9 to 5ish with theSkimm

Leah Busque Solivan is an engineer and entrepreneur. In 2008, she became a rising star of the gig economy when she quit her job at IBM to found TaskRabbit, the mobile and online marketplace that hooks you up with people to help with everything from picking up your laundry to building your furniture. She sold her baby to IKEA in 2017 and now she’s using her expertise to help other startups as a general partner at the venture capital firm, Fuel Capital. On the Couch, Leah talks to us about how she hired her first 30 task rabbits (11:45), why it was hard for her to celebrate success (18:00), what pushed her to the edge (23:20) and how she helps new entrepreneurs learn from her mistakes (30:20). This episode of Skimm'd From the Couch is sponsored by AC Hotels by Marriott. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leah Garcia’s career path has never been a straight line. It’s ben more like a rodeo loop. She grew up as the daughter of ranchers, went to college on a rodeo scholarship and became a pro mountain biker. All that happened, then she had a career as a TV sports reporter, and now, the founder of Nulastin, a cult beauty brand she launched with zero investors, no pitch deck, and plenty of grit. Today, Leah shares how she connected the dots between all of these seemingly separate careers – and how she had fun while doing it. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Leah also shares: Why she loved the extreme nature of rodeoing and mountain biking How she built Nulastin with zero investors and zero clue of how to pitch The backstory of starting Nulastin in her 50s Where boundaries end and burnout begins – and how she decides that How she became comfortable with her lack of knowledge in business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Laura Modi’s organic baby formula company, Bobbie, thrived during a formula shortage that saw nearly 50% of the nation’s formula supply vanish. As desperate moms searched for alternatives, many turned to Bobbie, leading to massive growth—until the demand threatened the supply. Laura faced a critical decision: continue accepting new customers or pause growth so OG Bobbie babies were taken care of. Laura tells the story of how her bold choice paid off and how Bobbie has future-proofed itself through smart business decisions. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Laura shares: How growing up in rural Western Ireland taught her hospitality Why it took having a second child to push her to start Bobbie How she navigated Bobbie through a product recall just two weeks after it launched Bobbie’s recent 15% price cut, and how the company was able to do it Why implementing paid family leave federally would help alleviate moms’ mental health issues Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices