9 to 5ish with theSkimm

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once Ayesha Curry’s family started expanding, so did her culinary career. Ayesha built her brand one blog post and YouTube video at a time. And now: she’s one of the most recognized personalities in the food world (think: multiple cookbooks, a magazine, and a foundation to end childhood hunger). This week, Ayesha sat down with us to tell us how she found her career calling after she became a parent. In this episode, Ayesha shares how she taught herself about business, why she emphasizes collaboration at work, and how she and her husband push each other to stay motivated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether it’s getting that promotion or starting your own business, it can be intimidating to map out your career goals. But this week, Stacey Abrams told us to try one simple approach: write it down. The voting rights activist, politician, and author has a lot on her plate at any given time, from getting out the vote to writing romance novels. And she keeps her eye on the prize...literally keeping a spreadsheet. Tune in to hear her tips on how to stay focused on your goals. And why being honest with yourself - and even your boss - about your ambitions is a good place to start. In this episode, Abrams shares how she prioritizes, how she decides to not pursue something, and what she wants to do next. PS: Check out the latest book from Stacey Abrams here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kendra Scott built her jewelry brand (also called Kendra Scott) with a $500 dollar investment out of a spare bedroom in her house. And now, it’s a billion dollar business. That didn’t just happen overnight. In this special live (on Zoom) episode, Kendra told us how she’s been able to turn her biggest failures into her greatest successes. And how she turns a 'no' into a 'yes.'In this episode, Kendra shares where her resilience comes from, how her relationship with money has changed, and her advice for how to pitch yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to our special Mother’s Day episode. Skimm’d from the Couch is a career podcast...and we can’t talk about work and career without talking about how that changes when you become a parent. This past year has also created new challenges for working moms, while exacerbating existing ones. Which, PS: often go unrecognized. So we wanted to know: what can we do about it? To get some answers, we invited Reshma Saujani back on the show. She’s the founder of Girls Who Code, the leader of the Marshall Plan for moms, and a mom herself. We talk to her about parenthood, entrepreneurship, and how to fix a system that undervalues the invisible work of women.In this episode, Reshma shares how the past year has been for her, what policy changes could benefit working parents, and her advice for taking action in your own workplace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cindy McCain’s life has been in the American political spotlight for four decades. Her late husband, Senator John McCain, was elected for six terms in the Senate. And he ran for president twice. Cindy was by his side for all of it. But before the White House races and the political spotlight, Cindy was a 20-something from Arizona who had to find her strength as a newbie in DC. And in 2018, she had to tap into her strength again in the face of personal tragedy. In this episode, Cindy shares her journey with confidence, how she’s handled criticism, and also...her tips for long-distance relationships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the age of 31, Aja Brown made history when she became the youngest mayor ever elected in the city of Compton. But when she was first running, people said, “Are you even old enough to be mayor?” Well, it turns out age really is just a number. Mayor Brown was one of the most qualified people to ever run and win that office. And now she’s basically the CEO...of a city. This week, we asked Mayor Brown for her best management tips (think: don’t micromanage) that she’s learned over her two terms in office. In this episode, Mayor Brown shares how she overcame being underestimated, why she’s really strict about setting boundaries, and how to know it's time to move on to your next gig. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices