Debra Lee on Stepping Into Her Power

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/adchoices

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 take on an investor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices