How She Does It

It’s something we’re intensely curious about: “How She Does It.” Not only do we want to hear about our guests’ climb to the top of their professions, but also how they’ve built meaningful personal lives outside of work. And for many of the women who join Karen Finerman on her podcast, that includes motherhood. So, in honor of Mother’s Day, we’re revisiting some of those conversations, along with our favorite anecdotes, advice, moments of joy, and unexpected challenges of pursuing one’s passion while also raising kids. We know it will almost always be a little messy, but it’s also incredibly worthwhile. The women we have met on this podcast are at different stages of their journey: from welcoming an infant to watching their daughter get married. But the throughline is evident: when children see their mom using her talents, making an impact on the world, and finding satisfaction, it is a positive and powerful life lesson they carry into their own adulthood. 💬 In this episode, we hear from: Journalist & Communications Executive Leigh Gallagher on becoming a single mom and how she talks with her young daughter about their family. Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, shares how she decided to go after her dream job and launch a political campaign after having an infant and getting a divorce. Actress Renée Elise Goldsberry opens up about the challenges of building her family and the role her faith played. She also shares what it was like to be part of the smash hit “Hamilton” while also raising the young family she worked so hard to create. Comedian Leanne Morgan on pursuing comedy as a working mom, and why she’s now thankful for some of the disappointments she experienced early in her career. Plus, what Reese Witherspoon shared with her about being a mom in show business. New York Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Weiner shares how her daughters are different from her and how she managed a work-from-home job while raising her kids. JPMorgan Chase Wealth Management CEO Kristin Lemkau describes how her family adjusted after she suddenly became a single mother, and what her kids had to say about her decision to eventually return to work. Deborah Roberts, co-anchor of ABC News 20/20, on what it’s like preparing for her daughter Leila’s wedding, how her children support her, and what they’ve learned from watching their mom pursue her career. 🎧Listen To Leigh Gallagher on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 45 🎧Listen To Kate Gallego on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 55 🎧Listen To Renée Elise Goldsberry on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 61 🎧Listen To Leanne Morgan on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 28 🎧Listen To Jennifer Weiner on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 56 🎧Listen To Kristin Lemkau on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 74 🎧Listen To Deborah Roberts on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 66 💻Watch episodes on HOW SHE DOES IT on our YouTube Page 📸 Follow the show on Instagram: @hsdipodcast🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thasunda Brown Duckett has a seemingly endless list of honors to her name: TIME 100, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, and, most recently, Barron’s 100 Most Influential Women in Finance. She’s marking five years as President and CEO of TIAA, overseeing $1.6 trillion in assets. She is also one of just two Black women leading a Fortune 500 company. With women holding just 11% of CEO seats, she is passionate about seeing both numbers grow. “ I just think there is an opportunity to add another chapter of what it means to be a CEO,” remarked Thasunda Brown Duckett in her conversation with Karen Finerman. That means not only being an exceptional leader, but also showing the world more of her complete self. She is a married mother who says she needs a village to make it all work. She is also a deeply faithful person who doesn't shy away from sharing the difficult parts of her life. Whether it’s her childhood, which was “long on love” but often short on money, or the grief she felt when she lost her brother a few years ago, she understands that showing her three-dimensional self, while still being an extraordinary leader, helps others see their own potential. 💬 In this episode, we explore: Thasunda Brown Duckett’s theory of living her life like a “diversified portfolio” (and why she believes the idea of work-life balance is a lie) Why she and her husband Richard made the decision to have him stay at home with the kids The skills and attitudes she possesses that she believes helped her climb the corporate ladder at Fannie Mae, Chase & J.P. Morgan How she feels her leadership style has evolved, and why she enjoys “giving power away What she learned working for Jamie Dimon at JP Morgan Chase How her father, Otis Brown, ultimately inspired her passion for amplifying the message about the importance of saving for retirement Why she enjoys expressing herself through fashion Resources: 💻 Learn more about TIAA 📸 Follow Thasunda Brown Duckett On LinkedIn 📸 Follow Thasunda Brown Duckett on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re on TikTok, Instagram, Substack, or YouTube, you’ve likely come across content creator Vivian Tu. She’s taken her expertise learned from her time as a trader at J.P. Morgan and a sales