Argent Founder Sali Christeson on Reimagining the 9 to 5 Uniform

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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

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