9 to 5ish with theSkimm

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

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

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

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

When Jen Psaki became President Obama’s White House Communications Director, she was pregnant. Later, she became President Biden’s Press Secretary, and she had to navigate her role as a mom and as the White House’s chief spokesperson. And considering when you work for the president, you’re expected to be on call 24/7, that's a big challenge. Today, we spoke to Jen about what doing both actually looked like for her – from the hard realities to the help she got along the way. In this episode, Jen shares:  What a job interview with the president is like  Why she regrets not seeking feedback early in her career Her non-traditional approach to mentoring  What she learned from not getting the job she wanted the first time   How she set boundaries, even when on call 24/7  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir, Worthy, has made a big splash for its bombshell revelations … and it hasn’t even been out for a week. But the book from the award-winning actress and talk show host is not just tabloid fodder – it’s also a critical part of Jada’s “reclamation journey”. In this episode, Jada tells her career story – how she’s navigated Hollywood, having a world-famous spouse, death threats, and public judgment. And come out stronger for it. In this episode, Jada shares:  Her dream Red Table Talk guest  Why she had to learn to deal with her self-judgment   How to have difficult conversations with friends and family Her perspective on *that* Red Table conversation between her and Will   Why her alopecia diagnosis has been a great “teacher” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michelle Crossan-Matos, the CMO of Ulta Beauty, is one of the most prominent marketing executives in the country. And she told us she didn’t just get to her position by crunching the numbers and digging into data. She used her intuition and gut instinct to launch new campaigns, solve problems, and grow brands. Today, we spoke to Michelle about how your intuition can be your professional superpower … if you know how to listen. In this episode, Michelle shares:  Why she wakes up at 4:30am every day  Why everyone needs to develop a sense of personal leadership, even if you’re not in the c-suite The interview question she always asks candidates  The professional mistake she learned the most from How she combats decision fatigue at work Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joey Wölffer didn’t ever think she’d take over her family’s business, the Wölffer Estate winery. But over a decade after surprising herself and becoming the co-owner and chief brand officer of the beloved vineyard, Joey has transformed the brand and the business. You’ve probably seen their famous Summer in a Bottle rose or their sparkling ciders on shelves near you. And Joey’s done all of that while building her own fashion business, Joey Wölffer. On today’s episode, Joey shares her secrets to creating a unique and relevant brand.In this episode, shares:  How losing her father unexpectedly changed her mindset about her career Why she wasn’t a fit for corporate America Her experience building two businesses at once What it’s like to work with her brother and her husband  How she calls out a lack of gender representation in the alcohol industry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colleen Cutcliffe, co-founder and CEO of the groundbreaking probiotics company Pendulum Therapeutics, started the company with a big goal in mind: changing the way people think about their gut health. And on her journey, she’s had to challenge traditional – and sometimes outdated – thinking from the medical community and investors. In this episode, Colleen told us how she’s been able to disrupt the industry, and gives her advice for making changes in any workplace. In this episode, Colleen shares:  How she convinced the dean of her PhD program to let her stay – despite almost getting kicked out  Why her daughter’s birth inspired her to start Pendulum  How she dealt with being told “no”  The ways she’s cultivated trust and transparency with her team Why she’s got Halle Berry on speed dial  PS: Skimm'rs get 20% off their first month of any Pendulum product(s) with code SKIMM9TO5. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alicia Menendez, MSNBC anchor, award-winning journalist, and host of the Latina to Latina podcast, was so concerned about being likable at work that she wrote a whole book about it. She even created a name for that pressure women feel to be amenable in the office – "the likability trap." And as an on-camera journalist, she’s fallen into that trap throughout her career. In this episode, we spoke with Alicia about her journey with likability, how that affected her professional and personal wellbeing, and her recommendations for carving out your own professional identity. In this episode, shares:  Why she didn’t go into politics like her father  How she’s dealt with the pressure of other people’s expectations What she’s done to carve out her own leadership style and professional identity  How she talks to her daughters about likability  Her advice for avoiding getting caught up in the trap, and getting your coworkers and managers to do the same  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices