How She Does It

Hosted by Karen Finerman

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Jun 2026

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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. Host Karen Finerman is the co-founder and CEO of Metropolitan Capital Advisors and a longtime panelist on CNBC's Fast Money. Every guest is the mentor you wish you had — and access to their insight on what it means to live and work as a woman with power is now yours. New episodes are released every Tuesday. Watch episodes on the HOW SHE DOES IT YouTube Channel. Follow along On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hsdipodcast/ Join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at HerMoney.com/subscribe.

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June 16, 202642 min

EP 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

June 9, 202630 min

EP 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

June 2, 202651 min

EP 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

May 19, 202642 min

EP 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

May 12, 202645 min

EP 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

May 5, 202631 min

BONUS: 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

April 21, 202640 min

EP 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

April 14, 202649 min

EP 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

April 7, 202637 min

EP 81: Late July & Nixie Founder Nicole Bernard Dawes: Why Building Brands Is Her Extreme Sport

Creating a company with beloved products from scratch is no easy task, and Nicole Bernard Dawes has pulled it off twice. At 29, she launched Late July Snacks, which are famous for their flavored organic, non-GMO tortilla chips. When the $100+ million company was acquired by Campbell's in 2018, Bernard Dawes decided to do it all again. This time, she set her eyes on the competitive beverage business. In 20219, she launched Nixie, a line of organically flavored sparkling water and organic zero-sugar sodas. Nicole Bernard Dawes had a unique entrée into the world of entrepreneurship, which led to her two gigs as a CEO. Her father was Steve Bernard, co-founder of the Cape Cod Potato Chip Company. She grew up visiting the company’s factory in Hyannis and learning the business from him. After college, she worked for her dad and launched the brand's most popular product, their reduced-fat chips. The mother of two shares how those early business experiences shaped her, why she loves brand building, and her commitment to creating healthy food and drinks that are also tasty. 💬 In this episode, we explore: Why Nicole Bernard Dawes is obsessed with grocery stores, and what she’s looking at that the average customer may miss How Nicole Bernard Dawes’ mom, who ran a health food store in the 1970’s, influenced her tastes The reason she believes a store selling out of your product is not a good thing, especially in the food & beverage business Why she considers herself always on the clock, but has a very different set of expectations from her team The reaction she has when she sees her products out in the wild - including spotting her favorite Peloton instructor enjoying one of her beverages Resources: 💻 Learn more about Nixie 📸 Follow Nicole Bernard Dawes On LinkedIn 📸 Follow Nixie on Instagram 📸 Follow Nixie on TikTok 📸 Follow Nixie on LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 31, 202647 min

EP 80: Being The Boss: Vivian Tu on Growing “Your Rich BFF” and Her Plans for its Future

If you’re on TikTok, Instagram, Substack, or YouTube, you’ve likely come across content creator Vivian Tu. She’s taken her expertise learned from her time as a trader at J.P. Morgan and a sales exec at Buzzfeed to create the platform “Your Rich BFF,” which now boasts 10 million combined followers. Vivian is the CEO of Your Rich BFF and has a team of approximately 20 people working for her. Together, they channel her social-media savvy and pithy communication style to teach her followers how to make smart money moves and grow their wealth. Her message is a departure from her own upbringing, during which her hardworking, Chinese immigrant parents mostly stressed about the family’s finances, with a focus on “scrimping and saving.” Vivian’s goal with all of her work, including her podcast “Networth & Chill” and her latest New York Times bestselling book “Well Endowed: The Secrets to Strategic Spending, Building a Financial Foundation for You and Your Family, and Creating Lasting Generational Wealth,” is to empower her readers financially across all areas of their lives. 💬 In this episode, we explore: How Vivian has learned from her mistakes when it comes to hiring people for her team What Vivian sees is the difference between hustle and grit, and why she thinks only one can be taught Her thoughts about the future of Your Rich BFF and what role she might play in it Why owning her business influenced Vivian’s choice to undergo IVF at age 30 and freeze her embryos The lasting impact her female mentor at J.P. Morgan had on her life and career, including the very generous gift she gave Vivian The critical importance of discussing money with your partner, and what led to Vivian and her now-husband having that conversation very early on in their relationship What her mom’s advice to Vivian was when she started making more money than her husband Resources: 📕 Learn more about “Well Endowed” by Vivian Tu 📸 Follow Vivian Tu on Instagram 📸 Follow Vivian Tu on TikTok 📸 Follow Vivian Tu on YouTube 🎧 Listen to Vivian Tu on Networth and Chill 🎧 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