How She Does It

By Karen FinermanBusiness Entrepreneurship

How She Does It episodes

July 21You Might LIke...Sari Botton on the Real Cost of People-Pleasing from the HerMoney Podcast
How She Does It is on a short hiatus, but Karen was kind enough to let us drop into your feed today. This show is part of the HerMoney Media Network — so if you like what you hear, come find us at The HerMoney Podcast.
On today's episode, Jean Chatzky sits down with Sari Botton, the writer and editor behind Oldster Magazine, a Substack newsletter with over 85,000 subscribers, and author of And You May Find Yourself: Confessions of a Late-Blooming Gen X Weirdo.
In this episode, we cover:
What the real financial cost of people-pleasing is

How women in the Oldster community have reinvented themselves professionally in their 50s, 60s, and beyond

The "compare and despair" trap so many of us fall into around money milestones

Sari's own winding career, from ghostwriting to naming pantyhose colors to building Oldster

Making peace with financial regrets
And if you're thinking about how to make your money work harder for you in retirement, be sure to pre-order Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck, your guide to building a secure, steady income stream that actually lets you enjoy the retirement you've worked so hard for.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
33 min
June 30BONUS: Life-Changing Moments: Female Founders & CEOs on Embracing Grit
What motivates some of today’s successful leaders? What person or event helped snap their futures into focus, creating a roadmap they followed with grit and resilience, determined to make it to the highest levels in business and beyond?
Some of the most high-profile founders and CEOs have shared such moments from their lives with Karen Finerman on HOW SHE DOES IT. In this episode, we want to revisit some of these pivotal experiences: from a few well-placed words of encouragement to living through circumstances they became determined to find a way out of.
Hearing these stories is a reminder of the power within each of us. We can inspire others through the right words and the right example, and we can shape our own course, however similar or different it may be from the one we’re currently on.
💬 In this episode, we hear from:
Your Rich BFF CEO and content creator Vivian Tu shares the exact moment she knew she wanted to be wealthy, and the work she did to make that happen.

TIAA CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett is a force. She details how her parents, despite some financial struggles, prepared her for a life of accomplishment and impact.

ULTA Beauty CEO Kecia Steelman on her lowest moment, and how a realization plus lots of hard work propelled her from government assistance to the C Suite.

OpenTable CEO Debby Soo details the impact of her parents' work ethic on her life and how she is trying to teach her young kids about grit and humility.

Kendra Scott, Founder, Executive Chairwoman and Chief Visionary Officer for her namesake jewelry brand, opens up about the incredibly moving story of the person who inspired her to become a businesswoman, and how an early failure led to her greatest triumph.

Ariel Investment Co-CEO Mellody Hobson reflects on all that she has been able to accomplish, who she credits for helping her, and why her own focus and hard work as a young person were pivotal for her success.
🎧Listen To Vivian Tu on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 80
🎧Listen To Thasunda Brown Duckett on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 82
🎧Listen To Kecia Steelman on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 73
🎧Listen To Debby Soo on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 50
🎧Listen To Kendra Scott on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 64
🎧Listen To Mellody Hobson on HOW SHE DOES IT Episode 29
💻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
33 min
June 16EP 88: Quitting The WSJ: Tech Journalist Joanna Stern on Her Year Embracing A.I. and Joining The Creator Economy
Imagine willingly opening up your life to as much A.I. as possible. Have a question? Ask A.I. first. Feeling blue? Talk to an A.I. therapist. Need a ride? Summon a Waymo. In journalist Joanna Stern’s New York Times bestseller “I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything,” she did all of the above and more. She shares what's hopeful, what’s creepy, and how A.I. is already in your life, whether you like it or not.
As she worked on her book in 2025, she was also facing another big question: whether or not to quit her job of 12 years at the Wall Street Journal. She was weighing the pros and cons of leaving legacy media and making the leap to the creator economy as an independent journalist - and would it pay off. She even asked A.I. for its input. For the record: A.I. said she should make the move - and she ultimately agreed. She is now CEO - Chief Everything Officer - of her new venture: New Things. There, she does what she does best: producing humorous videos and writing (in this case, a newsletter) all about the latest in tech.
💬 In this episode, we explore:
How A.I. is already in our lives, whether by invasion or by invitation

Why Joanna believes the pushback to A.I. is a good thing

Her experience with an A.I. therapist and an A.I. boyfriend

Why A.I. robots are not yet fully capable of taking over chores like cooking and cleaning

How she approached the difficult decision to leave the Wall Street Journal and how she views that move now

The challenges and rewards of being her own boss and running her own venture, New Things
Resources:
📸 Follow Joanna Stern on Instagram
📸 Follow Joanna Sternn on LinkedIn
💻 Check out New Things
💻 Watch New Things Videos on YouTube
🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode.
Ready to stop worrying about outliving your money? Pre-order Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck, and get the roadmap to a retirement that actually pays you back.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
43 min
June 09EP 87: LIVE: Risk & Reward: Kari Firestone’s 4+ Decades in Finance
In our first-ever pop-up podcast in front of a live audience, Karen Finerman sits down with Karen Firestone at the CNBC Pro Event: Wealth For Women at the Nasdaq MarketSite. Karen Firestone, who goes by Kari, began building her impressive career as an investor in the early ‘80s. There were far fewer women working in finance at that time, and things were far more challenging for women in that space than they are today. Still, Kari couldn’t have imagined taking a different path.
She was drawn to investing at a young age and for 22 years, worked her way up at Fidelity. Kari spent a good portion of that time working as an assistant fund manager to the legendary Peter Lynch on the Magellan fund. According to CNBC, the fund “earned an annualized return of 29.2%” under his leadership - an incredibly impressive feat. In 2005, at age 47, she took a big risk and launched her own company, Aureus Asset Management. She is now Chair Emerita of the firm, which manages over $8 billion in assets for families, individuals, and non-profits. She is a contributor for CNBC and the author of “Even the Odds: Sensible Risk Taking in Business, Investing, and Life.”

💬 In this episode, we explore:
What Firestone took away from working alongside Peter Lynch and learning his approach to investing

How a pregnancy surprise, a plane ride, and an unexpected run-in with a celebrity changed her life

What it was like being one of the few women at Fidelity in the 1980’s and the choices she had to make that are thankfully no longer necessary today

The importance of avoiding arrogance and embracing humility in investing

Why prioritizing exercise helped her manage a demanding job while raising four children

How her repeated battles with cancer have shifted her outlook on life
Resources:
📸 Follow Kari Firestone on LinkedIn
💻 Check Out Aureus Asset Management
💻 Check Out “Even the Odds: Sensible Risk Taking in Business, Investing, and Life.”
🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode
Ready to stop worrying about outliving your money? Pre-order Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck, and get the roadmap to a retirement that actually pays you back.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30 min
June 02EP 86: The Pitt, Hacks & Harry Potter: Inside Original Programming at HBO Max With Sarah Aubrey
What does it take to create culture-defining entertainment that not only attracts loyal viewers but wins accolades as well? We’ve asked Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Programming for HBO Max. The streaming service behind shows like “The Pitt,” “Hacks,” “And Just Like That,” and the forthcoming “Harry Potter” series is once again evolving what audiences expect from premium television: high-quality entertainment delivered on a consistent basis.

Aubrey, a Texas native, began her career as a lawyer before making the jump into film producing. Her first foray, the Billy Bob Thornton comedy “Bad Santa,” was a hit. From there, she worked with Peter Berg for many years, producing both the movie and television series “Friday Night Lights.” Now an executive, she balances managing the big picture of series and movie development with the occasional need to go deep into the details (case in point: she shared the conversation around how a particular actor’s hair should be worn in an upcoming project).

💬 In this episode, we explore:
Why she thinks “The Pitt” has been such a hit, and the thoughtful way the creators put that show together

On keeping the end of “Hacks” a secret, and why all the details in a show are so important

How Aubrey is viewing the upcoming acquisition of Warner Bros, the parent company of HBO Max, by Paramount, and why she values embracing uncertainty

How she sees women evolving in the workplace, and what she’s learning from the next generation

Why uber-producer Brain Grazer once commented that Aubrey never gets “panicked.”

How she prioritizes her three kids, and the advice from one of the most famous divorce attorneys who has helped her thrive in her big, blended family
Resources:
📸 Follow HBO Max on Instagram
💻 Watch HBO Max

🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode

Ready to stop worrying about outliving your money? Pre-order Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck, and get the roadmap to a retirement that actually pays you back.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
52 min
May 19EP 85: Brooke Shields: Taking Charge! The Actress & Model on Being an Executive Producer, Union President, and CEO of a Beauty Company
Brooke Shields has been famous her entire life. Now, in her early 60’s, the actress and model is using her passion to take charge and create impact. She is an executive producer on her new ACORN TV series YOU’RE KILLING ME, she was elected president of Actors’ Equity, and she is founder and CEO of her hair care line, COMMENCE.
It’s a portfolio she’s immensely proud of. In her new series, which she developed, she plays a crime novelist who solves murders in a sleepy town in Maine; As executive producer, she insisted on including more physical comedy, which is her strong suit. With Actors’ Equity, she admits she doesn’t love some of the politics of union work. However, she is deeply committed to using her influence to improve conditions for performers.
And Shields didn’t expect to become the CEO of a hair care line at this point in her life, but she saw a gap in the market. “Everywhere I looked, I was being told by marketing, by advertising, by the beauty industry… ‘Once your ovaries don't work, you've got one foot in the grave. You had a good run. If you're not the hot girl at the bar, you're in Depends. And it pissed me off, because I feel great now,” she shared.
💬 In this episode, we explore:
How Brooke Shields is parenting her two grown daughters, Rowan and Grier - and what it's like hanging out with the two of them and their boyfriends

How she is still feeling the influence of her 2005 book “Down Came The Rain,” about her post-partum depression, and whether her grown daughters have read the book

Why she paid a surprise visit to Casa Bonita, the restaurant and entertainment venue owned by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, on behalf of the performers she represents

Her favorite - and least favorite - parts of being a CEO and her plans for COMMENCE moving forward

How she handles being recognized nearly everywhere she goes

What she loves about writing, including in her most recent book, “Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed To Get Old.”
Resources:
📸 Follow Brooke Shields on Instagram
📸 Follow Brooke Shields on TikTok
💻 Watch YOU’RE KILLING ME on ACORN TV
💻 Check Out Brooke’s Hair Care Line COMMENCE
🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode
Ready to stop worrying about outliving your money? Pre-order Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck, and get the roadmap to a retirement that actually pays you back

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
43 min
May 12EP 84: When Your Job Is On Front Lines Of A Political Battle: Alexis McGill Johnson, CEO of Planned Parenthood
When Alexis McGill Johnson was asked in 2019 to become interim CEO of Planned Parenthood, she thought it would be a short assignment. “ I remember my famous last words to the board when I stepped in were, “‘I'll get you through 2020’,” she recalls. Almost immediately, she found herself in the unenviable position of steering a healthcare organization through a pandemic.
She embraced the challenge and eventually raised her hand to stay on full-time. She officially landed the job in 2020 and serves as CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the healthcare arm, and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the advocacy organization. Since then, there have been significant challenges, most notably the Dobbs decision by the Supreme Court in 2022, which reversed Roe V. Wade.
In this episode, Alexis McGill Johnson shares what drives her dedication to Planned Parenthood’s mission and its almost daily battle on the front lines of the fight over legalized abortion. That includes, as this conversation was recorded, the challenge by Louisiana designed to halt sales of Mifepristone, an FDA-approved abortion drug. She also opens up about what the group’s “2040 plan” entails, and what she sees as the “mission hope” of the organization and the patients it serves.

💬 In this episode, we explore:
The piece of leadership advice Alexis McGill Johnson received that unlocked a different approach in her towards her job as CEO.

What her background as a political organizer and later, founder of the Perception Institute, has taught her about spearheading this movement.

Why Condoleezza Rice was such an influential figure for her, and what she said when they first met

How and why she chose to embrace her middle name, Alexis, in lieu of her given first name

Why she feels it’s critically important to be thoughtful about how she speaks about those who disagree with her

How her work has impacted the way she and her husband parent their two daughters
Resources:
📸 Follow Alexis McGill Johnson on Instagram
📸 Follow Aleixs McGill Johnson On LinkedIn
💻 For more information on The Planned Parenthood Action Fund

🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode
Ready to stop worrying about outliving your money? Pre-order Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck, and get the roadmap to a retirement that actually pays you back.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
46 min
May 05BONUS: Moms Make Incredible Leaders: Experience, Wisdom & Advice from Women Who Have Done 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
32 min
April 21EP 83: PEOPLE’s World’s Most Beautiful: Editor-In-Chief & GM Charlotte Triggs On Running The Iconic Brand
PEOPLE is one of the most recognizable names in the entertainment news and lifestyle space, and at the helm of the print & digital enterprise is Editor-In-Chief and General Manager Charlotte Triggs. And if you’re familiar with PEOPLE, then you know the two big, annual tentpole issues of the 52-year-old publication are PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive and PEOPLE’s World’s Most Beautiful.
Charlotte Triggs gives listeners an inside look at putting those issues together, including her most recent effort: Anne Hathaway’s cover and interview for PEOPLE’s World’s Most Beautiful. Triggs spoke with the “Devil Wears Prada 2” star and shares her takeaways from their conversation. Triggs also opens up about her climb to the top of PEOPLE, where she started as an intern . She's been serving as Editor-In-Chief and General Manager since early 2025. During her career, the media landscape has changed dramatically, and Triggs has had a front row seat. Despite diminishing print sales across the industry, she is focused on keeping the brand moving forward. Among those efforts: finding ways to keep their core audience engaged, including the introduction of The PEOPLE App last year.

💬 In this episode, we explore:
What it’s like booking celebrities for these special issues (including what’s happening with this year’s PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive)

How the staffing at PEOPLE has transformed over the years as the media business has changed

Why journalism and getting the story right are still paramount

The reason the Kennedy Family, and most recently the series “Love Story,” continues to capture the attention of PEOPLE readers

How Charlotte Triggs views what brands are - are not - PEOPLE’s competition

What it is like for her going to awards shows like The Grammys

The career strategy she used to continually advance at the brand

Her leadership style, including her “direct” approach in dealing with her team

The celebrity who is her dream cover, which she has yet to land

Advice for journalists who want to work at PEOPLE
Resources:
💻 Visit People.com
📲Download the PEOPLE App
📸 Follow Charlotte Triggs on Instagram
📸 Follow Charlotte Triggs On LinkedIn
📸 Follow PEOPLE 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
40 min
April 14EP 82: Thasunda Brown Duckett: Rewriting the Rules of Being a CEO
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
50 min

About How She Does It

From the publisher's feed

On every episode of HOW SHE DOES IT you’ll be listening in to a conversation with a female leader — leaders in all industries — who make their own space and build their careers in unique ways. How She Does It is about a woman’s place in the world and in the economy, but it’s also about our power, our emotions, careers, families, and so much more.