
Norma Kamali started her career when women were expected to type memos in Mad Men-esque offices, not build their own empires. She came of age in 1960s New York City and since then, Norma's become one of the most influential names in fashion. Norma is responsible for iconic looks like Farrah Fawcett’s red swimsuit, the sleeping bag coat, and some of the earliest activewear, before “athleisure” was ever a thing. At 80-years-old, she’s showing no signs of stopping.
In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Norma also shares:
How a $29 flight and a basement boutique kicked off her career
What it took to walk away from a toxic business – and marriage
Why she took her brand to Walmart, even when people told her not to
How learning to ask for help changed her life
Why AI gives her a bigger creative high than anything else
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Aug 6
34 min

Author, businesswoman, designer, and chef Joanna Gaines used to let guilt and anxiety consume her. As a mom of five children, and as one half of one of the most successful lifestyle brands in the country, Joanna is now battling her burnout by letting go of those feelings. This week, we spoke to Joanna about that shift to free herself from the pressure of expectations and what it’s unlocked for her, professionally and personally.
In this episode, Joanna shares:
How she and Chip built a loyal and diverse audience
Why she still has a “small business” mindset, despite all her success
The realities of raising five children and running her business
How she’s dealt with the pressure of other people’s expectations – and her own
Her favorite activities that spark creativity
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Jul 30
36 min

Nili Lotan’s career didn’t begin on the runway. It started in corporate fashion, where she spent over two decades working at major brands like Ralph Lauren and Liz Claiborne. Then, in her late 40s — newly divorced, with a 9-year-old at home and two kids heading to college — she launched her namesake brand from the ground up. No outside investors or business plan. Just instinct, confidence, and a commitment to designing for real women like herself.
In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Nili also shares:
How she went from Israeli Air Force to the NYC fashion scene
Why she thinks every woman needs a good pair of jeans
The importance of betting on yourself, even when it’s scary
Why it’s never too late to start something new
How her own mom influenced her decision to be a working mom
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Jul 23
31 min

Thasunda Brown Duckett, the President and CEO of TIAA, had a “meteoric rise” in the world of finance. As the former head of Chase Consumer Banking, and now as one two Black women who currently leads a Fortune 500 company, she realized early on that “work life balance” was a myth. Instead, Thasunda lives her life like it’s a diversified portfolio, allocating time and shifting her investment in different areas. So over time, she always outperforms. Tune in to learn how.
In this episode, Thasunda shares:
How to live your life like “a diversified portfolio”
Her secret to building relationships at work
What it means to “rent your title, own your character” at work
Why she almost turned down her dream role
What you need to know to prep for retirement
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Jul 16
34 min

Sali Christeson actively suppressed her idea for Argent for years. She was killing it at her job at Cisco – she didn’t have time to start her own company. But after spending over a decade in male-dominated companies, where business casual was a non-negotiable, Sali realized that most women’s workwear just…wasn’t working. Sali tells the story of how she went from wearing pocketless pants to building Argent, a brand that actually works for the lives women lead.
In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Sali also shares:
How she set boundaries as an employee at Cisco – and how she implements those learnings as a founder
Why getting good at networking landed her investors and opportunities
How she teaches female founders to reclaim their power instead of give it away
Advice on how to advocate for yourself to be included in conversations
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Jul 9
31 min

After every election she’s covered, Abby Phillip has the same thought: I can’t do this anymore. It’s her mind waving a red flag – and a sign of burnout after months of chaos. Over the years, Abby’s had to navigate a fast-moving digital media world at the same time as some of the most divisive political chapters in our lives. Now, she’s sharing how she’s learned to push through – and the secret that helps her stay grounded in the madness.
In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Abby also shares:
How being a first-generation American influenced her career choice
Why she needed to fail at Harvard before considering journalism
How she made the most of an uncertain path at the then emerging outlet, Politico
The way she reframed getting continuously rejected from outlets
How she *really* felt about consequential coverage after the 2020 debates
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Jul 2
38 min

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 and Danielle on IG: @carlyanddanielle
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Jun 25
30 min

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: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three”.
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.
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May 21
33 min

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
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May 14
36 min

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
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May 7
20 min
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