Girlboss Radio With Sophia Amoruso

At just 19-years old, Julie created Fuck Cancer with the goal of creating an organization to honor her mother’s legacy who lost her battle with ovarian cancer. Starting as a 350-person party in Montreal, Fuck Cancer events quickly tripled in size, eventually spiraling into numerous events across North America as outlet for young people to connect and unite in the fight against cancer. Now Fuck Cancer has evolved into a movement dedicated to the prevention, early detection and communication of cancer. On the episode, Sophia and Julie discuss merging with the other Canada-based Fuck Cancer organization, competing with causes for funding, and carrying on her mother’s ongoing legacy.

From her early days bagging groceries, Alyssa Mastromonaco realized she had a gift for logistics. That gift led her all the way to the White House where she served as President Obama’s Deputy Chief of Staff. If you wanted to talk to President Obama, you had to go through Alyssa first. She left politics in 2014, and now works as the Chief Operating Officer of Vice Media. On this week’s episode, Sophia and Alyssa discuss Alyssa’s early days interning for Bernie Sanders, what good leadership means, and Alyssa’s hilarious misadventures in Buckingham Palace and on Marine One.

At 19 years old, Claire Wineland is by far our youngest guest on Girlboss Radio, but she may be the wisest. Claire has been living with Cystic Fibrosis her entire life and is the founder of Claire's Place Foundation, which provides grants to families affected by CF, offering both emotional and financial support. Claire’s unique inspirational model for people living with this disease has led her to be a TEDx Speaker and receive multiple awards including FoxTeen Choice Awards 2015, Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, and winner of Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Small Nonprofit of the Year." On the episode, Sophia and Claire discuss Claire's positive outlook on life, starting an organization from a hospital bed, and Claire's whimsical funeral plans.

Payal Kadakia is an artist in the C-suite and on the dance floor. As the Co-Founder and CEO of ClassPass, the membership program for fitness classes across gyms and studios, Payal has raised $84 million in venture capital and expanded the app services to 34 cities in four countries. She's also a professional dancer and the founder of the classical Indian and folk dance group, Sa, which has performed in such renowned spaces as Lincoln Center, Alvin Ailey, and more. On this week's episode Sophia and Payal discuss how creativity and business and inform one another, how to fail fast, and getting stuck in the 'I love my work' game.

GloZell Green is a Youtube sensation who has well over 8 million subscribers across platforms and has reached up to 48 million views for a single video. She’s interviewed the likes of President Obama and Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton all while wearing her signature green lipstick. Her new book Is You Okay? traces her journey from pursuing theater in Florida to her first Youtube upload in 2008, and much more. On the podcast, Sophia and GloZell discuss GloZell's early days blogging about The Tonight Show, being recognized at a CostCo, and why she's bringing reading back.

As Beyonce tells us, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade...or cupcakes. That's exactly what Melissa Ben-Ishay did when she was fired from her advertising job in 2008. She went home, baked 250 cupcakes, and began Baked by Melissa. Melissa's bite sized cupcake empire boasts 14 locations in the New York area and ships nationally. On the episode, Sophia and Melissa discuss the pros and cons of a family business, how Melissa grew her business out of her tiny Murray Hill apartment, and what 'Baked' by Melissa really means.

Kathryn Minshew co-founded the wildly popular career development platform, The Muse. The website, which now garners six million users a month, is completely built from the user's perspective with behind-the-scenes looks at job opportunities, original career advice from experts, and access to career coaches to get personalized and private career help. Kathryn was named Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2011 and 2012. And she and her co-founders were on Inc. Magazine’s 2012 list of 15 Women to Watch in Tech. On this week's episode, Kathryn and Sophia talk about saving money to start your own business, the grueling days of pitching to investors, and what an ideal job candidate looks like.

Emily Weiss is your go-to lady for all things beauty related. In 2010 she started Into the Gloss, a website dedicated to beauty that explores the routines of inspiring women. Emily and her editors sit on the bathroom floors of everyone from Jenna Lyons to the #Girlboss herself, Sophia Amoruso, to talk products, career, and what beauty means to women today. In 2014, Emily expanded her beauty business with Glossier, a modern beauty products brand made by editors who 'get' what works and are inspired by what girls want in real life. On the episode, Sophia and Emily discuss when it's time to strike it on your own, how to present yourself to investors, and what beauty means today.

Whitney Wolfe always makes the first move in her life. The Founder and CEO of Bumble created a dating app that turns social norms on its head where the woman must initiate the conversation. If she doesn't send a message in the next 24 hours, the connection disappears forever. Whitney's also a co-Founder of Tinder and served as their Vice President of Marketing. She left the job after filing a heavily reported sexual harassment lawsuit against the company, which she’s since settled. On the episode Sophia and Whitney discuss making female friends in the 21st century, the detrimental effects of bullying, and what's next for Bumble.

Rachel Shechtman comes from a long line of retailers in her family. But when she joined the family business, she did it her way with Story. Story is a retail space that has the point of view of a magazine, changes like a gallery, and sells things like a store. It's an incredibly inventive space that merges the worlds of commerce, content, and community. Rachel has been named Crain's NY 40 Under 40 List for 2015, Fortune's 40 Under 40 List for 2013, and on Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business. On the episode, Sophia and Rachel discuss Rachel's serendipitous first job at the Barefoot Contessa, creating a 2.0 community space with Story, and how to make yourself an adjective. 

Beth Comstock is literally reinventing the lightbulb. As the Vice Chair of General Electric, Beth runs everything from business innovation to lighting, sales, marketing and more at the 130 year old company. Previously Beth worked as GE’s Chief Marketing Officer and held positions at NBCUniversal as the President of Integrated Media. There she led the company’s digital efforts, namely co-founding Hulu.com. Beth’s been named one of the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes and listed in Fortune’s Most Powerful Women.

For social entrepreneur Miki Agrawal, no business idea is taboo. She's capitalizing on everything that happens behind the bathroom door - starting with periods. As the Co-founder and CEO of THINX, Miki has developed and patented period-proof underwear that not only works, but is also fashionable. And for each pair of underwear purchased, the company will donate money toward the cost of one set of reusable pads for a Ugandan girl through Afripads. Miki's also launching ICON, underwear for women who experience incontinence and TUSHY, bidets that attach to your toilet to create an eco-friendly and hygienic bathroom experience. Prior to conquering the toilet, Miki founded Wild, the gluten free pizza restaurants located in Manhattan and Williamsburg. On the episode, Sophia and Miki discuss Miki's hilarious pitching method to investors, how a three-legged race with her twin sister led to the idea of THINX, and Miki's pants-dropping #Girlbossmoment.

Whether its fashion or business, Jenne Lombardo knows what's in and out of style. As the Co-founder of MADE Fashion Week, Jenne turned the fashion industry on its head by forgoing the established designers at its shows and supporting upstart designers like Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, and Joseph Altuzzara. She's also the Founder and CEO of The Terminal Presents, which resuscitates brands like Keds, W Hotels, and Playboy to cater to a modern, millennial audience. On the podcast, Sophia and Jenne discuss Jenne's early years in New York, collaborating with Lady Gaga at MAC, and working for the original Mr. Big.

If there was ever a woman to make the world a better place, Ai-jen Poo seems to fit the bill. As the Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Ai-jen has worked tirelessly throughout her career on behalf of domestic workers in the U.S., informing them about their rights and providing them legal protections. In 2010 she helped pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, historic legislation that extended basic labor protections to over 200,000 domestic workers in New York state. Ai-jen was a 2014 recipient of the prestigious MacArthur “Genius” Award for all of her efforts, and in 2012 Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Jenn Hyman spotted a trend. She saw companies like Netflix and Spotify putting our music and movies in the cloud and realized our closets were next. So in 2009, she and co-founder Jennifer Fleiss founded Rent the Runway, an online service that provides designer dress and accessory rentals. The company now boasts well over five million subscribers, and Jenn has been named Fortune Magazine’s “Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs” and Fast Company’s “Most Influential Women in Technology.” On the episode Jenn and Sophia discuss what it means to be 'sweet' in the workplace, meeting with Diane von Furstenberg, and never taking 'no' for an answer.

Alexa von Tobel is proud to say she's a business school drop-out. She left Harvard Business School to launch LearnVest - a financial planning advice website that helps you get smart with your money. And being a drop-out paid off. Since launching LearnVest in 2009, the company has raised well over $75 million and last year was acquired by Northwestern Mutual. On the episode, Sophia and Alexa discuss their similar career trajectories, starting LearnVest in sweatpants, and Alexa's awesome power brunch answer.

NASCAR Racer Julia Landauer literally lives life in the fast lane. At 14, she became the first and youngest female champion to win the legendary Skip Barber Racing Series. After graduating from Stanford University with a degree in Science, Technology and Society, Julia returned to the track for her first full season with NASCAR and was undoubtedly successful. She was the first woman to win a NASCAR track championship at the Motor Mile Speedway in Virginia. On the episode, Sophia and Julia talk STEM education, self-advocacy, and speeding tickets.

Alexi Wasser is the ultimate multi-hyphenate. She's an actor, writer, comedian, and podcaster, but all of her work carries that distinct Alexi Wasser touch. It's funny, vulnerable, and brutally honest. Her blog, http://www.imboycrazy.com , is Alexi's raw take on sex, love and dating. Alexi's new podcast, Love Alexi, gets personal about all things relationships, life, and more with her guests. On #GirlbossRadio, Sophia and Alexi discuss hustling your brand, putting in 10,000 hours, and crashing Will Smith's wedding.

Hannah Bronfman cannot be labeled. By day she runs her website HBFit.com, a health and beauty website, and by night, Hannah's a corporate DJ, playing at some of the chicest events in New York. Hannah's currently part of Adidas' new Sport 16 campaign, and she recently unveiled her new fashion and beauty web series, Hannahgram, with Popsugar. On the episode, Sophia and Hannah discuss Hannah's early dive bar DJ days at Bard College, creating a sticky brand like HBFit, and how to tighten and lift that butt.

Sallie Krawcheck knows how to take the bull by the horns. After all, she worked on Wall Street for most of her career starting as a research analyst at Salomon Brothers. She eventually became the CEO of Smith Barney, Citi Bank Wealth Management, and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Over the course of her impressive career in the finance world, Sallie witnessed rampant sexism and an overall disregard of women's investing needs. Now as the co-Founder and CEO of Ellevest, a digital investment platform by and for women, she's addressing these needs and what Sallie calls, the 'gender investing gap'. On the episode, Sophia and Sallie discuss Sallie's crazy first week at Salomon Brothers, her world record, and why women should invest.