9 to 5ish with theSkimm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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