Jean Case is a prolific executive, investor, philanthropist, and impact investing pioneer. She is the Chairman of the National Geographic Society and CEO of the Case Foundation, which has been recognized for addressing significant social challenges and driving exponential impact. Jean is also the author of her latest book, Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose. Jean is dedicated to social impact and she and her husband Steve Case joined The Giving Pledge and publicly reaffirmed their commitment to give away the majority of their wealth to fund worthy charitable causes. In today's episode, Jean talks to us about how to take big bets, how to step outside of your comfort zone, and what it really takes to create a big vision and an extraordinary, fearless life. The 5 principles of being fearless (4:10) The importance of "failing in the footsteps of giants" (5:44) Social media's impact on perceived success (6:15) How to create urgency in your life even without life threatening situations (8:24) Taking the long view in life (9:12) The early stages of growth at AOL from startup to a "10 year overnight sensation" as the first internet company to go public (11:08) How to leverage disenfranchisement to your advantage (15:38) How your brain can trick you even when you know you're safe (22:00) Some questions we discuss: How did you overcome your fear of risk? (19:44) How to differentiate between what's real fear and what's not? (21:11) Are you someone who has mostly done things in your life you're sure you could be good at? (20:54) How do you start right where you are? (25:21) What is your experience as a woman in tech? (27:57) "The world might count you out, but don't be the one who counts yourself out. Stay in the game, keep the long view"

Fran Hauser is a best-selling author and successful startup investor, and she did not have to sacrifice her personality to achieve it. In her book, The Myth of the Nice Girl, Fran talks about how to bring your best self to work, and how to achieve a career you love without becoming a person you hate. Learn how Fran successfully navigated her career in a leadership style true to herself, how to successfully transition between roles, how to build trust with managers, and the key to pitching an investor or mentor to invest in you. Fran gives us simple, actionable strategies that can change your career today. In this episode, you will learn: The unproductive territory of people-pleasing (5:24) When Fran began thinking of herself as a leader (6:37) Why you need to be known for something (9:06) How to choose a path when you are at a crossroads (19:33) Why you must separate the personal from the professional when hiring (35:40) Ways to cultivate and keep trust (41:56) Concepts from the book that resonated most with readers (46:13) Some questions we discuss: What is the myth of the "nice girl"? (1:28) Why did Fran choose the word "nice" for her book? (3:17) What were Fran's career motivations? (10:08) What is Fran's advice to those who realize entrepreneurship is not as glamorous as it seems? (21:28) What exercises has Fran done to figure out what she wants in life? (31:53) How do you find the right mentor? (48:53) Fran Hauser's quick fire answers to "one thing" questions. (52:52) Links and Resources The Myth of the Nice Girl by Fran Hauser Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse Four-Square Model of setting boundaries and priorities

Beth Comstock, GE's former CMO and first ever female Vice Chair, is fresh off the release of her new book,  Imagine It Forward: Courage, Creativity, and the Power of Change. where she shares what she's had to do throughout her career to overcome self-doubt, the best risks she's ever taken, and how women in particular can learn to get comfortable with being ambitious.  Despite her decades of success, she admits to a lifelong struggle with painful shyness and lack of confidence. She doesn't shy away from sharing her biggest hardships (like single motherhood) and mistakes (that nearly cost her huge promotions) either. Beth shares what it means to have social courage, how you can build it into your daily habits, and what it can do for your life and career. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The unexpected and less-than-glamorous side of becoming an author. [3:12] How becoming a single mother spurred Beth into action. [9:07] What's in Beth's own internal monologue of insecurity, and how she fights it. [10:59] How perceived failures can teach us to take control of our own narratives. [14:11] All about the biggest career leap Beth ever made—even though her colleagues thought she was crazy. [15:22] Some of Beth's personal confidence exercises & The importance of saying "I don't know." [23:12] The big mistake that almost cost her a huge promotion. [28:48] The piece of advice Beth took from a certain 14-year-old girl. [30:45]  Some Questions We Discuss: How is writing and publishing a book an entrepreneurial pursuit? [2:00] Where do confidence and shyness issues come from in the first place? [7:02] What are the other, bigger fears that underpin the fear of change in our lives? [17:21] How did Beth get through backlash for being a CMO with no marketing experience? [20:20] How to fight back against the devaluation of so-called "soft skills". [22:23] How can we overcome shyness to promote ourselves on social media? [32:40] Links and Resources Beth Comstock's book Book recommendation: The Creative Habit: Learn it and use it for life by Twyla Tharp Follow Beth on Twitter Follow Beth on Instagram  Quotes: "I think that's where a pure product entrepreneur and an author would have a lot in common. It's your baby. There can't possibly be anyone who cares about it as much as you do."  "There were moments when I realized I was holding myself back. I wasn't speaking up. I saw other people who put ideas out, and they were moving ahead, and I wasn't! And finally I had just had enough. I said, 'Okay, I've got to do something." "Every great leader I know is a communicator." 

In the final moments of the presidential debate, Hillary Clinton was answering a question when Donald Trump quietly called her a "nasty woman". Clinton may not have flinched at the words, but the rest of the world did. Trump's mumbled insult stirred up an online storm. Amanda Brinkman's simple, clever idea transformed into a call for solidarity among women across the globe. A spur-of-the-moment idea, she decided to put "Nasty Woman" on a t-shirt, put them up for sale, and donate half the proceeds to Planned Parenthood. What was meant to be an ironic statement turned into a viral success overnight, changing the course of Amanda's life. In the days that followed, Amanda worked tirelessly to build a business that could withstand and outlast her 5 minutes of fame. Her overnight success did not come easy, and was accompanied with death threats, legal barriers, and an overwhelming load of t-shirt orders she now had to supply. Today's interview dives into the challenges faced in the touch-and-go world of social media fame, developing resilience, differentiating your brand, and most importantly - building a meaningful business that you can proudly stand behind. Some Questions I Ask: What are some of your fears? (08:12) How do you differentiate your products? (16:05) How do you define pop culture and the impact it can have? (28:15) How is pop culture influencing what we feel is possible? (30:27) How do you think about brands and how can they create sustainable value? (33:50) Do you feel integrity wins out in the long run? (36:15) How to market to customers that aren't in your target market? (40:20) In This Episode, You Will Learn: How 'Nasty Woman' became a viral call for solidarity (05:20) Why you don't need to have everything figured out when starting a business (07:30) The dark side of going viral which no one talks about (09:35) Understanding your fears and feeling enough as a person (17:40) Coming up with the idea for 'The Nasty Woman Game' and how it has sparked important conversations (24:00) The importance of a strong brand identity (36:49) Links and Resources Mentioned: Pelican Bomb Shrill Society The Nasty Woman Game Book recommendation: Circe by Madeline Miller

Success is almost never a straight path. In fact, the things we think we want - money, fame, power - are rarely the things that actually make us happy. Today's guest, Betsy Pearce, hailed as as one of the most powerful people in fashion, has been the legal deal-maker for top fashion icons like Carolina Herrera and Alexander McQueen, the creative directors for Bottega Veneta, Nina Ricci, and Dior Homme and more. When it comes to the types of high-stakes negotiations she deals with, she says the biggest mistake people make is thinking that it's just about the money. It's usually not about the money, it's about proving someone wrong. Ego, emotion, loneliness, or rejection all play a part. As such, she wants us to get comfortable with the idea that sometimes, we don't know what we don't know. We learn by taking steps, and when we realize they aren't the right ones, it's okay to ask for help. Studies have shown that happiness often stems from a sense of community and being needed. However, there is no reason for us to wait for people to need us. It's okay to ask for help when we need it, and to offer help to those around us. Courage is the ability to open up about what you you really need to get where you want to go. Happiness comes from realizing that the journey itself doesn't need to be taken alone. Some Questions I Ask: Where do you think the desire to prove others wrong comes from? (04:07) Success isn't clearly defined for creatives - how have you seen some of the more prominent creatives you've worked with navigate this? (11:13) Outside of money, what are other priorities that people mistake as the thing they should be focused on? (13:04) Have you ever found it hard to ask for help? (14:03) What is it like going into rooms to negotiate with larger corporates that don't have the same mentality of collaboration? (24:31) What are the biggest mistakes you've seen people make in negotiations? (27:25) What do you think about the idea of finding your purpose? (39:34) In This Episode, You Will Learn: Betsy's ties to the Midwest and how her roots shape her life today (01:55) How being bitten by a dog in her face helped Betsy realize what matters in life (6:00) How Betsy's athletic career shaped her outlook on teamwork and women supporting women (07:45) The importance of community in creating internal happiness (13:38) Why achievement doesn't guarantee happiness (14:39) The difficulty in admitting to needing help (16:08) The things Betsy feels would have been easier if she had a mentor (19:50) How self worth turns into a dollar amount (28:49) The passion behind empowering women in creative-driven industries (35:05) Plus much more... Links and Resources: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert D. Putnam Secrets of the Flesh: A Life of Colette by JUDITH THURMAN More about Betsy Pearce in Gotham Magazine Alexander Mcqueen Bottega Vanetta Kate Spade Vera Wang Jimmy Choo Bergdorf Goodman The Carlisle Group Follow Lisa on Twitter Follow Lisa on Instagram

At the end of every decision is an outcome, every single time. But sometimes we don't have enough time or information, so how can you make smart decisions to create your desired outcome? We may often find ourselves consumed with decision fatigue because we are afraid of the consequences of making the wrong choice. Other times, the product of our actions feels so far away that we cannot even begin to fathom how to make the right decision. Instead of obsessing over finding the right answer, today's guest, Catherine Ulrich, encourages us to start by asking "Who do I want to be?" and taking a long hard look at all of the outcomes, especially the less desirable ones. This isn't to prepare for the worst, but rather, to assess the worst-case scenario in detail to stop it from having any reign over our lives at this moment. When we keep the different possibilities in mind, we always know what we're walking into and how to behave accordingly. At the end of the day, our energy dictates our thoughts and feelings. Instead of allowing ourselves to get caught up in overwhelming feelings, we must understand why we are afraid, the steps we can take to overcome that fear, and why that fear is much bigger in our heads than it is in reality. In This Episode, You Will Learn: How to find confidence in your own voice (03:49) Defining "who you want to be" rather than "what you want to do" (11:19) How to create a culture of radical candor and transparency (18:59) Learning to break down big lofty goals into more feasible steps (24:24) Anticipating failure and preventing self-sabotage (27:09) Growing out of relationships and how to accept the new phases of your lives (37:38) Energy and the ways your energy affects others (40:49) Creating your own model of leadership in a male-dominated field (47:55) Plus much more… Some Questions I Ask: Were you and are you a perfectionist? (07:02) Do you believe in models like the 80/20 rule? (09:11) How do you balance giving hard feedback when sometimes it can also put you in a place of vulnerability? (18:58) How do take the pressure off decisions that feel high stakes? (24:24) Do these feasible steps apply in terms of how you evaluate the thought process of an entrepreneur? (28:46) How have your relationships and friendships evolved over time? (35:25) What does it take for people to find that space to be okay with looking inside? (45:05) Links and Resources: Radical Candor by Kim Scott The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni First Mark Capital Follow Catherine on Twitter Follow Lisa on Twitter Follow Lisa on Instagram

I often speak about the importance of self-reflection, but is there a point where we become overexposed to ourselves? Today's guest, Alex Wolf, founder of Boss Babe, unloads a cathartic insight on social media and the exposure that comes along with it. The pros to social media can be great. We have the ability to share our lives with many others and create more personal relationships in a short amount of time. However, at what point do we spend too much time focusing on our own image and not enough time focusing on our lives? Alex exposes the cons of societies' overexposure to ourselves through social media and the pressure it can bring. Like her new novel, Resonate, Alex explores how social media can be used by young entrepreneurs to build their brand while sharing insight on the mindset needed to maintain such a brand.   Some Questions I Ask: How did you get into social media? What was driving you? (1:55) How do you think about human psychology as it relates to growing your following? (9:07) Were there times when you started to feel a disconnect between being your authentic self and the face you had to put out there? (15:13) Why do people get stuck and keep themselves from living the life they want? (26:48) Have you ever been afraid of death? (35:35) What do you think is your greater "why?" (39:51)          In This Episode, You Will Learn: How Alex approaches social capital and its growing value  (6:50) The four different elements of resonating in a message (10:50) How Boss Babe reaches out and engages with their followers (16:43) The difference between art and entertainment (21:01) What we can do to stay deeply inspired by their own lives (38:41) The struggles our constant use of technology brings into our lives (42:40) Plus much more... Links and Resources: Boss Babe Resonate: For Anyone Who Wants To Build An Audience by Alex Wolf What is Art? by Leo Tolstoy The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories by Marina Keegan Read Work by Neil Postman Visit Alex's Website Follow Alex on Instagram Follow Lisa on Twitter Follow Lisa on Instagram

What if someone told you there were no right or wrong answers, only right questions? We are often trying to chase the "right answer" without defining what the right answer is. Without setting that fundamental definition of success, we will continue chasing a vague idea that doesn't look like much of anything. This is why we need to ask ourselves the right questions, the questions that ultimately lead us in the right directions. "What are you doing?" "Why do you want certain things?" These questions allow us to be introspective and the answers to these questions can change, allowing us to grow in different directions. Today's guest, Jeff Madoff is founder and CEO of Madoff Productions. He is an American director, photographer, writer and professor living in New York City. His film and video work include commercials, web content, music videos and documentaries for various clients such as Ralph Lauren and Victoria's Secret. Madoff teaches a course, Creative Careers: Making a Living with your Ideas, at Parsons The New School for Design. Jeff talks about the importance of knowing your goals, never doubting your ability, and always pushing back the fear of failure in order to continue forward toward your goals. Some Questions I Ask: What drew you to film in the first place? How do you feel about the progression of video today? (05:40) What are the dominant narratives you see right now and how is that shifting? (09:46) What sort of emotions were you feeling in terms of figuring out if you could do justice to the story of Lloyd Price? (23:26) What do you think drives you to keep creating? (26:51) During your artistic career, have you had moments where you've felt like you weren't good enough or your work wasn't good enough? (33:52) Do you think you are who you are because of your circumstances or in spite of your circumstances? (55:48) In This Episode, You Will Learn: How Jeff shows people how to make a living with their ideas (01:49) Steps Jeff took to create Madoff Productions (03:11) The idea of basic human expression and how it is shown through film (14:15) The creative side of longer form film (15:51) Passion versus making money in a film career and how the goals sometimes shift when having a family (45:21) "Creative Careers: Making a Living with Your Ideas," Jeff's book in the works and its goal (47:22) Plus much more... Links and Resources: Madoff Productions Follow Madoff Productions on Twitter Find Madoff Productions on Facebook Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis Ralph Lauren Victoria's Secret Follow Lisa on Twitter Follow Lisa on Instagram

Education has always been a driving force for today's guest, Logan Cohen, CEO of Kudzoo App. Whether it's educating herself about the complexities of others or encouraging tomorrow's leaders through her app, Kudzoo, Logan is always pushing herself to grow and encouraging others to grow alongside her. In today's episode, Logan reminds us that we not only have to know our strengths, we also have to own them on a daily basis. It's easier than ever to constantly feel like you're constantly falling behind, especially when comparing ourselves to others. In these moments, it's important to notice the fears that are driving us and focus on the ways we can conquer them rather than letting them conquer us.  In fact, understanding our fears may be the best place to start when it comes to understanding others. Logan is insistent on creating space to listen to others, regardless of their position relevant to her because she knows that she will always learn something new. This is what makes us stronger people. When we listen and understand, we create possibilities. When we create possibilities, we succeed. Some Questions I Ask: Did you always know you were going to become an entrepreneur? (01:31) How did you start blending yourself with being an entrepreneur? Did you ever lose yourself in the company? (04:53) Did you ever feel any pressure to change yourself to fit in with the mold of the typical Silicon Valley founder? (09:45) Talk about being "your own worst enemy," can you share some of your internal dialogue to overcome this? (17:03) Are there any fears that are driving you? (28:58) What are the challenges of being an ambitious woman who is "crushing it" in so many parts of her life? (32:45) In This Episode, You Will Learn: Logan's upbringing and the inspiration she drew from her parent's accomplishments (02:21) The strength Logan has to connect with and learn from people (08:57) How Logan grew her education rewards system for students, Kudzoo (13:45) The way Logan widens the space between stimulus and response by trying to understand (21:49) The mantras Logan uses in her day to day (36:04) The things we can take with us into tomorrow (38:26) Plus much more... Links and Resources: Kudzoo The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google by Scott Galloway Lemonade by Beyonce More Episodes Follow Lisa on Twitter Follow Lisa on Instagram

Letting go can be extremely difficult. When you build something from the ground up and work on it for years, it becomes part of you. Today's guest, Rand Fishkin founded Moz, which has grown into one of the most massive SEO empires. Moz now has 36,000 customers, 160+ employees and does around $47 million dollars in annual revenue. Just recently, Rand Fishkin has stepped away from the day-to-day operations of the company and is ready for the next adventure. But what prompted him to leave the empire he built? In today's interview, we discuss the pressure for entrepreneurs to fit within the Silicon Valley model of success, and how venture capital can be detrimental to a founder in the long run. We cover a lot from self-doubt to arrogance to the need to confront. Rand talks honestly about his difficult move out of the CEO position at Moz and into building his next venture, SparkToro.   In This Episode, You Will Learn: How SEO is still the best practice for driving traffic to a site (03:10) Importance of trial & error and learning as you go (04:10) The vision Rand had for Moz early on (12:12) Why you don't need to build the next Facebook or Amazon (28:00) How arrogance and depression are connected (31:40) Stepping down from the CEO position (39:20) Rand's new book and promotion around it (44:35)  Some Questions We Discuss: What's your background? (03:53) Did you enjoy raising capital for Moz? (07:07) Do you consider yourself an emotional or more logical person? (16:44) Why don't we talk enough about depression in the business world? (21:43) How do you define success? (27:06) Who are some of the entrepreneurs that you admire? (29:29)  Links and Resources Mentioned Moz IndieHackers Zebras Unite SparkToro Book recommendation: Radical Candor by Kim Scott Rand's new book: Lost and Founder