exec at Buzzfeed to create the platform “Your Rich BFF,” which now boasts 10 million combined followers. Vivian is the CEO of Your Rich BFF and has a team of approximately 20 people working for her. Together, they channel her social-media savvy and pithy communication style to teach her followers how to make smart money moves and grow their wealth. Her message is a departure from her own upbringing, during which her hardworking, Chinese immigrant parents mostly stressed about the family’s finances, with a focus on “scrimping and saving.” Vivian’s goal with all of her work, including her podcast “Networth & Chill” and her latest New York Times bestselling book “Well Endowed: The Secrets to Strategic Spending, Building a Financial Foundation for You and Your Family, and Creating Lasting Generational Wealth,” is to empower her readers financially across all areas of their lives. 💬 In this episode, we explore: How Vivian has learned from her mistakes when it comes to hiring people for her team What Vivian sees is the difference between hustle and grit, and why she thinks only one can be taught Her thoughts about the future of Your Rich BFF and what role she might play in it Why owning her business influenced Vivian’s choice to undergo IVF at age 30 and freeze her embryos The lasting impact her female mentor at J.P. Morgan had on her life and career, including the very generous gift she gave Vivian The critical importance of discussing money with your partner, and what led to Vivian and her now-husband having that conversation very early on in their relationship What her mom’s advice to Vivian was when she started making more money than her husband Resources: 📕 Learn more about “Well Endowed” by Vivian Tu 📸 Follow Vivian Tu on Instagram 📸 Follow Vivian Tu on TikTok 📸 Follow Vivian Tu on YouTube 🎧 Listen to Vivian Tu on Networth and Chill 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gorgeous landscapes, high-stakes drama, and throw in some horses and cattle for good measure. That’s just another day at the office when you work on a show in Taylor Sheridan’s universe. Emmy-nominated Christina Alexandra Voros is one of the most influential female voices in Sheridan’s inner circle, having directed multiple episodes of his hit shows, including “Yellowstone,” “1883,” “Lawman: Bass Reeves,” and now, every episode of “The Madison.” “The Madison” stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell and explores themes of family and loss, as well as the healing power of the land. For Christina, working with Michelle Pfeiffer on the series in Montana was a career highlight, saying, “ her focus and resilience and heart through the process of making the show is absolutely remarkable.” Christina also serves as executive producer for the series, which is streaming now exclusively on Paramount+. 💬 In this episode, we explore: Christina’s path to becoming a director, which meant veering from her original dream of being an actress How this NYU Film school grad and proud Brooklynite fell in love with a cowboy, and now lives on a ranch in Texas Why she took a demotion to camera operator to work on “Yellowstone,” and why at first she thought it was the biggest mistake of her career How she approaches shooting technically challenging scenes, including working with animals and choreographed fights Her thoughts on the advances women directors have made in the industry, and why she is optimistic for the next generation How she is preparing to direct two more highly anticipated Sheridan projects: “Frisco King,” starring Samuel L. Jackson, and the “Yellowstone” spinoff, “Dutton Ranch.” Resources:🔗 Watch The Madison on Paramount+ 📸 Follow Christina Alexandra Voros on Instagram 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout her career, Eva Pilgrim, the new anchor of “Inside Edition,” has always strived to deliver excellent journalism. It’s a mindset she traces back to her childhood, raised by her American father and, what she calls, her “Korean Tiger Mom.” Eva recalls her mother not tolerating anything below perfect grades (to the point that she once hid a paper with a grade of 98 in the trash). As an adult, she combined her determination to treat her interview subjects with care with her gift for getting people to open up, and her career in journalism took off. She rose in the ranks from an affiliate reporter to a senior correspondent at ABC News. That success led to her being named co-anchor of “Good Morning America Weekend” and later, “GMA3.” But some of that success came with a cost. The demanding work, which included rushing off at a moment’s notice to cover a story for weeks at a time, along with the expectations she placed on herself, was occasionally overwhelming. At one point, after covering a string of emotionally difficult stories, including several hurricanes, she hit a low point. But Eva found ways, both during her time at ABC News and more so now at “Inside Edition”, the longest-running nationally syndicated new show, to hit the reset button. Her goal now: find fulfilling work that doesn’t drain her, pursue projects that interest her across linear and emerging media, and build a life outside of her job that allows her to spend time with her husband Ed and 4-year-old daughter Ella. 