Skimm'd From The Couch

Rebecca Jarvis grew up with two passions: journalism and econ. As a teenager, she was even a reporter for a local kids’ program in Minnesota. But after college, Rebecca decided to go into finance. Years later, she got back to journalism. Today, she’s the Chief Business, Tech, and Economics Correspondent at ABC News. On the couch, she talks to us about the time she was on “The Apprentice”, how she made the switch from finance to journalism, and what she looks for in candidates now. PS: Rebecca has her own podcast, No Limits with Rebecca Jarvis, where she interviews female entrepreneurs about what it takes to build their business empires. After this episode, check it out -- because Rebecca’s interviewing US this week. 

If you like hearing from us once a week, how about audio from theSkimm every day? Our daily news podcast, ‘Skimm This,’ launches on Monday. Every weekday, we’re breaking down the most important stories of the day and explaining why they matter. Search ‘Skimm This’ and subscribe. You won’t want to miss it.

You might’ve noticed that we’ve been talking about money lately at theSkimm. A big part of money 101: knowing how to negotiate. Peggy Johnson’s an expert. She’s the EVP of business development at Microsoft. Translation: she drives strategic partnerships for the company … and negotiates. A lot. Peggy’s been running the show since 2014. She’s an avid runner, and she’s been known to carry out negotiations with sneakers on. While running. Before Microsoft, she spent almost 25 years working her way up the ladder at Qualcomm. On the couch, she talks to us about maintaining business relationships, standing out as an introvert, and playing to her strengths at the negotiation table.

Anu Duggal and Sutian Dong are the partners of Female Founders Fund, where they invest in tech companies started by women. Anu began her career as an entrepreneur -- including starting India’s first wine bar, and an e-commerce company. Sutian came from the investing side of things. In 2014, Anu decided to launch Female Founders Fund. A couple years later, she brought Sutian on as a partner. Together, they’ve invested in companies like Thrive Global and Rent the Runway. On the Couch, they talk to us about what makes a great cold email, the companies in their shadow portfolios, and why they’re so focused on building communities for female founders.

Valentine’s Day is coming up. And Amber Venz Box knows a thing or two about making relationships work … at work. She’s the president of RewardStyle -- the company she founded with her then-boyfriend, now-husband Baxter. Amber started out as a personal shopper. But she realized that people were buying the products she recommended on her blog on their own … and cutting her out of a commission. So in 2011, Amber and Baxter started RewardStyle. It connects brands and influencers so both sides can benefit. In 2017, they drove over a billion dollars in sales. And launched their app, which attracted a million users in just 9 months. But building her company hasn’t been easy. On the Couch, she talks to us about being an introverted leader, how to network, and what it’s like to build a business with your SO. 

New York Fashion Week kicks off this week. So we sat down with Rebecca Minkoff -- the co-founder and creative director of, you guessed it, Rebecca Minkoff, LLC. That’s the fashion brand she started in 2005 with her brother. Since then, their company has been a leader in shaping the future of fashion: Rebecca Minkoff was one of the first fashion brands to engage with their customers through social media and influencers. But she hasn’t stopped there. In 2018, Rebecca launched the Female Founder Collective to support and invest in women-led businesses. At this LIVE power breakfast, she talks to us about taking risks, going to couples therapy with her brother-slash-cofounder, and supporting other women in the workplace.

Arielle Charnas is the super influencer behind the style blog-turned-brand Something Navy. Arielle started the blog in 2009, when she was just 22 years old. And since then, she’s gained a following of more than a million people. Last year, she launched her brand with Nordstrom… which was so popular that it crashed the site. Now, she’s rolling out more and more collections with the retailer. On the couch, she talks to us about being her own boss, choosing the right opportunities, and building a team.

New Year...new Skimm’d from the Couch. We’re starting off the year with the queen of motivation, Jillian Michaels. You might remember Jillian from her role as a trainer on the hit NBC show, “The Biggest Loser,” or from her fitness DVDs. But you might not know that she also built a wellness empire, including an exercise streaming platform, and her award-winning fitness app. Jillian’s also a best-selling author, with a brand-new book out: “The 6 Keys: Unlock Your Genetic Potential for Ageless Strength, Health, and Beauty.” On the couch, she talks to us about how she motivates herself, leading by example, and making long-term resolutions...that you can actually keep. Get ready to be inspired.

When Alexa von Tobel graduated college, she still had a lot of q’s about how to manage her cash. So she did what anyone would: wrote a 75-page business plan. And took it to Harvard Business School. Casual. But within a semester, she decided to drop out and start her business for real. Enter: LearnVest, the company that makes financial resources more accessible for everyone. In 2015, LearnVest was acquired by Northwestern Mutual. And now, Alexa has responsibilities at both companies. On the couch, she talks to us about dropping out of business school, why she has two executive coaches, and going through an acquisition...while 9 months pregnant.

Samantha Barry grew up in Ireland. And she always knew news was the path for her. Sam started out her career as a researcher, and then became an international reporter. Her reporting took her around the world, where she started to see the power of social media. She took that realization and went on to help major news organizations build out their social media presences. We’re talking huge names like BBC and CNN. Now, she’s the editor in chief of Glamour. Anna Wintour has called her Glamour’s first digital-native editor...so it’s no surprise that Sam’s taking the magazine entirely online. On the couch, she talks to us about being fearless, making changes at an established company, and the three ways she negotiates for herself.

Our guest this week is the one and only Martha Stewart. Growing up, she had a knack for all things lifestyle: cooking, gardening and sewing. But after college, she decided to follow a different path. To Wall Street. Martha eventually took the business skills she learned there...and used them to build an empire of her own. There have been bumps along the way. But now, she’s the Chief Creative Officer of Sequential Brands Group, where she oversees everything from the Martha Stewart Living Magazine to her cooking show with Snoop Dogg. We had a lot of questions, too. On the couch, she talks to us about her very first side hustle, how she got her company started, and what she’s like as a manager.

Beth Comstock is the first female vice chair of GE. But before that, she built a career in communications at companies like CBS, CNN, and NBCUniversal. At NBC, Beth helped launch one of your favorite binge-ing sites: Hulu. And she kept working her way up the ranks. All the way to becoming the first female Vice Chair of GE. Most recently -- Beth wrote a book about courage, creativity, and making change. It’s called “Imagine it Forward.” On the couch, she talks to us about what a vice chair actually is, why she took the job nobody else wanted, and what it means to be an introverted leader.

Lauren Bush Lauren has diplomacy in her blood. Former President George HW Bush is her grandfather, and President George W Bush is her uncle. But Lauren has built a legacy all her own. She’s the CEO and co-founder of FEED Projects, the company that sells products like bags and accessories...and uses the sales to help distribute food all around the world. Lauren came up with the idea in college while working with the UN. Flash forward a few years, and FEED has donated more than 100 million meals to people in need. On the couch, Lauren talks to us about asking for advice, taking maternity leave, and starting a company -- without any other job experience.

We're baaaack. With vino. And Barbara Corcoran. You know Barbara as one of the sharks on “Shark Tank.” But the show is just one part of her story. After college, Barbara took a job as a teacher. She quit after a year and moved on to waitressing. A little while after that, she started her own real estate business...and turned it into a multi-million dollar empire. She sold it in the early 2000s. Since then, she’s been using her money to help other entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground at "Shark Tank," and on her own podcast, “Business Unusual.” On the couch, she talks to us about the 22 jobs she had by age 23, the loan that helped her make it big, and how to negotiate.

Midterm elections are in T minus 6 days. Politicians are trying to convince you to hire them. And behind every politician...is a communications director helping them get the word out. So we brought in two of them to talk to us about how they do their jobs -- and how they made it to the top of the political game. Episode 2: Jennifer Palmieri. Jennifer has a long history in politics, starting when she interned for then-Senator Leon Panetta (D-CA) in college (Panetta was later President Bill Clinton’s chief of staff). Later, Jennifer got into the White House herself. And she became President Barack Obama’s communications director. After that, she was the head of comms for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Now she’s also an author. Her new book is all about stories and advice for the next generation of female leaders. On the couch, she talks to us about crying at work, supporting her female colleagues, and managing up...when your boss is the president.

Midterm elections are in T minus 6 days. Politicians are trying to convince you to hire them. And behind every politician...is a communications director helping them get the word out. So we brought in two of them to talk to us about how they do their jobs -- and how they made it to the top of the political game. Episode 1: AshLee Strong. AshLee has worked in communications roles all over Washington, from the House of Representatives, to the Senate, to the White House. She was even the senior communications director for Governor Scott Walker’s (R-WI) 2016 presidential run. These days, she’s the national press secretary for one of the most powerful Republicans in the country: House Speaker Paul Ryan. On the couch, she talks to us about what a comms director actually is, how she created a network in Washington, and what it’s like to disagree with your boss...when he’s the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

When Sylvia Acevedo was 7 years old, she was a Girl Scout. One night, her troop leader caught her looking up at the stars...and encouraged her to pursue that interest. Sylvia took that advice. And became a rocket scientist at NASA right out of college. Eventually, she switched tracks and went down the business-leadership path. She’s been a leader at companies like Dell, Apple, and IBM, and she even worked for the White House. But since 2016, Sylvia has been the CEO of Girl Scouts, where she’s helped build out the Scouts’ alumni network, and introduced new badges and programming around STEM. And yes, she’s earned her science badge along the way. On the couch, she talks to us about being a servant leader, investing in herself, and being persistent...at cookie sales and beyond.

Katie Couric is one of the most recognized faces in journalism today. You’re probably one of the millions of people who have tuned in to one of Katie’s shows over the years, whether that was “Getting There” with us at theSkimm, the TODAY Show, or the CBS Evening News. Which -- by the way -- made her the first solo female anchor of a major nightly news broadcast. But that’s not where her story starts: Katie started out by interning at local news stations in high school. And after college, she worked as a desk assistant. The rest is history. On the couch, she talks to us about her most memorable interviews, being persistent, and getting told she’d never make it on air.

Tory Burch is the founder, chairman, and CEO of … Tory Burch. You know her as the woman (and the name) behind so many of your favorite clothes. But way before she created those iconic Reva flats, she built a career in fashion PR, working for designers like Ralph Lauren and Vera Wang. Tory eventually made the switch from PR… to designing her own clothes, and running her own business. That was 2004. These days, her clothes are sold in more than 250 Tory Burch stores and over 3,000 department and specialty stores around the world. In 2009, she launched the Tory Burch Foundation to help empower female entrepreneurs. And now, she’s got a brand new initiative to help get out the vote. On the couch, she talks to us about how to negotiate, her Oprah moment, and taking negative feedback when your brand is your name. 

You might know Taraji P Henson as Cookie on “Empire,” or from her roles in movies like “Hustle and Flow” and “Hidden Figures.” But you might not know the rest of Taraji’s story. She’s always wanted to be an actor. But she didn’t take her passion seriously until she flunked out of precalculus in college. After school, she moved to Los Angeles to chase her dreams -- with just $700 in her pocket. And she made it happen. Now, Taraji’s using her voice to create change in a new way. She started the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to tackle the stigma around mental health in the African American community. On the couch, she talks to us about rejection, not giving into fear, and what it’s like to negotiate in a quickly-changing Hollywood.