9 to 5ish with theSkimm

Latest Episodes:

Christina Tosi, Founder and CEO of Milk Bar: “I dare you to work longer, and harder, and faster than me.” Sep 26, 2018

Show notes

Christina Tosi started baking at home with her family. And after going to college for applied mathematics, she decided to get back to those baking roots. She went to culinary school and worked in a few different restaurants around NYC. Eventually, Christina landed at Momofuku – where she started the franchise’s first bakery, Milk Bar. She serves as its founder and CEO. Today, the bakery has expanded all across North America, and it’s earned Christina a spot on the show “MasterChef.” On the couch, she talks to us about finding mentors, thriving under pressure, and baking as stress relief.

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Susan Lyne, President and Founder of BBG Ventures: “Don’t say yes or no in the room.” Sep 19, 2018

Show notes

Susan Lyne’s career isn’t easy to Skimm. She grew up in Boston, and after going to college for a while, decided to skip school and get straight into her career. Susan was a journalist. Then she switched into entertainment, and even started her own magazine. Since then, she’s been an exec at major companies like Gilt, AOL, Martha Stewart, and ABC. Meaning, yes, you can thank her for “Grey’s Anatomy.” In 2014, Susan made another change: she started her own venture capital firm to invest in companies with female founders. It’s called BBG – Built By Girls. On the couch, she talks to us about networking (cough, stalking) your way to the career you want, prioritizing your time, and why introverts make great leaders.

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Kat Cole, President and COO of FOCUS Brands: “I’ve had my team put in jail.” Sep 12, 2018

Show notes

Kat Cole started her career as a waitress at Hooters. At first, she was just helping out her family. But in her second year of college, she decided to turn that side hustle...into her main hustle. So she went to work at Hooters corporate instead of graduating. And at 20 years old, she was helping the company open franchises all over the world. A couple years later, Kat became a VP at the company. Eventually, she got a business degree and took over at Cinnabon, where she helped grow the biz to a billion-dollar brand. Now she’s the President and COO of FOCUS brands, aka the parent co of companies like Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. On the couch, she talks to us about addressing negative feedback, choosing to go to business school without a BA, and “the brutal leadership mirror”. We’ll let her explain.

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Margaret Brennan, moderator of 'Face the Nation': “It’s like cramming for an exam.” Sep 05, 2018

Show notes

Margaret Brennan is the moderator of “Face the Nation” and a senior correspondent for CBS. But she didn’t always plan to be a journalist. At first, Margaret thought she wanted to be a diplomat, so she studied foreign affairs, the Mideast -- she even learned Arabic. But then she interned at CNN in college. And decided journalism was the path for her. Since then, she’s covered business news for CNBC and Bloomberg TV. At CBS, she’s covered everything from nuclear negotiations to US tensions with North Korea. On the couch, we flip the script and ask Margaret the questions. She talks to us about what it’s like to cover Washington, thinking through maternity leave, and the responsibility to cheer on younger women.

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Arianna Huffington: She cut out “Game of Thrones” for 8 hours of sleep. Aug 15, 2018

Show notes

You know Arianna Huffington as the woman who put the Huffington in The Huffington Post. But she’s got a lot more on her resume. Including ‘best-selling author’ and ‘ran for office.’ But in 2007, after working 18-hour days, she collapsed in her office. And decided it was time to focus on herself more. Enter: Thrive Global. Aka the company Arianna started to help people reset, recharge, and get a lot more sleep. On the couch, Arianna talks to us about being a proud outfit repeater, the time she interviewed Skimm B for a job, and putting your phone to bed. Literally.

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Michele Promaulayko, Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan: “I’m incredibly immature.” Aug 08, 2018

Show notes

Michele Promaulayko fell in love with magazines as a teenager. Since then, she’s gone from dreaming about magazines...to building a career in publishing, working at places like Women’s Health and Yahoo Health. Today, she’s the editor in chief of Cosmopolitan. Meaning teenage Michele is very happy. Oh, and she’s trained in transcendental meditation, too. NBD. On the couch, she talks to us about when male models ruled the world, managing up, and navigating how her industry has changed over the years.

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Founder Chat: Getting dad-vice Aug 02, 2018

Show notes

Growing this B was not easy. Translation: we ask our family for advice all the time. In this episode, we talk to our dads about some of the things that we’ve learned from them along the way. And we play a game. It's inspired by the new Netflix dramedy "Like Father," about a father-daughter relationship. Listen in here.

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Melanie Whelan, CEO of SoulCycle: “Chief Weed Officer” -- on her bad habits. Not the kind you’re thinking, promise. Aug 01, 2018

Show notes

Melanie has a personal rule for herself: if she hears about something three times, from three different people, she has to try it. That rule has led her to new books, restaurants, and… SoulCycle. Which she did while she was a VP at Equinox. Melanie eventually came on as Soul’s COO, and helped grow the biz from a few NYC studios...to more than 80 around the world. Now, she’s the company’s CEO. And yes, she taps it back multiple times every week. On the couch, she talks to us about taking over a community she didn’t create, managing instructors’ brands within SoulCycle’s, and having a millennial mentor.

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Katrina Lake, co-founder and CEO of Stitch Fix: “Mini bottles of wine in hotel coffee cups.” Jul 25, 2018

Show notes

Katrina Lake spent the first part of her career watching other entrepreneurs pitch their companies to her VC firm. But then she decided she wanted to try it out herself. So she went to Harvard Business School and started her own company. Today, you know it as the multibillion-dollar online styling service Stitch Fix. And when she took Stitch Fix public in 2017, Katrina became the youngest woman to lead a company to IPO. Ever. NBD. On the couch, she talks to us about deciding to go to business school, hiring and managing a team, and not taking her dad’s advice.

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Mindy Grossman, President and CEO of Weight Watchers: “[I look for] cool, curious, and connected [when I hire].” Jul 18, 2018

Show notes

Mindy Grossman graduated college at 20 and was on her way to law school. But then she changed her mind – so she broke her engagement, packed her bags, and moved to New York City. Luckily, that gamble worked out: today, she’s on Forbes’ list of the most powerful women in the world. Over her career, Mindy’s headed up companies like Chaps Ralph Lauren, the Home Shopping Network, and NIke. In 2017, she took her talents to Weight Watchers. On the couch, she talks to us about building teams, giving tough feedback, and stalking your business idols – politely. Oh yeah, and what it’s like to disagree with Oprah in the boardroom.

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