Emily Hikade led a secret life for many years. As a diplomat turned CIA officer, Emily engaged in dangerous counterterrorism work, even as she built a family. But a life-altering, near-death experience changed her perspective, leading her to eventually pivot out of the CIA and create Petite Plume, a wildly successful pajama company. On this episode of She Pivots, Emily talks about being in a field dominated by men, how she leveraged her skills as a negotiator in the pajama business, and the role of her family in the career decisions she’s made.

She Pivots was created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight women, their stories, and how their pivot became their success. To learn more about Emily Hikade, follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast or visit shepivotsthepodcast.com.

Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/

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On the road for a 4th of July weekend getaway? Taking a long flight to a sunny destination? She Pivots has your travel playlist! We’re taking a look back into our archives to highlight three of our favorite–and most timely–episodes. Links below!

LISTEN TO ALLYSON FLEIX: https://link.chtbl.com/Allyson_Felix?sid=ShePivots_070324

In advance of the Olympics, take a listen to Emily’s conversation with Allyson Felix, the world’s most decorated track and field athlete.

LISTEN TO PAULA NEIRA: https://link.chtbl.com/PaulaNeira?sid=ShePivots_070324

If you’re feeling extra patriotic, spend some time with Paula Neira, a Navy veteran who left behind the career she loved to pursue her authentic self as a transgender woman and fight for equality for nurses, service members, and transgender Americans.

LISTEN TO TETIANA POUDEL: https://link.chtbl.com/Tetiana_Poudel?sid=ShePivots_070324

Revisit Tetiana Poudel’s episode–the story of a Ukrainian woman who was called to serve her country when Russia attacked it.

She Pivots was created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight women, their stories, and how their pivot became their success. To learn more about our amazing guests, follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast or visit shepivotsthepodcast.com.

Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may know Ilana from her award-winning TV series, Broad City, and her self-admittedly “wild” and “free” character, Ilana Wexler. However, Ilana has soared far beyond her character on the Broad City, writing and starring in her own movies, including Babes (in theaters now!!), releasing her own stand-up comedy special, and diving into political activism through the Generator Collective. On this episode of She Pivots, the comedian, activist, producer, and actress talks about how Broad City went from a web series to a critically acclaimed series on Comedy Central; the differences between her character on Broad City and herself; why she decided to launch Generator Collective and what they’re doing this year before the upcoming election; and how creating Babes was an immensely personal process.

She Pivots was created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight women, their stories, and how their pivot became their success. To learn more about Ilana, follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast or visit shepivotsthepodcast.com.

Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/

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Alexis McGill Johnson never had taking over Planned Parenthood on her life’s bingo card. But as a woman whose family tree is full of inspirational women, it’s no surprise that Alexis has been able to steer the organization through one of the most tumultuous times for women’s health care access. On this episode of She Pivots, Alexis shares the stories of her grandmother and mother who paved the way for her success, pivoting from teaching at Yale and Wesleyan to organizing, working at the intersection of politics and hip hop, founding and growing the Perception Institute, and becoming the leader of Planned Parenthood. She also details what the reproductive health care landscape looks like now and what’s ahead in the fight for abortion rights.

She Pivots was created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight women, their stories, and how their pivot became their success. To learn more about Alexis, follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast or visit shepivotsthepodcast.com.

Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/

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Jennifer Esposito grew up in Staten Island, surrounded by the violence of the Mafia and dreaming of escaping and making it to the big screen. But it wasn’t until her recent film, Fresh Kills, that she was truly able to claim her career for herself and tell the stories of the human experience that she longed to share with the world. On this episode of She Pivots, Jennifer talks with Emily about the disappointments in her early career, her battle with celiac disease, and why Fresh Kills is so deeply personal to her - a letter to her former self.

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She Pivots was created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight women, their stories, and how their pivot became their success. To learn more about Jennifer, follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast or visit shepivotsthepodcast.com.

Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/

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Shannon Watts had been a stay-at-home mom for five years when she turned on the TV to see horror unfolding at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. After witnessing the aftermath of the murder of 20 children and 6 adults on that cold day in December, Shannon knew she had to channel her rage into action. What started as a Facebook page called One Million Moms for Gun Control eventually became Moms Demand Action, one of the leading advocacy groups in the country fighting our country’s gun violence epidemic. In this episode of She Pivots, Shannon recounts growing up with ADHD and finding her passion for journalism; leaving behind her successful PR career to prioritize her kids; the lessons learned from losing the vote on universal background checks; the importance of diversity in leadership; and what’s next for her after stepping down as CEO of Moms Demand Action.

Be sure to subscribe, leave us a rating, and share with your friends if you liked this episode!

She Pivots was created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight women, their stories, and how their pivot became their success. To learn more about Shannon, follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast or visit shepivotsthepodcast.com.

Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/

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For the first 42 years of Julia’s life, she lived in a ultra-Orthodox community working as a teacher. But her decision to leave that community in 2013 set her on an entirely new course, launching shoe and clothing lines, writing a best-selling book, and becoming the star of her own reality TV show, My Unorthodox Life. In this episode of She Pivots, Julia reveals what life was like in the Haredi community, how a comment from her daughter pushed her to leave, her commitment to women and making their world better, and how she fought back in her very public and very controversial divorce battle.

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She Pivots was created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight women, their stories, and how their pivot became their success. To learn more about Julia, follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast or visit shepivotsthepodcast.com.

Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/

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Fran Drescher is an American pop culture icon, having made her mark in the 1990s in the starring role of her sitcom, The Nanny. But Fran has faced her fair share of pain, too–pain that inspired some of her most impactful career pivots. In this special episode of She Pivots, recorded live at Lincoln Center, Fran discusses the inspiration for The Nanny, how she leveraged her international fame and personal fight with cancer to create Cancer Schmancer, and her experiences serving as President of SAG-AFTRA during the longest strike in the union’s history.

Be sure to subscribe, leave us a rating, and share with your friends if you liked this episode!

She Pivots was created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight women, their stories, and how their pivot became their success. To learn more about Fran, follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast or visit shepivotsthepodcast.com.

Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.