria Eady Butler on Changing Careers After 30 Years Jun 01, 2022

After a 30-year-career in law enforcement, Victoria Eady Butler did what most people do. She retired. But just days into relaxing and investing in new hobbies, she kicked retirement to the curb. And instead, opted for the chance to learn about what she says is in her blood: whiskey blending, at Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey.

In this episode, Victoria shares:

Her favorite cocktail (hint: it includes Uncle Nearest whiskey)
How she started her career over after 30 years
How she connects to her great-great grandfather through her own whiskey blending
What it’s like being part of an all woman executive team in the spirits industry
Why her awards and accolades matter, but why being open to learning matters more

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Eva Longoria on Defying Expectations May 25, 2022

As a kid, Eva Longoria dreamed of being a professional volunteer one day. Her mother’s response? That’s not a job, sweetie. Instead, she was a Texas pageant queen, became a headhunter, and moved to LA. And despite knowing no one in Hollywood when she first arrived, Eva became a household name for her role in “Desperate Housewives.” Now, Eva’s defied expectations again and expanded her resume to include: humanitarian and parent.

In this episode, Eva shares:

How her special needs sister taught her the importance of being in service to others
What it was like to become a household name in her 30s
How her Mexican-American roots shaped her activism
Why she feels lucky to have had her son later in life
A Skimm of her new podcast, “Connections with Eva Longoria”

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Fidji Simo on Integrating Work and Life May 18, 2022

When Fidji Simo was an exec at Facebook, she discovered she had a chronic health condition. That meant: taking meetings from her bed, fainting at work, and awkward conversations with her bosses. That experience taught Fidji how to be a leader while taking care of herself and putting her health first. A lesson she now brings to her team at Instacart, where she’s the CEO.

In this episode, Fidji shares:

The must-have in her weekly Instacart order (hint: it’s a sweet treat)
Why being a woman in a male-dominated industry is actually an advantage
How she integrates work and life instead of separating them
Why sponsorship means more than mentorship in work relationships
How opening up about her chronic condition made her leadership stronger

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Cindy Eckert on Choosing the Harder Path May 11, 2022

Cindy Eckert co-founded the company Sprout Pharmaceuticals, which created the first FDA approved drug for low sexual desire in women (read: female viagra). In a made-for-TV twist, she sold the company for $1 billion… but then, had to take the company back. Intrigued yet? Same. Now, Cindy’s the founder of the investment and management firm, The Pinkubator, with the goal of making other women “really f***ing rich.” Talk about a mission we can get behind.

In this episode, Cindy shares:

How to rethink the classic career ladder
Who inspired her to keep fighting for women’s health, in spite of FDA pushback
How she got her company back – for free
Why securing funding is not the golden ticket to entrepreneurial success
How one simple interview question can tell you a lot about a candidate

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Christine Chang on Leaving Your Desk Job May 04, 2022

Every weekend growing up, Christine watched her mom and grandma go to the Korean bathhouses, rubbing things like tea and spoiled milk on their skin. And she’s been hooked on skincare ever since. Now, she’s the co-founder and co-CEO of the skincare brand, Glow Recipe. But before leading this new venture, she actually worked her way up the corporate ladder at L’Oreal. In this episode, Christine gives her advice on how to make the jump from corporate to startup, and what she learned at her desk job that she still uses today.

In this episode, Christine shares:

How she learned to lean on colleagues and mentors
How having a co-founder eases the growing pains of a new business
How her corporate experience helped in the startup mindset
Why she and her co-founder turned down an offer from Shark Tank investors
The important role that emerging technology like TikTok has played in her business

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After 5ish: Rathi Srinivas On Innovation May 02, 2022

Before Rathi Srinivas became the co-founder and CTO of Droplette, she got her PhD in chemical engineering from MIT. NBD. And now, she’s developed an award-winning skincare device that’s grounded in science and backed by NASA. This week, Rathi joined us to share how she thinks about making stuff that’s never been made before – that can have a real difference for women everywhere.

In this episode, Rathi shares:

The differences between traditional fundraising and scientific grants
What it’s like to start a business with a friend
How becoming a mom changed her career

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After 5ish: Gargi Pal Chaudhuri on the Power of Mentorship Apr 29, 2022

It’s no secret that more diversity is needed in the investing world. So as an immigrant woman of color, Gargi Pal Chaudhuri didn’t see a lot of people who looked like her or understood her background when she first stepped onto the trading floor two decades ago. Since then, she’s climbed the ranks, broadened her network, and become the Head of iShares Investment Strategy, Americas at BlackRock. Tune in for her advice on how to find the best mentors possible as you build your career.

In this episode, Gargi shares:

How to start looking for a mentor
The secrets to developing a mentor-mentee relationship
The one piece of advice she gives her mentees now (hint: invest)

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Melissa Ben-Ishay on Finding Your Confidence Apr 27, 2022

The day before Melissa Ben-Ishay started her famous cupcake business Baked by Melissa, she actually got fired from her job. But she’s proof that your worst moments can lead to some of your best. This week, we spoke to Melissa about how she found her confidence as she was getting started, and how she learned to embrace obstacles.

In this episode, Melissa shares…

Her decision-making tactics
Her advice for people who lose their jobs
How she got over her fear of cold-outreach
Why the past two years were the hardest in her career
The quality she looks for most when hiring

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Robin Roberts On Making Your Vulnerability A Strength Apr 20, 2022

Robin Roberts has been in the anchor chair at “Good Morning America” for over 15 years. And while she’s covered some of the biggest news events of our time, she’s also gone through her own off-camera battles. This week, Robin told us why she decided to share her most personal struggles with millions of people – and how to make your own vulnerability your superpower at work.

In this episode, Robin shares:

Why she pivoted from sports into news
How she exercises her “optimism muscle”
How she reframes obstacles and learns from them
Why vulnerability is her strength at work
How she mentors and supports her colleagues

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Scarlett Johansson On the Power of Perspective Apr 13, 2022

Scarlett Johansson is one of the highest-paid actors in the world, and has starred in some of the highest-grossing movies of all time. But those career defining moments didn’t come easy. She’s had to reframe rejection, say “yes” without looking back, and fight against toxic behavior in the entertainment industry. This week, we’ll ask Scarlett how she had perspective even in the toughest moments — including not getting the original call to be Black Widow — and why she recently took the leap to start her own skincare business.

PS: theSkimm’s listeners can get 15% off the Outset products with the code SKIMM15. Valid from 4/13 until 4/20.

In this episode, Scarlett shares:

How she’s dealt with rejection in her career
Why she decided to pivot and start her own business
How she’s made a career out of being someone’s “second choice” and how she kept an open mind
How she handled being pigeonholed into certain roles

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Michelle Kelly on How to Pivot Apr 06, 2022

When Michelle Kelly started at Lilly Pulitzer in 2004, her business card read “Major Stores Development Manager.” Now, it says “CEO.” Kelly has held 8 different titles across at least 4 different departments at the company — from retail, to merchandising, marketing, to e-commerce. So in this episode, we chat with Michelle about the art of the pivot. Started from the bottom, now we here.

In this episode, Michelle shares:

How she got her bosses to let her switch departments
How to tell your boss you want to try something new
What it was like to take on growth roles and “start over” on new teams
What it’s like to manage your friends and peers
How she thinks about balancing trying new things and moving up the ladder

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Dawn Davis on Using Jobs as Stepping Stones Mar 30, 2022

This week, we’re thinking about careers like recipes. And it’s not just because we’re talking to Dawn Davis, the editor-in-chief of “Bon Appétit.” For Dawn, every experience she had – from working in finance to founding her own publishing imprint – was an essential ingredient that prepared her to run the famous food mag. And this week, we’re talking to Dawn about how to experiment with your own career recipe.

In this episode, Dawn shares:

How she made the decision to leave finance
Why she left an imprint she started to work for a legacy brand
How she gives feedback to her authors and writers
How she is building a safe and inclusive work culture at “Bon Appétit”

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Lorna Kapusta on Taking Control of Your Money Mar 23, 2022

Even though Lorna Kapusta is head of women investors and customer relations at Fidelity, she wasn’t always so confident talking about her own finances. But that started to change about seven years ago when she realized: she needed to be in the driver’s seat when it came to her money. This week, Lorna shares her own journey– and gives advice on how to start taking control, from investing to having tough money conversations.

In this episode, Lorna shares:

How to start having conversations about money with your partner or friends
How to begin your journey towards financial literacy
Investing 101
What makes women strong investors
Her #1 money tip

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Radhika Jones on Leading a New Team Mar 16, 2022

When Radhika Jones took over Vanity Fair as editor-in-chief, she succeeded a man who had been in the job for 25 years. And taking over a legacy like that isn’t easy — whether you’re EIC or managing a new team at work. You have to explain your vision, win over people who might not agree, learn people’s work styles...all on top of doing your actual job. This week, we asked Radhika how she navigated those early days at VF, and what she wants her legacy to be at the publication.

In this episode, Radhika shares:

How she learned how to run a business meeting — by working with college kids in the classroom
How she explained her vision to VF staffers
When she knew her leadership style was working
How to navigate working on a new team

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Fawn Weaver on Building Company Culture Mar 09, 2022

Working for Fawn Weaver isn’t your typical 9 to 5. The founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey operates her business like a family. Think: not just one-on-ones or status meetings, but 24/7 support for employees. So how did she build a company like that? She sought out people who had similar values and fit with her leadership style. And she spent a lot of time on the hiring process.

In this episode, Fawn shares.

How she found her leadership style – and learned to stop people-pleasing
Her go-to interview question to determine if someone’s a fit for Uncle Nearest
Why she won’t hire anyone based off a Zoom interview anymore
How she tells an employee they aren’t the best fit for her team
Why a “family” environment doesn’t work for all employees

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Laurie Segall on How to Create Opportunities Mar 02, 2022

When Laurie Segall first started at CNN as a journalist, she was basically working in the equivalent of “Scriberia” from “Inventing Anna.” But instead of getting discouraged, Laurie used that opportunity to build out CNN’s tech coverage, and created a new role at the company in the process. And she ultimately became CNN’s senior technology correspondent. This week, Laurie shares how she used her different jobs - good and bad - as stepping stones to work towards the career she wanted. Now, Laurie’s her own boss, as the founder and CEO of Dot Dot Dot, a media venture exploring technology through the human lens.

In this episode, Laurie shares:

How she turned disappointment into motivation
How she networked her way into major interviews with tech CEOs
Why every job (even the bad ones) can get you closer to your career goals
Why she decided to leave CNN and start her own company

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Michelle Cordeiro Grant On How to Connect with Customers Feb 23, 2022

Ever worn a really uncomfortable bra and thought “Who even invented this?” Michelle Cordeiro Grant was one of those people. She worked for major lingerie and underwear brands before starting her own, Lively, after she saw how other brands didn’t put their customer - or comfort - first. And it turns out: flipping the script worked. Lively sold out of inventory in its first two weeks. And in 2019, Lively was acquired for a casual $105 million dollars. This week, we talked to Michelle about how to listen to your customers.

In this episode, Michelle shares:

Her philosophy on marketing
How to connect with customers
How to make yourself be more extroverted in business
How to learn on the fly

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Anne Wojcicki on Following Your Curiosity Feb 16, 2022

Anne Wojcicki always followed her interests. From sneaking into figure skating rinks as a kid, to taking her interest in genetics to the next level and co-founding the genetics company 23andMe, Anne told us how she’s built her career off curiosity. And as 23andMe has faced challenges from regulators and privacy advocates over the years, Anne had to dig into her passion even more to boost morale.

In this episode, Anne shares:

The 23andMe origin story
What boosted morale on her team
Why she actively seeks out feedback from naysayers
How she’s played the long game with building her company
How the tech world has changed for women

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Victoria Beckham and Sarah Creal on Work Partnerships Feb 09, 2022

Victoria Beckham has switched industries three times so far during her career: trading in the Spice Girls for a solo career, then launching her own fashion label. Now, she’s in the midst of her third big pivot: a foray into beauty, via a sustainable luxury brand. And she brought in Sarah Creal, a lifelong product developer who’s worked with everyone from Bobbi Brown to Estée Lauder.

In this episode, Victoria and Sarah talk about:

Building credibility by putting product first
Refining long-term business plans
Choosing a co-founder
Standing out in a crowded field

PS: 9 to 5ish listeners can get 10% off Victoria Beckham Beauty products by using code Skimm10 at checkout. Some restrictions apply.

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Nancy Twine on When To Quit Your Day Job Feb 02, 2022

Nancy started her career at Goldman Sachs — but she always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur. She had grown up helping her grandmother and her mother make natural home-remedies for hair and skin, and realized there was a gaping hole in the beauty market. But she didn’t quit her day job right away: instead, she stayed on the trading room floor for another four years and worked evenings and weekends to run her own business, Briogeo, on the side. Talk about time management skills.

In this episode, Nancy talks about:

What she learned on Wall Street during the 2008 financial crash
Figuring out when to quit your day job
Putting product development before branding
Making choices during a company’s early stages
When to think about outside funding for a business

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Rebroadcast: Gayle King On Knowing Your Worth Jan 26, 2022

This week, we’re throwing it back to one of our favorite episodes from last year.

What does it actually mean to know your worth at work? This week, we asked the queen of confidence (and of morning TV), Gayle King, how she found hers. She told us her self worth came from years of salary negotiations, building strong support systems, navigating setbacks, and dealing with tough bosses.

In this episode, Gayle shares:

Her mindset going into negotiations
How she gained a sense of self worth as a junior reporter
Why tough moments and failure can add to self worth
How she leans on her support system
Why celebrating other people’s success adds to your self worth (hi, Oprah)
How she dealt with being underestimated

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Lindsey Vonn on Mental Toughness Jan 19, 2022

Lindsey Vonn isn’t just physically tough – she’s also known as one of the most mentally strong athletes. She started competing in international skiing competitions when she was just nine years old, and went on to become the most decorated female skier in history, including winning three Olympic Winter Games medals. And along the way, Lindsey dealt with a number of terrifying injuries, which challenged her mental and physical strength. After retiring from professional skiing, Lindsey’s switched arenas, starting her own production company, writing a memoir and leading her own foundation.

In this episode, Lindsey talks about:

How competition has served her - and hurt her
Career setbacks and how injuries actually helped her
Learning to trust people she was competing with
Building a risk-tolerant mindset

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Melissa Wood-Tepperberg on Setting Intentions Jan 12, 2022

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg went from working in nightclubs and modeling to becoming one of the first people to start streaming workouts online. That turned into her own health and fitness app, which now has thousands of paying subscribers. Today, Melissa has almost one million Instagram followers and her app, Melissa Wood Health, is a case study at Harvard Business School — despite the fact Melissa never went to college herself.

In this episode, Melissa talks about:

How meditation changed her life
Experimenting as a way to figure out your career path
Learning to listen to your gut
How she stopped comparing herself to other people

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Fran Lebowitz on Improvising Jan 05, 2022

Fran Lebowitz found fame as a writer in the 1970’s, when she started out writing movie reviews and magazine columns. She went on to publish two essay collections containing her observations of New York City and the people around her — cementing her as a definitive voice of a generation.

In this episode, Fran talks about:

Finding her writing process
Networking without the internet
Improvising when she got writer’s block
Refusing to follow the crowd

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Dana Canedy on Goal Setting Dec 22, 2021

Dana Canedy is a Pulitzer-winning reporter who’s set goals for herself since her first internship. But halfway through her career as a reporter Dana lost her fiancé, which shaped the rest of her life and her career. And Dana figured out how to keep going — becoming the first person of color, the youngest, and first female administrator of the Pulitzer Prize and the first Black person to head up a major US publishing imprint.

In this episode, Dana talks about:

How she set goals for herself early on
Switching roles throughout her career
How her personal life shaped her professional trajectory
How to recognize all your successes — even the small ones

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Sheila Lirio Marcelo on How To Manage People Dec 15, 2021

Sheila was at Harvard Business School, rifling through the Yellow Pages to find care for her infant son and her elderly father when she realized finding care should be easier. But unlike some Silicon Valley founders, Sheila wasn’t in a rush: instead, she prioritized building her leadership and management skills before she launched Care.com.

In this episode, Sheila talks about:

Figuring out what skills she needed to learn before launching a company
What qualities she looks for in potential managers
Why people teams are essential to startup success
Finding your style as a manager and owning your mistakes

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Carly Fiorina on Taking Tough Feedback Dec 08, 2021

Carly worked her way up from management trainee at AT&T, going from fighting for respect from her male colleagues to taking the top job at Hewlett-Packard and becoming the first female CEO of a Fortune 50 company. She oversaw a contentious merger, job and pay cuts. And after she was fired, Carly served as an advisor to John McCain and Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns — in between beating breast cancer and running for President herself. She’s no stranger to criticism and tough feedback, and this week, she shared how learning to take feedback has helped her on her journey.

In this episode, Carly talks about:

Working your way up
Making unpopular decisions as a leader
Distinguishing feedback from criticism
Unlearning perfectionism
How to respond to tough feedback

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Brooke Shields on Learning To Compartmentalize Dec 01, 2021

Brooke Shields has been a household name ever since she did her first commercial, at just 11 months old. As a teenage model and actress being managed by her mother, Brooke found her own image sexualized — but refused to play along with the media’s expectations. Since then, she’s acted on Broadway, starred in sitcoms and TV dramas, raised two daughters and written two memoirs. We spoke to Brooke about how to survive and stay sane amid intense public scrutiny.

In this episode, Brooke talks about:

Working with her mother — and choosing to fire her
The small things she does to help her compartmentalize
Staying true to herself under pressure
Not taking criticism personally

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Shawna Thomas on Making Yourself Stand Out Nov 17, 2021

Shawna Thomas has always stood out — from winning a prestigious college scholarship when she was 13 years old, to working her way up the ranks at NBC News from intern to senior producer. Over the course of her career, she’s won multiple Emmys and a Peabody, among other awards. Today, she’s in control of one of the nation’s top morning news shows, CBS Mornings. Listen to this week’s episode, where Shawna talks about how to shine in front of your boss and potential employers.

In this episode, Shawna talks about:

Making an impression during a job interview
Why all work experience is relevant — even if you’ve changed careers
How to make your resume stand out
Why going to therapy can make you better at your job
How she learned to manage people

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Emily Ratajkowski on Being Your Own Best Advocate Nov 10, 2021

When Emily Ratajkowski was asked to appear in a music video in 2013, she didn’t expect it to catapult her to overnight fame. Since then, she’s appeared in movies like ‘Gone Girl,’ walked the runway at New York Fashion week and launched her own swimwear line. And last year, Emily’s essay for ‘The Cut’ about objectification and power imbalances she experienced went viral, landing her a book deal for her new essay collection, ‘My Body.’ This week, she’s joining us to talk about how she learned to advocate for herself.

In this episode, Emily talks about:

How her career trajectory shaped her politics
Recovering from moments where she felt professionally undermined
Deciding to disclose others’ bad behavior — and dealing with the backlash
Learning to take her time with decisions
How motherhood has changed her relationship with herself and her work

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Huma Abedin on Defining Your Own Legacy Nov 03, 2021

It’s impossible to know how Hillary Clinton’s life would have run without Huma Abedin. From the late '90s through 2016, Huma occupied a central role in running Hillary’s life as an aide and personal advisor. She remained private even when both her personal and professional lives were embroiled in simultaneous crises, from her previous husband’s infidelity to Hillary’s emails. Now, she’s setting out to define herself in her own words.

In this episode, Huma talks about:

Staying connected to her roots
Working her way up in the White House
Keeping her professional and personal lives private
Seeking help for her mental health
Creating a reputation of her own

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Alexa von Tobel on Personal Finance And Venture Funding Oct 26, 2021

When she was in college, Alexa von Tobel realized she knew nothing about personal finance. And she couldn’t find any good tools out there to learn. So she set out to learn about managing her own money — a journey that led her to dropping out of Harvard Business School after just one semester, writing two books, and starting two multi-million dollar businesses. We spoke to Alexa about the basics of business, money management, and what makes a successful start-up.

In this episode, Alexa talks about:

The pros and cons of business school
How to get investors to buy into a business plan
How venture capital funding works
Taking care of your mental health as an entrepreneur
Running a company as a parent

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Tarana Burke on Putting Your Health First Oct 20, 2021

This episode mentions sexual assault, which could be triggering to some listeners.

Tarana Burke coined the phrase “me too” to help young Black girls in Selma, Alabama talk about sexual assault over a decade ago. But when #MeToo went viral overnight in 2017, Tarana had to figure out how to share her life’s work and its resources with a broader audience. Today, Tarana’s facing new challenges: how to offer sexual assault survivors the resources they need over the internet, and learning to balance her own needs alongside her work.

In this episode, Tarana talks about:

How “me too” began
How she keeps going when personal and professional overlap
How she approaches burnout and recovery
Why rest is important for work

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Julianna Margulies on Making Big Life Decisions Oct 13, 2021

Julianna Margulies went from pouring G&Ts and filming commercials in Manhattan to being one of the most-awarded actresses on television. She’s famous for roles on “E.R.,” “The Good Wife,” and “The Morning Show” — and despite always having a backup plan, Julianna’s biggest decisions have been guided by her intuition. We spoke to Julianna about making big life decisions, taking risks and turning down lucrative offers.

In this episode, Julianna talks about:

Planning for the future
Trusting that the right work will find you
Saying no to professional opportunities (hi, E.R.)
Clarifying your career focus
How she stopped people pleasing

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Rebroadcast: Erica Williams Simon on How To Write Your Career Story Oct 06, 2021

This week, we’re throwing it back to one of our favorite episodes from last year.

Erica Williams Simon is a writer, host, and the CEO of Sage House media. Her new book reveals how she re-wrote her life story and shares how you can do the same. She walked us through how she makes tough decisions, starting with how she quit a perfect-on-paper job and changed her life.

In this episode, Erica shares:

What growing up in a church community taught her
How she made the decision to quit
How to navigate the financial burden of leaving a job
How to craft and tell your career story
How to learn from an unfulfilling job

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Rea Ann Silva on Building Your Network Sep 29, 2021

Rea Ann Silva spent two decades working as a makeup artist for music videos, movies, and television. And on the side, she started developing a tool to make her work easier: the Beautyblender. Little did she know, she would end up transforming the beauty industry. And what helped her along the way - from movie sets to becoming CEO - was her relationships and her network. So this week, we’re getting her advice on how to start - and grow - your own.

In this episode, Rea Ann shares:

How she climbed the career ladder
How she tapped into her industry’s networks
How to work up the nerve to cold-call
What it was like to see Beautyblender in the Smithsonian Museum

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Gabrielle Union on Standing Up For Yourself Sep 22, 2021

Gabrielle Union hit her big break as an actor more than 20 year ago. Today she’s a household name in pop culture, as well as an advocate and author. And along the way, she’s had to learn one of the biggest (and hardest) career lessons: how to stand up for yourself. From navigating toxic workplaces, to challenging inequity and bias in Hollywood, to speaking out about pay parity, Gabrielle’s a hero to many for standing up to broken systems - and for how open and honest she is with her fans and her readers.

In this episode, Gabrielle shares:

Realizing when vulnerability can be a superpower
Standing up for yourself — and others — at work
Navigating your professional reputation
Knowing your value in pay negotiations
Why you need to talk about money
Using preparation to counter anxiety

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Bonus Episode: Back to “Normal” Power Panel Sep 17, 2021

Welcome to a special bonus episode of 9 to 5ish with theSkimm. A few weeks ago, theSkimm's co-founders and co-CEOs Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg hosted a Back to "Normal" power panel, talking about what a return to “normal” in the workplace looks like amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We were joined by…

Tina Tchen, then-president and CEO of Time’s Up
Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center
Ai-jen Poo, co-founder and executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance
And, Tami Forman, CEO of Path Forward

It’s no secret that women have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic: One in 10 moms with young kids quit their job — with half of them saying it was because of school or daycare closures. Gender equality in the workplace was set back more than a decade. And women were feeling burned out at faster rates. Now, as women head back into the workforce and office, it’s important to make sure they’re equipped with the information and tools they need to make their work-life balance real. Hit play to hear from the experts.

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Morgan DeBaun on Raising Money Sep 14, 2021

Morgan DeBaun was one of the only Black women working in Silicon Valley when she quit her job and started Blavity, a news media company focused on serving Black Americans. But as Morgan started to learn, raising money isn’t easy - especially when so little funding goes to women and women of color in the first place. This week, we spoke to Morgan about raising capital, overcoming obstacles, and selling your story to investors.

In this episode, Morgan shares:

Bootstrapping your business and delayed gratification
Defining your company mission
Learning how different types of funding works
Staying true to your vision when pitching it
Bringing Black creators into the spotlight in the tech space

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Alexandra Fine on Breaking Boundaries In Business Sep 07, 2021

When Alexandra Fine co-founded Dame, a women-founded sex toy company looking to close the pleasure gap, not everyone was on board with her vision. She got a lot of pushback - from traditional investors to advertisers - as she sought to change how the world looked at sex toys and pleasure. So this week: we spoke to Alexandra about how she navigated those obstacles and came up with creative solutions to get Dame off the ground.

In this episode, Alexandra shares:

How they funded the businesses when investors said ‘no’
How she’s built her team
Why Dame has to get creative with how they advertise their products
How she overcame people who doubted her mission
Why Dame is suing the MTA

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Esther Perel on Navigating Workplace Dynamics Sep 01, 2021

We spend a lot of time - if not most of our time - at work. And that means: the relationships we have with our colleagues matter, and can impact how satisfied we are with our jobs. So this week, we talked to world-famous psychotherapist Esther Perel about how to create meaningful relationships with our coworkers. And why our interpersonal skills are just as important as any of the skills we list on our resume.

In this episode, Esther shares:

How to have difficult conversations in the office
How managers can create trust on teams
How to build relationships with colleagues virtually
Why she does “couples therapy” for bosses and direct reports
What a “relationship resume” is

PS: Want to hear more from Esther? Check out her podcasts, and her new card game, here.

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Rashida Jones on Mentorship Aug 25, 2021

Mentors at work. We know they’re good to have, but there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to finding one. They can be someone on your team, someone in your company, or someone in a totally different line of work. But no matter who it is, there are some best practices when it comes to starting - and maintaining - those relationships. This week, we talked to Rashida Jones, president of MSNBC, to learn how she found mentors - and how she sustained those relationships throughout her career.

In this episode, Rashida shares:

What she goes to her mentors for
How to start looking for a mentor
How to push past the awkwardness of those first few convos
Why mentees have to drive the relationship
Why it’s good to have more than one mentor
How to be direct with mentors about what you want to get out of the relationship
How to transition from mentee to mentor

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Dean Erika James on Whether You Should Get Your MBA Aug 18, 2021

We heard from a lot of you that you have questions about whether to pursue your MBA or another business degree. So we asked an expert. Erika James is the dean of the Wharton School at UPenn, the oldest business school in the country. So she’s got tips on how to know if you’re ready to get that degree - and how to know if an MBA isn’t the right path for you. Plus: she tells us the do’s and dont’s of the application process.

In this episode, Dean James shares:

How to evaluate if you’re ready for an MBA
How to know if an MBA isn’t the degree for you
How to make your application stand out (and what not to include)
Whether you should get an MBA if you think you don't have “quantitative skills”
What you learn from an MBA program
Her perspective on how business leadership has changed

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Paris Hilton on Building Your Personal Brand Aug 11, 2021

Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or working at a big company, everyone has a personal brand at work. And everything from your LinkedIn profile to your resume to your interview style adds to that brand. So this week, we sat down with the master of creating a personal brand, Paris Hilton, to talk about how she built hers. She’s not only the OG social media influencer, but she also created a persona that took the world by storm. And spoiler: investing in her brand paid off. Now, she’s got dozens of businesses, not to mention a new hit TV show on Netflix, "Cooking with Paris."

In this episode, Paris shares:

Why (and how) she built the persona of Paris Hilton
What she’s like as a businesswoman
Her advice for leveraging social media to reach your career goals
Who she goes to for advice when she’s looking to take the next step
How she evaluates who to work with
How to prioritize between personal and professional life

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Gayle King on Knowing Your Worth Aug 04, 2021

What does it actually mean to know your worth at work? This week, we asked the queen of confidence (and of morning TV), Gayle King, how she found hers. She told us her self worth came from years of salary negotiations, building strong support systems, navigating setbacks, and dealing with tough bosses.

In this episode, Gayle shares:

Her mindset going into negotiations
How she gained a sense of self worth as a junior reporter
Why tough moments and failure can add to self worth
How she leans on her support system
Why celebrating other people’s success adds to your self worth (hi, Oprah)
How she dealt with being underestimated

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Nastia Liukin on How To Win (And Lose) At Work Jul 28, 2021

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are underway. And as we all started cheering for the athletes on our TV screens, it got us thinking about winning - and losing - at work. Maybe you got the promotion. Or maybe your long-time project wasn’t a success. How should we navigate the ups and downs? To find out, we called up an expert: 2008 Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin. She’s had some high highs (hello, gold medal)...and also some low lows (injuries, falls, and haters).

In this episode, Nastia shares:

How to block out external noise
How to keep going when you want to quit
How to move on from failure
How she dealt with a 1:1 rivalry
How to hype yourself up

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Whitney Wolfe Herd on Starting A Business Jul 21, 2021

Whitney Wolfe Herd is one of the biggest women in business. She founded Bumble in 2014, and became the youngest ever female CEO to take a company public when it IPO'd this year. So we decided to ask the best of the best for her tips on how to think about getting started.

In this episode, Whitney shares:

Why founders need to communicate (read: over-communicate) their vision for the company
How she used “no’s” she got early on as motivation
Her advice on how to hire (and potentially fire) friends and family
How to market your company when you have no money
How to think about your personal finances when you’re starting your business

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Introducing...9 to 5ish with theSkimm Jul 14, 2021

Meet our revamped career podcast, 9 to 5ish with theSkimm. We're bringing you the work advice you need, from women who’ve been there. Every week, join the co-founders and co-CEOs of theSkimm, Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg, as they help you get what you want out of your career by talking to the smartest leaders they know. New episodes drop every Wednesdays, starting July 21st. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a single ep.

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Jenna Lyons, fashion designer and entrepreneur, "I think the...hardest transition was learning not to micromanage." Jun 30, 2021

Jenna Lyons was the Executive Creative Director and President of J.Crew Group. And she also became the face of the brand and a brand herself. But then...she left J.Crew after 26 years at the company. This week, Jenna sat down with us to talk about how to build an authentic personal brand and leadership style. And how to maintain that sense of identity (and hold onto your confidence) even when you leave your job.

In this episode, Jenna shares how she stopped micromanaging, why she was surprised no one called her after she left J.Crew, and how to build a personal brand.

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Ursula Burns, former CEO, Xerox: "I struggled...with this idea that we run a mechanical structure, that people are just a cog in the wheel." Jun 23, 2021

Ursula Burns is one of the most notable business leaders in America. She ran Xerox from 2009 to 2016, and when she took the top job, she also became the first Black woman to run a Fortune 500 company. This week, Ursula sat down with us to share why leaders in 2021 can’t just be focused on profits or increasing a stock price - they have to be focused on people.

In this episode, Ursula shares why being an executive assistant changed her life, how she created accountability on her leadership team, and why companies have to prioritize the wellbeing of their employees.

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Amanda Kloots, co-host, The Talk: "If you're grieving, don't follow advice. It's your own path." Jun 16, 2021

Last year, when the world was locked down, Amanda Kloots gave us a window into the toll that COVID-19 has taken on individual families. The former Broadway dancer and Radio City Rockette lost her husband, Nick Cordero, last summer due to complications from COVID. She put her journey up on social media - and the world supported her and grieved with her. This week, Amanda sat down with us to talk about navigating grief and the impact it has on work and career.

In this episode, Amanda shares how she pivoted from the Broadway stage into teaching fitness classes, why she chose to grieve so publicly, and how she practices positivity (hint: try thinking of one positive thing each day).

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Abby Wambach (rebroadcast): "If you're not a good leader on the bench, you cannot call yourself a good leader on the field." Jun 09, 2021

This week, we're throwing it back to one of our favorite episodes from last year, with Olympian and soccer star Abby Wambach.

Abby knows a thing or two about winning a gold medal - she actually won two while she played for the US Women’s National Team. And the soccer star hasn’t slowed down in retirement. She’s now a bestselling author and an equal pay activist.

In this episode, Abby shares what it was like to play with her idols, including Mia Hamm, how she’s developed her leadership style on and off the field, and why one night at the ESPY awards changed the direction of her retirement.

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Whembley Sewell, editor-in-chief, them: "The more informed you are, the more you read, the more you actually engage with the issues…makes you that much better of a friend or a part of someone's community. Jun 02, 2021

Whembley Sewell is the youngest editor at a Condé Nast publication. And she’s the EIC of its newest publication, them. And when you’re the youngest at the newest, cue: pressure. But Whembley told us she doesn’t let the challenges of the job get to her because she stays focused on them’s mission of celebrating the stories and voices of the LGBTQ+ community.

In this episode, Whembley shares how to create meaningful relationships with an audience, her advice for fostering an inclusive work culture, and how she balances being collaborative with giving her team freedom.

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Ayesha Curry, cookbook author, entrepreneur: "There are always ways to educate yourself." May 26, 2021

Once Ayesha Curry’s family started expanding, so did her culinary career. Ayesha built her brand one blog post and YouTube video at a time. And now: she’s one of the most recognized personalities in the food world (think: multiple cookbooks, a magazine, and a foundation to end childhood hunger). This week, Ayesha sat down with us to tell us how she found her career calling after she became a parent.

In this episode, Ayesha shares how she taught herself about business, why she emphasizes collaboration at work, and how she and her husband push each other to stay motivated.

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Stacey Abrams: "The first time I realized that I wanted more than I was supposed to want it was both terrifying and it was so freeing." May 19, 2021

Whether it’s getting that promotion or starting your own business, it can be intimidating to map out your career goals. But this week, Stacey Abrams told us to try one simple approach: write it down. The voting rights activist, politician, and author has a lot on her plate at any given time, from getting out the vote to writing romance novels. And she keeps her eye on the prize...literally keeping a spreadsheet. Tune in to hear her tips on how to stay focused on your goals. And why being honest with yourself - and even your boss - about your ambitions is a good place to start.

In this episode, Abrams shares how she prioritizes, how she decides to not pursue something, and what she wants to do next.

PS: Check out the latest book from Stacey Abrams here.

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Kendra Scott, founder, Kendra Scott: “You have to be brave enough to get up and go for it because it's not just going to come to you.” May 12, 2021

Kendra Scott built her jewelry brand (also called Kendra Scott) with a $500 dollar investment out of a spare bedroom in her house. And now, it’s a billion dollar business. That didn’t just happen overnight. In this special live (on Zoom) episode, Kendra told us how she’s been able to turn her biggest failures into her greatest successes. And how she turns a 'no' into a 'yes.'

In this episode, Kendra shares where her resilience comes from, how her relationship with money has changed, and her advice for how to pitch yourself.

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Mother’s Day Special with Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and leader, the Marshall Plan for Moms May 05, 2021

Welcome to our special Mother’s Day episode. Skimm’d from the Couch is a career podcast...and we can’t talk about work and career without talking about how that changes when you become a parent. This past year has also created new challenges for working moms, while exacerbating existing ones. Which, PS: often go unrecognized.

So we wanted to know: what can we do about it? To get some answers, we invited Reshma Saujani back on the show. She’s the founder of Girls Who Code, the leader of the Marshall Plan for moms, and a mom herself. We talk to her about parenthood, entrepreneurship, and how to fix a system that undervalues the invisible work of women.

In this episode, Reshma shares how the past year has been for her, what policy changes could benefit working parents, and her advice for taking action in your own workplace.

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Cindy McCain: "All of a sudden the people are gone, the food that everyone dropped off is gone, and you're alone in the house. And that's where you learn what strength is." Apr 28, 2021

Cindy McCain’s life has been in the American political spotlight for four decades. Her late husband, Senator John McCain, was elected for six terms in the Senate. And he ran for president twice. Cindy was by his side for all of it. But before the White House races and the political spotlight, Cindy was a 20-something from Arizona who had to find her strength as a newbie in DC. And in 2018, she had to tap into her strength again in the face of personal tragedy.

In this episode, Cindy shares her journey with confidence, how she’s handled criticism, and also...her tips for long-distance relationships.

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Mayor Aja Brown, mayor of Compton: "Sometimes people judge you based on where they were at your age." Apr 21, 2021

At the age of 31, Aja Brown made history when she became the youngest mayor ever elected in the city of Compton. But when she was first running, people said, “Are you even old enough to be mayor?” Well, it turns out age really is just a number. Mayor Brown was one of the most qualified people to ever run and win that office. And now she’s basically the CEO...of a city. This week, we asked Mayor Brown for her best management tips (think: don’t micromanage) that she’s learned over her two terms in office.

In this episode, Mayor Brown shares how she overcame being underestimated, why she’s really strict about setting boundaries, and how to know it's time to move on to your next gig.

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Bela Bajaria, head of global TV, Netflix: "My job is not who I am. [Or] so I thought. Until you don't have that job." Apr 14, 2021

Bela Bajaria is the woman who makes the decisions about what’s going to be your next binge-watch. She’s the head of global TV for Netflix, and has helped bring some of our favorite shows, like “The Queen’s Gambit” and “Bridgerton” from the page to the screen. So how’d she actually get her dream job? Perseverance. Because she started as an assistant…and now she’s here. And btw, she also lost a job along the way. This week, she sat down to tell us how you can still get the Hollywood ending for your own career.

In this episode, Bela shares how she convinced her first boss to take a chance on her, what you should do if you get let go from your job, and she tapped her network to land at Netflix.

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Diane von Furstenberg, chairman and founder of Diane von Furstenberg: "The most important relationship in life is the one you have with yourself." Apr 07, 2021

Diane von Furstenberg (aka DVF) knows the secret to a long and successful career. Hint: it’s reinvention. She’s been in the fashion business since the 1970s. But she’s changed her direction, and her brand, more than a few times. This week, DVF joined us to tell us how to embrace change (even when it’s hard) so you can be the designer...of your own life.

In this episode, DVF shares how she deals with fear, why you should own your vulnerability at work, and how she’s embracing change during the pandemic. And Carly reflects on the time she received an unexpected phone call from Diane as a teenager.

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Dr. Laura Forese, COO, New York Presbyterian: "People were scared. And it was on me and the rest of the leadership team to say 'We’re going to be here with you.'" Mar 31, 2021