Welcome to She Pivots

Welcome to ShePivots

Guest Introduction: Victoria Lai

Childhood Memories and Family Influences

The Path to Law School and Government Work

Finding Inspiration in New York City

The Birth of Ice Cream Jubilee

Taking the Leap: From Government to Ice Cream

"Ice cream-preneurship"

Achieving Success and Letting Go

A New Chapter: Coaching and Personal Growth

Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

Podcast Credits

Victoria Lai has lived several careers in one lifetime: presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, entrepreneur, and now business advisor and nonprofit COO. But her biggest pivot came when she nurtured her passion for making ice cream on nights and weekends while working a serious government job. In this extra sweet episode, Victoria walks us through how a $25 Craigslist ice cream maker and a promise to herself led to Ice Cream Jubilee, the award-winning DC-area business celebrated by Food & Wine, the Washington Post, and Thrillist, and what it felt like to eventually sell the business she'd spent nearly a decade building. She also opens up about her family's Chinese immigrant history and how it shaped both her flavors and her sense of purpose, and why she considers her latest pivot back to mission-driven work the most fitting chapter yet.

Chapters:

00:00.160    Welcome to She Pivots

00:28.360    Guest Introduction: Victoria Lai

01:58.160    Childhood Memories and Family Influences

06:57.320    The Path to Law School and Government Work

10:58.576    Finding Inspiration in New York City

13:02.754    The Birth of Ice Cream Jubilee

26:36.392    Taking the Leap: From Government to Ice Cream

32:46.677    "Ice cream-preneurship"

36:07.043    Achieving Success and Letting Go

39:02.320    A New Chapter: Coaching and Personal Growth

44:18.680    Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

44:40.626    Podcast Credits

 

You can keep up with Ice Cream Jubilee at their website, www.icecreamjubilee.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.

Victoria Lai has lived several careers in one lifetime: presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, entrepreneur, and now business advisor and nonprofit COO. But her biggest pivot came when she nurtured her passion for making ice cream on nights and weekends while working a serious government job. In this extra sweet episode, Victoria walks us through how a $25 Craigslist ice cream maker and a promise to herself led to Ice Cream Jubilee, the award-winning DC-area business celebrated by Food &amp; Wine, the Washington Post, and Thrillist, and what it felt like to eventually sell the business she'd spent nearly a decade building. She also opens up about her family's Chinese immigrant history and how it shaped both her flavors and her sense of purpose, and why she considers her latest pivot back to mission-driven work the most fitting chapter yet.
Chapters:
00:00.160&nbsp; &nbsp; Welcome to She Pivots
00:28.360&nbsp; &nbsp; Guest Introduction: Victoria Lai
01:58.160&nbsp; &nbsp; Childhood Memories and Family Influences
06:57.320&nbsp; &nbsp; The Path to Law School and Government Work
10:58.576&nbsp; &nbsp; Finding Inspiration in New York City
13:02.754&nbsp; &nbsp; The Birth of Ice Cream Jubilee
26:36.392&nbsp; &nbsp; Taking the Leap: From Government to Ice Cream
32:46.677&nbsp; &nbsp; "Ice cream-preneurship"
36:07.043&nbsp; &nbsp; Achieving Success and Letting Go
39:02.320&nbsp; &nbsp; A New Chapter: Coaching and Personal Growth
44:18.680&nbsp; &nbsp; Closing Thoughts and Gratitude
44:40.626&nbsp; &nbsp; Podcast Credits
&nbsp;
You can keep up with Ice Cream Jubilee at their website, www.icecreamjubilee.com
&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

Victoria Lai has lived several careers in one lifetime: presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, entrepreneur, and now business advisor and nonprofit COO. But her biggest pivot came when she nurtured her passion for making ice cream on nights and weekends while working a serious government job. In this extra sweet episode, Victoria walks us through how a $25 Craigslist ice cream maker and a promise to herself led to Ice Cream Jubilee, the award-winning DC-area business celebrated by Food & Wine, the Washington Post, and Thrillist, and what it felt like to eventually sell the business she'd spent nearly a decade building. She also opens up about her family's Chinese immigrant history and how it shaped both her flavors and her sense of purpose, and why she considers her latest pivot back to mission-driven work the most fitting chapter yet.

Victoria Lai: The Story Behind Ice Cream Jubilee

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a9de7c4d-6302-4934-8f26-b44f01202134/transcript

Content Warning

Elizabeth Smart's Early Life

The Night Elizabeth was Abducted

Captivity and Torture

The Human Will To Survive

A Sign of Hope

Why Elizabeth Didn't Run

The Rescue

The Return Home and Aftermath

Navigating the Justice System

Advocating for Change & Raising Her Children

The Elizabeth Smart Foundation

Low Point to Launch Point

Unasked Questions and Final Thoughts

Closing Remarks and Resources

In June 2002, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart was taken from her bedroom at knifepoint and held captive for nine months, enduring abuse that would have broken most people beyond repair. Against extraordinary odds, she survived, and then she decided to step fully into the public eye; not in spite of what happened to her, but because of it. She has testified before Congress, helped author a Department of Justice handbook for kidnapping survivors, and founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation to dismantle the shame culture that compounds survivors' trauma. In this powerful episode, Elizabeth walks us through the night that changed everything, how she held onto hope during nine months of captivity, what justice looked and felt like after nearly eight years of waiting, and why she believes that being seen is one of the most radical things a survivor can do.

 

Chapters:

00:00.199 Content Warning

00:10.748 Welcome to She Pivots

01:32.239 Elizabeth Smart's Early Life

07:10.879 The Night Elizabeth was Abducted

12:08.120 Captivity and Torture

17:57.063 Elizabeth’s Will To Survive

20:16.221 A Sign of Hope

22:41.463 Why Elizabeth Didn't Run

26:17.125 The Rescue

28:45.230 The Return Home and Aftermath

35:32.764 Navigating the Justice System

41:01.070 Advocating for Change & Raising Her Children

45:22.942 The Elizabeth Smart Foundation

46:17.746 Low Point to Launch Point

49:26.239 Unasked Questions and Final Thoughts

50:58.725 Closing Remarks and Resources

51:39.187 Podcast Credits

 

Learn more about Elizabeth’s work at elizabethsmartfoundation.org

 

If anything in today's episode brought something up for you and you need help, please reach out to someone you trust or visit rainn.org 

 

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.

In June 2002, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart was taken from her bedroom at knifepoint and held captive for nine months, enduring abuse that would have broken most people beyond repair. Against extraordinary odds, she survived, and then she decided to step fully into the public eye; not in spite of what happened to her, but because of it. She has testified before Congress, helped author a Department of Justice handbook for kidnapping survivors, and founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation to dismantle the shame culture that compounds survivors' trauma. In this powerful episode, Elizabeth walks us through the night that changed everything, how she held onto hope during nine months of captivity, what justice looked and felt like after nearly eight years of waiting, and why she believes that being seen is one of the most radical things a survivor can do.
&nbsp;
Chapters:
00:00.199 Content Warning
00:10.748 Welcome to She Pivots
01:32.239 Elizabeth Smart's Early Life
07:10.879 The Night Elizabeth was Abducted
12:08.120 Captivity and Torture
17:57.063 Elizabeth&rsquo;s Will To Survive
20:16.221 A Sign of Hope
22:41.463 Why Elizabeth Didn't Run
26:17.125 The Rescue
28:45.230 The Return Home and Aftermath
35:32.764 Navigating the Justice System
41:01.070 Advocating for Change &amp; Raising Her Children
45:22.942 The Elizabeth Smart Foundation
46:17.746 Low Point to Launch Point
49:26.239 Unasked Questions and Final Thoughts
50:58.725 Closing Remarks and Resources
51:39.187 Podcast Credits
&nbsp;
Learn more about Elizabeth&rsquo;s work at <a href="http://elizabethsmartfoundation.org">elizabethsmartfoundation.org</a>
&nbsp;
If anything in today's episode brought something up for you and you need help, please reach out to someone you trust or visit <a href="http://rainn.org">rainn.org</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.

In June 2002, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart was taken from her bedroom at knifepoint and held captive for nine months, enduring abuse that would have broken most people beyond repair. Against extraordinary odds, she survived, and then she decided to step fully into the public eye; not in spite of what happened to her, but because of it. She has testified before Congress, helped author a Department of Justice handbook for kidnapping survivors, and founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation to dismantle the shame culture that compounds survivors' trauma. In this powerful episode, Elizabeth walks us through the night that changed everything, how she held onto hope during nine months of captivity, what justice looked and felt like after nearly eight years of waiting, and why she believes that being seen is one of the most radical things a survivor can do.

Elizabeth Smart: Surviving the Kidnapping That Shook the Nation 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c293c1cd-1dfe-4981-ae26-b44700e54d6a/transcript

Laurie Tisch Guest Introduction

Childhood and Early Life

Finding Her Own Path

Laurie Returns to New York City

Laurie's Entrance to Philanthropy and Culture

The Impact of The Children's Museum

Definitions of Success

The Illumination Fund: A New Chapter

Sports and Family Legacy

My Mom's Favorite She Pivots Episodes!

Closing Thoughts and Happy Mother's Day!

Today's guest is someone pretty special to Emily Tisch Sussman—it's her mom, Laurie Tisch. Laurie grew up as the only girl in a big, loud family full of brothers and cousins, navigating public scrutiny while quietly figuring out who she really was. She navigated the complexities to become a woman carved out an identity that was entirely, unmistakably her own. 

 

On this special Mother's Day episode, Laurie sits down with Emily to talk about founding her own philanthropic foundation, becoming a force in New York's arts and education world, and ownership of the New York Giants.

 

Chapters:

 

00:00.160 Welcome to She Pivots

00:30.560 Laurie Tisch Guest Introduction

01:46.573 Childhood and Early Life

05:14.523 Finding Her Own Path

09:20.254 Laurie Returns to New York City

13:18.880 Laurie's Entrance to Philanthropy and Culture

17:02.562 The Impact of The Children's Museum

22:17.107 Definitions of Success

24:32.977 The Illumination Fund: A New Chapter

28:54.791 Sports and Family Legacy

34:44.022 Low Point to Launch Point

35:27.726 My Mom's Favorite She Pivots Episodes!

37:00.210 Closing Thoughts and Happy Mother's Day!

37:26.519 Podcast Credits

 

Check out the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund at thelmtif.org

 

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

Today's guest is someone pretty special to Emily Tisch Sussman&mdash;it's her mom, Laurie Tisch. Laurie grew up as the only girl in a big, loud family full of brothers and cousins, navigating public scrutiny while quietly figuring out who she really was. She navigated the complexities to become a woman carved out an identity that was entirely, unmistakably her own.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
On this special Mother's Day episode, Laurie sits down with Emily to talk about founding her own philanthropic foundation, becoming a force in New York's arts and education world, and ownership of the New York Giants.
&nbsp;
Chapters:
&nbsp;
00:00.160 Welcome to She Pivots
00:30.560 Laurie Tisch Guest Introduction
01:46.573 Childhood and Early Life
05:14.523 Finding Her Own Path
09:20.254 Laurie Returns to New York City
13:18.880 Laurie's Entrance to Philanthropy and Culture
17:02.562 The Impact of The Children's Museum
22:17.107 Definitions of Success
24:32.977 The Illumination Fund: A New Chapter
28:54.791 Sports and Family Legacy
34:44.022 Low Point to Launch Point
35:27.726 My Mom's Favorite She Pivots Episodes!
37:00.210 Closing Thoughts and Happy Mother's Day!
37:26.519 Podcast Credits
&nbsp;
Check out the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund at <a href="http://thelmtif.org">thelmtif.org</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.
 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>

Today's guest is someone pretty special to Emily Tisch Sussman—it's her mom, Laurie Tisch. Laurie grew up as the only girl in a big, loud family full of brothers and cousins, navigating public scrutiny while quietly figuring out who she really was. She navigated the complexities to become a woman carved out an identity that was entirely, unmistakably her own.   On this special Mother's Day episode, Laurie sits down with Emily to talk about founding her own philanthropic foundation, becoming a force in New York's arts and education world, and ownership of the New York Giants.

Laurie Tisch: My Mom

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/72b7d722-0269-4ce3-9032-b4400130a3b1/transcript

Guest Introduction: Sherrie Westin

Communications and the White House

The Transformative Power of Motherhood

From ABC News to Sesame Street

Representation and Global Impact

The Experiment of Sesame Street

The Power of The Arts on Children

Making a Difference To Communities in Need

Financial Challenges and Becoming CEO

What I Learned From Mom

From Low Point to Launch Point

Do You Think You'll Pivot Again?

Children and AI

Closing Thoughts and Credits

Elmo, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster probably helped raise you, and the woman now leading Sesame Street traces her path there back to one transformative act: adopting her daughter Lily from China. Before joining Sesame Workshop, Sherrie Westin had already built a remarkable career at ABC News and as one of the highest-ranking women in George H.W. Bush's White House. On this episode, Sherrie shares how adopting Lily in 1995 sparked a profound pivot, and how that personal transformation shaped her 26-year journey at the helm of one of the most beloved nonprofits in the world. She opens up about leading the creation of Julia, Sesame Street's first autistic Muppet, securing a landmark $100 million grant to bring early education to refugee children across the globe, and navigating the financial uncertainty that ultimately led to a groundbreaking new deal with Netflix.

Chapters:

00:00.00 Welcome to She Pivots

00:25.836 Guest Introduction: Sherrie Westin

01:58.259 Childhood and Early Life

03:28.160 Communications and the White House

09:44.959 The Transformative Power of Motherhood

12:53.840 From ABC News to Sesame Street

17:56.682 Representation and Global Impact

23:48.774 The Experiment of Sesame Street

25:20.535 The Power of The Arts on Children

27:55.460 Making a Difference To Communities in Need

31:44.265 Financial Challenges and Becoming CEO

36:00.269 What I Learned From Mom

36:53.572 From Low Point to Launch Point

37:20.029 Do You Think You'll Pivot Again?

38:09.920 Children and AI

39:20.765 Closing Thoughts and Credits

 

Learn more about Sesame workshop’s mission at Sesameworkshop.org

 

Check out Sherrie’s new book: What I Learned From Mom: 27 Celebrated Individuals on How Mother's Wisdom Shaped Their Lives. 

 

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.

Elmo, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster probably helped raise you, and the woman now leading Sesame Street traces her path there back to one transformative act: adopting her daughter Lily from China. Before joining Sesame Workshop, Sherrie Westin had already built a remarkable career at ABC News and as one of the highest-ranking women in George H.W. Bush's White House. On this episode, Sherrie shares how adopting Lily in 1995 sparked a profound pivot, and how that personal transformation shaped her 26-year journey at the helm of one of the most beloved nonprofits in the world. She opens up about leading the creation of Julia, Sesame Street's first autistic Muppet, securing a landmark $100 million grant to bring early education to refugee children across the globe, and navigating the financial uncertainty that ultimately led to a groundbreaking new deal with Netflix.
Chapters:
00:00.00 Welcome to She Pivots
00:25.836 Guest Introduction: Sherrie Westin
01:58.259 Childhood and Early Life
03:28.160 Communications and the White House
09:44.959 The Transformative Power of Motherhood
12:53.840 From ABC News to Sesame Street
17:56.682 Representation and Global Impact
23:48.774 The Experiment of Sesame Street
25:20.535 The Power of The Arts on Children
27:55.460 Making a Difference To Communities in Need
31:44.265 Financial Challenges and Becoming CEO
36:00.269 What I Learned From Mom
36:53.572 From Low Point to Launch Point
37:20.029 Do You Think You'll Pivot Again?
38:09.920 Children and AI
39:20.765 Closing Thoughts and Credits
&nbsp;
Learn more about Sesame workshop&rsquo;s mission at <a href="http://sesameworkshop.org">Sesameworkshop.org</a>
&nbsp;
Check out Sherrie&rsquo;s new book: <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/What-I-Learned-from-Mom/Jeffrey-D-Dunn/9798888451861">What I Learned From Mom: 27 Celebrated Individuals on How Mother's Wisdom Shaped Their Lives.</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.

Elmo, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster probably helped raise you, and the woman now leading Sesame Street traces her path there back to one transformative act: adopting her daughter Lily from China. Before joining Sesame Workshop, Sherrie Westin had already built a remarkable career at ABC News and as one of the highest-ranking women in George H.W. Bush's White House. On this episode, Sherrie shares how adopting Lily in 1995 sparked a profound pivot, and how that personal transformation shaped her 26-year journey at the helm of one of the most beloved nonprofits in the world. She opens up about leading the creation of Julia, Sesame Street's first autistic Muppet, securing a landmark $100 million grant to bring early education to refugee children across the globe, and navigating the financial uncertainty that ultimately led to a groundbreaking new deal with Netflix.

Sherrie Westin: The Woman Behind Sesame Street

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0327ee55-6657-4b76-a124-b43a0167bf11/transcript

Victoria Lai: The Story Behind Ice Cream Jubilee

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