Ambition 2.0

What if "having it all" didn't mean climbing a single corporate ladder but building a whole web of work that fits your real life? An ecosystem of offers, clients, and projects fueled by your network and reputation, where you can tap into different opportunities at different seasons of life. This week, host Amanda Goetz sits down with Anna Mackenzie, a startup advisor, writer, and author of the newsletter Anna Mack’s Stack, who traded the corporate dream for a self-designed portfolio career. They get into how to diversify your income, why articulating your value is harder (and more important) than selling it, and how to start building on the side without burning out or quitting your day job. From the sunk cost fallacy that keeps you stuck to the 30-minutes-a-day rule that changed Anna's life, this episode is your friendly reminder to stop forcing your career into a straight line. Key Takeaways: A portfolio career is multidimensional and diversified by design—many income streams, projects, and identities at once. A full-time job can absolutely be part of a portfolio. It's not all-or-nothing. Your salary can fund the experimentation. Start building on the side before you leap. Ask past bosses and colleagues what you're good at. You can't always see your set of skills or offers clearly. Break big scary goals into the smallest achievable unit of effort—what Amanda calls the “KitKat” method. Structure your portfolio career around three tiers: core, secondary, and experimental income. You don't need a perfect strategy. Experiment your way to a plan that fits your life. (00:00) Intro (02:16) How ambition changes over time (04:20) What a portfolio career actually is (06:42) Signs a portfolio career might be for you (08:55) What keeps people stuck (11:41) Why the traditional path feels narrow for women (13:42) The first step: knowing your value (16:04) Starting when you're too drained (20:04) Side hustle vs. portfolio career (21:18) Building your flywheel (24:30) Deliberate experimentation (29:16) Rapid fire GUEST LINKS Anna’s new 6-week accelerator, The Portfolio Career Build Method: https://www.annamackenzie.com.au/portfoliocareerbuildmethodSubstack: Anna Mack’s Stack Website: https://www.annamackenzie.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annaclmack/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@annaclmack LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclmack/ FOLLOW THE PODCAST IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast SIGN UP Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ ABOUT AMBITION 2.0 Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we'll be exploring what it really means to "have it all" in work, family, identity, and self… and if it's actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who've walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Ambition 2.0, host Amanda Goetz sits down with Erika Ayers Badan, former CEO of Barstool Sports, current CEO of Food52, bestselling author of Nobody Cares About Your Career, and all-around master of building a career entirely on her own terms. Erika took Barstool from scrappy outsider to a $550M powerhouse with 5 billion monthly video views and 225 million followers, and now she’s teaching us how to take charge of our own career trajectory. Erika shows us the real mechanics of career growth: why nobody is coming to save you, how to make your own luck, why “random” career paths are often the most powerful, and the mindset shifts that separate fulfilled professionals from stuck ones. She also shares candid stories from her time leading one of the most controversial (and successful) media companies in the world, what she’s learned about managing men and underdogs, how to stay emotionally regulated at work, and why she advocates for not bringing your whole self to work (compartmentalization can actually enhance your authenticity). Erika shares her thoughts on: Your career is only for you—not for LinkedIn, not for your resume, and not for anyone else’s approval. Luck is made, not given: initiative, shameless asking, and momentum matter more than pedigree in the early stages of your career. Every job, even the terrible or random ones, contains a skill or lesson you’ll use later. Emotional regulation and compartmentalization are leadership superpowers, not repression. You don’t have to be the “alpha” to lead; service, empowerment, and clarity are often more effective. A great boss can change your entire career trajectory—interview them as much as they interview you. You’ll also hear Erika’s framework for avoiding energy vampires, deciding which “thankless” tasks are worth it, building a personal board of directors, and creating momentum at any stage of your career—from your second job to the C-suite. 00:00 Intro 03:50 The biggest misconception about career progression 09:23 Surviving bad startups and getting the most out of them 14:20 Making your own luck and the power of asking for help 16:36 Personal boards and shameless asks 20:41 How junior employees can stand out and create momentum 23:37 Leading in a male-dominated culture without being the alpha 32:33 Compartmentalization, authenticity, and emotional regulation at work 39:47 Energy vampires, thankless tasks, and protecting your focus 42:37 How to pick a boss and read interviews differently 45:53 Erika’s work at Food52 and Work Life A Girl, and the power of building community 49:15 Rapid-fire questions and Erika’s non-negotiables at work GUEST LINKS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erika/ & https://www.instagram.com/workwitherika/ Connect with Erika: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikanardini/ Subscribe to her Substack: https://erikaayersbadan.substack.com/ Listen to her podcast, Work: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/work-with-erika-ayers-badan/id1503065691 Join Work Like a Girl: https://www.worklikeagirl.com/ Order her book, Nobody Cares About Your Career: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9781250320582 FOLLOW THE PODCAST IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast SIGN UP Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ ABOUT AMBITION 2.0 Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to money, most of us were taught to work hard, focus on saving, and not take any financial risks. In this episode of Ambition 2.0, Rachel Rodgers (self-made millionaire, founder of Hello Seven, and author of We Should All Be Millionaires and Future Millionaire) is here to replace that belief with something way more powerful. Rachel and Amanda get into why wealth is built on risk, not by simply “working harder”, how women are socialized to budget instead of build wealth, and the exact mindset and practical moves that helped Rachel go from living in a low-income household as a child to running an eight-figure business. You’ll hear them talk about: Why “making money is easy” is the belief Rachel wishes she’d adopted at 25 The biggest limiting belief holding ambitious women back Why wealth comes after betting on yourself—not just by investing in stocks and real estate How to know when it’s time to hire help (EA, VA, house manager, childcare, etc.) Turning your natural talents and obsessions into income streams How Rachel designs her life so she can make millions without burning out 00:00 Intro 04:10 Why women are taught to budget—not build wealth 07:30 Failure, risk, and “successful failure” 10:40 Turning your natural talents into income 14:10 When (and why) to hire help instead of doing it all 19:40 Balancing “treating yourself” with long-term financial goals 23:25 Ambition without burnout: Rachel’s non-negotiables 25:30 The power of community, accountability, and momentum 29:41 The money belief Rachel wishes she had learned sooner 31:10 Rapid fire: millionaire habits, splurges, and rich-life rules GUEST LINKS Rachel Rodgers: https://www.instagram.com/rachrodgersesq/ Read We Should All Be Millionaires: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9781400221622 Read Future Millionaire: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9780310158202 Read Million Dollar Action: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9781400243686 Hello Seven Co.: https://www.instagram.com/hello7co/ https://rachelrodgers.com/ The Rachel Rodgers Show: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/therachelrodgersshow/the-rachel-rodgers-show-entrepreneurship-uncensored FOLLOW THE PODCAST IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast SIGN UP Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ ABOUT AMBITION 2.0 Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Amanda Goetz sits down with Eve Rodsky—the New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space—to unpack one of the most important (and under-discussed) topics for ambitious women today: the invisible labor that keeps households running and the systems needed to make ambition sustainable. In a world where the lines between home, work, and personal ambition are constantly blurred, understanding the dynamics of domestic labor has never been more vital. Eve gets real about: 💭 The unseen emotional labor women carry every day—and why it drains ambition 💡 How to redefine success through systems, boundaries, and honest conversations 🔥 Why “having it all” isn’t the goal—and what fulfillment actually looks like 🦄 The power of “unicorn space” and how to carve out time for joy and creativity ❤️ How to reset relationship dynamics using the Fair Play Framework Let’s dive into what happens when ambition collides with expectation—and how to tactfully rewrite those rules for yourself. From invisible labor to emotional burnout, from systems thinking to radical self-care, this episode explores how women can reclaim their time, redefine ambition on their own terms, and build lives rooted in equity, purpose, and joy. 00:00 Intro 02:08 Defining modern ambition 03:41 The blueberry story that nearly ended a marriage 08:09 Advice for young women who are dating and are on the fence about kids 11:42 The importance of “unicorn space” 21:37 Navigating relationships and “fair play” 25:15 The oppressive nature of “finding time” 26:35 Boundaries and systems for balance 29:18 The role of “fair play” in relationships 30:39 The practice of setting boundaries 36:30 Radical generosity and protecting your time 38:46 Seasons of life and self-care GUEST LINKS Eve Rodsky: https://www.instagram.com/everodsky Read Fair Play: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9780525541943 Read Find Your Unicorn Space: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9780593328033 FOLLOW THE PODCAST IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast SIGN UP Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ ABOUT AMBITION 2.0 Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new era of ambition is here. Welcome Ambition 2.0, the new podcast from Girlboss, where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition, like author Eve Rodsky, money and wealth expert Rachel Rodgers, Phia founders Phoebe Gates and Sophie Kianni, and businesswoman and former Barstool Sports CEO Erika Ayers Badan, with additional powerhouse guests to be revealed throughout the season. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have. Hosted by Amanda Goetz, a 2x founder, 4x CMO, mom of three, and author of the new book, Toxic Grit. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Premiering October 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by SIX. 👋 If you’re in New York City or are planning a visit before January 5, 2025, you’re going to want to head to the Music Box Theatre to see Suffs The Musical. Get your tickets now at https://suffsmusical.com/ What if you could measure and improve your emotional fitness—just like you track steps or workouts? Emotions play a powerful role in shaping the decisions we make, the connections we form, and the strategies that drive successful marketing. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the fascinating intersection of cognitive psychology, emotional decision-making, and customer behavior. Laura Beavin-Yates, PhD, the Chief Marketing Officer of SIX and Immersion, shares how neurochemicals like dopamine and oxytocin shape our behaviors and why understanding them is so important for building emotional connections in life and business. Laura also unpacks her nonlinear career journey from academia to working with major brands like Google and P&G. We explore the transformative power of data, emotional decision-making, and why psychological safety is the key to thriving in remote work environments. Laura introduces SIX, an app designed to help users identify moments that boost wellbeing and emotional health, offering a fresh perspective on how we can take ownership of our mental and emotional lives. This conversation is perfect for anyone curious about how emotions drive consumer behavior, how to create meaningful connections, or how to bring more psychological safety to the workplace. 🤝 Connect with Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-beavin-yates/ 📱 Learn more about SIX : https://www.izmed8trk.com/J84C5/2CTPL/ 🧠 Check out Immersion here: https://www.getimmersion.com/ 📷 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlbossrally/ 💻 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/girlboss 💌 Subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://girlboss.com/pages/newsletter 💼 Find your dream job or post open roles: https://jobs.girlboss.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

👋 If you’re in New York City or are planning a visit before January 5, 2025, you’re going to want to head to the Music Box Theatre to see Suffs The Musical. Get your tickets now at https://suffsmusical.com/ Money talk can feel awkward, but today’s guest is here to change that. Claire Wasserman, the founder of Ladies Get Paid, teaches us exactly how women can navigate salary negotiations with confidence—no more sweaty palms or second-guessing. Avery and Claire first dive into the wage gap and discuss why salary negotiation is a skill every woman needs. From researching compensation (hint: it’s more than just Glassdoor) to documenting your wins and understanding the full scope of benefits, Claire offers actionable strategies to help you advocate for yourself at work like a pro. She also breaks down the role of HR in salary discussions and offers tips on building workplace allies to support your professional growth. Pro tip: likability does matter in negotiations—but so does timing, preparation, and knowing what not to say. Plus, Claire gives us her real thoughts on viral career advice—like the idea of “being delusional” in your asks—and advocates for a grounded, research-based approach that leads to real results. Whether you’re gearing up for a performance review, planning your next big career move, or simply looking to feel more confident at work, this episode is packed with insights and strategies to help you own your worth. ⭐ Connect with Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairewasserman/ 🤑 Work with Claire here: http://coachmeclaire.com/ 💸 Negotiate your salary like a pro: https://ladiesgetpaid.carrd.co/ 💌 Never miss an episode by subscribing here: girlboss.com/pages/girlboss-radio-subscribe 📷 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlbossrally/ 💻 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/girlboss 💼 Find your dream job or post open roles: https://jobs.girlboss.com/ 📚 Did you know Girlboss has courses? Check them out here: https://course.girlboss.com/collections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by LPGA. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for November 20, 2024—the LPGA is unveiling its 75th Anniversary schedule for the 2025 season, kicking off at the CME Group Tour Championship. Catch all the action on NBC and Golf Channel! One last thing: If you’re in New York City or are planning a visit before January 5, 2025, you’re going to want to head to the Music Box Theatre to see Suffs The Musical. Get your tickets now at https://suffsmusical.com/ Turns out, we’ve all got a lot more in common with a professional athlete than we think. Yes, you included! You’re in for a refreshingly honest look at the realities of life as a professional athlete, reminding us that self-doubt and pressure aren’t signs of weakness—they’re simply part of the journey, something we all experience, athletes or not. Avery sat down with professional golfer Lauren Coughlin, who’s been golfing since the age of seven and making a name for herself on the LPGA Tour. With two championships and eight top-10 finishes this year alone, Lauren has not only mastered the game of golf but she’s also learned invaluable lessons about discipline, resilience, and navigating the highs and lows of a competitive career. Lauren's husband even quit his full-time job this year to join her team. Avery and Lauren also talk about how golf is considered an old boys’ club where men make business deals and network, and how as a woman and first-time golfer, you can also break into these male-dominated spaces with confidence. Lauren gives us an inside understanding of how her journey in golf has shaped her mindset and work ethic, and the importance of quieting your inner critic and having a strong support system—all things we can relate to in the corporate 9-5 grind. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, managing pressure, or finding ways to keep growing in your career, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways that will inspire you to keep pushing forward—whether you’re on the green or in the boardroom. 🏌️Follow Lauren on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/l_coughlin/ ⛳ Learn more about LPGA here: https://www.lpga.com/ 💌 Never miss an episode by subscribing here: girlboss.com/pages/girlboss-radio-subscribe 📷 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlbossrally/ 💻 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/girlboss 💼 Find your dream job or post open roles: https://jobs.girlboss.com/ 📚 Did you know Girlboss has courses? Check them out here: https://course.girlboss.com/collections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices