How She Does It

Whether it’s brunch with your crew, a romantic anniversary dinner, or a buzzy new opening downtown, chances are you’ve tapped OpenTable to lock in that perfect reservation. This week on How She Does It, host Karen Finerman sits down with the woman behind the platform that seats 1.8 billion diners a year: OpenTable CEO Debby Soo. In a wide-ranging and refreshingly candid conversation, Debby opens up about everything from navigating corporate leadership during a pandemic to what drives her relentless ambition. (Hint: It’s not just about power—it’s about freedom.) 🎧 Listen in as Debby shares: How growing up the only child of immigrants shaped her, including learning how to code-switch and work harder than anyone else in the room.  The clever way she landed the CEO gig at OpenTable Why she struggled in her early days in banking, and how she overcame it How her approach to fixing problems has changed now that she’s a CEO The game-changing advice from her executive coach that reshaped her leadership The funny moment from the first date with her now-husband when she knew he was the one What she told her 6-year-old after he bragged, “Both my parents are CEOs.”  And yes—how to actually score that impossible reservation 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode. Resources: Follow How She Does It on Instagram: ⁠@hsdipodcast⁠ Follow Debby Soo on Instagram and LinkedIn Keep up with the latest on OpenTable via Instagram and TikTok Explore great restaurants on OpenTable online and the app. … Does more financial confidence sound good to you, then you might want to try:  🚀 ⁠FinanceFixx⁠ – HerMoney’s 4 or 8-week Money Makeover financial coaching program that will help you get your finances on track!  📈 ⁠InvestingFixx⁠ – HerMoney’s investing club for women who are ready to learn market lingo, and grow their wealth. Your first month with us is completely free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re kicking off Season 2 of How She Does It with a powerhouse first guest: none other than Jenna Bush Hager, co-host of TODAY’s fourth hour, bestselling author, and founder of the new production company and publishing imprint, ⁠Thousand Voices⁠. For nearly six years, Jenna and Hoda Kotb brought laughter, honesty, and heart to morning television. But when Hoda announced she was leaving the show, Jenna was suddenly faced with a major transition: stepping forward as the show’s solo anchor and leading an entirely new chapter — Jenna & Friends. Since then, she’s shared the screen with 50 different guest co-hosts (yes, 50!) while continuing to connect with audiences through joy, spontaneity, and total transparency. In this candid and unfiltered conversation, Jenna opens up about: The emotional moment Hoda told her she was leaving, how they said goodbye, and the generous way Hoda helped Jenna before she left What it’s like “dating” 50 different co-hosts on live TV Launching her production company and publishing imprint, Thousand Voices Her secret for reading so many books every week Her leadership style, learning to say “no,” and why you should always take the meeting How she and her husband Henry balance work, parenting, and privacy It’s the perfect conversation to kick off this season’s journey into how bold, brilliant women manage the messy, magical balance of work, life, and ambition. Resources: 📌 Follow How She Does It on Instagram: ⁠@hsdipodcast⁠ 📚 ⁠Conform by Ariel Sullivan⁠ hits shelves Fall 2025. 📌 Follow Jenna on Instagram:⁠ @JennaBHager⁠ 📺 Follow ⁠@JennaandFriends⁠ and ⁠@ReadWithJenna⁠ 🌐 Learn more at⁠ ThousandVoices.com⁠ 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss a story. … Does more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try:  🚀 ⁠FinanceFixx⁠ – HerMoney’s 4 or 8-week Money Makeover financial coaching program that will help you get your finances on track!  📈 ⁠InvestingFixx⁠ – HerMoney’s investing club for women who are ready to learn market lingo, and grow their wealth. Your first month with us is completely free!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time for another great season of How She Does It with Karen Finerman, full of insightful conversations with a diverse group of women leaders.  Each week, Karen brings her perspective as a CEO and mother of four (and not to mention, a big WNBA fan) to these discussions about women, money, and power.   We’ll hear from influential women across business, entertainment, and sports, who share their own triumphs and challenges.  You will come away from these episodes with insights and encouragement about how to navigate your own personal and professional life (and who doesn’t need that?)   Guests for the new season include: Jenna Bush Hager - TODAY Host & Founder, Thousand Voices Debby Soo - CEO, OpenTable Gretchen Rubin - NY Times Bestselling Author & Podcast Host Pritika Swarup - Model and Founder & CEO, Pratki Beauty And more! The new season starts on July 8th.  Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share your favorite episodes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Karen Finerman, longtime Wall Street investor, mom of four, and familiar face on CNBC, returns with another inspiring season of conversations spotlighting extraordinary women at the top of their fields. 💬 This season, Karen sits down with powerhouse guests, including: Jenna Bush Hager - TODAY Host & Founder, Thousand Voices Debby Soo - CEO, OpenTable Gretchen Rubin - NY Times Bestselling Author & Podcast Host Pritika Swarup - Model and Founder & CEO, Pratki Beauty Expect candid conversations about ambition, leadership, money, and what power really looks like when women own it. 📅 First episode drops July 8 — don’t miss it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s no secret that women’s basketball is exploding in popularity. The WNBA had a record-breaking season last year, which was also its most-watched season in over two decades. Now as some of those college stars (like Caitlin Clark) graduate from college and move on, the WNBA is hoping to build on their momentum. One of the women we can thank for that momentum is Clara Wu Tsai. She bought the New York Liberty basketball team in 2019 with her husband Joe Tsai, and immediately made profound changes to turn it around. Her goals for this year? To win a championship, and show that women's professional sports can be profitable.This will be our final episode of Season 1. We’re so thankful you joined us for the first season of “How She Does It,” and we can’t wait to see you again later this year! Join us! Snag all the latest episodes, savvy budgeting tips, investing advice and even giveaways via the HerMoney Newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!Chapters:00:00 Background and Values04:58 Academic Journey and Career Path11:01 Becoming the Owner of the New York Liberty15:49 Success and Goals for the New York Liberty22:04 Promoting Social Justice through the Social Justice Fund25:56 Studying Peak Performance in Elite Athletes with the Wu Tsai Performance AllianceTakeaways: As the owner of the New York Liberty basketball team, Clara revitalized the team by moving them back to New York City and investing in player health and care. The team's success and their goal of increasing viewership for women's professional sports demonstrate the potential profitability of women's sports. Clara and her husband, Joe Tsai, divide and conquer the responsibilities of running the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty. Clara is involved in social justice initiatives, including the Social Justice Fund, which supports economic mobility and racial justice in Brooklyn. Clara also leads the Wu Tsai Performance Alliance, which studies peak performance in elite athletes, with a focus on female athletes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women across all industries need more female mentors and role models, and perhaps nowhere is that more imperative than in the field of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). When we have more women in STEM, there’s a ripple effect — scientific and financial outcomes for women are improved across the board. The good news is that more women than ever are choosing career paths in the field. Paola Arlotta, a neurobiologist and stem cell scientist at Harvard University, is one of the women paving the way for other female scientists. She's showing that it’s possible to run a lab and raise a family at the same time, and this week she shares insight into her career and her work.Takeaways: Brain organoids are tiny pieces of brain tissue that are made in a lab from stem cells. They can be used to study the development of the human brain and understand neurological diseases. Brain organoids have the potential to revolutionize drug development and personalized medicine.  There are many different ways to be successful in science, and it's important to find your own path. Having diverse role models is crucial for inspiring and empowering women in science. Balancing a career in science with family life requires support and collaboration. Advancements in technology and data analysis will lead to a leap forward in drug development and disease understanding. Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:33 - Paolo Arlotta's Background and Decision to Pursue Science00:06:24 - The Process and Significance of Creating Brain Organoids00:10:25 - The Potential of Brain Organoids in Understanding and Treating Diseases00:22:01 - Women in Science00:28:12 - Challenges of Balancing Career and Family00:31:01 - Role Models and Mentorship00:34:52 - Lightning Round QuestionsJoin us! Snag all the latest episodes, savvy budgeting tips, investing advice, and even giveaways via the HerMoney Newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to research by Deloitte, the number of women who reach the highest level of leadership in financial services is on the rise, with women holding 18% of financial C-suite positions globally. But the research also says that number is climbing slowly — without a more concerted effort, women financial leaders may not even reach 25% by 2031.Lindsay Hans, President and Co-head of Merrill Wealth Management, is working to change that. In her role, she’s committed to lowering the barrier to entry for women financial advisors — including being a strong advocate for their new training program which is more attractive to female advisors who may not have a pre-existing network of wealthy connections.Takeaways:  Historical reasons, such as wealth distribution and demographics, have contributed to the underrepresentation of women in the financial services industry.  