How She Does It

Ballet’s biggest superstar, Misty Copeland, will be stepping off the stage as the Principal Dancer for the American Ballet Theater this fall after 25 years with the company.  So we thought this was a good time to revisit the conversation Misty and Karen Finerman shared during season 1 of the podcast.   To be a ballet dancer, you must be a dancer, an athlete, and a performer all at the same time. It is a competitive and complex hierarchy, with thousands of dancers funneling to just a small handful at the very top. There used to be an overwhelming lack of diversity in the professional ballet world, and Misty broke that barrier at ABT with her dedication and undeniable talent.  Since then, she has worked to increase the diversity of dancers on stage and widened the audience for this beautiful art form.  After retirement, she plans to continue using her voice as an author, producer, director of documentary films, and entrepreneur.  💬 In this episode: Misty shares the challenging circumstances she faced growing up How she was first introduced to ballet at the Boys & Girls Club at age 13 (which is late for those who turn professional)  Why she decided to stay with ABT after not being promoted as quickly as other dancers Her experience collaborating with Prince The unique public scrutiny she faced as she advanced in the company, and how she handled it  How being a dancer informed her role as a mom to her young son What she does if she forgets a move on stage (yes, it’s even happened to Misty Copeland!)  🔗 Resources & Links: 📲 Follow How She Does It on Instagram: @hsdipodcast👩‍💼 Learn more about Misty Copeland at mistycopeland.com 📸 Follow Misty on Instagram: @mistyonpointe 🎧 New episodes drop every Tuesday. Hit “Follow” so you never miss a moment. 💌 Join the HerMoney community: https://hermoney.com/subscribe/https://hermoney.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julia Boorstin, Senior Media & Tech Correspondent at CNBC and author of When Women Lead, dives into the evolving world of media and technology. She shares her journey from Princeton to Fortune, emphasizing the importance of a growth mindset in leadership. Julia advocates for embracing AI rather than fearing it, revealing its potential in journalism. She also discusses her research on women's leadership qualities and offers valuable advice for young professionals facing workplace biases.

In an engaging and revealing conversation, Bonnie Hammer opens up to Karen Finerman about her decades-long career in media: from “surviving” Barry Diller, to greenlighting “Suits” and overseeing a hugely successful portfolio of networks that prompted The New York Times to proclaim her the ”Queen of Cable TV.”   She recently wrapped up her time as vice chair at NBCUniversal and is set to take on a completely different adventure in her next role.     On this episode of How She Does It, Bonnie shares stories, strategies, and secrets behind her hard-won success, including the key skill she credits with her ability to navigate multiple mergers and leadership changes.  She’s the author of the best-selling book "15 Lies Women Are Told at Work: ...And the Truth We Need to Succeed," and is a sought-after mentor for women in the media industry. 💬 In this episode, we explore: The types of projects Bonnie’s new endeavor, Bonkars, will take on (hint: it may mean great news for your designer shoes!) Bonnie’s perspective on Versant, the future home to most of NBCUniversal’s cable networks Why she thinks “fake it ‘til you make it” is always the wrong move What Bonnie misses most (and what she does *not* miss) now that she is not attached to a big media company The story behind “Suits” and how Bonnie’s guidance impacted the hit show Why she believes it is critical to understand the difference between “professional value” and “personal value.”  Resources: Find out more about Bonnie Hammer, including her book 15 Lies Women Are Told at Work: ...And the Truth We Need to Succeed at www.Bonnie-Hammer.com Follow How She Does It on Instagram: @HSDIpodcast 💬 Enjoying the show? Follow How She Does It and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jennifer Weiner has a slew of bestselling novels to her name, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, Big Summer, and Mrs. Everything. The Breakaway and most recently, The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits. Her stories are filled with complex women and vital female relationships (think sisters, best friends, mothers & daughters, etc.). And she is on a mission to give her plus-sized protagonists “main character energy,” which includes plenty of romance - and never having them undergo some kind of redemptive, weight loss makeover.   On this episode of How She Does It, Jennifer shares with Karen Finerman her path to becoming a full-time author, her relationship with money (including why she never wants to be without money in the bank and what she did with her first big advance). Plus, she explains how the unfair scrutiny of young, famous women in the 1990s and early 2000s (like Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, and  Carnie Wilson) inspired The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits. 💬 In this episode, we explore: The influence of Toni Morrison on Jennifer’s writing Why Jennifer credits her career as a journalist for making her a better writer  Where Jennifer finds inspiration for her novels  The battles Jeninfer has fought with her publishers over her books’ cover images The cultural impact of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic on body positivity and acceptance  What Jennifer tells fellow authors when their books are optioned to be made into TV shows or movies  Resources: 🔗 Visit Jennifer’s website 📸  Follow Jennifer on Instagram 📸 Follow the show on Instagram: @hsdipodcast 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations from Season 1, Karen’s unforgettable sit-down with comedian and actress Leanne Morgan, who proves it’s never too late to chase a dream. Leanne’s career didn’t just bloom; it exploded in her late 50s. At 57, she went viral, landed a Netflix comedy special that racked up millions of views, and took the stage across the country. Since we first aired this episode, she’s been named to the Forbes 50 Over 50 list, starred in a film with Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell, and most recently launched her own Netflix sitcom, Leanne, produced by Chuck Lorre. In this candid and hilarious conversation, Leanne shares how she got her start selling jewelry at home parties — accidentally discovering she had the chops to make women laugh until they cried (or peed!), and how she carved her own path while raising three kids in small-town Tennessee. ✨ Topics Covered: The unlikely way Leanne discovered stand-up — during in-home jewelry sales parties Balancing comedy gigs with motherhood and midnight sets Why Leanne almost walked away from comedy in her 50s The big risk she took investing in social media (that changed everything) What Reese Witherspoon told her about finding success later in life How she keeps her sanity (and her eyelashes on) while touring three cities a weekend What happens when she forgets her jokes mid-show — and how the audience saves her The wisdom and humor she brings from generations of Southern storytellers 🔗 Resources & Links: 📲 Follow How She Does It on Instagram: @hsdipodcast👩‍💼 Learn more about Leanne Morgan and her tour at leannemorgan.com 📸 Follow Leanne on Instagram: @leannemorgancomedy👍 Follow Leanne on Facebook: Leanne Morgan Comedy🎧 New episodes drop every Tuesday. Hit “Follow” so you never miss a moment.💌 Join the HerMoney community: hermoney.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Gallego was in her mid-30s, and her life, on paper at least, seemed to be going perfectly: she was serving on the Phoenix city council, married to a congressman, and newly pregnant after having tried for some time. But within a matter of months, as she recalls, “ my life just fell upside down all at once.”   Her marriage broke up, and her mother was diagnosed with late-stage cancer.  Meanwhile, her dream job, the mayor of Phoenix, unexpectedly became available when the incumbent resigned to run for another office.  At first, she was convinced the timing wasn’t right. But with the encouragement of her supporters (and once her son started to sleep through the night), she came to understand that timing is never perfect, and sometimes you just need to jump at an opportunity.  She ran and won that special election in 2019 at the age of 37. Mayor Kate Gallego, now in her third and final term, shares with host Karen Finerman what she is doing to future-proof her city, her approach to raising her son (and what he’s taught her), and how her mother’s illness motivated her to work to make life better for residents of Phoenix.   💡 In this episode: Despite being a natural introvert, she’s learned to speak up and work a room  Why having an MBA has served her well as mayor What role Phoenix is playing to protect national security and help your smartphones run safely  How she juggles raising her son with her ex-husband, who is now a U.S. senator  The steps the city of Phoenix is taking to make the city more livable in the heat 🔗 Resources & Links: Follow How She Does It on Instagram Follow Mayor Kate Gallego on Instagram Follow Mayor Kate Gallego on LinkedIn 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re a Sex & The City fan, you know Lisa Todd Wexley (“LTW”), the stylish, accomplished New Yorker played by Nicole Ari Parker in And Just Like That. But here’s the real-life plot twist: Crystal McCrary McGuire — bestselling author, award-winning filmmaker, entrepreneur, and mom to NBA star Cole Anthony — inspired the character. Crystal joins host Karen Finerman to share how she left a top New York law firm to pursue a creative life, from penning New York Times bestsellers to producing groundbreaking documentaries. She opens up about raising a pro athlete, building a youth sports platform with Cole, and the discipline it takes to balance career, family, and passion projects. 