9 to 5ish with theSkimm

Ava DuVernay on How Listening Will Help You Level Up Your Career

Listen Later

Award-winning director and producer Ava DuVernay, known for her groundbreaking films like “Selma,” “A Wrinkle In Time,” and “Origin,” didn’t actually start her career behind the camera. She spent years working in public relations before taking the plunge and pivoting in her 30s. Spoiler: it paid off. And she’s got an Academy Award to show for it. To kick off our new season of "9 to 5ish," we spoke to Ava about how she embraced change and found joy in her career.


PS: Ava’s film, “Origin,” will be streaming on demand starting March 12.


In this episode, Ava shares: 

  • Why she’s intentional about finding joy in her work 
  • What “ear hustling” is – and why it’s helped her level up in her career 
  • How she’s learned to embrace change in her industry 
  • The secret to a good working partnership (plus, what she’s learned from Oprah)

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

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    9 to 5ish with theSkimmBy theSkimm
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5

    4.5

    1,857 ratings

    More shows like 9 to 5ish with theSkimm

    View all
    How I Built This with Guy Raz by Guy Raz | Wondery

    How I Built This with Guy Raz

    30,293 Listeners

    Up First from NPR by NPR

    Up First from NPR

    56,200 Listeners

    Second Life by Second Life

    Second Life

    2,855 Listeners

    The goop Podcast by Goop, Inc. and Audacy

    The goop Podcast

    6,660 Listeners

    The Liz Moody Podcast by Liz Moody

    The Liz Moody Podcast

    2,966 Listeners

    Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff by Rebecca Minkoff

    Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff

    509 Listeners

    Career Contessa by Career Contessa

    Career Contessa

    446 Listeners

    Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel by LinkedIn

    Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

    1,017 Listeners

    Skimm This by theSkimm

    Skimm This

    3,623 Listeners

    Raising Good Humans by Dear Media, Aliza Pressman

    Raising Good Humans

    1,841 Listeners

    The Anxious Achiever by Morra Aarons-Mele

    The Anxious Achiever

    575 Listeners

    Unlocking Us with Brené Brown by Vox Media Podcast Network

    Unlocking Us with Brené Brown

    23,640 Listeners

    Lipstick on the Rim by Sony Music Entertainment

    Lipstick on the Rim

    986 Listeners

    Good Inside with Dr. Becky by Dr. Becky Kennedy

    Good Inside with Dr. Becky

    4,326 Listeners

    We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle and Audacy

    We Can Do Hard Things

    41,033 Listeners

    Well Played by theSkimm

    Well Played

    172 Listeners

    The Everygirl Podcast by The Everygirl Media Group

    The Everygirl Podcast

    258 Listeners