She Pivots

Emily left her full-time career in politics several years ago, pivoting after having three kids in three years. But as many of our guests know, pivots can be more of a blurred line than we once thought. With everything that’s on the line in the upcoming presidential election, especially for women and moms, Emily is dipping her toe back in politics, joining the board of Swing Left. As a suburban sw...

In 2005, Rachelle Steele was stationed in Mississippi for her job in the Navy when Hurricane Katrina hit. With two daughters, just six-months-old and eighteen-months-old, Rachelle fought for their survival—and then began to document what was happening around her. Those events left her with photography PTSD, and she didn’t pick up a camera for another 5 years. It took time, but she eventually becam...

Gina Ortiz Jones grew up as a first-generation American, taught early on about the importance of service by her family. But she never imagined breaking one of the largest glass ceilings in the country by becoming the Under Secretary of the Air Force — the first woman of color and the first openly lesbian person in the role. On this episode of She Pivots , Gina shares the deep history of and pride...

This week’s guest holds an extra special place in Emily’s heart. Emily met Nancy Goldberg when she was nine years old at the Belvoir Terrace Summer Girls Performing Arts Camp. As Owner and Director Emeritus, Nancy has dedicated her life to enriching and educating young girls. In this Candid Convo, Nancy reflects on her love for teaching from a young age; her own experiences with summer camps growi...

As an Emmy-winning reporter on the hugely popular ABC7 in New York City, Darla Miles is no stranger to talking to individuals about some of their lowest lows, and their highest highs. But while she acts as a voice for so many across New York, her own story - one of deep personal loss after losing her husband and multiple pregnancies - is rarely in the spotlight. That’s why this episode is so incre...

This week, Emily is live from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where the Democratic nominee for President, Kamala Harris, will address delegates. So what better way to celebrate this momentous occasion than to re-release Emily's conversation with Vice President Harris from last year! This conversation is especially timely, as it dives into the personal experiences that influenced Har...

If you’ve gone to get a blowout, you most likely stepped foot into a Drybar - founded by this week’s guest, Alli Webb. Drybar was a revolutionary concept that transformed the hair care industry by focusing exclusively on blowouts. What started as a single mobile service grew into a national brand with over 150 locations and a line of professional hair products. So why did Alli decide to sell the c...

Tasmin Carter works as an executive assistant at a financial services firm. But her story to stability and success was full of obstacles. A survivor of childhood abuse, an unhealthy marriage, and stage three colon cancer, Tasmin’s story is one of incredible resilience, and we're incredibly thankful to Tasmin for sharing her story with us for the first time publicly. On this episode of She Pivots ,...

If you’ve ever turned on QVC or HSN, you’ve probably seen Joy Mangano or one of her many inventions, like the Miracle Mop. Or you may have seen Jennifer Lawrence portray her in the 2015 hit movie, “Joy.” But Joy’s wild success started with a simple idea—and a big risk. On this episode of She Pivots, Joy talks with Emily about her early invention ideas (a fluorescent flea collar for pets!), getting...

The Olympics are right around the corner so on this special episode we talk to former Olympian Ali Krieger, a legend in the soccer world. As a former World Cup champion, U.S. Olympian, and National Women's Soccer League champion on Gotham FC, she redefined what the game could be, especially for women. But soccer was more than just a career for her—it was a critical component along her journey to s...

Shazi Visram was a successful entrepreneur - but her son's autism diagnosis, coupled with her father's Alzhiemer's diagnosis - shifted her entire reality. On this episode of She Pivots , Shazi talks about her parents’ journey to the United States, her passion for visual arts, the inspiration behind Happy Baby (now Happy Family Organics), what it's like to be a member of the "sandwich generation,"...

Emily Hikade led a secret life for many years. As a diplomat turned CIA officer, Emily engaged in dangerous counterterrorism work, even as she built a family. But a life-altering, near-death experience changed her perspective, leading her to eventually pivot out of the CIA and create Petite Plume, a wildly successful pajama company. On this episode of She Pivots, Emily talks about being in a field...

On the road for a 4th of July weekend getaway? Taking a long flight to a sunny destination? She Pivots has your travel playlist! We’re taking a look back into our archives to highlight three of our favorite–and most timely–episodes. Links below!   LISTEN TO ALLYSON FLEIX: https://link.chtbl.com/Allyson_Felix?sid=ShePivots_070324   In advance of the Olympics, take a listen to Emily’s conversation w...

You may know Ilana from her award-winning TV series, Broad City, and her self-admittedly “wild” and “free” character, Ilana Wexler. However, Ilana has soared far beyond her character on the Broad City , writing and starring in her own movies, including Babes (in theaters now!!), releasing her own stand-up comedy special, and diving into political activism through the Generator Collective. On this...

Alexis McGill Johnson never had taking over Planned Parenthood on her life’s bingo card. But as a woman whose family tree is full of inspirational women, it’s no surprise that Alexis has been able to steer the organization through one of the most tumultuous times for women’s health care access. On this episode of She Pivots, Alexis shares the stories of her grandmother and mother who paved the way...

Jennifer Esposito grew up in Staten Island, surrounded by the violence of the Mafia and dreaming of escaping and making it to the big screen. But it wasn’t until her recent film,  Fresh Kills, that she was truly able to claim her career for herself and tell the stories of the human experience that she longed to share with the world. On this episode of She Pivots, Jennifer talks with Emily about th...

Shannon Watts had been a stay-at-home mom for five years when she turned on the TV to see horror unfolding at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. After witnessing the aftermath of the murder of 20 children and 6 adults on that cold day in December, Shannon knew she had to channel her rage into action. What started as a Facebook page called One Million Moms for Gun Control eventually beca...

For the first 42 years of Julia’s life, she lived in a ultra-Orthodox community working as a teacher. But her decision to leave that community in 2013 set her on an entirely new course, launching shoe and clothing lines, writing a best-selling book, and becoming the star of her own reality TV show, My Unorthodox Life . In this episode of She Pivots , Julia reveals what life was like in the Haredi...

Fran Drescher is an American pop culture icon, having made her mark in the 1990s in the starring role of her sitcom, The Nanny . But Fran has faced her fair share of pain, too–pain that inspired some of her most impactful career pivots. In this special episode of She Pivots , recorded live at Lincoln Center, Fran discusses the inspiration for The Nanny , how she leveraged her international fame an...

Kelly and Norah were on very different life paths. Kelly was a model, who spent her free time volunteering with Head Start - an experience that opened her eyes to how many children lacked basic necessities, like properly fitting shoes. Norah was a lawyer at a high-powered New York City firm, who enjoyed engaging in pro bono work, especially in helping low-income women secure housing and other reso...

Christy Turlington was only 14 when she started her modeling career - a career that has cemented her as one of the most legendary supermodels in history. But a near-death experience during the birth of her daughter changed the course of her journey. On this special Mother’s Day episode of She Pivots , Christy talks about the influences of her mother’s El Salvadoran heritage, her close relationship...

You may know Emelia Hartford from last year’s film, Gran Turismo , or from her YouTube channel, where she builds and customizes cars for over 1 million subscribers. However, the successful career in cars, social media, and acting didn’t happen overnight. In this incredibly candid episode of She Pivots , Emelia recounts how her father’s suicide–and subsequently finding cars as an outlet for healing...

Crystal McCrary McGuire is what one might call an icon (she has an And Just Like That character based on her!!) but her journey has been far from linear. An accomplished entertainment lawyer, writer, producer, director, and businesswoman, Crystal is now on to her latest venture with her son and NBA player, Cole Anthony. The two co-founded GameUp, an app for parents navigating youth sports. On this...

Growing up in India, Chandrika Tandon broke with tradition to pursue her education and became a high-powered, glass ceiling-shattering partner at the consulting firm, McKinsey & Company. But a “crisis of spirit” led her to re-evaluate her life, leave behind her corporate position, establish her own company, while simultaneously pursuing her passion: music. In this episode, Chandrika talks with...

Jo Piazza joins us this week to talk about her latest book, “The Sicilian Inheritance” that is sure to be the book of the summer. As a journalist, author, and fellow podcast host, Jo has learned to adapt to the growing influencer economy, pulling inspiration from women like the Kardashians to master the art of self-promotion. Emily and Jo chat about her new book (out now!) and how Jo may or may no...