The presence of women in leadership roles in the financial services industry is slow but increasing Younger women are increasingly knowledgeable and comfortable with financial decisions. There is a preference for financial advisors of the same sex, but it varies on a case-by-case basis. Chapters:00:00 - Introduction06:51 - Lindsay Hans Career Advancement16:20 - Initiatives to Support Women Financial Advisors20:40 - Advisors and Client Relationships25:58 - Challenges in Attracting Women to Financial Advisory Role30:15 - ConclusionMore money news when you need it! Get the latest and greatest updates on all things investing, budgeting and making money. Subscribe to the HerMoney newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Making the decision to have kids is one of the biggest decisions a woman can make in her life, and increasingly, women (and men) are not waiting until they find the right person to have kids with — they’re walking the journey on their own. With a wide array of options from sperm and egg donors to surrogacy or adoption, there are more options than ever for those choosing the journey into parenthood. When Leigh Gallagher, Senior Managing Director at Teneo, was in her early 40s, she decided she was done waiting for the “dating gods” and made the choice to have a child on her own. She says that while she’s famously bad at making decisions, this was actually the easiest one she’s ever made. Listen in to hear details on how she chose a sperm donor, how she’s built a village of childcare to support her, and why her daughter knows that above all, they are always a team. Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:05:02 - Decision to Have a Baby00:11:31 - Pregnancy and Preparing for Parenthood00:13:46 - Choices as a Single Parent00:14:21 - Life Changes After Having Her Daughter00:17:06 - Challenges of Single Parenthood00:18:58 - Destiny and Parenthood00:21:31 - Advice for Prospective Single Parents and Current Parents00:24:09 - Lightning RoundTakeaways: Making the decision to become a single mother by choice can be empowering and fulfilling. Having a strong support system, such as a nanny or trusted babysitters is crucial.  The process of fertility treatments and choosing a sperm donor can be challenging but ultimately rewarding. Transparency is key when talking to children about their unique family structure. For those considering becoming single parents, it's important to talk to others who have gone through the same experience and to think about the long-term impact of the decision. Despite the challenges, being a single parent can bring immense joy and fulfillment. Join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women’s ability to access high-quality, affordable, healthcare is a huge issue. From conception to asking questions about IVF and egg freezing, to our peri and postmenopausal life stages, we need easy access to specialized care for a lifetime. That’s exactly why Kate Ryder created Maven Clinic, a comprehensive 24/7 virtual platform that offers support and referrals related to fertility and family planning, pregnancy, postpartum health, adoption, surrogacy, parenting, and menopause. Kate details how she went from journalist to startup founder, and how Maven provides straightforward access to care for women at all life stages. Takeaways: Increasing access to affordable fertility care is crucial for women's health. Maven Clinic provides comprehensive support and referrals for various stages of women's health. The need for more women in the healthcare industry and venture capital The impact of recent IVF restrictions in Alabama on patients and clinics. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and the Importance of Access to Fertility Care06:52 The Origin Story of Maven Clinic14:43 Expanding Services to Support Conception and Menopause26:53 The Unprecedented Situation in Alabama28:17 The Need for Comprehensive Women's Health ServicesJoin the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re always so impressed when we hear about female founders who can turn a product they start making in their homes into a multi-million dollar business. So, how did they do it? Did they always dream of starting something bigger or did it take time for them to realize that their humble idea could really scale? And do the skills it takes to run a small business translate to running one with many employees, where the day-to-day tasks are wildly different?Starr Edwards is one of those founders. In 2010, she was looking for creative ways to provide for her young family, and with just $200 and a used Vitamix, she started selling her dips, with a clever name – Bitchin' Sauce. After starting with small sales at the San Diego Farmers Market, today the company is a $50 million dollar business, and their vegan almond dip is sold everywhere from Costo to Whole Foods. Edwards shares how she scaled her company while raising a family of five, and what she learned when she shipped the sauce to Colorado (hint: it got messy!)Takeaways: Starting small and scaling organically can lead to significant growth over time. Learning from peers and industry experts can be invaluable in navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. Maintaining a personal connection to the brand and product can drive passion and success. Providing childcare as a benefit can have a significant positive impact on employees and the company as a whole. Finding the right fit for team members and harnessing their talents can lead to greater fulfillment and value for the company. Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction and Background00:03:29 - Scaling Production from Home Kitchen to Manufacturing00:04:32 - Getting into Whole Foods and Challenges with Distribution00:09:20 - Balancing Family Life and Business Growth00:11:10 - Learning from Peers and Avoiding Mistakes00:18:18 - Benefits of on-site Childcare00:21:32 - Future Aspirations00:23:55 - Hiring Strategy and Building a TeamMore money news when you need it! Get the latest and greatest updates on all things investing, budgeting and making money. Subscribe to the HerMoney newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices