Life, Deconstructed

Christina Wallace is a Harvard Business School lecturer, serial entrepreneur, and self-described ‘human Venn Diagram.' She joins us to go in depth on her new book “The Portfolio Life,” a thought-provoking takedown of our outdated concept of work-life balance, with deeply practical advice on how to build a life that, in her words, is bigger than a business card. *Why having a ‘solid career path' is no longer the path to a stable future*How to leverage your skills to transition between seemingly unrelated careers*Establishing an identity bigger than your job*Why everyone should create their own personal ‘board of directors'And much, much more.

She's a globally successful singer-songwriter, musician and composer who sings in Hebrew, Arabic and French. Riff Cohen's music doesn't fit neatly into any one category - it's been described as modern Middle Eastern  Rock or Algerian folk,  but it's also the kind of sound that blends influences so vividly, it's better to just listen instead of label. She was born to parents of Tunisian and French-Algerian origins, raised in Israel, and took an artistic scholarship in Paris, where her appropriately titled hit debut album, 'A Paris,' was born. She's since toured the world and released two more albums. Amid work on her fourth, Riff spoke candidly about the all-consuming process of creation and the fear of releasing it into the world, on discovering her femininity, and on learning to live peacefully with her fierce inner critic - and to own her success. 

This week we're bringing you more distilled advice from the talented and inspiring women on the show, who've all opened up and shared candid reflections about how they got to where they are, and what they figured out along the way. And that's really at the core of these conversations: getting a peak behind the curtain at the winding, often unexpected paths that lead to success. For some of the women you'll hear from, it's more about a life philosophy. Others share specific tools they've used to figure out their next steps.

This week we're continuing to highlight some of our favorite words of wisdom from the incredible women on the show - this time, sharing the best advice they ever got, and the best life lessons they ever learned. You'll hear from women from all kinds of industries, from fashion and design, to tech, security, journalism, law, and film. They share their insights on fear and failure, work culture and loving what you do, confidence, and more.

A special episode of Life, Deconstructed, as we start to pull together some of our favorite anecdotes and insights from the incredible women on the show. As always, our conversations are with fascinating women from all kinds of fields and backgrounds: from an ex-CIA operative, to tech CEOs, fashion founders and award-winning journalists and producers. They each had their own unique, winding, often unpredictable path to get to where they are – but no matter how different – there are common threads in all of their experiences. Here are 12 inspiring women on imposter syndrome, and learning how to take up space.

Adeena Sussman has had a pretty intense five years: co-authoring two bestselling cookbooks with Chrissy Teigen, getting married and moving to Tel Aviv, and writing her first solo (and wildly successful) cookbook, Sababa, named a Best Fall 2019 Cookbook by the New York Times, Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine. But finding her lane - and success - didn't come overnight. It came out of a winding path, trial and error, odd jobs, and eventually co-authoring over a dozen cookbooks. While working on her next book, Shabbat, Adeena opened up about her orthodox upbringing; how almost burning down a famous author's apartment ended up being a blessing in disguise; coming to realize something she loved could be an actual job, and being open to try new things - always.  

This week Michelle Morgan takes us inside her path into marketing, branding and strategy - how she found a space to create real impact and find personal meaning in her work. It started out with ditching the pre-med track in favor of the fashion closets at glossy magazines she always dreamed of; but following more of what she calls 'conscious decisions' led her to working on high-profile, inclusive campaigns for Dove, and the Crown act: legislation helping put an end to hair discrimination, especially for black women. She talks about rerouting her direction along the way, why working at an ice cream shop taught her skills that paid off big in her career, playing a role in changing standards of beauty, and finally getting comfortable and confident with her natural hair. 

Chama Mechtaly was born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco, to Arab Muslim parents. But in middle school she discovered her dad's family secret, hidden even from her mom: his Jewish roots. It changed the course of her life - setting her on a path of trying to understand her country's true history, as well as her own. She's channeled it into incredible work aimed at healing rifts between Jews and Muslims. Now based in Dubai, she created the jewelry line Moors & Saints as a creative and unexpected way to do exactly that. In a raw, open conversation she talks us through the path to understanding her identity, being censored by everyone from her country to an (ex) partner, and her secret to having tough, uncomfortable - and great conversations. 

Her designs are raw, purposefully imperfect - and endlessly elegant. Back in 2012, feeling lost and a bit heartbroken, a (boring) one-day wax carving class set Rosh Mahtani on a completely new path. She ended up founding Alighieri, a jewelry collection inspired by Dante Alighieri's 'Divine Comedy.' Less than 5 years later, the business had an annual growth rate of 500% and was sold in big-name stores like Selfridges, Net-a-Porter, and Matches Fashion. As the brand moved into its new London showroom, Rosh talked to us about growing up in Zambia, why she hates being put in a box, and how she dove fearlessly into launching a meaningful jewelry brand, with no "official" jewelry making experience. 

To say Mariam Wardak has an unusual life story is a bit of an understatement. Born to a family with a prominent legacy in Afghanistan. Raised as a boy by her father until the age of 3. School in America. And a short trip back to Kabul that ended up changing the course of her life. She's since played a major role in her country — from the National Security Council to founding Her Afghanistan, supporting Afghan women in everything from tech to peacebuilding. She tells us about the life lessons learned as a 15 year-old at tribal elder meetings in Afghanistan, her 'own brand' of feminism, finding the courage to walk away from things that look great on paper, and learning to communicate with the Taliban — and her husband.

Starting at the ripe age of 3 years old, Kirin Sinha thought she'd be a dancer - and took it so seriously her mom had to tell her to take it down a level. When an injury put a sudden end to her dream, she ended up at MIT, imagining life as a professor. Instead she started a national nonprofit for young girls, Shine, before founding the groundbreaking augmented reality startup Illumix. They've so far secured $13 million in VC funding, been named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in 2020, and spotlighted by Google as a partner in the AR game. Kicking off season 2, Kirin explains why being forced to race up and down stairs doing math helped shape who she is, what makes a successful entrepreneur, her secret to building rock-solid confidence, and why everyone should do the 'Genie test.' 

Brooke Goldstein is a powerhouse attorney, an award-winning filmmaker, a founder, and mom. Soon after settling on human rights law, she founded the nonprofit Children's Rights Institute, followed up by The Lawfare Project. You can find her lecturing at law schools across the country, or analyzing and debating on major TV networks - unapologetic about her views. We caught up on how making a documentary about terrorism when she was "young and stupid" steered her to human rights law, running businesses while raising three boys, and her tried and true tips for stepping up your public speaking and debating game.

When we watch and think of movies, it's all about the actors, the celebrities, the directors. The people less talked about are the producers behind the scenes - the ones problem solving and quite literally making it all happen. Anahid Nazarian is one of those names. For over 30 years she's collaborated with Francis Ford Coppola; her screen credits include The Outsiders, The Godfather Part III, and Bram Stoker's Dracula. She's worked on screenplays with legendary writers like John Le Carre, Mario Puzo, and Paul Schrader. A self-described woman of few words, she opens up about how she got into the industry (as a librarian), what it's really like to produce a major film, and why Francis Ford Coppola is crazy - in a good way. 

For over 12 years, Jane Ferguson has lived in the Middle East, reporting for CNN, Al Jazeera and now PBS from some of the most dangerous conflict zones in the world. Inside the civil war in Yemen; one of the first on the ground in rebel-held Syria; in and out of Somalia and Afghanistan - and a long way from her childhood in Northern Ireland. An award-winning journalist and journalism professor at Princeton, she opens up about what she learned while navigating dangerous assignments alone, the "bizarre chivalry" of the Taliban, why being underestimated is her greatest asset, and how to persuade skeptical strangers to trust in her, and talk. 

Brigid Kaelin's story is unlike any other we've heard so far on the podcast. She's a musician, composer, and coach, who commands over 10 instruments and has played with people like Elvis Costello and opened for Loretta Lynn. But she never thought of music as a serious enough career. After a stint at CBS News that included a bad run in with Bill Cosby himself, it was her mom's cancer that ended up steering Brigid in a direction she never thought she could go. She reflects on that path, motherhood, the life-changing impact of trusting one's instincts, and how her own recent cancer diagnosis has shifted her thinking. 

Nadia Ellis grew up in a religious, tight-knit community in Milan, at once under a microscope, and also an outsider. Several times she picked up, packed up, and started her life anew. Her path? Going from a PhD in discourse analysis - learning the art of persuasion - to hosting her own vegan cooking show shot across Italy. We chat about having the courage to always try new things, keeping your eyes open to unexpected opportunities, and learning that our identity doesn't need to be one thing - or something other people understand. 

Paula Galperin has spent 16 years in retail, at big-name brands from Aritzia, to Target, to Urban Outfitters. That's where she's now Head of Merchandising, and helping guide the company through one of the toughest times in the history of the business. She joins us from Philadelphia on how the concept of management has changed, her journey so far, and why learning to let go of the 'perfect career plan' has been a key part of it.  

In 2014, Sara Just was brought in to run one of the most storied newscasts, in one of the country's most storied institutions – NewsHour on PBS. As Executive Producer she's revitalized the show, presided over double-digit growth, and led the team through the shocking passing of co-anchor Gwen Ifill in 2016. She came in with 25 years of experience at ABC News, along the way picking up 16 Emmys and 6 Peabodys, and raising her two sons. I caught up with her at home (these days also a newsroom) on how she got into TV in the first place, balancing a family with a relentless nightly news schedule, and what she would tell her 20 year-old self. 

Alexandra Waldman has been a fashion editor in Tokyo, a writer in Paris, and a financial marketer in Moscow. But it was in 2015 in New York that her life changed, and took on a whole new path filled with personal meaning. She co-founded Universal Standard, a line of beautiful, quality clothing ranging from size 00 to 40. Their first collection sold out in just 6 days - and since then, they've been named one of Fast Company’s most innovative companies and raised investment from big names like Gwyneth Paltrow. In an intimate and funny conversation, she talks about never believing her dream could be real, how she and her partner faked it till they made it, and why they're creating nothing less than a revolution in the industry.

Tina Sharkey isn't someone you can sum up too briefly. She's spent over two decades building brands, businesses, and platforms, from iVillage, later sold to NBC, to AOL, and Brandless, which kicked off with a $300 million investment. She's a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, board member and mentor, whose name shows up on big-name lists like the ‘Top 100 People Transforming Business,' and the ’Most Daring Entrepreneurs.’ We caught up on how a 15-minute meeting out of college ended up changing her career path, handling the toughest moments in business, and the one key thing she teaches as a mentor. 

Patricia Sexton spent a decade in banking, from Wall Street to Singapore to Tokyo, racking up a roster of major clients. 6:30am on the trading floor, making the kind of money to support the sort of New York lifestyle you see in sitcoms. But her path to fulfillment meant saying no to a coveted job at Goldman Sachs, leaving it all behind, and - wait for it - interning at a TV news station in Mongolia. She's since anchored a talk show on pursuing passions for Sinovision, authored the book "Live from Mongolia," and launched an incredible project called The Happiness Idea. Her path has been filled with surprising moments and emotional stories, from a pivotal week alone in Tibet, to turning down a massive check from her finance boss, and a party in Hong Kong that changed the direction of her life. 

Amanda Gunawan was born in Indonesia and grew up there until the age of 6, when her family had to abruptly flee the country. She ended up following a creative itch into architecture, and at just 26 co-founded the high-end architecture & design firm OWIU, leading massive projects from the U.S. to Asia. She opens up about being shaped by her unusual childhood, her recipe for figuring out her ideal career, how a side project on Instagram ended up becoming a huge platform, and what we can all do in this crazy Covid reality to make our living spaces fit our new lives. 

Miri Eisin was born in California, raised in Israel, and spent 20 years in the military - serving as Deputy Head of the Combat Intelligence Corps, and retiring as a full colonel. In each position along the way, she was the only woman in the room - and the very first woman to do her job. She later also became the first woman in the country's history to serve as foreign media advisor to the prime minister. In a thoughtful conversation, she reflects on why she loved working in intelligence, the biggest mistake she ever made, and how over the years her definition of success has changed dramatically.

Emmy-award winning journalist and filmmaker Yael Lavie has covered some of the biggest events of our lifetimes, from 9/11 on the ground in New York City, to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and the Arab Spring. In a funny and emotional talk, she explains why her life path was forever changed by her sister smoking a joint, why she had to twice pull herself away from 'chasing bullets,' and how having kids gave a fearless war reporter more courage than she ever had before. 

By age 29, Daphny Bravo had climbed quickly through the executive ranks at Macy's, promoted 8 times in 9 years and managing $300 million dollars in annual retail sales. On paper - a major success straight out of business school. But it took her body shutting down, a hurricane, and ultimately pregnancy to confront what she knew deep down: she wasn't in the right place, and 'success' wasn't exactly what she'd been sold. In a deeply introspective conversation, Daphny takes us through the process of becoming a dramatically different, fulfilled version of herself - mentally, emotionally, and physically. On the way: long aimless walks, an unexpected yoga guide, and...paper. Lots of paper. Today she's the founder and creator behind DLaurenB Paperflorals: gorgeous paper flower creations sold around the world. She also recently co-founded Moguls of Infinite Opportunity: a community of women created to elevate each other in their personal and professional lives.

By age 29, Daphny Bravo had climbed quickly through the executive ranks at Macy's, promoted 8 times in 9 years and managing $300 million dollars in annual retail sales. On paper - a major success straight out of business school. But it took her body shutting down, a hurricane, and ultimately pregnancy to confront what she knew deep down: she wasn't in the right place, and 'success' wasn't exactly what she'd been sold. In a deeply introspective conversation, Daphny takes us through the process of becoming a dramatically different, fulfilled version of herself - mentally, emotionally, and physically. On the way: long aimless walks, an unexpected yoga guide, and...paper. Lots of paper. Today she's the founder and creator behind DLaurenB Paperflorals: gorgeous paper flower creations sold around the world. She also recently co-founded Moguls of Infinite Opportunity: a community of women created to elevate each other in their personal and professional lives.

Alana Karen started working at Google back when no one had ever heard of that strange word, way before it turned into the world-changing giant that it is. She's an award-winning leader and speaker who's spent 20 years in tech, today as a Director at Google. Her new book is “Adventures of Women in Tech: How We Got Here and Why We Stay.” In it, advice, a lot of insight, and interviews with over 80 women, who all followed very different paths to get to where they are. We go in-depth on everything from learning how to be a great leader, to her way of figuring out what to do next in life, and what she would tell her 20 year-old self.

Just about 9 years ago, Stephanie Mark began turning a passion project into a major force. With two good friends, she co-founded Coveteur as a way to peek into the lives of the fashion set and global tastemakers – influencers, way before influencers were a thing. It exploded overnight – and ever since, Coveteur has become a massive, award-winning brand. We talk about how she went from being an intern carrying a ladder on the subway, to founding, running, and selling a multi-million dollar business, partnering with some of the biggest brands in the world. Plus, learning things the hard way. A lot.

Mary Beth Long spent 13 years in the CIA as an operations officer, then moved on to the Defense Department where she became the first woman confirmed by the Senate to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense. She later went on to found the defense firm Metis Solutions - and by the time she sold it in 2016, it had been dubbed by Inc. Magazine as one of America's fastest growing companies 3 years running. She talks about everything from hostage training, to how being a woman has helped her be a great negotiator, and the advice she got from her first CIA boss that's guided her whole life.

Intimate, open conversations with successful women on how they got to where they are, the debates, decisions, and doubts along the way, and what success even means. Join us for candid talks with women from all fields and backgrounds - from an ex-CIA operative, to a fashion mogul, an Emmy-award winning journalist, and a longtime senior Googler.