Skimm'd From The Couch

When Cathy Engelbert found out she was pregnant, she resigned from a decades-long climb to becoming a partner at Deloitte. In her mind, being a good mom and a good exec couldn’t coexist. But one male colleague saw her potential — and told her so. That changed everything. Cathy stayed, asked for the flexibility she needed, and learned to advocate for herself. She went on to become Deloitte’s first female CEO. Now? She’s leading one of the fastest-growing sports leagues as WNBA Commissioner. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Cathy also shares:  How sports turned her from a shy kid to a bold leader Why the environments of Deloitte and the WNBA actually aren’t that different Her first 9-1-1 call as league commissioner – and the one trait that helped her get through it Why implementing Deloitte’s paid family leave policy was the “most courageous thing” she’s ever done One way she thinks the WNBA can be a model for the men’s leagues    Follow Cathy on IG: @wnbacommish Follow Carly an

Dawn Staley helped Team USA’s women’s basketball team win gold at the ‘96 Olympics. It was the highlight of her career. Yet she fell into a depression that was so bad, she didn’t even want to look at a basketball. Nothing prepared her to process reaching such a milestone. She was left asking herself: now what? With a resumé is full of career-highs (hi, 3x national champ), Dawn says the real reward isn’t the trophy – it’s all the work it took to get there. Dawn gets into it all in her new memoir, "Uncommon Favor." In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Dawn also shares:    How many shoes she has in her collection (sneakerheads beware) Why she aspired to play in the NBA – instead of the WNBA – growing up  How the taboo nature of mental health stopped her from asking for help post-Olympics Why she was insulted when approached for a coaching job  The one thing she wants to see change for women athletes this year PS: Dawn’s memoir is out now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m

Melanie Masarin once pitched Glossier’s founder to do a pop-up at a former fried chicken shop. Her response? “I don’t get it, but I trust you.” It was a career-defining moment for her. Because getting approval from the founder meant she couldn’t afford to mess it up. Listen as Melanie shares why being given major responsibilities in her mid-twenties shaped her career. Plus, how it prepared her to start Ghia, the non-alcoholic apéritif that’s now a millennial bar-cart staple.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Melanie also shares:  Her food-centered core memories growing up in the French Riviera  The money-shock she experienced attending Brown University  The once-in-a-lifetime chance she had to design the Glossier flagship store Her journey shifting from founder-to-CEO mode, and the difficulties that come with it How pivoting Ghia’s launch strategy actually paid off  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alice Waters never cared about making money. After more than 50 years in business, she still doesn’t. She opened her restaurant, Chez Panisse, with money that friends and family lent her. They had no expectations of ever seeing it again. It’s no surprise, given she’s sparked a slow food revolution where consuming food slowly and resisting the industrial food system is the name of the game. Some call her the “mother of the farm-to-table movement”. Alice says: it’s just the way things ought to be.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Alice shares:  The visit to a certain European country that changed the trajectory of her life  How disrupting the traditional hierarchy of kitchens kept Chez Panisse alive Why she doesn’t care about money – and when she maybe should’ve  The last thing her mom said to her, and how having supportive parents shaped her career Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Karissa Bodnar once got advice from a peer – she needed real friends, not just “deal” friends. It wasn’t a dig. Entrepreneurship is lonely. And if Karissa was going to make it as a founder, she’d need friends who cared about her and not the number of zeros in her bank account. Karissa sits down with us to share how she found those kinds of friends, the time she got ghosted out of a big investment, and what she really thinks about those beauty influencer trips.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Karissa also shares:    Why she affectionately refers to herself a “dirt road diva”  How growing up in a small Washington town shaped her entrepreneurship How the passing of her friend, Kristy, inspired her to start Thrive Causemetics  The lesson she learned from being ghosted by a potential investor  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristen Kish didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming the first woman of color to win Top Chef—or of one day hosting the show. She grew up in the Midwest as a Korean adoptee and those wins hadn’t crossed her radar. But with a little luck—and a lot of support—she got there. Listen as Kristen shares how one mentor changed everything by challenging her to think beyond day-to-day dinner service and chase a career she never thought was possible. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Kristen shares:  Who’s cooking she loves the most (chefs, they’re just like us) The one woman who helped Kristen unlock her potential  What changed when she went from being a relatively broke chef to winning Top Chef How she confronted her ego when writing her memoir, Accidentally On Purpose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Geri Halliwell-Horner, aka Ginger Spice, practically invented girl power and forever holds a special place in our millennial hearts. In her twenties, she answered a magazine ad and ended up making pop history with the Spice Girls. In her thirties, she felt the pressures of “time lines” and adult-life creeping in. Welcome to the club. Listen as Geri shares how girl power carried her through her post-Spice Girls career. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Geri shares:  The DIY skills she used to create her iconic Union Jack dress How she fought through insecurity during her time in the Spice Girls  How embracing her inner wisdom has guided her through her career One thing she does to stay curious and challenge herself Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tinx never set out to be known as “TikTok’s older sister.” But five years of real talk on taboo topics – dating in your 30s, botox, and having zero clue what to do in life – makes a name like that stick. Social media and influencing has gotten crowded since Tinx started posting on TikTok during COVID, and she admits she’s been rethinking her relationship to the internet and her business. Tinx shares how she's finding ways to build her career offline, thanks in part to her debut novel, Hotter in the Hamptons.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Tinx shares:  The difference between Tinx and Christina (yes, that’s her real name) A boundary she has with the internet (that we could all use) Why she only started feeling secure in her business this year  The main reason why not all influencers can sustain their career longterm PS: “Hotter in the Hamptons” is out on May 6.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Audrey McLoghlin’s peer once compared her to a cockroach that could withstand nuclear warfare. Weird compliment? Maybe. But Audrey says she was touched. She grew up with an alcoholic father and learned early to rely on herself, not a partner, to make ends meet. As a serial entrepreneur in fashion, she’s built her businesses through some of the toughest economic times—think: the Great Recession and COVID-19—proving resilience is her superpower. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Audrey shares:  Why “stranger danger” seemingly doesn’t exist in Ireland  How she went from engineering to entrepreneurship in her early 20s The biggest thing she learned going through personal bankruptcy Why she thinks entrepreneurs owning 100% of their company isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before Emily Oster became a go-to parenting expert, she was an econ professor waiting on a tenure decision at the University of Chicago. While waiting, she published Expecting Better, a book that moms-to-be consider to be a parenting Bible. She got rejected for tenure, then spent over a decade believing the book was a “professional mistake”. Parents everywhere beg to differ. Listen as Emily shares how she moved past the disappointment  – and why it actually turned out to be the best thing for her career.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Emily shares:  Her weekly mileage as a marathoner (our legs are shaking) Why she refers to herself as a “vagina economist”  How her kids react when she tells them she’s a “parenting expert”  Why she doesn’t shy away from disagreements around her research  Who’ll benefit most from ParentData’s newest vertical  Follow Emily on Instagram: @profemilyoster Follow Carly and Danielle on Instagram: @carlyanddanielle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice

Erin Burnett flirted with the idea of becoming a CIA agent one day, drawn to the undercover thrills. Instead, she crunched numbers at Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst, then pivoted to be a broadcast journalist. While she never became a secret spy or ran a Wall Street empire, she didn’t let her interests or skills collect dust. Listen as Erin shares how she fused her business knowledge with her world news obsession to land her daily primetime show, OutFront with Erin Burnett.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Erin shares:    The irony of becoming a TV news anchor despite growing up without cable How she got the chutzpah to send a cold email asking to meet a CNN host  Her transition from economic to foreign affairs news, and how the former helped inform her new beat  Why she doesn’t regret taking 20 minutes out of her work day to show up for her kids Her relatable answer to how much she’s able to prioritize her mental health  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For millennial women, Julia Stiles needs no introduction. She portrayed some of our favorite characters growing up – like Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You and Sara in Save the Last Dance – and challenged one-dimensional portrayals of female characters. After two decades as an actor, Julia has taken her talents behind the camera to direct her first film, Wish You Were Here. Listen as she shares how she’s managed to stay grounded despite being a child actor, how she manifested her directorial debut, and why she has no regrets about taking her time to make it happen. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, shares: How growing up in New York City helped her maintain a grounded attitude  Her decision to go to college instead of continuing her acting career Why Hustlers marked a new chapter of intention for her  How being a mom was the best preparation for being a director  Advice on how to be confident when you lack skills needed for a specific job Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unlike MBA grads focused on scaling and selling companies, Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald built Levain Bakery with no intention of selling. Baking was the life plan, the thing they’d do til their hands couldn’t anymore. They embraced slow, sustainable growth for years with no regrets. Then came a compelling offer and a gut feeling that led them to finally take on an investor. Listen as Pam and Connie share how a YWCA brought them together, how a New York Times article skyrocketed their company's success, and why having patience was their greatest tool. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Pam and Connie share:  What they loved about their former colleague and supporter, Anthony Bourdain How chance bike ride with an old friend got them a small business loan  When they knew it was time to expand to new locations  How they navigated tedious problems like meeting with community boards and dealing with frustrated neighbors  Why scaling their business slowly was key to their success and when they knew it was time to

In 2015, Laura Coates traded courtroom drama for newsroom deadlines, leaving her job as a Justice Department prosecutor to dive into a journalism career. She was a new mom with no media experience or contacts, but knew she’d regret it if she never tried. Fast forward to today. Laura is CNN’s Chief Legal Analyst, a Sirius XM host, and a trusted voice on today’s most pressing legal stories. Despite her success, it didn’t come without sacrifice. Listen as Laura gets real about the hard conversations she had with her husband – and herself – about prioritizing her professional ambitions over financial security.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Laura shares:    How she charmed her husband when they first met, despite having a waxed off eyebrow Why she found it difficult to financially depend on her husband while figuring out her career  How she got her foot in the door in media with no connections, and why getting the second foot in is more important Why she never shuts down her kids’ curiosity around current eve

Laura Modi’s organic baby formula company, Bobbie, thrived during a formula shortage that saw nearly 50% of the nation’s formula supply vanish. As desperate moms searched for alternatives, many turned to Bobbie, leading to massive growth—until the demand threatened the supply. Laura faced a critical decision: continue accepting new customers or pause growth so OG Bobbie babies were taken care of. Laura tells the story of how her bold choice paid off and how Bobbie has future-proofed itself through smart business decisions. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Laura shares:    How growing up in rural Western Ireland taught her hospitality  Why it took having a second child to push her to start Bobbie How she navigated Bobbie through a product recall just two weeks after it launched Bobbie’s recent 15% price cut, and how the company was able to do it  Why implementing paid family leave federally would help alleviate moms’ mental health issues  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Han Wen got a job at L’Oréal as an entry-level marketing associate, she didn’t even know what marketing was. The interviewers didn’t care. They spent the bulk of the interview talking about her bold outfit, which she got off the sales rack at J.Crew just an hour before. Fast forward to 2022, and Han became the CMO of L’Oréal USA at just 39-years-old. Talk about a full circle moment. Han shares how she made impressions throughout her corporate career, and how she’s gotten really good at listening – even when it might be hard to hear.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Han shares:    Why her work stint in France was nothing like “Emily in Paris” The best lesson she learned about being a people manager  What she focused on instead of chasing after titles during her career How having kids destroyed any illusion of control, and how it carries into her work Why L’Oréal encourages some rule-bending to make great products  Follow Carly and Danielle on Instagram @carlyanddanielle, and be sure to subscribe the

Neha Ruch chose to take an indefinite pause from work after having her second child. She immediately faced raised eyebrows and unsolicited advice. She didn’t bat an eye at her choice. But the reactions got her thinking: why are we riding on outdated stereotypes about moms choosing to exit the workforce to take care of their family for a chapter of their lives? Enter: Mother Untitled, the leading platform dedicated to ambitious women choosing to lean into family life – without shame. Today, Neha shares tips from her new book The Power Pause to help listeners pull it off like pro.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Neha shares:    The importance of her gap year in India and what it did for her self-trust Why she couldn’t find the peace and purpose at work that she got from motherhood How stay-at-home-motherhood has been wrongfully labeled as a “luxury” The percentage of women who stop working because of high childcare costs  Financial levers couples can pull to make room in the budget for a future pause  Ne

Alice Milligan left home at 19 to escape a dysfunctional family life. Her peers went to college right out of high school. Meanwhile, Alice spent ten years getting her college degree while working full-time to support herself. She had no choice but to be resilient, independent, and patient. Decades later, and faced with choosing between a dream job or staying near her husband awaiting a liver transplant, Alice shares how the patience she cultivated as a young woman guided her choice. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Alice shares:  Her deep cut bagel order (cinnamon raisin fans, rejoice) The strong women in her life who helped her navigate leaving home  Why working in HR in her early career served her well throughout her career How she rationalized her choice of remaining close to her family or taking on her dream job  How Morgan Stanley prioritizes women feeling financially empowered – and how the company’s new marketing initiatives reflect that   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch

She’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment. Connie Chung is the trailblazing veteran broadcaster who worked her way up from being a copy-girl at a local news station to anchoring one of the most popular nightly newscasts, CBS Evening News. To get there, she had to make it through the “boys club” of the 70s newsroom. Think: Mad Men, but news. She says it could’ve been worse. But she made it work by being just as confident as they were. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Connie shares:    The impact of growing up around four strong-willed sisters   How she defied the racist and sexist stereotypes men had of her Her biggest regret of her career and how she reconciles it now  Why getting fired from CBS Evening News proved to be serendipitous A cameo from her husband, Maury Povich. Yes, that Maury Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to a new season of 9 to 5ish. We’re kicking things off with Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis, two best friends and co-hosts of the show “Honest Renovations” on The Roku Channel. There are plenty of home renovation shows out there. But theirs highlights the importance of mom having their own space to recharge. As moms of three kids each, they learned that the hard way.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Jessica and Lizzy share:  Their friendship origin story and why Lizzy lied to Jessica about her age for years How they took the jump from being friends to becoming co-hosts of a show  Why surface-level friendships don’t last in business partnerships  The burnout of filling others’ cups before their own, and how they fixed it  Tips on dealing with the highs and lows of the holiday season  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices