She Pivots

Laura Coe founded Snapology—an educational company based on the idea that STEM can be both academically rewarding and fun—out of necessity. As a health care actuary who traveled frequently, and a mother of two facing divorce, Laura pivoted to ensure she would maintain custody of her children. On this episode of She Pivots , Laura discusses her inspiration for the company, the impact of COVID on Sn...

When Carla Stickler became Elphaba in  Wicked  in 2010, she knew her career was thriving. But burnout can hit us even when we’re doing the thing we love most, especially in a notoriously competitive space like Broadway. On this episode of  She Pivots , Carla talks about the physical and emotional demands of her career on Broadway and her decision to leave the big stage to become a software enginee...

Nina Westbrook is a woman wearing many hats: mother of three, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, entrepreneur, podcast host, and wife to NBA All-star Russell Westbrook. In this Candid Convo, Nina joins Emily to talk about her career as a mental health therapist, creating her digital wellness platform, Bene, and the challenges in building stability while frequently moving for her husband’s job...

The Hills forever changed reality TV. And for Lo Bosworth, one of the stars of the show, being on reality TV since high school shaped her experiences growing up, attending college, and figuring out life after the cameras turned off. On this episode of She Pivots , Lo talks about her experiences with bullying, her decision to attend culinary school, and her health challenges that led to founding he...

If you've ever been frustrated by the options for women's workwear, you're not alone. This week's guest, Sarah LaFleur, decided to leave her high-powered career in management consulting to launch M.M.LaFleur, an elevated clothing brand for working women. M.M. LaFleur is blazing a trail for a new kind of brand endorsement by dressing women running for office and the WNBA. In this Candid Convo, Sara...

Stacy London’s journey with fashion—an industry she was drawn to during her battle with psoriasis—began long before her TV debut. But she became a household name during her time co-hosting TLC’s What Not to Wear in the early 2000s. After the show ended, Stacy began to grapple with her changing career and her changing body. On this episode of She Pivots , recorded live in New York City, Stacy discu...

If you’re a fan of reality shows focused on love, then you’ve probably heard of the hit podcast, Reality Gays with Mattie and Poodle . The two hosts, Jake Anthony and Matt Marr, join Emily to share the story of how all three of them met working at a summer theater camp, how the hosts got their show off the ground, and the changes they’ve seen in the podcasting industry since they joined. Oh, and d...

With a new season of Bravo’s legacy show The Real Housewives of New York set to air July 16th, Emily sat down with the show's newest star Erin Lichy. As a self-described straightforward Housewife, Erin is ready for whatever is in store for this new era of RHONY. In this Candid Convo, Erin discusses her relationships with her fellow castmates, the decision to join the iconic reality TV series, and...

You may know Robin Arzón from her energetic, popular classes on Peloton—where she is famous for her catch phrases (“I only ride with royalty”) or as the New York Times bestselling author of children’s books, Strong Mama and Strong Baby . But Robin began her career as a lawyer, turning to running after a traumatic event shook what she thought would be a straight line in climbing up the professional...

Tori Taylor has built a powerful career in DC and politics—she has worked in a variety of leadership roles at EMILY's List, Center for American Progress, Obama for America, and both Hillary Clinton's 2008 and 2016 presidential campaigns, and most recently, she served as the Executive Director for Swing Left. As longtime DC friends, Emily and Tori realized that Tori was experiencing some of the sam...

Allyson Felix is one of the most decorated track and field athletes in the world, with 11 Olympic medals and many world championships under her belt. But her decision to start a family put her career on the line, particularly her sponsorship with Nike. That’s when Allyson took her riskiest move yet; she published an op-ed in The New York Times, publicly denouncing Nike’s treatment of their pregnan...

Omi Bell, Founder and CEO of Black Girl Ventures (BGV), is an expert at disruption. Through BGV, she has funded over 450 women of color, and BGV’s pitch participants are collectively generating over $10M in revenue and supporting 3,000 jobs. But before Omi was disrupting markets and stereotypes around who can be successful in business, Omi faced many hurdles in her own life—hurdles that she turned...

Elsa Collins grew up on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, living in Tijuana, Mexico but going to school in San Diego. Her experiences living near the border shaped her childhood and ultimately her career. After meeting and marrying NBA star Jarron Collins at Stanford University, they started a family—and raising multiracial kids awakened in her a passion for community organizing and advocating...

Geena Rocero is a model, producer, and author of the new book Horse Barbie . She has graced the covers and pages of famous magazines, such as Playboy , and appeared on billboards across the country. However, Geena was holding a secret for years that was preventing her from living authentically. It wasn’t until her 2014 TED Talk that she revealed the secret: she is transgender. On this episode of S...

You probably know Priyanka Chopra Jonas from the TV series, Quantico , but her ascent into fame began when she was only 17 years old, after winning the Miss India and Miss World title. She dove headfirst into the entertainment industry, learning everything she could and soon racked up an impressive resume in India. But she left stability behind, deciding to move to the U.S. to pursue a career in H...

Tetiana Poudel watched with shock from Silicon Valley as Russia invaded Ukraine last February. But for her, the fight was personal. As a Ukrainian-American, she sprung into action, organizing fundraisers to provide combat boots to troops in Ukraine and even traveling herself into Ukraine to deliver supplies to her father’s military unit. On this emotionally intense episode of She Pivots , Emily ta...

For this special Mother’s Day episode, Emily is joined by renowned author and economist Emily Oster to talk about motherhood. Using data, Prof. Oster digs into the data behind parenting, and together, they tackle the realities of modern parenting and how that shapes our professional careers.    These short “Candid Convos” will highlight the personal, the professional, and of a little pivoting alon...

Isa Watson has broken barrier after barrier, including earning one of the largest VC investments for a Black woman. But her journey to launching her company Squad began in a fast-paced Wall Street career, where she lost her deep connections with her family and friends as she climbed the professional ladder. After the sudden death of her father, she knew her calling lay outside of Wall Street. Now,...

Nitika knew from a young age that something was wrong with her health. After being diagnosed with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis by age 19, Nitika struggled physically and emotionally with the challenges of having chronic illnesses. Her decision to embrace her role as a chronic illness advocate led to her pivot into founding Chronicon , a community and annual conference for the 133+ million Ame...

If you know anything about the Real Housewives of New York (RHONY), you know about Kelly Bensimon. Kelly is known for her fiery personality and that episode on “Scary Island”—but since appearing on RHONY, Kelly has sought to reclaim her own narrative, something she felt she lost control of during the height of her reality TV star fame. On this episode of She Pivots , Kelly shares her journey to st...

Like Emily, Carri began her career in politics, eventually becoming a Special Assistant to President Obama and Director of Public Engagement for then-Vice President Biden. But when she decided to leave politics, she wasn’t sure where to go next. Her pivot into media has been a huge success. A Founding Partner of Culture House Media, Carri has an impressive roster of shows and celebrities. From Opr...

Brooke Shields has been in the spotlight her whole life. Now, she’s taking the mic back and telling her own story – in her new documentary, Pretty Baby , and right here on She Pivots . In this episode Brooke shares what it was like growing up with her mom, who served as her manager whilst battling alcoholism, how college began the journey to finding her freedom, and what it’s been like becoming an...

We’ve all heard about “cults,” but Susi Massey grew up in a community that is now widely considered one. Her parents were members of "The Institute on Basic Life Principles," or IBLP – you may recognize the name from followers and TLC castaways, the Duggar family. Susi’s childhood was disconnected from the “outside world,” but education provided her with a way out. On this episode of She Pivots, S...

She Pivots is thrilled to share our first “Candid Convo,” featuring Dr. Becky Kennedy—clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and mom of three—who's built a global community for moms. In this new series of bonus episodes, Emily will sit down with more incredible women to explore the intersection of the personal and the professional beyond just pivoting.    These short “Candid Convos” will highl...

Pinky Cole is the Founder and CEO of Slutty Vegan, a vegan burger chain making big waves in the restaurant industry. Her road to success wasn’t always a straight line, especially after a grease fire destroyed her first restaurant. On this episode of She Pivots, Emily talks with Pinky about being a hustler from a young age, her background in the TV production industry, and how she has found success...