Life Lessons with Hillary Kerr

Molly McNearney: Jimmy Kimmel Live! Co–Head Writer

When Molly McNearney arrived in Los Angeles and landed an interview to work as an assistant producer at Jimmy Kimmel Live, she jumped at the chance (although she admits she had no idea who Kimmel was at the time). The job wasn’t glamorous, but the initiative she showed in those early days led to other opportunities on the show. She worked her way up the ranks and into the writers’ room, eventually earning her current status as head writer. On this week’s Life Lessons episode, McNearney offers up advice for aspiring writers.

Anastasia Soare: Anastasia Beverly Hills Founder and CEO

When Anastasia Soare immigrated to Los Angeles from her native Romania in the early ’90s, she had no idea she’d someday change the way we collectively groom our brows. But after attending aesthetician school and getting a job at a salon on Melrose Place, she noticed that her facial clients weren’t taking proper care of their brows. Sensing a white space, she eventually launched her own salon where she dedicated herself to shaping brows of A-list clients. On this episode of Life Lessons, she’s talking us through how she ended up launching a full-on empire complete with a best-selling product line you’ve definitely heard of: Anastasia Beverly Hills.

Laura Vassar: Brock Collection Co-Founder

Laura Vassar has spent most of her life crafting beautiful ready-to-wear, a passion that began in high school when she learned to sew and designed her own prom dress. She met her future husband (and business partner) Kristopher Brock while studying at Parsons in New York City, and the rest is history: Their brand Brock Collection is now stocked at fine department stores and on big-time sites like Net-a-Porter and Moda Operandi. On this week’s episode of Life Lessons, she’s offering up advice for aspiring designers and explaining what it’s really like to work in fashion.

Mercedes Abramo: Cartier North America President and CEO

Mercedes Abramo, president and CEO of Cartier North America, has never been one to avoid taking risks or making moves. In fact, her career as a businesswoman has taken her all over the world, from the Ritz Carlton in Maui to business school in Paris to a stint at Tiffany & Co. in New York City before landing her at Cartier, where she worked her way all the way up the ladder. Tune in to this week’s Life Lessons episode as she chats with Hillary and offers up insights on expanding your skill set, learning how to be a manager, and learning how to decide when it’s time to move on to a new opportunity.

Gregg Renfrew: Beautycounter Founder and CEO

Given the number of companies she’s founded and led over the course of her career, we’re going to go ahead and call Gregg Renfrew a serial entrepreneur. She built The Wedding List (and then sold it to Martha Stewart!) in 2001, and her latest venture, thriving all-natural brand @beautycounter, has reportedly received over $80M in funding. In today’s episode, she’s sharing valuable life lessons, including how she recovered from being fired as a CEO, what it takes to raise money as a woman in today’s market, and why advocating for regulation in the beauty industry is actually propelling her company’s growth.