9 to 5ish with theSkimm

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

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