Kate White, Best-Selling Author + Former Editor-in-Chief of ‘Cosmopolitan’ — Glambition Radio Episode 144 with Ali Brown

She spent 14 years as the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, where she increased overall circulation by 30%, making Cosmo the #1 magazine in the U.S during that time. But I’m having Kate back on the show because her career books have changed my life since I began reading them in the mid-90s. And you’ll hear all about her latest ‘Gutsy Girl Handbook’, on this week’s episode of Glambition Radio. During our conversation, she dives into why NOW was the right time to release this book, and I couldn’t agree more.
On today’s episode, Kate shares the importance of badass, impactful ideas. You may have a successful business or career, but it’s simply not enough to do what you’ve been told, or to do what you’ve always done. The key is to take it to that next level ahead of everyone else— actively come up with bold, innovative, and disruptive ideas. (Don’t wait until a problem needs to be solved.)

In one example, Kate breaks down how she heard an ad on the radio about how melanoma was the fastest growing cancer in women… and then turned that into a multi-million dollar awareness campaign for Cosmo. She didn’t wait around for permission; she just did it. Hear the full story of how Kate created this forward-thinking campaign.
Not only did Kate turn Cosmo’s sales numbers around and dedicate her career to helping empower women in the workplace, but from there on she became a New York Times best-selling author of 12 (twelve!) murder mysteries and thrillers. I ask her point blank how she went from crafting headlines about sexual positions to writing detailed suspense novels. (Her answer may surprise you!)
On the show, we also discuss:
*Why you should never deviate from your brand DNA (I love this because I had to reclaim my own)
*When you should say yes… and then figure it out later (don’t talk yourself out of opportunities)
*Why the mark of a leader is to act in a crisis – not go all quiet when s*** hits the fan
*Why, like it or not, your appearance is critical when it comes to your career success (she’ll share an interesting stat with you)
*Why you need to ask for what you want… ‘even if there is a good reason not to’ (that last part grabbed me!)
*How women tend to wait for the ‘perfect moment’ to go after their goals, but we need to ignore that instinct
*How she spends her winters in Uruguay with her honey (love this idea — we all need a love shack to mix it up a bit)
On this episode of #GlambitionRadio, Kate and I also discuss why you shouldn’t forget about the big picture when you’re thinking about your day-to-day, why we need to listen more than we talk, and why you shouldn’t just ask for more money, but also ask for the juicy opportunities. Think about your legacy, your impact — who do you want to become?
I’m delighted to have Kate back on the show sharing her career wisdom. Head over to iTunes and listen to this episode of Glambition Radio now (or download it for later). And don’t forget to pick up a copy of her new ‘Gutsy Girl Handbook’.
Xo Ali
P.S. I would love your review! If you enjoy what I share in this episode, please leave a review and comment on iTunes. I would really appreciate it. Thanks!