Is Having a Stay-at-Home Husband the Secret to Success? with Tressie Lieberman

Dec 16, 2025

Join Tressie Lieberman, Starbucks' Global Chief Brand Officer, as she shares her journey from iconic brands like Pizza Hut and Taco Bell to redefining family dynamics. Tressie emphasizes the importance of curiosity and mentorship in career growth. She discusses creating an equitable partnership with her stay-at-home husband, implementing Sunday check-ins, and dealing with societal expectations. From tactical household management to blending work and family life, her insights provide a refreshing perspective on modern success and collaboration.

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INSIGHT

Reframing Unlocks Bigger Ambition

Tressie shifted from aiming for "the next level" to owning a CMO path after a boss reframed her potential.
External belief unlocked internal ambition and led to multiple CMO roles.

ANECDOTE

Reverse Mentoring A CEO Changed Her Path

Tressie reverse‑mentored CEO David Novak on social media after he called her as a director.
They spent hours together and he later wrote mentorship letters that accelerated her career.

ADVICE

Learn The Next Thing First

Be curious and learn the "next thing" proactively to stand out at work.
Do a little extra and teach your organization what you discover to get invited into new rooms.

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In this episode of Ambition 2.0, host Amanda Goetz sits down with Starbucks' Global Chief Brand Officer Tressie Lieberman to talk about the path that led her through some of the biggest brands in marketing (Pizza Hut → Taco Bell → Chipotle → Yahoo → Starbucks), the mentors who changed her trajectory, and the family system that makes it possible: a true partnership where her husband is the stay-at-home parent.

They get tactical about how to divide the cognitive load, why “Sunday check-ins” are a non-negotiable, and how to navigate the social friction that still shows up when you flip traditional gender roles.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How Tressie went from aiming for “the next level” to owning the CMO path—and what made that shift happen
Why curiosity (and doing “the little extra things”) is key in your career
How to build a partnership that’s equitable, not score-keeping
The practical systems that reduce mental load at home
How to handle judgment, weird school dynamics, and “default parent” assumptions when dad stays home

If you’re building an ambitious life—and want a relationship that can grow with it—this episode is a must listen.

00:00 Intro

02:53 The mindset shift that set Tressie’s sights beyond “the next level”

04:02 The mentors who opened doors (including reverse mentoring a CEO)

05:36 How to stand out early: curiosity, doing extra, and teaching what’s next

06:49 Advocating for yourself in executive rooms (and getting over FOE: fear of executives)

09:10 How they chose a stay-at-home partner dynamic

13:59 The at-home teamwork: check-ins, trade-offs, and letting go of perfection and control

17:45 Keeping the marriage strong: date nights, boundaries, and “one blended life”

32:45 Rapid fire: Sunday rituals, go-to Starbucks order, and ideal partnership in one word

GUEST LINKS

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tressielieberman/

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Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/

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ABOUT AMBITION 2.0

Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.

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