logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2022
26m 23s

I Had to Bet on Me: Isha Sesay of OkayMe...

Rebecca Minkoff
About this episode

Peabody Award-winning journalist Isha Sesay didn’t set out to helm a media company, but her creativity, integrity and spirit of perseverance made her the perfect candidate for it.

After working as an anchor and correspondent at CNN for thirteen years, personal matters and professional projects began to pull Isha in another direction. However, as a global pandemic turned everything upside down, Isha made it her mission to use independent digital platforms to continue sharing news in a world that was making less and less sense. OkayMedia took note, and tapped Isha to become its first female CEO, leading the company in its mission to elevate Black culture and amplify Black voices.

Today, Isha considers herself an “accidental activist,” reminding herself and others to keep an open mind and heart, and see where the possibilities may take you.

Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success.

Follow Superwomen on Instagram.

Guest Website

Okayplayer.com

Podcast: The Accidental Activist

Social Media

@iamishasesay

@IshaSesay

Big Ideas

The supportive nature of “servant leadership” and how that encourages the best in employees.

Links

Isha’s non-profit supporting girls in Sierra Leone: We-canlead.org

Beneath the Tamarind Tree: A Story of Courage, Family, and the Lost Schoolgirls of Boko Haram

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/superwomen/support
Up next
Aug 21
A Finance Expert’s Biggest Money Regret
Alison Kosik spent 15 years covering the biggest stories in business at CNN. But the most important lesson she learned came when she realized she had lost control of her own finances.This week on SUPERWOMEN, I talk with the journalist and author of “What's Up with Women and Money ... Show More
25m 42s
Aug 14
She Quit Her Coveted Role at ELLE to Launch a Fashion Startup No One Thought Would Work
Kate Davidson Hudson was supposed to climb the career ladder every fashion girl dreamed of. Instead, she walked away and built a tech company from scratch.This week on SUPERWOMEN, I sit down with the founder and CEO of a shoppable AI closet platform, Vêtir, and a longtime force i ... Show More
33m 19s
Aug 7
How Chelsea Riggs Went From Broke to Beauty Boss
Chelsea Riggs found her dream job on Craigslist. Yes, really.In this episode of SUPERWOMEN, I sit down with Chelsea to talk about how she became the first employee at Amika, why she stayed for 15 years, and how she turned a scrappy startup into a powerful, culture-shifting beauty ... Show More
40m 9s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2020
Mona Ataya: Mumzworld Founder
Mona Ataya, a serial entrepreneur, started early by selling chewing gum in grade school. Now, she runs the region’s largest online baby store, Mumzworld. She talks about the balancing act of being a mom and running a leading e-commerce company and how her Palestinian background c ... Show More
32m 40s
Nov 2023
Raquel Willis: Leading the Transition Toward Equality
In this episode of Remarkable People, join host Guy Kawasaki as he engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Raquel Willis, a trailblazing Black transgender activist, writer, media strategist, and speaker. Together, they dive into Raquel's journey in the LGBTQ and racial j ... Show More
1h 1m
May 2022
Forging my own path, by Isha Sesay
Writer Isha Sesay is happiest when she is caring for others; it’s a lesson she learns from her mother while growing up in Sierra Leone. But as an adult, there’s another lesson her mother teaches her, in quite another way: that even the most caring and giving among us must learn t ... Show More
33m 1s
Feb 2022
Millionaire’s Club: “The World Was Gonna Open Up”
Arianna was a recent college graduate with dreams of one day opening her own marketing company. So when a LinkedIn opportunity for a social media marketing assistant fell into her lap, it felt too good to be true.    Soon, she would be brushing shoulders with millionaires, in hop ... Show More
59m 56s
Oct 2019
Dina Shihabi: Actor
Dina, now an acclaimed actress with shows on Amazon and Hulu, initially set out to become a professional dancer, despite trying to quit ballet as a child. In this episode, she talks about the critical moments that propelled her acting career forward and the rewards of pushing the ... Show More
38m 1s
Jul 2020
IN CONVERSATION: Aisha Dee
HELLO WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR THIS EPISODE THERE’S SIMPLY NO TIME FOR PUNCTUATION Today on the show, we bring you the delightful Aisha Dee. You’ll likely know Aisha as the Australian actor who currently plays Kat Edison on The Bold Type. (And she also played Desi on the Australian ... Show More
42m 4s
Sep 2019
Mona Chalabi: Data Journalist
Mona tells us about the unusual freedom her Iraqi parents gave her as a kid, the meticulous process behind her work, and how she’s dismantling the idea that data journalism is an impenetrable truth.This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Dana Ballout, with editorial support ... Show More
42m 19s
Jul 2020
Leading Ladies: Meena Kumari
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know -- but definitely s ... Show More
9m 9s
Oct 2019
Hatoon Kadi: Comedian
In our season finale, Hatoon talks about the video that accidentally went viral and made her famous. From being named as BBC’s 100 Women in 2014 to dealing with trolls, this is the journey of Saudi’s first female comedian.Follow Hatoon Kadi on social media: @hatoonkadi. This epis ... Show More
39m 6s