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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.
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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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
1Zibby 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
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
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
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
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)
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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Amazing interview! Congratulations for bringing Dr. Jansen on your show. A real feather in your caps.
I'm going to start a podcast called Skimm'd from the Lazy-Boy. 🛋️
I am a huge fan of the Skimm, but I would love to hear more from accomplished women in science and engineering. STEM is not just for men, and highlighting the amazing women who make strides in these industries will help others see that STEM careers are more attainable than they seem.
I love this podcast but the volume is really low so I cannot listen to it when I am commuting
Love this podcast channel! I’m definitely a Skimm fan. These bites of knowledge are a great compliment to the email newsletter!
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