Skimm'd From The Couch

When you look at Beth Ford’s resume, you probably didn’t know the Land O’ Lakes CEO started out detasseling corn for $2 an hour and cleaning toilets as a janitor. And Beth told us she wouldn’t have ever become CEO without those jobs. Because being successful in business comes from learning about people – and celebrating wins at every level.  In this episode, Beth shares: The string of odd jobs she did to get by as one of eight children in Iowa How taking the job in the field helped her learn about business and people Why she decided to grow her career laterally instead of vertically in her early career The importance of asking for feedback regularly, and why it’s a gift Why humility is key to being a good leader

After a 30-year-career in law enforcement, Victoria Eady Butler did what most people do. She retired. But just days into relaxing and investing in new hobbies, she kicked retirement to the curb. And instead, opted for the chance to learn about what she says is in her blood: whiskey blending, at Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey.  In this episode, Victoria shares: Her favorite cocktail (hint: it includes Uncle Nearest whiskey) How she started her career over after 30 years How she connects to her great-great grandfather through her own whiskey blending What it’s like being part of an all woman executive team in the spirits industry Why her awards and accolades matter, but why being open to learning matters more

As a kid, Eva Longoria dreamed of being a professional volunteer one day. Her mother’s response? That’s not a job, sweetie. Instead, she was a Texas pageant queen, became a headhunter, and moved to LA. And despite knowing no one in Hollywood when she first arrived, Eva became a household name for her role in “Desperate Housewives.” Now, Eva’s defied expectations again and expanded her resume to include: humanitarian and parent.  In this episode, Eva shares: How her special needs sister taught her the importance of being in service to others What it was like to become a household name in her 30s How her Mexican-American roots shaped her activism Why she feels lucky to have had her son later in life A Skimm of her new podcast, “Connections with Eva Longoria”

When Fidji Simo was an exec at Facebook, she discovered she had a chronic health condition. That meant: taking meetings from her bed, fainting at work, and awkward conversations with her bosses. That experience taught Fidji how to be a leader while taking care of herself and putting her health first. A lesson she now brings to her team at Instacart, where she’s the CEO.  In this episode, Fidji shares:  The must-have in her weekly Instacart order (hint: it’s a sweet treat) Why being a woman in a male-dominated industry is actually an advantage How she integrates work and life instead of separating them  Why sponsorship means more than mentorship in work relationships How opening up about her chronic condition made her leadership stronger

Cindy Eckert co-founded the company Sprout Pharmaceuticals, which created the first FDA approved drug for low sexual desire in women (read: female viagra). In a made-for-TV twist, she sold the company for $1 billion… but then, had to take the company back. Intrigued yet? Same. Now, Cindy’s the founder of the investment and management firm, The Pinkubator, with the goal of making other women “really f***ing rich.” Talk about a mission we can get behind.  In this episode, Cindy shares:  How to rethink the classic career ladder Who inspired her to keep fighting for women’s health, in spite of FDA pushback How she got her company back – for free  Why securing funding is not the golden ticket to entrepreneurial success How one simple interview question can tell you a lot about a candidate

Every weekend growing up, Christine watched her mom and grandma go to the Korean bathhouses, rubbing things like tea and spoiled milk on their skin. And she’s been hooked on skincare ever since. Now, she’s the co-founder and co-CEO of the skincare brand, Glow Recipe. But before leading this new venture, she actually worked her way up the corporate ladder at L’Oreal. In this episode, Christine gives her advice on how to make the jump from corporate to startup, and what she learned at her desk job that she still uses today.  In this episode, Christine shares:  How she learned to lean on colleagues and mentors How having a co-founder eases the growing pains of a new business How her corporate experience helped in the startup mindset Why she and her co-founder turned down an offer from Shark Tank investors The important role that emerging technology like TikTok has played in her business

Before Rathi Srinivas became the co-founder and CTO of Droplette, she got her PhD in chemical engineering from MIT. NBD. And now, she’s developed an award-winning skincare device that’s grounded in science and backed by NASA. This week, Rathi joined us to share how she thinks about making stuff that’s never been made before – that can have a real difference for women everywhere. In this episode, Rathi shares:  The differences between traditional fundraising and scientific grants What it’s like to start a business with a friend How becoming a mom changed her career 

It’s no secret that more diversity is needed in the investing world. So as an immigrant woman of color, Gargi Pal Chaudhuri didn’t see a lot of people who looked like her or understood her background when she first stepped onto the trading floor two decades ago. Since then, she’s climbed the ranks, broadened her network, and become the Head of iShares Investment Strategy, Americas at BlackRock. Tune in for her advice on how to find the best mentors possible as you build your career.  In this episode, Gargi shares:  How to start looking for a mentor The secrets to developing a mentor-mentee relationship The one piece of advice she gives her mentees now (hint: invest)  

The day before Melissa Ben-Ishay started her famous cupcake business Baked by Melissa, she actually got fired from her job. But she’s proof that your worst moments can lead to some of your best. This week, we spoke to Melissa about how she found her confidence as she was getting started, and how she learned to embrace obstacles.   In this episode, Melissa shares… Her decision-making tactics  Her advice for people who lose their jobs How she got over her fear of cold-outreach Why the past two years were the hardest in her career The quality she looks for most when hiring 

Robin Roberts has been in the anchor chair at “Good Morning America” for over 15 years. And while she’s covered some of the biggest news events of our time, she’s also gone through her own off-camera battles. This week, Robin told us why she decided to share her most personal struggles with millions of people – and how to make your own vulnerability your superpower at work.  In this episode, Robin shares:  Why she pivoted from sports into news  How she exercises her “optimism muscle” How she reframes obstacles and learns from them Why vulnerability is her strength at work  How she mentors and supports her colleagues   

Scarlett Johansson is one of the highest-paid actors in the world, and has starred in some of the highest-grossing movies of all time. But those career defining moments didn’t come easy. She’s had to reframe rejection, say “yes” without looking back, and fight against toxic behavior in the entertainment industry. This week, we’ll ask Scarlett how she had perspective even in the toughest moments — including not getting the original call to be Black Widow — and why she recently took the leap to start her own skincare business. PS: theSkimm’s listeners can get 15% off the Outset products with the code SKIMM15. Valid from 4/13 until 4/20.  In this episode, Scarlett shares:  How she’s dealt with rejection in her career Why she decided to pivot and start her own business How she’s made a career out of being someone’s “second choice” and how she kept an open mind How she handled being pigeonholed into certain roles 

When Michelle Kelly started at Lilly Pulitzer in 2004, her business card read “Major Stores Development Manager.” Now, it says “CEO.” Kelly has held 8 different titles across at least 4 different departments at the company — from retail, to merchandising, marketing, to e-commerce. So in this episode, we chat with Michelle about the art of the pivot. Started from the bottom, now we here.  In this episode, Michelle shares:  How she got her bosses to let her switch departments How to tell your boss you want to try something new What it was like to take on growth roles and “start over” on new teams What it’s like to manage your friends and peers  How she thinks about balancing trying new things and moving up the ladder

This week, we’re thinking about careers like recipes. And it’s not just because we’re talking to Dawn Davis, the editor-in-chief of “Bon Appétit.” For Dawn, every experience she had – from working in finance to founding her own publishing imprint – was an essential ingredient that prepared her to run the famous food mag. And this week, we’re talking to Dawn about how to experiment with your own career recipe.  In this episode, Dawn shares:  How she made the decision to leave finance  Why she left an imprint she started to work for a legacy brand  How she gives feedback to her authors and writers How she is building a safe and inclusive work culture at “Bon Appétit”

Even though Lorna Kapusta is head of women investors and customer relations at Fidelity, she wasn’t always so confident talking about her own finances. But that started to change about seven years ago when she realized: she needed to be in the driver’s seat when it came to her money. This week, Lorna shares her own journey– and gives advice on how to start taking control, from investing to having tough money conversations.  In this episode, Lorna shares:  How to start having conversations about money with your partner or friends How to begin your journey towards financial literacy Investing 101  What makes women strong investors  Her #1 money tip 

When Radhika Jones took over Vanity Fair as editor-in-chief, she succeeded a man who had been in the job for 25 years. And taking over a legacy like that isn’t easy — whether you’re EIC or managing a new team at work. You have to explain your vision, win over people who might not agree, learn people’s work styles...all on top of doing your actual job. This week, we asked Radhika how she navigated those early days at VF, and what she wants her legacy to be at the publication.  In this episode, Radhika shares:  How she learned how to run a business meeting — by working with college kids in the classroom  How she explained her vision to VF staffers When she knew her leadership style was working How to navigate working on a new team 

Working for Fawn Weaver isn’t your typical 9 to 5. The founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey operates her business like a family. Think: not just one-on-ones or status meetings, but 24/7 support for employees. So how did she build a company like that? She sought out people who had similar values and fit with her leadership style. And she spent a lot of time on the hiring process.  In this episode, Fawn shares.  How she found her leadership style – and learned to stop people-pleasing Her go-to interview question to determine if someone’s a fit for Uncle Nearest  Why she won’t hire anyone based off a Zoom interview anymore  How she tells an employee they aren’t the best fit for her team  Why a “family” environment doesn’t work for all employees

When Laurie Segall first started at CNN as a journalist, she was basically working in the equivalent of “Scriberia” from “Inventing Anna.” But instead of getting discouraged, Laurie used that opportunity to build out CNN’s tech coverage, and created a new role at the company in the process. And she ultimately became CNN’s senior technology correspondent. This week, Laurie shares how she used her different jobs - good and bad - as stepping stones to work towards the career she wanted. Now, Laurie’s her own boss, as the founder and CEO of Dot Dot Dot, a media venture exploring technology through the human lens. In this episode, Laurie shares:  How she turned disappointment into motivation  How she networked her way into major interviews with tech CEOs  Why every job (even the bad ones) can get you closer to your career goals Why she decided to leave CNN and start her own company

Ever worn a really uncomfortable bra and thought “Who even invented this?” Michelle Cordeiro Grant was one of those people. She worked for major lingerie and underwear brands before starting her own, Lively, after she saw how other brands didn’t put their customer - or comfort - first. And it turns out: flipping the script worked. Lively sold out of inventory in its first two weeks. And in 2019, Lively was acquired for a casual $105 million dollars. This week, we talked to Michelle about how to listen to your customers.  In this episode, Michelle shares:  Her philosophy on marketing How to connect with customers How to make yourself be more extroverted in business How to learn on the fly 

Anne Wojcicki always followed her interests. From sneaking into figure skating rinks as a kid, to taking her interest in genetics to the next level and co-founding the genetics company 23andMe, Anne told us how she’s built her career off curiosity. And as 23andMe has faced challenges from regulators and privacy advocates over the years, Anne had to dig into her passion even more to boost morale.  In this episode, Anne shares:  The 23andMe origin story What boosted morale on her team Why she actively seeks out feedback from naysayers  How she’s played the long game with building her company How the tech world has changed for women

Victoria Beckham has switched industries three times so far during her career: trading in the Spice Girls for a solo career, then launching her own fashion label. Now, she’s in the midst of her third big pivot: a foray into beauty, via a sustainable luxury brand. And she brought in Sarah Creal, a lifelong product developer who’s worked with everyone from Bobbi Brown to Estée Lauder. In this episode, Victoria and Sarah talk about: Building credibility by putting product first Refining long-term business plans Choosing a co-founder Standing out in a crowded field PS: 9 to 5ish listeners can get 10% off Victoria Beckham Beauty products by using code Skimm10 at checkout. Some restrictions apply.