💬 In this episode, we explore: The incredible story behind Eva Pilgrim’s decision to pivot from medical school to a career in journalism The role Eva’s mom played when it came to Eva dating her future husband Eva’s dealbreaker when it comes to who she chooses to work on stories with Why she was nervous to make the leap from network news to “Inside Edition” Eva’s favorite part of the “Inside Edition” broadcast Resources: 📸 Follow Eva Pilgrim on Instagram 📸 Follow Inside Edition on Instagram 📸 Follow Inside Edition on TikTok 📸 Follow Inside Edition on Facebook 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Sesame Workshop CEO Sherrie Westin, there’s one question that rises above the rest. “Is Sesame going to be here for the next generation of children?” Making sure favorites like Elmo, Big Bird, Abby Cadabby, and Grover continue their work educating kids is a responsibility she takes very seriously. Over the past year, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the 56-year-old global phenomenon, faced what Westin called a “perfect storm.” There were federal funding cuts, the end of a distribution deal with Discovery / HBO Max, and the need to downsize the organization. Westin has guided Sesame Workshop through this moment with a determination to keep Sesame’s core mission of making kids “smarter, stronger and kinder” front and center. This season of Sesame Street kicked off a new distribution deal with Netflix and PBS, along with a greater focus on its philanthropic efforts. In our conversation, Westin shared her thoughts on Sesame's past and future, how her experience at ABC News and The White House influenced her leadership style, and how becoming a mother through the adoption of her daughter, Lily, profoundly changed her life. 💬 In this episode, we explore: Sherrie Westin’s path to CEO of Sesame Workshop, and what made her finally decide to throw her hat into the ring The global reach of Sesame Workshop and its work to support young children The impact of that famous 2024 tweet from Elmo asking, “How is everybody doing?" What it’s like being “co-workers” with Oscar, Grover, Bert, Ernie, and more Westin’s favorite memories of celebrities who have visited Sesame Street Her advice for college graduates How she and her husband, David Westin, manage a busy, two-career household Resources: 🔗 Visit Sesme Workshop 📸 Follow Sherrie Westin on LinkedIn 📸 Follow Sesame Workshop On Instagram 📸 Follow Sesame Street On TikTok 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kecia Steelman was a 20-year-old single mom living in government housing when she faced a realization: if she wanted a better life, it was up to her. She became determined to find a job where she could learn and grow. From the men’s department at Target, she buckled down, worked holidays and weekends, and transformed what started as an $8 an hour gig into something much more. She built a career path that would lead her to become one of the most powerful women in the beauty business. On this episode of How She Does It, Kecia opens up about her first year as CEO at ULTA Beauty, the country’s largest beauty retailer. With 30 years of retail experience, including almost five years as ULTA Beauty’s COO, she was able to take on this new challenge and “hit the ground running.” From expanding the brand into international markets to working closely with brand founders like Beyoncé, Kylie Jenner, Paris Hilton, and more, the company has seen growth across both their e-commerce and retail sales. 💬 In this episode, we explore: Kecia’s rollout of ULTA Beauty’s most recent strategy, from the C-Suite to the employees on the sales floor The approach Kecia takes when it comes to setting expectations for Wall Street What her “best day” and “worst day” working in retail look like The three factors Kecia looks for when making a new hire What happens when Kecia visits an Ulta Beauty store unannounced The profound way Kecia’s mother inspired her Resources: 🔗 Visit Ulta.com 📸 Follow Kecia Steelman on Instagram 📸 Follow Kecia Steelman on LinkedIn 📸 Follow Ulta Beauty on Instagram 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I don’t sweep the floor with my uterus,” asserts Corinne Low, Associate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania. It’s a stark statement, but her underlying point is to urge men and women to re-examine gender roles around the work needed to maintain a home and family: cooking, cleaning, making the kids’ doctor’s appointments, and so on. Low was on the tenure track when her first marriage fell apart. She was overwhelmed with her job, a bad commute, a new infant, and housework. She was the higher earner of the couple, and the division of labor at home felt way too lopsided. So she used her know-how as an economist to study the data on how men and women divide tasks at home and develop strategies for how couples can create a system that’s fair. Today, Low is a tenured professor and is remarried to a woman. (She notes that it is not a prescription for everyone, but it works for her.) She writes about her research and her experience in HAVING IT ALL: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours, which is a USA Today National Best Seller and an Amazon Best Nonfiction Book of the Year. 💬 In this episode, we explore: How to approach a conversation with a partner about re-allocating work around the house Why parents today are feeling “the squeeze” - when time pressures and money pressures hit at the same time - more than previous generations. What concerns Low about the “tradwife” trend Questions to ask yourself about your career path to determine if it’s compatible with the life you want outside of work Why a job with “boundaries” is better for women than a job with “flexibility.” 🔗 Visit Corinne Low’s website 📕 Find out more about Corinne Low’s book: HAVING IT ALL 📸 Follow Corinne Low on Instagram 📸 Follow Corinne Low on Substack 📸 Follow Corinne Low on LinkedIn 📸 Follow the show on Instagram: @hsdipodcast🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We love hearing insight and hard-won wisdom from some of the most exceptional and accomplished women. In this episode, we’ve put together some particularly insightful moments from a few of our guests from across our first 70 episodes. We cover how to push through those tough moments, trust your gut, and do what it takes to build the life you want (and not the life other people think you should be living.) So, as you take a moment to think about your own plans and dreams for the year ahead, we know listening to these smart and talented women share their own experiences will help inspire, clarify, and motivate you as you move forward on the path you are uniquely creating for yourself. 💬 In this episode, we hear from: Rachel Webber, CCO & CBO for Paris Hilton’s 11:11 Media, on the bold, split-second decision that changed her career-trajectory CNBC Host Melissa Lee on listening to her gut, despite disappointing her parents Filmmaker and author Crystal McCrary McGuire on the chance meeting that challenged her and helped her turn her dream career into a reality OpenTable CEO Debby Soo on finding the company where she could be her authentic self, and how she fought to become CEO Bonnie Hammer, Former NBCU Vice Chair, on the magic of asking for and getting what you want Chelsea Sodaro, 2022 Ironman World Champion, on pushing through the really tough moments Broadway producer Carmen Pavlovic on working through and learning from failure Actress Renée Elise Goldsberry on the best advice she’s received on managing anxiety Journalist Leigh Gallagher on her decision to become a single mom and how she did it Best-Selling Author Gretchen Rubin on the question that helps her tackle tough life choices 🎧Listen To Rachel Webber on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 52 🎧Listen To Melissa Lee on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 1 🎧Listen To Crystal McCrary McGuire on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 54 🎧Listen To Debby Soo on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 50 🎧Listen To Bonnie Hammer on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 57 🎧Listen To Chelsea Sodaro on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 59 🎧Listen To Carmen Pavlovic on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 30 🎧Listen To Renée Elise Goldsberry on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 61 🎧Listen To Leigh Gallagher on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 45 🎧Listen To Gretchen Rubin on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 51 💻Watch episodes on HOW SHE DOES IT on our YouTube Page 📸 Follow the show on Instagram: @hsdipodcast🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Selling subscriptions door-to-door. It was difficult work and a worst-case scenario for Angie Hicks, a self-proclaimed introvert. Straight out of college, Hicks went to work with a former boss from an internship to help launch a new business. The idea: create a resource of home repair and renovation service providers curated by customers, along with reviews. They called it Angie’s List. Now, 30 years later, the company known today as Angi is a billion-dollar brand. Angie Hicks built the foundation of the company, signing customers up one at a time and creating her famous list of service providers from scratch. Since then, she’s had a front row seat as the company has evolved from a subscription-based newsletter to an online platform that has helped 150 million people maintain, repair, and resonate their homes, as well as supported the growth of hundreds of thousands of small local businesses. 💬 In this episode, we explore: Angie’s advice for hiring the right pro to do work in your home and avoid having your project turn into a nightmare How Angie managed angry service providers who would call and yell at her after a poor review The quality that she thinks makes her a great businessperson, despite her inclination toward being an introvert Why every week she makes time to speak directly with customers and service providers Her experience going to Harvard Business School, and why she chose to return to Angie’s List once she finished The reason her husband opted to be a stay-at-home dad with their two kids, and how that impacted Angie’s approach to her career 🔗 Check out Angi.com 📸 Follow @Angi on Instagram 📸 Follow Angie Hicks on Instagram 📸 Follow Angie Hicks on LinkedIn 💻Watch episodes on HOW SHE DOES IT on our YouTube Page Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carla Hall is a force. Her effervescence is a welcome ingredient in the many shows she has fronted, including “The Chew,” Fox’s “Next Level Baker,” and Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Challenge” and “Worst Cooks in America.” But what might surprise you is that she began her professional career as an accountant after being rejected from her chosen college and a dream of studying theater. In her conversation with Karen Finerman, Carla shares how she has dealt with disappointment and setbacks, inevitably turning them into triumphs. A creative and curious entrepreneur, she has authored award-winning cookbooks, created a line of cookware for QVC, and established an online platform to guide women through personal and professional challenges. She is not afraid of embracing what’s new and next, and she is on a mission to encourage other women to approach life the same way. 💬 In this episode, we explore: The life-long dream Carla is making come true in 2026 Her thoughts on reuniting with Clinton Kelly and Michael Symon on their “Chewed Up” show and podcast Why she decided to go grey on national TV How she advocated for herself on “The Chew” when she was being passed over for opportunities Her story of meeting her husband and getting married - after 40 🔗 Check out TheMeMenu.com 🔗 Visit Carla Hall’s website 🎧 Check Out The Chewed Up Podcast & YouTube Page 📸 Follow @CarlaPHall on Instagram 📸 Follow: @ChefCarla Hall on Facebook 📸Follow @CarlaHall on X 💻Watch episodes on HOW SHE DOES IT on our YouTube Page 📸 Follow the show on Instagram: @hsdipodcast🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deborah Roberts is an Emmy and Peabody award-winning journalist. She has graced our television screens for 30+ years, from her early days at stations in Columbus, Knoxville, and Orlando to one of the most coveted jobs in the business: co-anchoring 20/20 at ABC News. That rise has come with its share of lessons and shifting priorities, but Deborah is now clearly at the top of her game. The New York Times best-selling author’s new book was inspired by her early life growing up with six sisters in Perry, Georgia. It’s called “Sisters Loved and Treasured Stories of Unbreakable Bonds.” In it, she interviewed a number of sisters to gain perspective on what makes this relationship so unique and essential. These days, Deborah and husband Al Roker are empty-nesters, and she’s knee-deep in preparation for her daughter Leila’s wedding next spring. In this episode, Deborah opens up about working her way through the ranks of TV News, her thoughts on America’s fascination with true crime, and how she’s grown to appreciate the special relationship she has with her siblings. 💬 In this episode, we explore: Deborah’s decision to turn down a big network job just as she was about to become a mother, and how that impacted her career The ways Deborah’s work and leadership style has shifted and evolved The story of how Deborah and Al first met and her thoughts on having a partner who is in the same industry (Hint: sometimes it’s great, and occasionally, it’s not-so-helpful.) What it was like interviewing daughter Leila and step-daughter Courtney about their relationship for her book Memories from her time growing up in Perry, Georgia, including moving from a segregated elementary school to an integrated school. You can see more of Deborah on ABC’s 20/20 on Friday nights and streaming the next day on Hulu and Disney+. You can also hear more on the 20/20 podcast she hosts called "The After Show" - available wherever you get your podcasts and on video on Hulu and Disney Plus. Resources:🔗 Visit ABC News 20/20 🔗 For Information on “Sisters Loved and Treasured Stories of Unbreakable Bonds.” 📸 Follow Deborah Roberts on Instagram 🎧Listen To Deborah Roberts on “The After Show” 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does one go from being a college dropout to the CEO of a billion-dollar company with a role on “Shark Tank?” If you ask Kendra Scott, the answer would be a determination to understand her customer, a hunger to keep learning, and a grateful attitude. It’s been nearly a quarter century since Scott, then a new mom, started a small jewelry business in her spare bedroom. The focus was quality, stylish pieces that were also affordable. For 10 years, she “bootstrapped” the fashion accessories business on loans and debt until she landed her first investor. By 2016, the company was valued at one billion dollars. Scott, who had a failed retail hat business prior to launching her namesake business, grew her business by making smart hires, reinvesting wisely, and learning as much as she could along the way. Kendra Scott has retained majority control of her business and has placed “family, fashion, and philanthropy” as the company's pillars. In terms of her own family, she has raised three sons and is newly engaged to country superstar Zac Brown. She describes their relationship—and the whole lives they lead, along with their blended family of eight kids—as “two comets, headed in the same direction.” 💬 In this episode, we explore: Kendra Scott’s perspective on the future of her business, now that she’s back as interim CEO after serving as executive chairwoman since 2021 Kendra Scott’s reaction to seeing Pete Davidson walk into “Shark Tank” How the Great Recession gave Kendra Scott the impetus to innovate her business Why Kendra Scott wants to create a corporate culture where her employees can give her bad news. The way Kendra Scott is raising her three sons to understand the importance of making their own money and creating their own success. 🔗 Visit Kendra Scott - Lifestyle & Jewelry Company 📸 Follow Kendra Scott - LIfestyle & Jewelry Company on Instagram 📸 Follow Kendra Scott on Instagram 📸 Follow Kendra Scott on TikTok 📸 Follow the show on Instagram: @hsdipodcast🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices