WORK FRIENDS
The Podcast
Secrets to success? No, thank you. Welcome to Work Friends, a podcast for sharing upfront and unfiltered career stories—the good, the bad, and the unapologetically ambitious. Because what’s better than a bit of real talk among friends?
EPISODE 16
Cari Champion
Our next guest is a force and a joy. Cari Champion is a sports journalist with over 25 years of experience reporting on the biggest, most formidable athletes of our time. She’s a regular contributor on CNN and host of the Naked Sports with Cari Champion podcast.
An LA native, Cari's early career included the Tennis Channel, covering icons like Serena and Venus Williams, before joining ESPN to host and report on shows including First Take and Sports Nation. Alongside Jemele Hill, Cari also co-hosted the Vice show, Cari and Jemele: Stick to Sports.
Cari’s work squarely sits at the intersection of sports, politics, and culture—even when some may not understand why. Today, she gets into it all.
EPISODE 15
Alencia Johnson
Meet the award-winning cultural commentator, political advisor, and leader who sits at the intersection of social impact and culture change. Alencia is the author of the forthcoming Flip The Tables: The Everyday Disruptor’s Guide to Finding Courage and Making Change, and walks us through some of the hard-learned advice that taught her how to find success on her own terms.
EPISODE 14
Mara Roszak
Meet Mara Roszak, a celebrity hair stylist whose clients include Zoe Saldaña, Emma Stone, Michelle Yeoh, Natalie Portman, Kate Mara, among many others. However, in 2021, after the birth of her first child, Mara set her sights on a new venture and launched RŌZ, an incredible line of clean haircare products. In today's episode, she shares how she found career purpose at a young age, landing her first celebrity clients, and the absolute hardest part about being a female founder.
Molly McNearney
EPISODE 13
Our first guest of 2025 is the Emmy-winning Co-Head Writer and Executive Producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Molly is mostly behind the scenes, but joins Sali for a candid look at what her role really looks like.
Katie Couric
EPISODE 12
Award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and founder, Katie Couric, dives into all things confidence, representation, and, yes, public failure.
Errin Haines
EPISODE 11
Errin Haines, Editor at Large at The 19th*, has a prolific career in journalism and joins us to share the highlights, major setbacks, and why objective is no longer the standard.
Huma Abedin
EPISODE 10
Huma Abedin is a New York Times bestseller, co-host of Morning Mika, MSNBC contributor, and, for over 25 years, has worked alongside Secretary Hillary Clinton where she's been a staunch advocate for women’s ambition.
Beth Lynk
EPISODE 9
Beth Lynk, the Executive Director of When We All Vote, joins us to discuss her work as an organizer, voter particiaiton, and all things Voting Suits You.
Melissa Winter
EPISODE 8
Melissa Winter, has led a remarkable career as the Chief of Staff to former First Lady Michelle Obama for the past seven years, after joining her staff 17 years ago.
Malika Andrews
EPISODE 7
Journalist and ESPN host Malika Andrews stands out in a league all her own, and joins us to discuss her incredible meteoric career rise.
Anjali Sud
EPISODE 6
Tubi CEO Anjali Sud takes us through her inspiring, but not-always-so-smooth, journey from Flint, Michigan to Wharton to becoming a CEO—twice.
Monica Padman
EPISODE 5
Monica Padman shares her journey from babysitter to becoming the co-host and producer of one of the biggest podcasts in the world.
Laura Brown
EPISODE 4
Laura Brown is reclaiming the narrative on getting fired, and writing a book about it, too.
Ai-jen Poo
EPISODE 3
For over 25 years, Ai-jen Poo has advocated alongside, and on behalf of, some of the most essential members of our community.
Symone Sanders-Townsend
EPISODE 2
The MSNBC host on imposter syndrome and dreaming BIG.
Betsy Beers
EPISODE 1
Meet Betsy Beers, the Executive Producer of Shondaland.
ABOUT THE HOST
Sali’s Story
Sali spent a decade working in the Bay Area's finance and technology scene where she struggled to find work clothes that were both bold and practical. Options were stagnant, constricting, and lacked key functional elements.
Amidst her search, Sali read a study whose finding moved her to action: A woman’s ability to make a strong sartorial statement impacts her confidence, her career, and ultimately, her bottom line.
It was then that Sali, an entrepreneur at heart and unapologetic power dresser, founded Argent. She set out to provide modern-day women with inspiring, practical, go-to resources to instill confidence in what to wear for their busy (often hybrid) lives. From then on out, Sali’s mission has been to help women suit up to level the office playing field and claim their seat at the table.
More From Mondays: The Journal
Stories from within, and for, our community.
work friends
Esther Perel
Her work was intended to exist behind closed doors, and yet by breaking with convention—through her bestselling books, "Where Should We Begin?" podcast, and card game by the same name—she's become one of the most prominent voices in mental health.
office hours
Fatima Goss Graves
With a profound understanding of the power of the law, she reflects on her illustrious career.