Press Profiles

Sara Eisen’s recipe for success is pretty straight forward: “Always have an expertise, and a niche. It will pay off in the end.” For Eisen, developing that niche meant choosing an internship at Foreign Exchange TV to launch her career (even if it meant turning down a much sexier internship with Howard Stern!). Now, almost two decades later, Eisen is a prominent anchor on CNBC leaning on her foreign exchange and currency knowledge on a regular basis. On this episode of Press Profiles, we discuss Eisen’s daily routine, her favorite interviews including recent ones with Janet Yellen in China and Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, her documentary on the business of Formula 1 (and how her little kids turned her onto the sport) and finally, how her Holocaust-surviving grandfather taught her the art and importance of storytelling. All that and a whole lot more on episode #50 of Press Profiles!

James Mackintosh spent six years at Oxford studying philosophy. It turns out that was the perfect training to become a financial markets columnist. On this episode of Press Profiles, we explore James's nearly 30-year career spanning the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal. We discuss his writing process and his search for endlessly interesting stories. Plus, we talk about the financial nuances of the Israel protests, what it’s like to cover the auto industry when you don’t own a car, the “exceptionally nasty” feedback columnists sometimes get, why you should be able to sell your kidney, and of course, a whole lot more.

In a life that has brought her to almost every corner of the earth, Diane Brady has made a career of finding stories in unexpected places. Now, she is turning her attention to bringing Fortune’s live events and CEO initiative to the next level. On this episode of Press Profiles, we discuss where she wants to take the franchise, along with some of her favorite stories, her history as a debating champion, what it takes to be a good moderator, and how, as a 15-year-old, her desire to see a rock band launched her career in journalism.

Laura Kreutzer is one of the longest tenured reporters in Private Equity. A scholarship student who earned her way into some of the most prestigious educational institutions, Laura has brought keen insight, deep understanding, and a warm personality to her coverage of the ever-changing asset class. On this episode of Press Profiles – live from Laura's home city of Boston – we talk about her vast reporting experiences, and she takes us behind the scenes of the Wall Street Journal’s Pro Private Equity offering. We also discuss what it was like to study in China during the Tiananmen Square protests, what it takes to be a good manager, her unique hobbies including metalsmithing (and her love of blow torches) and, of course, a whole lot more.

Caroline Hyde has thrived in several roles at Bloomberg for the past 16 years, most recently leading the charge at Bloomberg Technology alongside co-anchor Ed Ludlow. But before she brought her infectious energy to TV, she was working on the other side of the screen as a PR professional. On this episode of Press Profiles, we discuss her early trials on TV, her love for technology, her passion for making sure new voices are heard, getting stuck in New Zealand during COVID, memorable interviews with Ursula Burns and Sheryl Sandberg, the (very) dirty job she had as a teenager, how she approaches TikTok…and most importantly, why she loves the diversity of life.

Oliver Shah has rapidly become one of the most impactful journalists in Britain. His quick career rise to associate editor at the The Sunday Times (the paper he grew up reading) has been due in large part to his ability to find the "sizzle on the steak" when it comes to journalism. On this episode of Press Profiles, my UK colleague and guest co-host, Phil Walters and I speak to Oli about his exclusive scoops and riveting news nuggets, including his many colorful conversations with business icon, Sir Philip Green. We also hit on the UK Post Office scandal, how he structures stories, the pain of missing out on an exclusive (“a combination of being kicked really hard, somewhere sensitive, plus having some sort of like sudden fever, like a malaria.”) and the mantra that has defined his career: "God loves a tryer."  

As the son of a butcher, Dan Colarusso grew up seeing how the sausage got made. Now, he oversees sausage making of a different type. As Senior Vice President of Business News at CNBC, Dan is the man behind all the decisions that affect the network’s programming. He has honed his news judgment and style over the course of 40 years, influenced by stops at Bloomberg, The NY Post, Reuters and TheStreet.com. On this episode of Press Profiles, Dan explains how he uses the three C’s – “Characters, Conflicts and Companies” – to make business news interesting and relevant to the millions of viewers he hopes to empower. We discuss all that plus, his favorite meals to cook, the struggles of the New York Mets, Taylor Swift, “double-assed goats” and of course, a whole lot more.

Bloomberg News is one of the biggest news organizations globally, with 2,400 reporters, and coverage that reaches every medium from wires, to broadcast, to print, and radio - and John Micklethwait is the man that sits atop of it all. On this episode of Press Profiles, we discuss John's career journey from The Economist to Bloomberg, some of his favorite interviews (which include sitting down with Putin), where Bloomberg is headed next, his foray into screenwriting, his early career as "not a particularly stellar banker", the challenges of rooting for Leicester City, and of course, a whole lot more.

Most sports reporters sit in the press box. Abe Madkour’s staff of reporters sit in the C-Suite. On this episode of Press Profiles, we sit down with Sports Business Journal’s Publisher and Executive Editor to explore his love for the "game behind the game" and how he has built an industry-renowned publication that covers the business of sports. We get into his early days, starting in politics, then sports, and eventually making the transition to journalism. Early on he had to wake up early, gather newspapers, and compile them into what was then "Sports Business Daily". That beginning has grown into a career leading a staff of 130 employees in bureaus across the country. We also discuss the hottest topics in sports business today including NIL, athletes growing their business portfolios, the evolution of sponsorships, changes in team ownership, and of course, a whole lot more.

On this edition of Press Profiles, we head to the Middle East to sit down with the head of one of the leading news organizations in the UAE. Mina Al Oraibi was born in Iraq, and growing up her and her family were exiles in Saudi Arabia. She has spent time in the UK, US, and now the UAE. She shares her global perspective and a lifetime of experiences, plus what it’s like to be at the helm of large news organization in one of the most dynamic regions of the world.