Award-winning director and producer Ava DuVernay, known for her groundbreaking films like “Selma,” “A Wrinkle In Time,” and “Origin,” didn’t actually start her career behind the camera. She spent years working in public relations before taking the plunge and pivoting in her 30s. Spoiler: it paid off. And she’s got an Academy Award to show for it. To kick off our new season of "9 to 5ish," we spoke to Ava about how she embraced change and found joy in her career.
PS: Ava’s film, “Origin,” will be streaming on demand starting March 12.
In this episode, Ava shares:
Carmen Rita Wong, author, host, and financial expert: “People say, ‘Oh, this door closed. This door closed.’ And I'd be like, ‘Well, I'll take a chainsaw and make a door.’”
Julie Greenwald, chairman & COO, Atlantic Records: “You have to outwork everybody else.”
Tiffany R. Warren, SVP, Chief Diversity Officer at Omnicom: “Being a microphone for people who can't be in the room is an honor and a power that I take extremely seriously.”
Padma Lakshmi: “We're not taught to advocate for ourselves at the expense of maybe ruffling some feathers.”
Loni Love, comedian and co-host of The Real: “I want people to be inspired.”
Ariane Goldman, founder and CEO of HATCH: “Fear and ambition together is incredibly powerful.”
Lindsay Peoples Wagner, Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue: “Empathy is everything.”
Jennifer Justice, entertainment exec and founder, The Justice Department: “I started seeing that when I advocated for people, it was different than other people doing it.”
BONUS EPISODE with Kaylin Marcotte, founder and CEO of JIGGY
Laura Prepon, actress and director: “People are going to tell you no. That cannot deter you.”
Adriana Cisneros, CEO of Cisneros: "I think when you have a crisis... it is kind of a unique opportunity to really think about what matters to the core of [a] business and rethink it.”
Ratana Stephens, CEO of Nature’s Path: “When it comes to business and people, I'm a lioness.”
Meg Whitman, CEO of Quibi: “Leadership in crisis is about getting down into the trenches.”
Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook: “Resilience… it’s like a muscle, which means you build it.”
Glennon Doyle, author: “Untame the companies.”
Annie Lawless, founder of Lawless Beauty and co-founder of Suja Juice: “When you take an investment, it's like a marriage.”
Karlie Kloss, model and founder, Kode with Klossy: “You have to realize your limits.”
Lydia Fenet, auctioneer and Global Director at Christie’s Auction House: “I realized I was making a third of what everyone else was making.”
Gretchen Carlson: “When you decide to jump off a cliff like that, you have no idea what's going to happen.”
Lo Bosworth, founder and CEO of Love Wellness: “My body could just not manage the stress anymore.”
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free