💡 In this episode: "She Runs The World" - The Allyson Felix documentary on how the Olympian is changing the conversation on gender equality in sports The perks and challenges of running a business with Cole Anthony The daily practice she credits with transforming her into an artist The surprising way she learned about her “And Just Like That” connection The time management system that keeps her and husband Ray McGuire’s busy lives in sync 🔗 Resources & Links: Follow How She Does It on Instagram Follow Crystal McCrary McGuire on Instagram Info on the Game Up App  🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At 16, Pritika Swarup was planning to go into medicine. Then, on a family trip to Disney World, a modeling scout changed the course of her life. What followed was a whirlwind career walking runways, starring in global campaigns for Fenty Beauty, Ralph Lauren, and Athleta, and building an Instagram following of 1.2 million. But even as her career soared, Pritika stayed focused on school, graduating from Columbia University with a degree in financial economics. Now, she’s the founder and CEO of Prakti Beauty, a line of Ayurvedic-inspired skincare products grounded in the wellness traditions of her Indian heritage. On this episode of How She Does It, Pritika opens up to Karen Finerman about the pressure to be perfect, what she’s learned from building a business, and how she’s grown into a more collaborative (and less self-critical) leader. 💬 In this episode, we explore: Why she ditched traditional to-do lists for something way more effective What she hopes to build with her recent signing to CAA Her hardest lessons as a first-time founder The surprising parallels between fashion and finance And yes, her red carpet beauty routine—start to finish! Resources: Check out Prakti Beauty: www.praktibeauty.com Follow Prakti on Instagram: @praktibeauty Follow Pritika: @pritikaswarup 💬 Enjoying the show? Follow How She Does It and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paris Hilton may have started as a reality star and tabloid fixture, but today she’s a powerhouse entrepreneur with one ambitious goal: to build a next-gen "Disney.” And at the center of that mission is Rachel Webber, Chief Commercial & Brand Officer of Paris Hilton's 11:11 Media. In this candid and energizing conversation, How She Does It host Karen Finerman sits down with Rachel to talk about her unconventional path—from writing term papers on Ally McBeal to running the digital team at Nat Geo, reinventing Playboy, and now shaping the future of pop culture through Paris Hilton’s media empire. Rachel brings decades of experience building iconic global brands, and now she’s leveraging that to lead a multi-platform content, commerce, and community business powered by one of the world’s most recognizable names. 💡 Topics covered: How a Kara Swisher podcast changed Rachel’s life Why Paris Hilton is nothing like the character she played on The Simple Life The story behind Rachel’s pivot from Nat Geo to Playboy Why Rachel prefers OKRs to “hustle culture” 🔗 Resources & Links: 📲 Follow How She Does It on Instagram: @hsdipodcast 👩‍💼 Rachel Webber on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/webberrachel 🌟 11:11 Media on LinkedIn: 1111 Media 📸 11:11 Media on Instagram: @11.11media 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I’d rather fail as a writer than succeed as a lawyer,” says bestselling author Gretchen Rubin — a realization that struck while she was clerking for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. In this deeply honest and often humorous episode of How She Does It, Gretchen shares how chasing what she was truly interested in — power, money, fame, and sex — unexpectedly opened the door to a successful writing career. Host Karen Finerman sits down with Gretchen to explore the winding path that led to The Happiness Project, a book that launched a movement and transformed Gretchen’s life. With over 3.5 million copies sold and 11 books published, Gretchen reflects on what success has really meant for her happiness, how she copes with life’s irritations, and why abstaining from sugar works better for her than moderation. In this episode, Gretchen and Karen discuss: ✨ Why Gretchen left law for writing — and how she knew it was time 📘 The surprising ups and downs behind The Happiness Project 🧠 Why meditation isn’t for everyone (and that’s OK!) 🎯 The power of “choosing the bigger life” when making tough decisions 🥂 Why saving things “for a special occasion” might actually be wasting them 💪 The value of loving the drudgery in meaningful work 🍫 Abstinence vs. moderation — and how it plays out in daily life 📚 Plus: their favorite aphorisms from Gretchen’s new book, Secrets of Adulthood Resources & More: 🔗 Visit Gretchen’s website 🎧 Listen to the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast 📸 Follow the show on Instagram: @hsdipodcast 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode.\ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices