She Pivots

Join Emily Tisch Sussman as she sits down with a diverse group of women to explore how their personal experiences led to their pivot and eventually their success. She Pivots challenges the typical definitions of success and explores the role our personal stories play in our professional journeys. The series will celebrate those who have made bold moves with a view towards inspiring others to pursue their own non-linear paths. Be sure to subscribe and follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast.

  1. 1D AGO

    Laurie Tisch: My Mom

    Today's guest is someone pretty special to Emily Tisch Sussman—it's her mom, Laurie Tisch. Laurie grew up as the only girl in a big, loud family full of brothers and cousins, navigating public scrutiny while quietly figuring out who she really was. She navigated the complexities to become a woman carved out an identity that was entirely, unmistakably her own.    On this special Mother's Day episode, Laurie sits down with Emily to talk about founding her own philanthropic foundation, becoming a force in New York's arts and education world, and ownership of the New York Giants.   Chapters:   00:00.160 Welcome to She Pivots 00:30.560 Laurie Tisch Guest Introduction 01:46.573 Childhood and Early Life 05:14.523 Finding Her Own Path 09:20.254 Laurie Returns to New York City 13:18.880 Laurie's Entrance to Philanthropy and Culture 17:02.562 The Impact of The Children's Museum 22:17.107 Definitions of Success 24:32.977 The Illumination Fund: A New Chapter 28:54.791 Sports and Family Legacy 34:44.022 Low Point to Launch Point 35:27.726 My Mom's Favorite She Pivots Episodes! 37:00.210 Closing Thoughts and Happy Mother's Day! 37:26.519 Podcast Credits   Check out the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund at thelmtif.org   Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.   She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min
  2. APR 29

    Sherrie Westin: The Woman Behind Sesame Street

    Elmo, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster probably helped raise you, and the woman now leading Sesame Street traces her path there back to one transformative act: adopting her daughter Lily from China. Before joining Sesame Workshop, Sherrie Westin had already built a remarkable career at ABC News and as one of the highest-ranking women in George H.W. Bush's White House. On this episode, Sherrie shares how adopting Lily in 1995 sparked a profound pivot, and how that personal transformation shaped her 26-year journey at the helm of one of the most beloved nonprofits in the world. She opens up about leading the creation of Julia, Sesame Street's first autistic Muppet, securing a landmark $100 million grant to bring early education to refugee children across the globe, and navigating the financial uncertainty that ultimately led to a groundbreaking new deal with Netflix. Chapters: 00:00.00 Welcome to She Pivots 00:25.836 Guest Introduction: Sherrie Westin 01:58.259 Childhood and Early Life 03:28.160 Communications and the White House 09:44.959 The Transformative Power of Motherhood 12:53.840 From ABC News to Sesame Street 17:56.682 Representation and Global Impact 23:48.774 The Experiment of Sesame Street 25:20.535 The Power of The Arts on Children 27:55.460 Making a Difference To Communities in Need 31:44.265 Financial Challenges and Becoming CEO 36:00.269 What I Learned From Mom 36:53.572 From Low Point to Launch Point 37:20.029 Do You Think You'll Pivot Again? 38:09.920 Children and AI 39:20.765 Closing Thoughts and Credits   Learn more about Sesame workshop’s mission at Sesameworkshop.org   Check out Sherrie’s new book: What I Learned From Mom: 27 Celebrated Individuals on How Mother's Wisdom Shaped Their Lives.    Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.   She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.   Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com   Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates.    She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  3. APR 22

    Kerry Docherty: Faherty Co-Founder on Being Selfish, Her Affair, and Starting Over

    Kerry Docherty has spent her life being two things at once: the good girl the world expected, and someone far more complicated underneath. Co-founder and Chief Impact Officer of beloved B-Corp clothing company Faherty Brand, Kerry had a winding path, moving through Yale, human rights law, a mindfulness business, and a beach trailer selling swimsuits before landing somewhere she never quite planned. In this episode, Kerry opens up about the tangled dynamics of building a family business with her husband and his twin brother, her struggles with motherhood, and her own affair, all of which she recounts in her new debut memoir, Selfish: Unlearning, Reclaiming, and Telling the Truth, a book her loved ones didn’t want published. Chapters: 00:00.320 Welcome to She Pivots 00:29.680 Introduction to Kerry Docherty 02:08.319 Growing up in Buffalo 07:43.720 From Yale to Thailand, from Law to Mindfulness 15:48.960 The Birth of Faherty: A Family Affair 21:53.920 Marriage and the Business 25:20.148 The Friendship, The Letter, The Affair 32:59.905 Truth-Telling and Writing Selfish 38:11.600 Reception of Selfish 39:57.680 The Power of Writing and Self-Discovery 42:39.800 Reflecting on the Low Points of Motherhood 44:48.080 Do You Think You'll Pivot Again? 45:03.194 Closing Thoughts and Credits   If you liked Traitors, you’ll love Kerry’s book. Get a copy of it here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2242030/kerry-docherty/  You can follow Kerry on Instagram @kerrydocherty  Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates.    She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min
  4. APR 15

    Ali Truwit: From Shark Attack to the Paralympics Podium

    At just 25 years old, Ali Truwit has already lived several lifetimes' worth of pivots. A Yale graduate and competitive swimmer, Ali was on the cusp of launching her consulting career when a shark attack during a celebratory beach vacation changed everything, costing her part of her leg and forcing her to reimagine her future. In this episode of She Pivots, Ali shares how she fought her way back to the water and earned a silver medal on one of the world's biggest stages, all while still starting her career in consulting. She also opens up about running a marathon and the deeply personal mission behind her work supporting women and girls with limb loss and advocating for water safety.   Chapters:   00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 01:02 A Young Athlete's Journey Begins 01:47 Swimming: A Lifelong Passion 06:20 College Dreams and Career Aspirations 10:29 The Shark Attack: A Life-Changing Moment 13:46 Facing Fears and Setting New Goals 18:40 Answering Questions: Setting Boundaries 24:25 The Road to the Paralympics 29:23 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Change 33:41 Ali on Team USA at the Paralympics 35:06 Using Her Story for Good 36:30 You Are Stronger Than You Think 39:28 From Swimming to Running 41:15 Ali's inspiration for her Nonprofit 42:39 Pivoting and Embracing Change 43:20 Low Point to Launch Point 45:29 Do You Think You'll Pivot Again? 46:01 Closing Thoughts on Ali's Impact 46:47 She Pivots Podcast Production Notes   You can find Ali on Instagram @AliTruwit www.StrongerThanYouThink.com   Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.   She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.   Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com   Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates.    She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    48 min
  5. APR 8

    Carla Hall: From Top Chef to Center Stage

    If you’ve ever watched Top Chef, you may know Carla Hall and her signature catchphrase, Hootie Hoo! But Carla didn’t start her career in kitchens. Before she became a beloved TV personality and celebrated chef, Carla was a CPA at Price Waterhouse who quickly realized her destiny was not in spreadsheets. What followed was a series of bold, joy-fueled pivots: modeling in Paris, launching a lunch delivery service out of her kitchen, competing on Top Chef, co-hosting ABC's The Chew, and now taking the stage in her own one-woman show. In this episode, Carla opens up about the courage it took to keep betting on herself at every turn—from enrolling in culinary school at 30 to building a platform for women over 50—and what she's learned about cooking, performing, and living with love at the center of it all.   Chapters: 00:00.240 Welcome Back to She Pivots 01:53.240 Little Carla 05:15.520 Sunday Suppers at Grandma's 09:11.840 Beginning with Accounting 14:44.160 Moving to Paris for Modeling 19:34.200 The Birth of Lunch Bunch 21:36.960 Culinary School and Alchemy Caterers 27:41.200 Finding Love 31:36.480 Top Chef Audition and Experience 36:23.120 Food meets Performance on The Chew 41:10.840 Restaurant Venture and Saying Yes 44:23.640 Please Underestimate Me: Manifesting A Dream 47:15.480 Embracing Life's Transitions and Future Plans 48:48.134 Closing Questions 49:58.440 Closing Thoughts and Upcoming Projects Carla’s instagram: @carlaphall  Carla’s website: carlahall.com thememenu.com -- Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates.  -- NEW YORK PIVOTERS: Come see us do a live podcast recording with Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez at the Museum of the City of New York next week on April 15th! Tickets on sale now. PS– She Pivot listeners can use the code MCNY10 for a discount. -- She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min
  6. APR 1

    Huma Abedin: Both/And—Politics, Scandal, and Reclaiming Her Story

    Huma Abedin has spent decades at the center of American power, as Hillary Clinton's closest aide, Deputy Chief of Staff at the State Department, and Vice Chair of a historic presidential campaign. But when her personal life collapsed in the most public way possible, she faced a reckoning that had nothing to do with politics. In this episode, Emily talks with Huma about her remarkable rise through the highest levels of government, the very public unraveling of her marriage, the decision to reclaim her story through her New York Times bestselling memoir, Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds, and finding love again on her own terms.    Chapters:   00:29 Introduction to Huma Abedin 01:52 Growing Up in Saudi Arabia 06:38 Returning to the United States 09:48 Stepping into the Political World 13:16 Public Service, Public Scandal 17:08 2016 Presidential Election and Aftermath 25:05 Telling Her Story: Public Reinvention 30:08 Embracing Change and Future Plans 35:27 Reflections on Huma's Journey 36:08 Credits   Huma’s Instagram: @humaabedin Huma’s website: huma-abedin.com   Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.   She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.   Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com   Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates.    She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min
  7. Gloria Steinem: 92 years of activism, storytelling, and travels

    MAR 25

    Gloria Steinem: 92 years of activism, storytelling, and travels

    She Pivots is back for Season 5! If you’re new here, She Pivots was created by Emily Tisch Sussman, who made a major career pivot out of politics after having three kids in three years. She Pivots is dedicated to telling the stories of women who have pivoted in their careers due to a personal life event. And now we’re back with honest conversations about career pivots, personal reinvention, and the choices that shape our lives, so that you can be inspired to make your own pivots with confidence.   Right in time for Women’s History Month, we’re starting with one of the most iconic feminist leaders of all time: Gloria Steinem. Gloria has spent her life bringing people together across generations, identities, and movements to imagine a better future for everyone. In this special episode - launching on Gloria’s 92nd birthday! - Emily talks to Gloria about what inspired her activism, her early travels in India, her belief that change happens in inclusive circles and through storytelling, and the legacy she hopes to leave.   And big news– Gloria’s new memoir An Unexpected Life just announced today! Check out the Vanity Fair article all about it here.   Chapters:   00:00 Welcome back to She Pivots! 00:31 Emily's Pivot and Inspiration for the Show 01:42 Season Five Introduction 02:13 Gloria Steinem: A Living Legend 03:08 Gloria's Early Life 06:44 Gloria's Abortion and Her Fellowship in India 08:45 Early Career and the Playboy Bunny Exposé 15:24 The Birth of a Feminist Journalist 23:16 The Rise of a Feminist Leader 25:06 Gloria's Pivot Into Marriage 27:40 Talking Circles and the Future of Democracy 33:27 Gloria's Home as an Hub for Activism 40:18 Will Gloria Pivot Again? 42:54 Reflections on Gloria's Legacy 44:11 Closing Thoughts and Credits Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.   Gloria’s Substack: https://gloriasfoundation.substack.com/  Gloria’s Instagram: @GloriaSteinem    She Pivots was created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight women’s voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with inspirational narratives of how personal pivots can redefine professional success.   Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: https://shepivots.substack.com/   Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website www.shepivotspod.com for resources and updates.    She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min

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About

Join Emily Tisch Sussman as she sits down with a diverse group of women to explore how their personal experiences led to their pivot and eventually their success. She Pivots challenges the typical definitions of success and explores the role our personal stories play in our professional journeys. The series will celebrate those who have made bold moves with a view towards inspiring others to pursue their own non-linear paths. Be sure to subscribe and follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast.

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