The work advice you need, from women who’ve been there. Every week, join the co-founders and co-CEOs of theSkimm, Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg, as they hel...
Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald on Levain Bakery’s 30-Year Climb to Success
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 take on an investor
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30:37
CNN’s Laura Coates on Sacrificing Financial Independence for a Career Move
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 events
How she’s dealt with big personalities in the courtroom, and on television
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33:55
Bobbie CEO Laura Modi on Making the Unpopular Move
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
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35:21
L’Oréal CMO Han Wen on The Power of Listening First
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 show so you never miss an episode.
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31:38
Mother Untitled’s Neha Ruch on Rebranding Stay-At-Home Motherhood
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
Neha’s Instagram: @motheruntitled
Neha’s book: The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids – and Come Back Stronger Than Ever
Carly and Danielle’s Instagram: @carlyanddanielle
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The work advice you need, from women who’ve been there. Every week, join the co-founders and co-CEOs of theSkimm, Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg, as they help you get what you want out of your career by talking to the smartest leaders they know.
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