

9 to 5ish with theSkimm
theSkimm
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 4, 2022 • 26min
Christine Chang on Leaving Your Desk Job
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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 2, 2022 • 18min
After 5ish: Rathi Srinivas On Innovation
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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 29, 2022 • 17min
After 5ish: Gargi Pal Chaudhuri on the Power of Mentorship
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)
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 27, 2022 • 20min
Melissa Ben-Ishay on Finding Your Confidence
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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 20, 2022 • 25min
Robin Roberts On Making Your Vulnerability A Strength
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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 13, 2022 • 26min
Scarlett Johansson On the Power of Perspective
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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 6, 2022 • 20min
Michelle Kelly on How to Pivot
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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 30, 2022 • 23min
Dawn Davis on Using Jobs as Stepping Stones
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”
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 23, 2022 • 22min
Lorna Kapusta on Taking Control of Your Money
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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 16, 2022 • 28min
Radhika Jones on Leading a New Team
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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices