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

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

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 

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)  

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 

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   

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 

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

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?

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 

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 

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

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

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 

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

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.

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

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 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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 

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.

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

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 

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

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 

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 

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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. 

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.