9 to 5ish with theSkimm

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

For over a decade, Emily Tisch Sussman was one of the top political strategists in the country, advising Democratic candidates and campaigns. Then, after having three children in four years, and faced with no childcare during a global pandemic, Emily realized she couldn’t get back to the top of her game… or back in the game at all. So, she stepped away from politics and the professional identity she had known for 15 years. Now, after going through her own major pivot, she’s talking to other women about their career journeys on the 'She Pivots' podcast. In this episode, shares:  The line she used that got her every job she’s had  Why she wrote an article saying her children “killed” her career – and how she felt after writing it  Why she wasn’t connecting to the traditional narratives around being a working mother Her advice for women who’ve also had to shift their professional identities  What it'll take for politicians to pass policies that better support families Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Hill House Home first started, founder and CEO Nell Diamond wasn’t focused on selling the now-famous “Nap Dress”, or cultivating her Instagram presence. Rather, the brand started as a bedding company, and Nell’s Instagram was a space for her creativity. Seven years later, the Nap Dress is a cult-favorite, selling out in minutes, Nell’s created the model for the influencer-entrepreneur, and Hill House is now valued at $150M.In this episode, shares:  Why she followed her instincts to go into fashion, despite people telling her it wasn’t a “serious” profession What her first job at Abercrombie taught her  Why you don’t need to be a natural risk-taker to be an entrepreneur The thing she wishes more executives would understand  The tools she’s leaned on as a manager and executive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elizabeth Chambers has been through… a lot in the past few years. But the founder and CEO of BIRD Bakery isn’t letting her ex-husband or the headlines define her. She’s focused on expanding her business (which now has four locations) and helping her family heal. This week, we spoke to Elizabeth about how she’s found professional and personal stability.In this episode, shares:  Why she started BIRD Bakery How she’s set boundaries in her professional and personal life  What’s helped her on her healing journey – and why there’s no one size fits all path Her outlook on parenting  How she’s learned to sort through advice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashley Merrill, founder and chairwoman of the restwear brand Lunya, started the company when she was pregnant. As she built her brand, she was also growing her family, and her big career moments and her big parenting moments always seemed to align. On this episode, we spoke with Ashley about the misconceptions that being a parent is just a part time job, why we need to speak up about childcare support, and how she’s shifted her career as her children have gotten older. In this episode, Ashley shares:  Why we need to adjust our expectations about being a working parent How she made the decision to hire a CEO for Lunya  What it was like to run two businesses during COVID Why the flexibility of entrepreneurship isn’t always a good thing  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For most of her career, Isa Watson felt like she was living somebody else’s life. She started out as a chemist working her way up the academic ranks, and then she became a world-traveling VP at JP Morgan. And a lot of people online started to take notice of her impressive career. Isa felt she was always chasing the validation of a ‘30 under 30’ or ‘40 under 40’ list, while neglecting her relationships and her own happiness. So, she stopped obsessing over that public praise. And founded Squad, the app that provides the easy and fun way to talk to your friends – away from social media. In this episode, Isa shares:  How she’s dealt with the pressure of other people’s expectations The life event that put everything into perspective for her  How she rebuilt her relationship with herself  Why she added 'professional skydiver' to her resume Her advice for setting better boundaries with social media  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lauren Wesley Wilson worked for politicians and crisis comms firms for years before she decided to start her own organization, ColorComm. ColorComm started as a luncheon series over ten years ago, and now has grown to become the nation’s leading women’s platform addressing diversity & inclusion across the communications, marketing, advertising, and media industries. This week, Lauren told us how she sought out to make the notoriously competitive communications industry more inclusive. In this episode, Lauren shares:  How she navigated a cutthroat industry when she was starting out  Why she knew she needed to start ColorComm What she gave up to found ColorComm How she made the time and space for her personal life The goals she created for her personal life Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know Erin and Sara Foster as the sister-act behind the VH1 hit show “Barely Famous”, the co-founders of the fashion brand Favorite Daughter, and as the creative minds who’ve helped brands such as Bumble and the Mirror. After growing up in the entertainment world, the sisters not only decided to take on that industry, but also to take on fashion and investing. We spoke to the Fosters about the value of taking career risks – and why they’ve decided to redefine what success means to them.In this episode, Erin and Sara share:  The unexpected famous person they are related to  What they think of the “nepo baby” label  Why accolades can actually be depressing How their relationship has changed now that they’re in business together  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nyakio Grieco has been paving the way for inclusive beauty and supporting Black entrepreneurs for her whole career. She launched her first beauty brand, Nyakio Beauty, in 2002. Then in 2020, she launched Thirteen Lune, the e-commerce platform dedicated to elevating Black and Brown beauty founders. While Nyakio is one of the most celebrated entrepreneurs in the industry, the road to the top was paved with hurdles. Including shuttering and relaunching her original brand, watching that brand take off after she sold it, and starting over as a founder at 47. In this episode, Nyakio shares:  Her perspective on failure  How her optimism has served her throughout her career Why she’s focused on bringing her friends along on her journey How she stopped being a “people-pleaser” PS: Skimm listeners can get 20% off Thirteen Lune products using the code SKIMM20. Valid for 30 days from June 7, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To wrap up this season of 9 to 5ish, we’ve got a bonus episode with author Avery Carpenter Forrey. She was one of the first employees at theSkimm, who pivoted her career to become a writer. Her highly-anticipated debut novel, Social Engagement, drops on May 23rd, and explores millennial wedding culture, class, and relationships. This week, we spoke to Avery about how she pulled off the pivot, what tactical steps she took to get started, and how she maintained relationships with her former colleagues. Plus, she shares what it’s like to be a new mother while promoting her book.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices