Welcome to She Pivots

Guest Introduction: Keli Lee

From South Korea to All Over the USA

New York City: If You Can Make It Here...

Getting Into Casting

Disney and Diverse Representation

The Toll: A Near-Death Experience

Pivoting to Women's Soccer Ownership

The Art of Identifying the Undervalued

Do You Think You'll Pivot Again?

Closing Thoughts and Show Information

For over two decades, Keli Lee ran talent and casting at ABC and Disney, shaping shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and Modern Family while building the industry’s first program designed to get overlooked actors in front of the right people, helping launch the careers of Lupita Nyong’o, Chadwick Boseman, and Pedro Pascal. She created Disney’s first international studio from scratch, all while crisscrossing time zones between London, Australia, and LA for four years straight. And then her heart stopped, leading to eight days in the ICU that changed everything. On this episode of She Pivots, Keli talks about the night Viola Davis made history, the toll of nonstop work, how her father’s illness sent her looking into her own family history, and how that journey became the foundation for her brand Kurioscity, built to help others live with more intention.

 

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to She Pivots

00:28 Guest Introduction: Keli Lee

04:28 From South Korea to All Over the USA

10:08 New York City: If You Can Make It Here...

12:39 Getting Into Casting

18:17 Disney and Diverse Representation

27:26 The Toll: A Near-Death Experience

33:13 Pivoting to Women's Soccer Ownership

35:47 The Art of Identifying the Undervalued

39:37 Do You Think You'll Pivot Again?

40:49 Closing Thoughts and Show Information

 

You can Follow Keli on Instagram @kelilee7 and you can scheck out her substack for Kurioscity  at https://kelilee.substack.com/ 

 

Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.

 

She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.

 

Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com

 

Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. 

 

She Pivots is proud to be an iHeart podcast.

For over two decades, Keli Lee ran talent and casting at ABC and Disney, shaping shows like Grey&rsquo;s Anatomy, Scandal, and Modern Family while building the industry&rsquo;s first program designed to get overlooked actors in front of the right people, helping launch the careers of Lupita Nyong&rsquo;o, Chadwick Boseman, and Pedro Pascal. She created Disney&rsquo;s first international studio from scratch, all while crisscrossing time zones between London, Australia, and LA for four years straight. And then her heart stopped, leading to eight days in the ICU that changed everything. On this episode of She Pivots, Keli talks about the night Viola Davis made history, the toll of nonstop work, how her father&rsquo;s illness sent her looking into her own family history, and how that journey became the foundation for her brand Kurioscity, built to help others live with more intention.
&nbsp;
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to She Pivots
00:28 Guest Introduction: Keli Lee
04:28 From South Korea to All Over the USA
10:08 New York City: If You Can Make It Here...
12:39 Getting Into Casting
18:17 Disney and Diverse Representation
27:26 The Toll: A Near-Death Experience
33:13 Pivoting to Women's Soccer Ownership
35:47 The Art of Identifying the Undervalued
39:37 Do You Think You'll Pivot Again?
40:49 Closing Thoughts and Show Information
&nbsp;
You can Follow Keli on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kelilee7/?hl=en">@kelilee7</a> and you can scheck out her substack for Kurioscity&nbsp; at <a href="https://kelilee.substack.com/">https://kelilee.substack.com/</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.
&nbsp;
She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.
&nbsp;
Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: <a href="https://shepivots.substack.com/">shepivots.substack.com</a>
&nbsp;
Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shepivotsthepodcast/">@ShePivotsThePodcast</a>, and check out our website <a href="http://www.shepivotspod.com">shepivotspod.com</a> for resources and updates.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
She Pivots is proud to be an iHeart podcast.

Join Emily Tisch Sussman as she sits down with a diverse group of women to explore how their personal experiences led to their pivot and eventually their success. She Pivots challenges the typical definitions of success and explores the role our personal stories play in our professional journeys. The series will celebrate those who have made bold moves with a view towards inspiring others to pursue their own non-linear paths. Be sure to subscribe and follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast.

Join Emily Tisch Sussman as she sits down with a diverse group of women to explore how their personal experiences led to their pivot and eventually their success. She Pivots challenges the typical definitions of success and explores the role our personal stories play in our professional journeys. The series will celebrate those who have made bold moves with a view towards inspiring others to pursue their own non-linear paths. Be sure to subscribe and follow us on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shepivotsthepodcast/">@ShePivotsThePodcast</a>.

She Pivots

For over two decades, Keli Lee ran talent and casting at ABC and Disney, shaping shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and Modern Family while building the industry’s first program designed to get overlooked actors in front of the right people, helping launch the careers of Lupita Nyong’o, Chadwick Boseman, and Pedro Pascal. She created Disney’s first international studio from scratch, all while crisscrossing time zones between London, Australia, and LA for four years straight. And then her heart stopped, leading to eight days in the ICU that changed everything. On this episode of She Pivots, Keli talks about the night Viola Davis made history, the toll of nonstop work, how her father’s illness sent her looking into her own family history, and how that journey became the foundation for her brand Kurioscity, built to help others live with more intention. 

Keli Lee: The Day Her Heart Stopped

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c450d2e6-2796-4c79-bd27-b4a900f1b1b0/transcript

From Teacher to Entrepreneur: Missy Tannen

Stay-at-home-mom

The Birth of Boll & Branch

The Wall Street Journal Breakthrough

Growing the Business and Family Involvement

Building a Sustainable Supply Chain

The Power of Community

The Tariff Challenge

Reflecting on Missy's Journey

Production Credits

Missy Tannen spent five years teaching third grade and a decade as a stay-at-home mom before she ever thought about starting a company. But when she couldn't find bedding that was high-quality, ethically sourced, and traceable, she and her husband Scott started Boll & Branch out of pure frustration. On this episode of She Pivots, Missy talks about betting the family's life savings on an idea, borrowing against their own house even while sales were taking off, and what it took to scale from a garage operation to a 200-person company without losing what made it different in the first place. She's brutally honest about the mess behind the milestones (a full batch of ivory sheets that came out green!) and about running a family business—that’s now worth over $250 million—with her husband while raising their kids. 

Chapters:

 

00:00 Welcome to She Pivots

01:32 From Teacher to Entrepreneur: Missy Tannen

09:23 Stay-at-home-mom

13:04 The Birth of Boll & Branch

26:15 The Wall Street Journal Breakthrough

33:54 Growing the Business and Family Involvement

39:24 Building a Sustainable Supply Chain

41:25 The Power of Community

42:32 The Tariff Challenge

45:54 Reflecting on Missy's Journey

47:09 Production Credits





Check out Boll & Branch at www.bollandbranch.com 

 

Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.

 

She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.

 

Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com

 

Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. 

 

She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast.

Missy Tannen spent five years teaching third grade and a decade as a stay-at-home mom before she ever thought about starting a company. But when she couldn't find bedding that was high-quality, ethically sourced, and traceable, she and her husband Scott started Boll &amp; Branch out of pure frustration. On this episode of She Pivots, Missy talks about betting the family's life savings on an idea, borrowing against their own house even while sales were taking off, and what it took to scale from a garage operation to a 200-person company without losing what made it different in the first place. She's brutally honest about the mess behind the milestones (a full batch of ivory sheets that came out green!) and about running a family business&mdash;that&rsquo;s now worth over $250 million&mdash;with her husband while raising their kids.&nbsp;
Chapters:
&nbsp;
00:00 Welcome to She Pivots
01:32 From Teacher to Entrepreneur: Missy Tannen
09:23 Stay-at-home-mom
13:04 The Birth of Boll &amp; Branch
26:15 The Wall Street Journal Breakthrough
33:54 Growing the Business and Family Involvement
39:24 Building a Sustainable Supply Chain
41:25 The Power of Community
42:32 The Tariff Challenge
45:54 Reflecting on Missy's Journey
47:09 Production Credits
 
Check out Boll &amp; Branch at <a href="http://www.bollandbranch.com">www.bollandbranch.com</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.
&nbsp;
She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.
&nbsp;
Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: <a href="https://shepivots.substack.com/">shepivots.substack.com</a>
&nbsp;
Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shepivotsthepodcast/">@ShePivotsThePodcast</a>, and check out our website <a href="http://www.shepivotspod.com">shepivotspod.com</a> for resources and updates.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast.

Missy Tannen spent five years teaching third grade and a decade as a stay-at-home mom before she ever thought about starting a company. But when she couldn't find bedding that was high-quality, ethically sourced, and traceable, she and her husband Scott started Boll & Branch out of pure frustration. On this episode of She Pivots, Missy talks about betting the family's life savings on an idea, borrowing against their own house even while sales were taking off, and what it took to scale from a garage operation to a 200-person company without losing what made it different in the first place. She's brutally honest about the mess behind the milestones (a full batch of ivory sheets that came out green!) and about running a family business—that’s now worth over $250 million—with her husband while raising their kids. 

Missy Tannen: From Stay-at-Home Mom to $250 Million Founder

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/45fe2343-38cc-471d-998c-b4a2011c1231/transcript

Family Background and Childhood

The Broadway Dream Takes Shape

Navigating New York City and Early Auditions

The Radio City Rockette Experience

From Broadway to Fitness Entrepreneurship

The Struggle to Launch in Los Angeles

Nick's COVID Battle

Nick's Death and the Nation's Shock

Navigating Grief and Work

Future Plans and Aspirations

Reflections on Amanda's Pivots

Podcast Credits

Amanda Kloots has never been able to keep her personal and professional lives separate, which is exactly why her story resonates. She's taken on so many roles: Radio City Rockette, Broadway performer, fitness entrepreneur, bestselling author, daytime TV host, and founder of the wellness brand, Proper. And every pivot she's made was sparked by something deeply personal: a divorce, a new marriage, a cross-country move, and the sudden loss of her husband, Broadway star Nick Cordero, to COVID in 2020. On this episode of She Pivots, Amanda talks about clawing her way back after losing her Broadway income, building a fitness business from scratch in LA, and how an Instagram Live during the darkest ninety-five days of her life turned into a movement she never could have anticipated. She opens up about grief cracking her life wide open, why she calls her divorce the low point she's most grateful for, and how she's carried every version of herself (dancer, teacher, founder, widow, mom) into the next chapter, including her new podcast and her role in Netflix's Let's Marry Harry.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to She Pivots

02:05 Family Background and Childhood

03:33 The Broadway Dream Takes Shape

09:38 Navigating New York City and Early Auditions

18:30 The Radio City Rockette Experience

25:26 From Broadway to Fitness Entrepreneurship

33:49 The Struggle to Launch in Los Angeles

36:55 Nick's COVID Battle

40:50 Nick's Death and the Nation's Shock

46:51 Navigating Grief and Work

51:37 Future Plans and Aspirations

57:48 Reflections on Amanda's Pivots

58:51 Podcast Credits

 

Be sure to check out Amanda’s new podcast (launching TODAY) called Good Grief with Amanda Kloots. 

 

Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.

 

She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.

 

Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com

 

Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. 

 

She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast.

Amanda Kloots has never been able to keep her personal and professional lives separate, which is exactly why her story resonates. She's taken on so many roles: Radio City Rockette, Broadway performer, fitness entrepreneur, bestselling author, daytime TV host, and founder of the wellness brand, Proper. And every pivot she's made was sparked by something deeply personal: a divorce, a new marriage, a cross-country move, and the sudden loss of her husband, Broadway star Nick Cordero, to COVID in 2020. On this episode of She Pivots, Amanda talks about clawing her way back after losing her Broadway income, building a fitness business from scratch in LA, and how an Instagram Live during the darkest ninety-five days of her life turned into a movement she never could have anticipated. She opens up about grief cracking her life wide open, why she calls her divorce the low point she's most grateful for, and how she's carried every version of herself (dancer, teacher, founder, widow, mom) into the next chapter, including her new podcast and her role in Netflix's Let's Marry Harry.
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to She Pivots
02:05 Family Background and Childhood
03:33 The Broadway Dream Takes Shape
09:38 Navigating New York City and Early Auditions
18:30 The Radio City Rockette Experience
25:26 From Broadway to Fitness Entrepreneurship
33:49 The Struggle to Launch in Los Angeles
36:55 Nick's COVID Battle
40:50 Nick's Death and the Nation's Shock
46:51 Navigating Grief and Work
51:37 Future Plans and Aspirations
57:48 Reflections on Amanda's Pivots
58:51 Podcast Credits
&nbsp;
Be sure to check out Amanda&rsquo;s new podcast (launching TODAY) called <a href="https://people.com/amanda-kloots-lessons-grief-new-podcast-exclusive-12029017">Good Grief with Amanda Kloots.&nbsp;</a>
&nbsp;
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.
&nbsp;
She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.
&nbsp;
Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: <a href="https://shepivots.substack.com/">shepivots.substack.com</a>
&nbsp;
Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shepivotsthepodcast/">@ShePivotsThePodcast</a>, and check out our website <a href="http://www.shepivotspod.com">shepivotspod.com</a> for resources and updates.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast.

Amanda Kloots has never been able to keep her personal and professional lives separate, which is exactly why her story resonates. She's taken on so many roles: Radio City Rockette, Broadway performer, fitness entrepreneur, bestselling author, daytime TV host, and founder of the wellness brand, Proper. And every pivot she's made was sparked by something deeply personal: a divorce, a new marriage, a cross-country move, and the sudden loss of her husband, Broadway star Nick Cordero, to COVID in 2020. On this episode of She Pivots, Amanda talks about clawing her way back after losing her Broadway income, building a fitness business from scratch in LA, and how an Instagram Live during the darkest ninety-five days of her life turned into a movement she never could have anticipated. She opens up about grief cracking her life wide open, why she calls her divorce the low point she's most grateful for, and how she's carried every version of herself (dancer, teacher, founder, widow, mom) into the next chapter, including her new podcast and her role in Netflix's Let's Marry Harry.

Amanda Kloots: What Nick's Death Taught Her About Living

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0c1d34b3-f4d9-45b5-96a1-b49c0131184f/transcript

Amanda's Childhood in East Hampton

From Junior Lifeguard to National Champion

The Challenges of Periods in Sports

Amanda's Journey to Product Design

The Birth of Sequel and the Spiral Tampon

Overcoming Obstacles and Securing Funding

The Evolution of Tampon Design

The Power of Self-Awareness in Team Building

Navigating the Challenges of Fundraising

The Rise of Women's Sports and Sequel's Timing

The Future of Sequel and Period Care

Low Point to Launch

Closing Thoughts

Amanda Calabrese was a middle schooler at a swim meet when she got her period for the first time. Her team captain told her to figure it out in thirty minutes or she was off the relay. That moment stuck with her all the way to Stanford, where she met her future co-founder Greta Meyer and started sketching what would become Sequel, the first tampon redesign in nearly a hundred years. On this episode of She Pivots, Amanda talks about the four-year fight to get a tiny piece of cotton past the FDA, why she treats the tampon as game-day equipment rather than something to whisper about, and how Sequel landed in locker rooms from middle schools to Audi Field, Yankees Stadium, and the Indiana Fever. Now a nine-time champion turned product design engineer, Amanda is on a mission to change how period care is talked about in sports and in every space where women show up to compete.

 

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to She Pivots

01:46 Amanda's Childhood in East Hampton

05:43 From Junior Lifeguard to National Champion

12:14 The Challenges of Periods in Sports

16:09 Amanda's Journey to Product Design

21:01 The Birth of Sequel and the Spiral Tampon

27:02 Overcoming Obstacles and Securing Funding

29:37 The Evolution of Tampon Design

35:44 The Power of Self-Awareness in Team Building

38:13 Navigating the Challenges of Fundraising

42:16 The Rise of Women's Sports and Sequel's Timing

48:12 The Future of Sequel and Period Care

49:46 Low Point to Launch

50:52 Closing Thoughts

51:44 Podcast Credits

 

You can keep up with Amanda’s work with sequel at www.trysequel.com

 

Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.

 

She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.

 

Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com

 

Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. 

 

She Pivots is proud to be an iHeart podcast.

Amanda Calabrese was a middle schooler at a swim meet when she got her period for the first time. Her team captain told her to figure it out in thirty minutes or she was off the relay. That moment stuck with her all the way to Stanford, where she met her future co-founder Greta Meyer and started sketching what would become Sequel, the first tampon redesign in nearly a hundred years. On this episode of She Pivots, Amanda talks about the four-year fight to get a tiny piece of cotton past the FDA, why she treats the tampon as game-day equipment rather than something to whisper about, and how Sequel landed in locker rooms from middle schools to Audi Field, Yankees Stadium, and the Indiana Fever. Now a nine-time champion turned product design engineer, Amanda is on a mission to change how period care is talked about in sports and in every space where women show up to compete.
&nbsp;
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to She Pivots
01:46 Amanda's Childhood in East Hampton
05:43 From Junior Lifeguard to National Champion
12:14 The Challenges of Periods in Sports
16:09 Amanda's Journey to Product Design
21:01 The Birth of Sequel and the Spiral Tampon
27:02 Overcoming Obstacles and Securing Funding
29:37 The Evolution of Tampon Design
35:44 The Power of Self-Awareness in Team Building
38:13 Navigating the Challenges of Fundraising
42:16 The Rise of Women's Sports and Sequel's Timing
48:12 The Future of Sequel and Period Care
49:46 Low Point to Launch
50:52 Closing Thoughts
51:44 Podcast Credits
&nbsp;
You can keep up with Amanda&rsquo;s work with sequel at <a href="http://www.trysequel.com">www.trysequel.com</a>
&nbsp;
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration.
&nbsp;
She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.
&nbsp;
Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: <a href="https://shepivots.substack.com/">shepivots.substack.com</a>
&nbsp;
Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shepivotsthepodcast/">@ShePivotsThePodcast</a>, and check out our website <a href="http://www.shepivotspod.com">shepivotspod.com</a> for resources and updates.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
She Pivots is proud to be an iHeart podcast.

Amanda Calabrese was a middle schooler at a swim meet when she got her period for the first time. Her team captain told her to figure it out in thirty minutes or she was off the relay. That moment stuck with her all the way to Stanford, where she met her future co-founder Greta Meyer and started sketching what would become Sequel, the first tampon redesign in nearly a hundred years. On this episode of She Pivots, Amanda talks about the four-year fight to get a tiny piece of cotton past the FDA, why she treats the tampon as game-day equipment rather than something to whisper about, and how Sequel landed in locker rooms from middle schools to Audi Field, Yankees Stadium, and the Indiana Fever. Now a nine-time champion turned product design engineer, Amanda is on a mission to change how period care is talked about in sports and in every space where women show up to compete.

Amanda Calabrese: Redesigning the Tampon for Athletes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/278173c6-fce0-4f1c-a013-b495014d085f/transcript

Keli Lee: The Day Her Heart Stopped

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