Virginie Dyvorne is a maker and founder of Whimsy Jewelry. Her colorful, playful, imaginative, delicate, and feminine jewelry is hand crafted and hand enameled. Virginie says putting on a piece is like "wearing happiness." And I couldn't agree more.

Launching her business in Paris in 2005, Virginie's jewelry has endured with her followers as each piece is like wearing a mini story — from light bult lariat necklaces, to 3D dogs, to girls jumping rope. Her designs are timeless and sure to be loved by you, your daughter, your sister, your mom, and others in your life. In today's episode, we talk about the times Virginie has felt like she's been stuck in the in-between in her business, creatively, and in her growth as a brand.

She's an OG Leading Lady who was first on I Want Her Job 12 years ago, and I'm excited to reintroduce her to all of you...

In This Episode, You'll Learn: 

-How Virginie and Brianne met

-How Whimsy Jewelry has stayed in business for 20+ years

-Navigating a move from the bustle of New York City to the quiet of Connecticut (and back again!)

-What she learned launching a new brand name, and why she made the pivot

-Her advice for navigating change and times of transition

-What the COVID era taught Virginie about the importance of movement and mental health, and how the quiet inspired a new creative pursuit

-Where Virginie finds creative inspiration

-Why Virginie loves meeting with her customers in-person, and what she’s learned through building these relationships

-What she loves about creating fine jewelry

-How her background in engineering has impacted her approach to jewelry design

-Her favorite jewelry piece in her brand’s collection

-How (and when) she experiences the flow state in her creative process

-Her advice for small business owners, and those who want to start a small business

Episode Resources:

Virginie’s First I Want Her Job Interview

Connect with Whimsy Jewelry

-Whimsy Jewelry on Instagram

Jewelry Worn by Brianne

-Rainbow Necklace – Warm

-Chrysalis Necklace – Gold

Virginie’s Favorite Piece

-Daisy Flower Necklace

Job Interview Earrings Recommended by Virginie

-Pyramid Earrings

Jewelry Mentioned During Interview

-Jump Rope Necklace

-Swimmer Necklace

-Aerialist Collection

-Butterflies Collection

-Fine Jewelry Collection

Create a Custom Piece

Bespoke Jewelry

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You’ve likely seen Katie Linendoll on The Today Show and The Weather Channel, where she’s a regular contributor. Whether it’s revealing features of the newest iPhone, tips on how to leverage AI to make your photos better, or sharing a smartphone-powered mosquito bite healer at CES… she shares how it works, and how it can benefit you in your life.

Katie also is a Guinness World Record Holder for the “Most High-Fives in 1-minute.” She runs marathons, including a winter 10k in Iceland, during which she (naturally) interviewed an Icelandic triathlete after. She’s traveled the world from the Philippines and Kenya to Greece and Bermuda (and will tell you the best gadgets to pack in your suitcase.) She’s spent time 63-feet underwater off the coast of the Florida Keys to create a video about NASA’s zero-gravity training lab. And now, she’s blazing a new path as a country music artist who’s trended on the iTunes music charts -- and had a music video featured in the worldwide Top 10 iTunes music videos list.

What I personally admire most about Katie is that she’s driven by her Catholic faith, and she continually gives back to pediatric cancer nonprofits. She’s an OG I Want Her Job Leading Lady who appeared on the website when it was in its toddler years in 2011. She came back for an interview in 2017 when Polina and I launched our iteration of the podcast. And now she’s here with me today for our newest chapter…

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

-What drives Katie’s curiosity

-How she tackles her audacious goals

-Her tip for all of us to carve out more time for the goals we want to achieve

-How she recharges her battery

-Her No. 1 non-negotiable

-How her professional world of technology and personal world of faith intersect

-The importance of sharing positive content

-What sparked her interest in adding “country music singer” to her resume

-What it’s like to learn an entirely different industry when you’re someone in the middle of your career

-The continued importance of philanthropy in her work

-How she navigates moments of grief

-How the shifting world of media has impacted her and why we should all be focusing on making the transformative moves

-Why everybody needs hype

-The magic of a compliment

Note from Brianne:

This podcast interview was originally recorded a year ago. As such, some information has changed. Katie has since completed a second marathon!

Episode Resources:

-2017 I Want Her Job throwback podcast interview with Katie Linendoll

-2011 I Want Her Job interview with Katie Linendoll

-Katie’s website

-Follow Katie on Instagram and YouTube

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Today on I Want Her Job, we’re rewinding back to 2017 to revisit a conversation that still feels remarkably relevant. Originally recorded that year, this episode features Katie Linendoll, keynote speaker, emcee, host, and Emmy Award–winning television personality. Katie’s career has always lived at the intersection of curiosity, communication, and innovation.

From TODAY Show segments highlighting emerging technologies, to hosting live events, to sharing insightful, accessible tech commentary across social platforms, Katie has carved out a path that blends expertise with approachability. In today’s throwback conversation, she reflects on the importance of learning and challenging yourself, how travel can humble you and shift your perspective, and why she firmly believes in living her life as an obsessive sponge.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

-How technology has changed the way she records and reports on TV segments

-What it’s like to report from under water as a dive reporter

-Why it matters to provide a visual in storytelling

-The importance of thoughtful journalism amidst a quest to be the “first to share” on-air

-The impact of travel on her perspective and how it’s dramatically changed her life

-How playing out the worst-case-scenario in your mind can help you get out of your own anxiety

-Why she calls herself an obsessive sponge and why pushing yourself outside of your boundaries is so important

-What prompted her renewed focus on prioritizing sleep

-Why we should stay engaged and connected to ourselves – trusting our instincts and our gut feelings

-Why augmented and virtual reality is changing our world, from the way we can undergo training to helping children with pediatric cancer escape long days spent at the hospital

-Her work with the Batcole Foundation and why she has such a strong passion for supporting pediatric cancer patients and their families

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Aria Stewart is the senior director of Global Brand Studio and Sample Operations at lululemon. She is a Montana native who has built a career in film, TV, and photo production over the past 18 years at companies such as Disney and Hasbro. Aria joined lululemon in 2016 to lead global brand studio production and operations, first in Vancouver and now in Los Angeles. Aria and her team deliver innovative, high-volume photo + video content for lululemon’s global brand marketing channels. She also manages the product sample flow for teams across lululemon, driving seamless cross-functional collaboration to meet creative and commercial objectives.

Aria’s creative vision lies in the dynamic workflows she builds and the strong leaders she develops. She lives in Ojai, California with her husband and beloved rescue animals.

Thank you for listening and for supporting I Want Her Job. As I’m working to grow this platform again, don’t hesitate to reach out via social media and let me know what you’d like to hear more of, and from, in future seasons. And, if you’d be so kind as to drop some stars, leave a review, and/or share this episode, I would be so grateful. My goal for I Want Her Job is simple: to connect and to inspire. Keep making it happen.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

-What Aria’s job entails and what she’s tasked with overseeing along with her team

-The volume of work she and her team deliver and the various roles she works with in her job

-Why change is part of the culture at lululemon and why the most successful people there embrace this mindset

-How to navigate a cross-country move and how she navigated moving from the United States to Canada for a job

-What it felt like for Aria when she made major life changes for her career

-Why Aria embraces change, and why it’s something she thrives in

-Why she loves creating budgets and schedules

-How lululemon is an ever-changing high-growth company

-Aria’s leadership mindset

-The importance of healthy detachment from one’s work to avoid burnout

-What she’s learned about herself over her career

-Why it’s all about who you lineup behind

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Welcome to the all-new I Want Her Job. I’m Brianne, the founder of I Want Her Job. For those of you who have followed I Want Her Job for more than a decade, thank you for coming back to open this fresh chapter with me. If you’re new to I Want Her Job, I hope you’ll walk away from each episode with an idea, or two, or three, that inspires you. And, it’s my wish that you’ll then enact that advice and inspire others.

In the inaugural episode, you’ll hear from me about why I Want Her Job was created, why I’ve brought it back, what I Want Her Job stands for, what you can expect from each episode, a new approach based on seasons and chapters that focuses on highly curated career conversations for individuals in the thick of their career, and why I’ve selected “the in-between” as the theme for season one, chapter one.

Thank you for listening and for supporting I Want Her Job. As I’m working to grow this platform again, don’t hesitate to reach out via social media and let me know what you’d like to hear more of, and from, in future seasons. And, if you’d be so kind as to drop some stars, leave a review, and/or share this episode, I would be so grateful. My goal for I Want Her Job is simple: to connect and to inspire. Keep making it happen.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

-Why I Want Her Job was launched, and what this new chapter represents

-Why I Want Her Job went on hiatus, and why it’s back now

-Why I Want Her Job is newly focused on those in the thick of their careers

-About I Want Her Job’s tagline, curated career conversations, and what it stands for and means

-The theme of season one, chapter one – The In-Between

-About one of my favorite books, and what it reminds me in times of transition and change

-The questions we ask when we’re in the in-between in our careers, and how my interviews this season will offer advice for navigating this period of time

-Who our first guest interview is and what job she has

Thank you for listing to I Want Her Job, a podcast by Brianne Burrowes, featuring curated career conversations.

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Ballet requires a level of perfection and focus. It was the sport Laura Rutledge credits for teaching her to stay focused on one goal at a time. It's a mentality, she says, that helps in her career today at ESPN.

At the network, Laura is the co-anchor of morning show Get Up!, one of the lead reporters for the network’s college sports coverage, and the host of SEC Nation every fall on SEC Network. And, in August she debuted The Moment with Laura Rutledge, a new show on SEC Network about making sports fans’ dreams come true.

Laura's resume includes reporting roles for the ESPN College Football Playoff, Super Tuesday college basketball coverage, SEC Men's Basketball Tournament, SEC Softball Tournament, SEC Baseball Tournament, NCAA College World Series and NCAA Women's College World Series. In addition, Laura has anchored many episodes of SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight, has worked as a red carpet host at the ESPYS for the past two years, and last fall, she made her NFL reporting debut on Monday Night Football.

A month ago Laura received a new title – Mom. She gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Reese Katherine Rutledge. (Side Note: Laura and her daughter even share a birthday!)

Earlier this spring, I Want Her Job Founder Brianne Perleberg spoke with Laura about organizing schedules, working through sick days and preparing for live TV. Read on for Laura's advice for staying on top of deadlines, building a TV wardrobe out of a carry-on suitcase and her thoughts on why building trust is the key to telling a great story.

What is your schedule like?

I am pretty heavily on Get Up! at this point in New York. I started off the week on Get Up! and did that for a few days, which requires a 5 a.m. wake-up call, filming the show, and then meetings after the show. A lot of times there’s also other obligations, like interviews for other shows. I’m also working on another project right now – a show I’m producing and hosting. A lot of my time last week involved preparing for that.

On Saturday, I covered the Alabama spring game. During the weekdays, I have my work for Get Up!, which isn’t really college football based, but is more focused on NBA, Major League Baseball, and of course the NFL. I’m focused on that during the show. Then outside of the show, for example, I’m taking production calls and coach’s calls, and talking to Alabama Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throughout the day.

Then, Friday was an accurate depiction of the “lack of glamour” – which I would never complain about, because I love my job – but I think sometimes people think that a job on TV is really glamorous. Here’s a real picture of what Friday looked like.

I woke up at 5 a.m. I did Get Up! We had a post-show meeting. Then I raced to the airport while on the phone with Nick Saban on the coach’s call on the cab going from my studio to La Guardia. When I got to the airport I was going through security while trying to be on the conference call. Then, when I got to my gate my flight was delayed. I was trying to get to a shoot for a show I’m doing in Tuscaloosa. My flight got delayed about an hour and a half, so I grabbed a rental car as fast as possible and drove the hour to Tuscaloosa. The shoot that evening went until 8 or 9 p.m., and then I drove back to Birmingham, which is where I live, just so I could get a night at home. (And honestly, because I’d been on the road for a month, I had no clothes for the game the next day. I had to come back and get some clothes!)

Then 6 a.m. the next day, Saturday, which was the Alabama spring game, I got up to go back to Tuscaloosa, which is another hour drive back. We did shoots all morning to get prepared for this new show, while also getting prepared for the game. There are these funny moments where I’d be outside the stadium doing a shoot for this other show, and then running inside the stadium just to get mic’d up for the actual game broadcast and go live on ESPN 2.

After the game I was able to have a night at home. On Sunday I was scheduled to go to Kentucky for their athletic awards. My flights got delayed, so I had to drive to Kentucky from Alabama, which is a 6-hour drive. No big deal. I did the awards on Monday and then drove back to Alabama to then host Alabama’s athletic awards on Tuesday. Now, I head to New York today, and I’ll be there for the rest of the week for Get Up! and then will head back home for the weekend.

During football season, it’s a little more of a regular schedule, and I work every day of the week including Sunday.

It almost sounds like you’re running for office! With all of these flights, stops and early wake-up times. How do you keep track of your schedule?

Being out-of-pocket so often I’m constantly writing reminders in my phone calendar. I know that will keep me updated on what’s going on, and my constant to-do list. I’ve also realized that a to-do list or schedule for me can get so overwhelming that I almost have to take my schedule day-by-day. It sounds like ‘coach speak’ but it’s the only way I’ve found to get through it. I say, “These are the things that are prioritized for today. These are the things that I have to get done today.” I have to push some things off. Unfortunately, things that I do want to get done get pushed off more often than I like.

I am also big on writing things down. I have a planner that I take with me everywhere. It’s sort of old-fashioned. People ask, “Why don’t you go digital?” But, I find that if I write things down I remember them, and I’m almost able to digitize my entire schedule in my head a bit better.

Of course, there are times where I forget stuff, and I’m so embarrassed by it. I just have to be honest about the fact that I’ve forgotten, and we’ll have to find a way to make it work. For the most part, I try very hard to not forget things and be on time, because I value other people’s time.

The sports you cover have a clear beginning and end to their seasons, but your schedule is year-round. Where do you find time to rest and recharge?

It’s something I’m trying to get better at. [She laughs.] I’m really bad at that. The other day someone asked me, “When is the last time that you took a vacation or time off?” It was in August of last year, so that’s not great. [She laughs.] I need to be better.

I’ve found that I love my job so much – and I’m not just saying that. For me, being able to do this coverage of events, or these shows, I don’t want to miss out on those things. That is part of what drives me. It’s also part of the reality of what’s important to me at this point in time. My family has been so wonderful about supporting that.

What I find is that a lot of times my family – my husband, my parents, my brother, or whoever else – will come to some of my events so we can spend time there. I’m fortunate that sometimes my job is cool so they want to come to shows. That’s really special.

Personal downtime is something that I’ve learned I need. I’ve learned that sometimes I have to turn everything off, think, take some deep breaths, and focus on just myself for a little bit. It’s important to recharge.

Tonight I will fly to New York, and if everything is on time I will get there around 8 p.m. Then I’ll take a cab and get to my hotel around 9 or 9:30. I will make sure that at that point I’ve done all my preparation for tomorrow’s show, so that I’m not scrambling and I can relax and focus on getting to bed early. That is something that I wasn’t good at for a while. I would think, “Well, maybe there’s that one more thing that I need to look at or I need to be prepared for.” But now I try to always have that trust, and tell myself that it’s going to be okay, and I will figure it out tomorrow. It’s all going to work out. Positive self-talk is a big part of my downtime and making sure that I am fulfilled in the best way possible. I’m bad at guilting myself when I’m not working, and I think I should be working. Instead I’m learning it’s okay to say, “You know what? You deserve this. You should go take a walk and get a coffee.” [She laughs.]

I mentioned before our interview that I’m sick and losing my voice today. It made me wonder: How do you manage when you are sick and need to be on-air?

I know how hard it is to try and talk through an interview, especially when you have something respiratory. Working with Mike Greenberg on Get Up!, he is so adamant about making sure that you don’t get sick. He says our biggest tool is our voice, and it’s so true. Of course, people are seen on camera, but most of the time it’s our voices that are carrying a show. People step away from the TV and all they will hear is someone’s voice.

First, I am incredibly bullish about my preventative measures for getting sick. I would seriously recommend this for anybody who travels a lot. I was nonchalant about it for a while and thought, “I’ll be fine.” But when you’re on planes, and you’re traveling, there are so many germs. Now I’m the person who I never thought I would be. I have a to-go pack of Clorox wipes with me at all times. The second I sit down on a plane I Clorox everything. I sanitize my hands. I actually travel with disposable masks in case I’m sitting next to somebody who is sick, and I have no shame. I’ll put those things on! I’ve found that it’s too much to try and deal with a sickness on top of a crazy schedule. I don’t care if people judge me, but I’m going to do it.

Second, I do a lot of natural things. I have immune drops that are echinacea and elderberry. I would recommend those to anybody who’s trying to stay healthy and boost their immune system. I’m also big on taking immunity juice shots. You can find a juice shop in a lot of places that you go. I’m not someone to drink a whole green juice. I wish I was better at that. But, I’ve found that drinking just a ginger, lemon, cayenne type of shot that’s all packaged together – even though it’s a bit tough to get through – will really be beneficial.

I remember a time when I had a bad case of strep throat during football season. I didn’t stop. I kept going, and I hosted a show with a 102-to-103-degree fever. I don’t even remember what I said. It was probably a dangerous thing to do on many levels, especially because you don’t know what you’re talking about when you’re that feverish. I just took as much medicine as was safe to take and tried to get through it. I also made everyone around me aware that I was not doing well.

Looking back, I think it was bad. When you’re watching from home, it’s not like you expect the people you watch on TV to never get sick. If you see someone on-air who’s sick, you’re likely thinking, “I don’t want to watch somebody who’s sick. They need to go home.” One of the biggest things now for me is removing myself. If I’ve gotten sick, I try to call my bosses up and say, “I can’t do it today.”

I’ve tried to power through some things that I probably shouldn’t have, and it’s become a combination of knowing when to quit, knowing when I can keep going, and on the front end, making sure I do everything I can to not get sick.

As a woman on TV, you must constantly be aware of how you present yourself. I look at a lot of men on TV, and I think they could probably get away with wearing the same suit day after day, but as a woman you can’t do that. What are your tricks for keeping your wardrobe fresh on air, while also remaining on-budget – and amidst such a crazy schedule?

It’s always a challenge. A lot of people think I have all my clothes provided for me, and I go to a beautiful rack and pick them out when I get to work. That’s not the case. It’s kind of great in a way, because it does give me freedom to create my own style and decide, “Hey, this is what I’m going to wear.”

But on the other side of that, it creates challenges because I’m thinking, “Okay, I’ve got to come up with something to wear today.” One thing about my job in particular is that much of my time is spent preparing for the show, or preparing for the game, and whatever my next story is. I’m not spending a lot of time thinking about what I look like, or what I’m going to wear. It becomes, for me at least, second fiddle to everything else.

The way I’ve made this a little more foolproof is that I only wear solid colors. If you look at my collection of clothes, you’ll rarely see a pattern. I stick with a lot of black. I will wear the same pants a few times a week, which might be gross, but that’s what I have to do. A lot of the times I travel with a carry-on bag, and I just don’t have enough space. I’ve found, too, that it’s okay, because no one really sees my pants and no one notices.

One of my biggest keys is that I found this brand called Commando. It’s a body suit brand, and they have some other things as well, but I love their plain, black body suits. They have turtle necks, or mock necks in different styles. There’s a pretty boat neck one as well. I just have a few of those, and I will wear those under almost everything. It gives you a nice, simple layer to start your outfit. So, you’ve got a black layer and you can add to it. You can put a skirt over it. You can put pants over it. You can put a blazer over it. You can put a lace top over it that needs something underneath it. I’ve found it a really good staple to carry around with me. Plus, they’re so small that they can fit in anything. I would recommend something like that if you’re looking for a wardrobe staple that helps. Even if you’re not traveling, it’s a nice, classy layer.

There was definitely a time where I thought, “Oooh, I need to be sort of hot and glamorous on camera, and I need to find these really stylish outfits and things that are going to be a little on the sexy side.” Now I’ve found that’s just not the image I want to portray. I think I’ve always erred toward the side of being more conservative, but definitely now, and definitely over the past couple of years. It’s important to me that I can still look the way I want to look, and look stylish and trendy in certain areas, but also very classic. I never want my wardrobe to distract from what I’m saying. So, anything I’m wearing is always just sort of there to be classy, crisp and professional. Shaping outfits this way has made it easier. I know I’ll be wearing pants, a black staple and a blazer. And I do love a good statement earring.

Let’s talk about all of the work that goes into your work. What are some of the ways you prepare for a show?

The bulk of my day is spent in preparation mode. In today’s day and age there is so much information available – even on your phone. Everything is right there. I’m always that annoying person who is always checking my phone, staying up to date, and creating a working knowledge of everything that is going on in the day. I do this specifically for co-hosting Get Up!, because we do cover such a wide variety of topics. This is the skimming level of prep that happens throughout the day. The next level is dialing in on what might be a different angle for a story, or a good question from a studio standpoint.

I don’t think everyone realizes how it works for us. There’s nobody at ESPN telling me how to prepare. They allow me, and trust me, to prepare however I want. I appreciate that so much, because it gives me the flexibility and freedom to cater that to myself. Then, when I’m preparing for an event or a game, that preparation looks a little different. Most of the time, those two are happening simultaneously, which does create some challenges. But I’ve found that if I compartmentalize my time, it helps. I might spend an hour on NBA preparation for tomorrow’s show, but then I’m going to spend 30 minutes on preparation for the Georgia spring game. And 30 minutes is probably enough for that particular date, because I’ve covered a ton of Georgia football, so I’ve already got a working knowledge.

If I’m doing something totally outside of my comfort zone, that would require a different and more lengthy preparation. That is where I would dial-in, eliminate distractions, put my phone away and figure out what I can do to really get on this. What I’ve found is that cramming is possible, and something I did in college, and I could still do if I have to. But, I try to avoid it as much as I can. The level of stress is so much higher there. If tell myself, “Okay, I’ve got the NFL Draft. It’s a week away. It’s a bit far to start intense preparation, but I’m going to start some so that when I get to it I’m not totally overwhelmed.”

How does the process work between you and your team behind the camera?

There’s a misconception, especially for sideline reporters or reporters in general, that we’re being fed questions. That’s just not the case. Yes, if we are in a football game and doing a halftime interview I will often alert my producer and say, “I’m going to ask him about that interception and the fact that the quarterback stared down a receiver and it led to this mistake.” Or, “We’ve got compelling video on this and I know it’s going to be good to show again, so I’m going to ask specifically about this play in the game.” I give them a heads up so they are ready to roll that video, and it’s not catching them by surprise.

Then, in the moment a lot of times something happens. Right before the interview I’ll see that the coach is having a heated argument with an official. That changes my whole line of questioning, and I know that we caught it on camera, so I’m going to say, “You were just speaking to that official, what was that about?” Then that changes everything we have planned, and they trust me enough to roll with whatever I’m going to do there. Often times, in live sporting events, it truly is so unscripted that your planning is constantly changing and moving around. As the game goes along it’s a living, breathing organism. From that standpoint, that is very much on me, and if I ask a question people don’t like, it was me who asked it. It’s really never fed to me or discussed. And in those positions, they do give you the flexibility to rely on your own instincts, and they trust you there.

It’s a little different in studio, because we will have a more specific plan for how we’re interviewing somebody, but we always knowing that we have the authority to go off script whenever we want. If you’re the one on TV, then you, to a certain extent, are driving the content, and the production follows you. That’s a beautiful thing about the trust between everybody who is “behind the scenes” and all of us who aren’t behind the scenes. It is a trust thing. Those people are never really seen in front of the camera, but they do so much. The production staffs on all of the shows and games don’t get enough credit. It’s so hard to do their jobs, and they are relying on us in front of the camera to lead the ship a certain way. Sometimes we go off script, and they have to follow along. They’re incredibly quick on their feet, clever and very talented.

What can you tell us about your new project?

It’s so exciting. I really believe – and this is true from the person I’m talking to when I’m ordering from at Chick-fil-A, or the person that I’m talking to when I’m trying to buy a random tool for my house, or somebody on a plane – everybody has a story. That, to me, is the most amazing thing about life. If you talk to anybody there’s this story that’s lying under the surface. And often times, sadly, I think people think that their story isn’t as important or as worthy as somebody else’s. That’s just not the case. I think the beautiful thing about humanity is that everybody’s story is just as important and so impactful to what their path is going to be and to what other people’s paths are going to be around them.

I love this job, because a lot of times in having the great honor of telling people’s stories they trust me with those stories. I’m always thinking of ways to tell more stories, and especially more stories that are untold. So much of the time we know a story and we’re trying to find a different angle, but what about telling a story that’s never been told before? That was the inception behind the idea that created this project. It was what was important to me with uniting fans with the schools, players and coaches they love the most – and finding ways to give them a small token of appreciation for what they do. This project will be the culmination of that on TV.

Kristin Fisher grew up not just dreaming about doing anything she set her heart to, but knowing that she could.

As the daughter of Dr. Anna Fisher, the first mom in space, Kristin's young mind was shaped by the example of her mom and her dad. Her father, William Fisher, also was an astronaut. (Kristin has featured her dad, who now works as a physician in a Texas emergency room, recently in a series of interviews about working on the frontlines of the coronavirus.)

Growing up the daughter of two successful parents, Kristin first felt a spark for her future career at just 10 years old when she remembers watching news coverage of space shuttle launches. Her passion deepened when she watched the beginning of the Gulf War. "I remember being fixated on CNN's coverage when the first bombs hit Baghdad," she says. "But, the thing that really sealed the deal ... the day my fourth grade teacher turned our classroom into a newsroom. I've been hooked ever since.

Now a working mom herself, Kristin works as a FOX News Channel Correspondent. And, while she's based in Washington, D.C., she travels the world wherever the story takes her. And those stories have brought her worldwide -- to Vietnam, Estonia, Montenegro, and Warsaw, among other international cities. As a new mom, it would be conceivable to think that global travel would be difficult, but when you grew up with your parents traversing space, the other side of the world really doesn't feel that far.

What was your career path – from college graduation to current date?

-KJCT: A few weeks after graduating from Boston University’s College of Communications, I moved out to Grand Junction, Colorado to be a one-man-band reporter and weekend anchor at the ABC affiliate. I didn’t know a soul, and I was only making $16,000 a year, but it was one of the best experiences of my life. I was only there for nine months, but I made lifelong friends and learned that I loved being behind the camera just as much as I did being in front of it (if not more).

-KATV: Another ABC affiliate. Another move to a place where I didn’t know anyone – Little Rock, Arkansas – but grew to love. I stayed here for over two years, and during that time I became increasingly focused on politics. I covered the state legislature and the 2008 presidential campaigns of the state’s former governor, Mike Huckabee, and former First Lady, Hillary Clinton. Through those experiences, I was finally able to land a job in Washington, D.C.

-WUSA: Switched to a CBS affiliate, but still continued to one-man-band. By this point, I was deep into filming and editing. I would still front my reports on-camera, but I spent most of my time behind it or editing video on my computer. When my contract was up, I decided it was time to take a risk: I would either make it as a correspondent at the national-level, or I would start my own video production company.

-Field Mouse Films: I spent about a year traveling the world and making documentary-style films for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Uber, and other companies. But three months after filing for an LLC, I got the offer at Fox.

Do you think a path like yours is still the best way to go for 2020 college journalism graduates, or would you recommend a different route in today’s media landscape?

This may be controversial, but … no. I don’t. While local news can be an excellent training ground, market jumping is no longer the only way to get a correspondent gig at a national network. My advice would be to find your niche early, cultivate a deep network of sources, and use your subject matter expertise to become a must-hear or must-read voice on your beat.

What is it like to work for FOX News Channel? What would an I Want Her Job reader see after walking through the doors?

It is a lot of work and a lot of fun. I work at the White House every day, so if you were to walk into the Fox News booth you would see five people crammed into a space the size of a large closet.

What is your schedule like? What responsibilities take up the majority of your day? How do you prioritize them best?

I set my alarm for 4:15 a.m. and snooze until 4:30 a.m. (I will never understand people who get up the second their alarm goes off). I can’t justify a trip to our bureau for hair and makeup since I live very close to the White House, so I do it myself while drinking coffee and watching the news. This is hands down the most relaxing and predictable part of my day. I’m at the White House by 6 a.m. My first live shot is usually at 7 a.m. And then … every day is different. Some days I do live shots almost every hour. Other days, I have none. Some days I’m reporting on a head of state at the White House. Other days … Kim Kardashian. You just never know where the day is going to go. I’m usually home by 4 p.m., and I spend the rest of the day with my daughter.

You’ve covered news everywhere from Vietnam to Estonia. What would a typical work trip look like? How long will you report from a location overseas? What is a typical day like when you’re on this type of assignment?

There is no such thing as a typical work trip in the Trump Administration. They’re all different and full of surprises. The only constant is the long hours. Oftentimes, the events are happening while most Americans are sleeping. So you end up doing a full day of work covering what the President or Vice President is doing, and then turning around and doing a full day of live shots for the channel.

Your mom, Dr. Anna Fisher, was the first mom in space. Wow! What does this mean to you now as a working mom yourself?

Growing up, it meant I never questioned that I could be a mom and have a demanding, full-time job. It wasn’t until I got pregnant that I seriously started to wonder how in the world she was able to train for her first space flight during my first year of life. Now she does an incredible job of mitigating my mom guilt. She often reminds me that I was/am proud of her for being a working mom, and she assures me Clara will feel the same.

Your daughter is so cute! If you could give her advice for the career woman she will one day be, what would you tell her?

Take risks early in your career. Dream outrageously big and try to turn them into reality in your early 20s. If they don’t work out, you’ll have plenty of time to course correct before your 30s. The older you get, the harder it becomes to take the risks that are often required to find and fulfill your professional passions.

News is a 24/7 job. Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night to check your phone and see what you’ve missed? Can you ever unplug, or do you need to always be on and be available?

I wake up in the middle of the night because I’m afraid I’ve overslept – and then I check my phone. It is tough to unplug, but I do it a few times a year. I love taking vacations to places with terrible WiFi or no cell service, (yes, they still exist) so I feel less guilty about doing it.

What are some of your future goals?

I’d love to produce a documentary about space at some point.

What is something someone might not realize about your job?

No one tells me what to say. I’m either ad-libbing or reading something that I wrote off a teleprompter.

What advice would you give to someone who wants your job?

Be prepared to make some serious sacrifices. At some point in your career, you will likely work weekends, holidays, overnights, early mornings, and late nights. The schedule can be punishing. But the payoff is huge. You truly get a front row seat to history.  And I am never, ever bored.

While growing up, Amanda Kludt knew her passion involved writing. editing, and putting together publications. As the arts editor of her high school newspaper, and the editor-in-chief of the school's literary magazine, she quickly learned that focusing on arts and lifestyle had nabbed her heart. Then, once she was in college, Amanda interned at a variety of publications and found another love -- this time for local news reporting.

In her current role Amanda gets to combine all of her passions in her job as senior vice president of editorial for Vox Media's Eater and Curbed. "I love that with food and home coverage, and specifically the reporting we do at Eater and Curbed at the local level, we're able to cover creative and vital industries, while also acting as local beat reporters."

In her role, Amanda oversees all of Eater's coverage -- nationally and in 24 local markets across the United States and Canada. Under her leadership, Eater has won six James Beard Awards, two National Magazine Awards and two New York Emmy Awards. Also during her tenure, Eater announced an unprecedented deal with Hulu.

Amanda also co-hosts Eater's podcast, Eater's Digest, which features nearly 200 episodes that bring you everything you need to know about the world of food each week. And impressively, she does all of this as a mom of two! Read on as Amanda discusses why we need to focus less on titles and more on the work we like, shares how she tackles massive projects, and how she's baked growth into the Eater and Curbed platforms.

Becoming editor-in-chief of Eater at just 30-years-old is an amazing accomplishment! What did it feel like?

It felt exciting and challenging. This promotion came at a time of new investment for Eater after a long period of scrappiness. So, it was an exciting time to rethink the vision of the publication, our mission, and what we could and should do with new resources.

Then, five years later you were promoted to senior vice president of editorial for Eater and Curbed. What were some things you did in your role with Eater that you feel contributed to this opportunity?

I think I was able to prioritize the editorial opportunities and mission of eater, while never forgetting its commercial growth and appeal. That means putting the storytelling first and supporting the core journalism, but also paying attention to what our audience is asking for, what the revenue team is looking for, and what the market is responding to.

What advice do you have for other women reading this who are keen to get promoted in their jobs?

Have a good idea of what you want, make it clear to people, and stick to your guns. I've turned down promotions because I didn't want to go down a certain path. I've also learned that people who work for me don't always want to go where I see them going. So, communicating about your goals, strengths, and the work that brings you joy, is incredibly essential.

You've done a tremendous job expanding Eater to other platforms. What is your process for creating goals and achieving them? Did you have a list of all the things you wanted to do in your role when you started, or did the list evolve over time?

I always have both qualitative and quantitative goals for the different teams I run, and for myself, at the beginning of the year. This way we all have something to shoot for. That said, I'm very aware that we're in a shifting industry, and we want to be nimble and entrepreneurial. I don't want a hard-set goal to get in the way of a great idea or opportunity. I want to be able to push toward growth and success, while also encouraging risk and adaptability.

What advice do you have for taking on a big project at work?

If you are committing, make sure you actually have time for it. This is one of my biggest weaknesses. I love launching a project and struggle with the follow-through once it's off the ground. I also hate admitting that I won't have time for something, even though I knew it to be true from the beginning.

What is something about your job that you think others might not realize?

I think most fans of Eater and Curbed don't fully grasp how many things we do and how much goes on behind the scenes.In addition to the written content in dozens of cities, there's also newsletters, events, social accounts, TV shows, podcasts, a YouTube channel and streaming channels, plus marketing partnerships and revenue deals. Operating across all of those areas, and being able to speak to them and advise the teams, while keeping the broader context of what's happening at the company and in the media in general, is a lot to juggle. This is on top other aspects that are important to me, like remembering the name of the newest staffer and making sure they feel at home.

What is your schedule like? What are some tactics you use to balance meetings, email, leadership responsibilities and your creative work?

I try to group all of my meetings in the middle of the week, leaving Monday and Friday fairly clear. Monday is a good day for me to set my priorities and goals for the week, while also getting some real work done. Friday is when I write my weekly newsletter and finish up whatever I didn't finish Monday through Thursday.

I am completely unreachable between 6 to 8 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. every day -- for my sanity and my family's sanity. I wish I could say I don't work after 8 p.m., but that's often when I find time for reading and writing. That said, I try not to send emails or Slacks after hours, because I don't like the message it sends to my team.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Consuming the work that my team does, whether it's in a photo gallery of a new restaurant space, impact reporting on sexual harassment in the industry, an episode of a Curbed podcast, our TV show about immigrant communities around the U.S., or an Instagram story about dining around Paris. I just love seeing what happens when you enable and encourage people to do important and creative work.

What are some of your future goals?

Growing the influence, impact and audience of Curbed and Eater. I'd love to see Curbed strike a TV deal and Eater launch a consumer app in the next year.

What advice do you have for a girl who wants your job?

Focus on the kind of work you like, not the title. You never know where good work will lead you.

When Abby Hornacek was growing up she dreamed of becoming a marine biologist. Working as a host on TV was something she never considered as a career path until she was much older. “I was extremely show growing up,” Abby says. “… I played sports from a young age and through college. One day I started thinking, ‘If I’m not going to play sports for a living after I graduate college, then why not talk about sports for a living?’”

With this thought, Abby began her broadcast career while still in college. She interned at FOX Sports 1, worked as a feature reporter for FOX Sports West and NBA Summer League, and was a host and sideline reporter for Drone Racing League and World Arm Wrestling League on ESPN, and host of a show called San Diego Prep Insiders for a couple of years on FOX Sports San Diego. After graduating from the University of Southern California, Abby took a job with 120 Sports (now called Stadium) as host of their live shows.

Now Abby is FOX Nation’s travel and lifestyle host. You can see her on PARK’D with Abby Hornacek, American Arenas and The Ride to Work Series. This Wednesday, Nov. 6, Abby will take part in the first-ever FOX Nation Patriot Awards, where she will be hosting the red carpet.

With such a thrilling career, this self-proclaimed “adrenaline junkie” has brought fun and exciting content across FOX Nation. Abby credits her mom and dad for helping her follow her dream job. “My parents were influential in encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone and embrace the challenge of doing something I was passionate about, even if it made me uncomfortable.”

What is it like to work at FOX?

It’s a dream come true. I’m constantly surrounded by some of the most genuine and intelligent people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. My days are filled with engaging conversations with coworkers who are inquisitive, caring and a joy to be around. The opportunities FOX has given me are all passions of mine that enrich my love of nature, travel and sports. I’m very blessed!

What is your favorite part of hosting PARK’D with Abby Hornacek, American Arenas and The Ride To Work Series?

My favorite part of hosting these shows is that it never feels like work. Sometimes I’ll wake up and walk outside while I’m at a National Park just to take in the serenity. Every time I say out loud, “Abby, count your blessings, because this is your job.” I feel that gratitude for every one of my shows because they cover topics I’m interested in. I have the luxury of working with incredible personalities, while also being able to showcase my own.

What are some of your most memorable assignments covering travel and lifestyle?

There are so many! One of my most memorable moments was traveling to Zion National Park. I lived in Utah for 10 years and I felt like I was, in a sense, returning home. The sheer verticality of the sandstone cliffs that define this National Park is just one of the many reasons Zion sticks out. I was able to mountain bike (I’m embarrassed to say I wiped out...made for good TV though!) repel, canyoneer, hike, you name it!

Covering the UT-OU game (aka the Red River Showdown) at the Cotton Bowl for American Arenas also stands out. The energy you can feel from the crowd, mixed with the excitement of the State Fair of Texas, is unmatched.

We heard you are going to be a part of the first-ever FOX Nation Patriot Awards. What will your involvement include?

Yes! I will be hosting the red carpet at the awards. I’m extremely honored to be a part of such an incredible cause that honors America’s military veterans, first responders and every day heroes. I love the fact the proceeds go to the Folds of Honor Foundation. I’m really looking forward to it.

What is something surprising that you think the average person might not realize about your job?

Each show involves a lot more “go-with-the-flow” than you would think. While we do have a loose plan, many times, we’ll think of more ideas on the fly. I try not to memorize anything, but I’ll do a lot of research prior to a show.

Your dad, Jeff Hornacek, is a household name in basketball. What did you learn from him about pursuing goals that you bring into your job today?

My dad is the hardest-working person I know. My mom told me that while he was in college, when the other players were going home to play Atari, my dad was going to the gym to practice. When he was a coach, he would come home after games and rewatch them while taking notes until 3 or 4 a.m. Hearing those stories and witnessing his work ethic is something I learned to apply when pursuing my own goals. My mom always told us growing up, “You are completely capable of achieving any dream you have. If you don’t have the tools, go get the tools.” My dad showed exactly what it takes to get those tools.

What is a goal you are looking to achieve next?

I want to start my own charity! I feel so fulfilled in my job with the opportunities I’ve been able to pursue. I really want to start working with young girls to achieve their goals or help make life easier for people with disabilities. I’m also writing a book! It’s in its very early stages, but I’m enjoying that process.

What advice do you have for others interested in pursuing an on-air reporting career?

I think the biggest goal for anyone pursuing an on-air reporting career is to always remain authentically yourself and know your information. As long as you’re basing any opinion or report on facts and presenting it in a way you would to your friends or family, then people will be drawn to both the information and you as a personality.

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Growing up, Sara Peterson always had magazines in her house. “Both my grandmas got magazines too. That’s where we found all the best new ideas, from recipes to craft projects. I love how magazines help people improve their everyday lives,” Sara says. “And I love to create stories and share tips with people using words and photos.”

In her job Sara gets to do just that. As the editor-in-chief of HGTV Magazine, she oversees the second-highest-selling monthly magazine on newsstands, with a circulation of 1.3 million. The magazine, which Sara also helped launch seven years ago, was named Launch of the Year in 2012 by Advertising Age, and in 2017 was named Hottest Home Magazine by Adweek (for the third year in a row!) The publication also is an Ad Age Magazine of the Year. And with a keen attention to detail, Sara leads the team that brings to life the vibrant, glossy pages readers everywhere look forward to pulling out of the mailbox each month.

Today, the cover for the 5^th Annual Paint Issue—which is one of the year’s most treasured issues by readers and HGTV fans—is revealed. Featuring the magazine’s first-ever quadruple cover (and shot in partnership with Home Depot), the pages unfold to reveal eight HGTV stars! Sara is offering I Want Her Job readers a peek at the special June issue below. She also shares advice for personalizing your home office, the importance of storytelling (with details!), and the advice that really keeps your flowers fresher for longer.

You have an impressive background as the editor-in-chief of Coastal Living and home editor of Southern Living prior to your role as editor-in-chief of HGTV Magazine. What drew you to your focus on home and lifestyle?

Decorating can be hard! I still second-guess myself when I’m picking out a rug, choosing a paint color, or shopping for new throw pillows. I want a magazine to help me. At HGTV Magazine, we’re always on the lookout for real homes full of ideas. I always want to know: Where did they put their TV? Where did they find their sofa? Why did they choose that countertop material? Seeing how other people fill up their homes is inspiring and never gets old!

You’ve been with HGTV Magazine since its launch eight years ago. How did you get involved in turning the hit network into a massive newsstand success?

My friend Maile Carpenter, editor-in-chief of Food Network Magazine, told me that Hearst was looking for an editor to launch HGTV Magazine, and eventually I got a call to come interview with Ellen Levine, the editorial director at Hearst at the time. Like a gazillion other people, I love watching HGTV. I think the shows are fun and smart and real—the perfect combo of helping and entertaining people. I thought a magazine for the network should have that same balance. I did an edit test and met several people at HGTV. As I was finishing up the edit test, I had this thought that if I didn’t get the job, I would have to watch someone else do it—and that was upsetting. So, I told Ellen how much I wanted her to choose me. That’s kind of a good thing to think about when you’re up for a job. Does it bother you to think of someone else doing it instead of you? If yes, take the job!

What is your approach to creativity?

If you need one great idea, think of 20 or 30. Then pick the one that stands out to you the most. Most ideas end up on the cutting room floor—and that’s OK!

What is a day in the life of Sara like? How much time do you spend creating, in meetings, planning articles, etc.? In other words, how do you divide your time?

Almost the whole day is meetings—half of them are creative (planning stories, three issues’ worth at a time) and half of them are administrative (looking over budgets, etc.). Lots of days I like to snack throughout the day instead of break for lunch. (That Sabra hummus/pretzel pack is a real lifesaver!)

Being creative means being collaborative at HGTV Mag—small groups of staffers and I are always gathering in our conference room to brainstorm ideas, plan room makeovers, fine-tune a shot list for a photo shoot, and review product picks for a shopping story. Almost every story starts with a visual planning board on a 5-foot-tall white foam core board. And we don’t use pushpins on our boards; we’re huge fans of washi tape around here.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Working with creative, positive, energetic people who get joy from making magazine stories. Oh, and hanging out with the HGTV stars on photo shoots is a cool perk too. Yes, Chip and Jo are nice. Yes, Property Brothers Jonathan and Drew are super tall (6 feet, 5 inches) and they goof around a lot—Jonathan more than Drew.

On the flip side, what is the most challenging aspect of your job?

Deciding how the cover should look each month. You put a whole magazine together (all those pages, all those stories!) and then you have to pick one image that represents everything inside. It’s like the magazine is a cool shop, and you have to pick just one thing to put in the shop’s window to entice people to come inside and look around. Tough call! That said, nothing feels better in magazine-land than finalizing a cover that makes you proud.

What is something about the work you do that might surprise us?

I get very involved in the little stuff, because the details can make all the difference. For example, I once read a magazine story about cooking salmon, and a tip in the story said, “Squeeze a wedge of orange on the fillet instead of lemon.” Pure genius! That one little tip made that story special. So, I care deeply about the fringe on that throw pillow on page 35. And the way the bowls are stacked on the kitchen shelf on page 75. And the eight-word caption on page 92. When I read a magazine story, I usually read the little stuff on the page first, like the captions or the callouts. Gotta keep that in mind.

To have a publication as enormous as HGTV Magazine on your shoulders, you must feel a massive responsibility to your publisher, the network, your advertisers and your readers. What does this pressure feel like to you, and what are some ways you navigate this responsibility?

If pressure mounts, I try to ignore it! Seriously, if I start focusing too much on financial pressure or advertising dollars, that doesn’t help anybody—and it certainly doesn’t help the creative process, and I think of myself as a captain of the creative process for my team.

It’s much more productive to obsess about the readers, and to ask myself if I’m giving them enough in each issue. They paid good money for the magazine; they should get a lot! Sometimes I play a little movie in my head about a reader getting their HGTV Magazine in the mail and being glad to see it. They sit on their sofa and flip through it—maybe there’s a glass of wine in their hand. They like the colors, and the ideas, and the pictures in the magazine. They dog-ear a few pages because they see something they want to buy or try. They look relaxed and happy, and they’re engaged with every page. That’s the picture of success to me.

What is an area of your business that is particularly exciting at the moment?

We just launched a weekly newsletter, written by the editors, that gives subscribers bonus content. We share what we’re buying, DIYing, and styling each week. Fun!

Your 5th Annual Paint Issue drops today. What makes this issue particularly special to you? What can readers expect to see in the pages this year?

Our June Paint Issue is (literally) one of our biggest issues this year so far, and we feature 74 paint colors in it. One of my favorite features ever is in this issue, a story called “Paint Everything!” It’s about how to make over your living room with paint projects. We love all things paint at HGTV Mag because painting is something anyone can do—you don’t have to hire a pro or spend a lot of money to get major results. Another highlight: The issue has our first-ever quadruple cover featuring eight HGTV stars—just opening the issue is an experience!

Speaking of paint, what is your current favorite paint color and why?

Always and forever BLUE! It goes with everything. But there’s no way I can pick just one favorite, so I’ll offer up a few: Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore, Parma Gray by Farrow & Ball, Distance by Sherwin-Williams.

What is something every chic businesswoman should have in her office? What about her home office?

Hmmm, sounds obvious, but I think every woman should have a favorite pen in a color she loves (mine are all blue, even the pencils). Just a little feel-good thing. And I’d say that even if you don’t have a separate room for a “home office,” try to fit a desk somewhere in your home that’s just for you—it’s not the dining table or the kitchen island. It’s your desk and no one else’s. My home desk is in front of a window in my living room. My friend has a desk in her walk-in closet. We just did a story in the magazine that suggested using a desk as your nightstand. One drawer for nighttime stuff, like lip balm, and one drawer for office supplies.

What is something you want to learn more about?

Gardening. When I worked at Southern Living, I was around a lot of gardeners, and I wish I had soaked up more of their knowledge. You never meet a gardener who isn’t smart.

What advice do you have for others who want to work in magazines or for a home and lifestyle publication – whether print or online?

Whether you work in print or digital, including video and social media, remember that you’re telling your story visually. It’s crucial to make sure your words and your visuals align and make sense. This is harder than it seems! I love words, but I can tell you that pictures really tell your story. Also: Stick with subjects and brands that you really do like.

Early in my career, I interviewed for a staff writer job at a celebrity magazine because I wanted a new job and I wanted to write more, and the person interviewing me asked (rightly so) why I liked celebrities and why I wanted to write about them. I stumbled over the answer, and I didn’t get the job. I learned that I didn’t want to just write. I wanted to write about topics that interested me the most. Good lesson!