9 to 5ish with theSkimm

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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