Press Profiles

Alessandra Galloni is the woman in charge at Reuters, leading 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in 200 locations across the globe. On this episode of Press Profiles, we find out what it's like to be at the helm of the ubiquitous global news organization and explore her journey to becoming the first female Editor in Chief in Reuters' 175-year history. We discuss the challenges of guiding a news operation through wars and conflicts across the world and the intense safety protocols that requires. We also talk Italian restaurants, scootering around London, how "racoons in the chimney" scared her family out of the sub...

The annual Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles is an "intellectual banquet" of stimulating content. Over the course of three days more than 1,000 speakers take the stage to share insights on the latest business, political, healthcare and cultural trends. How it all comes together is both fascinating and daunting. On this episode of Press Profiles we sit down with Conrad Kiechel, the Milken Institute's executive director of global programming and events, to discuss assembling the jigsaw puzzle that is the global conference. From landing bold face names such as Scott Bessent, Jason Sudeikis, Jensen Huang and Patrick Dempsey, t...

For the WSJ’s Lauren Thomas, there’s nothing more exhilarating and nerve-racking than the minutes before one of her big scoops is published. Before it goes, she’s worried she will get scooped… and after it goes, she is absorbing the immediate reactions of all those involved. Such is the life of the lead deals reporter at one of the world’s preeminent financial publications. Lauren has been chasing scoops ever since she was a little kid snooping around her house in South Carolina. Her rapid rise in journalism landed her at CNBC fresh out of college and on center...

James Fontanella-Khan discovered early on that being a journalist was a great way to see the world and gain access. Starting with a makeshift press credential as a 17-year-old, he began writing stories for fringe publications and his career was off and running. On this episode of Press Profiles, we explore JFK’s rise from an intern at the FT to his recent appointment as US Finance Editor. We also discuss the current M&A environment, his skepticism around PR pitches, the founding of the Due Diligence newsletter, and how his team of “a small band of pirates with a gl...

What does it take to end up on Fast Company's list of "Most Innovative Companies"? On this episode of Press Profiles, we speak with editor in chief, Brendan Vaughan to find out. Brendan has had an impressive career guiding the editorial direction of marquee publications including GQ, Esquire, Business Insider and The Atlantic. Now, as Editor-in-Chief of Fast Company, he is responsible for helping readers grasp the rapid speed of business innovation.

We take it all the way back to Brendan's beginnings in journalism and discuss some of the memorable stories and people he has covered. We...

They say communications – specifically public relations – is one of the more tactical, strategic, and yes, I’ll admit, stressful jobs, you can have. Eleanor Hawkins would probably agree. A former PR professional, she is now a reporter for Axios covering the PR & communications industry. In her Axios Communicators newsletter, she tracks the biggest news items of the day and looks at them through a PR lens. On this episode of Press Profiles, we talk to Eleanor about some recent newsworthy events – President Trump’s DEI rollback, the tragic crash of American Airlines flight 5342 in Washington DC, and even, the knockdown...

Barron’s is a 100+ year institution in financial journalism, yet it’s constantly evolving. Reshma Kapadia is one of the driving forces behind that innovation. She was part of the team that helped launch Barron’s annual "100 Most Influential Women in US Finance" list and created the publication’s female-focused "Level Up" platform. On this episode of Press Profiles, we dive into Reshma's 30-year career, why she felt compelled to be a journalist, her love of covering emerging markets, her search for “great thinkers” to interview…and of course we explore the coveted 100 Women in Finance list – who makes it, who doesn’t,

To say Lauren Hirsch has always wanted to be a reporter is an understatement. When she was about seven years old her mom found a book under her bed aptly titled “how to be a journalist”. That aspiration is now a reality. After learning the ropes at MergerMarket, Reuters and CNBC.com, she is now an integral member of the New York Times DealBook team. On this episode of Press Profiles, we talk to Lauren about her approach to breaking stories, her fascination with the media and sports industries, how a good story is similar to a high school goss...

As people around the world waited for the announcement of a new US president, Sam Sutton, the author of Politico’s Morning Money newsletter – which goes out daily around 5AM – was hard at work preparing three different newsletters covering the various potential outcomes (Trump win, Harris win, or too close to call). Needless to say, he only needed one of those, and since that time he has been hard at work trying to provide insights to readers about how Trump 2.0 will impact the economy, the regulatory environment, trade policies, crypto and more. On this episode of Press Profiles, Sam gives a...

Mike Hofman is fresh off of "Entrepreneur prom" – the annual gathering of Inc.'s 5000 fastest-growing private companies. As Editor in Chief, Mike oversees the media outlet that serves as the handbook to business owners and operators. The companies gracing the pages of Inc. today will likely be on the front page of the Wall Street Journal tomorrow. On this episode of Press Profiles, Mike discusses his path from reporter to editor and eventually to the top of the masthead. We chat about some of his favorite startups (including a company where Courtney Cox is channeling Monica Geller on the ro...

Brian Sozzi is up at 2:40am preparing for the day when most people are fast asleep.His relentless drive has carried him from his first job as an equity research analyst to executive editor at Yahoo Finance. On the season 4 premiere of Press Profiles, Brian shares his impressive journey – starting from nothing (he had to ration food to make it through the week)  to standing in the White House interviewing President Biden. We also discuss what makes Yahoo Finance special, Brian's love of classic cars, his insane workout schedule, his go to Shake Shack order and of course, a whole...

Sara Eisen’s recipe for success is pretty straight forward: “Always have an expertise, and a niche. It will pay off in the end.” For Eisen, developing that niche meant choosing an internship at Foreign Exchange TV to launch her career (even if it meant turning down a much sexier internship with Howard Stern!). Now, almost two decades later, Eisen is a prominent anchor on CNBC leaning on her foreign exchange and currency knowledge on a regular basis. On this episode of Press Profiles, we discuss Eisen’s daily routine, her favorite interviews including recent ones with Janet Yellen in China...

James Mackintosh spent six years at Oxford studying philosophy. It turns out that was the perfect training to become a financial markets columnist. On this episode of Press Profiles, we explore James's nearly 30-year career spanning the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal. We discuss his writing process and his search for endlessly interesting stories. Plus, we talk about the financial nuances of the Israel protests, what it’s like to cover the auto industry when you don’t own a car, the “exceptionally nasty” feedback columnists sometimes get, why you should be able to sell your kidney, and of c...

In a life that has brought her to almost every corner of the earth, Diane Brady has made a career of finding stories in unexpected places. Now, she is turning her attention to bringing Fortune’s live events and CEO initiative to the next level. On this episode of Press Profiles, we discuss where she wants to take the franchise, along with some of her favorite stories, her history as a debating champion, what it takes to be a good moderator, and how, as a 15-year-old, her desire to see a rock band launched her career in journalism.

Laura Kreutzer is one of the longest tenured reporters in Private Equity. A scholarship student who earned her way into some of the most prestigious educational institutions, Laura has brought keen insight, deep understanding, and a warm personality to her coverage of the ever-changing asset class. On this episode of Press Profiles – live from Laura's home city of Boston – we talk about her vast reporting experiences, and she takes us behind the scenes of the Wall Street Journal’s Pro Private Equity offering. We also discuss what it was like to study in China during the Tiananmen Square protests, what i...

Caroline Hyde has thrived in several roles at Bloomberg for the past 16 years, most recently leading the charge at Bloomberg Technology alongside co-anchor Ed Ludlow. But before she brought her infectious energy to TV, she was working on the other side of the screen as a PR professional. On this episode of Press Profiles, we discuss her early trials on TV, her love for technology, her passion for making sure new voices are heard, getting stuck in New Zealand during COVID, memorable interviews with Ursula Burns and Sheryl Sandberg, the (very) dirty job she had as a teenager, how...

Oliver Shah has rapidly become one of the most impactful journalists in Britain. His quick career rise to associate editor at the The Sunday Times (the paper he grew up reading) has been due in large part to his ability to find the "sizzle on the steak" when it comes to journalism. On this episode of Press Profiles, my UK colleague and guest co-host, Phil Walters and I speak to Oli about his exclusive scoops and riveting news nuggets, including his many colorful conversations with business icon, Sir Philip Green. We also hit on the UK Post Office scandal...

As the son of a butcher, Dan Colarusso grew up seeing how the sausage got made. Now, he oversees sausage making of a different type. As Senior Vice President of Business News at CNBC, Dan is the man behind all the decisions that affect the network’s programming. He has honed his news judgment and style over the course of 40 years, influenced by stops at Bloomberg, The NY Post, Reuters and TheStreet.com. On this episode of Press Profiles, Dan explains how he uses the three C’s – “Characters, Conflicts and Companies” – to make business news interesting and relevant to the milli...

Bloomberg News is one of the biggest news organizations globally, with 2,400 reporters, and coverage that reaches every medium from wires, to broadcast, to print, and radio - and John Micklethwait is the man that sits atop of it all. On this episode of Press Profiles, we discuss John's career journey from The Economist to Bloomberg, some of his favorite interviews (which include sitting down with Putin), where Bloomberg is headed next, his foray into screenwriting, his early career as "not a particularly stellar banker", the challenges of rooting for Leicester City, and of course, a whole lot more.

Most sports reporters sit in the press box. Abe Madkour’s staff of reporters sit in the C-Suite. On this episode of Press Profiles, we sit down with Sports Business Journal’s Publisher and Executive Editor to explore his love for the "game behind the game" and how he has built an industry-renowned publication that covers the business of sports. We get into his early days, starting in politics, then sports, and eventually making the transition to journalism. Early on he had to wake up early, gather newspapers, and compile them into what was then "Sports Business Daily". That begi...

On this edition of Press Profiles, we head to the Middle East to sit down with the head of one of the leading news organizations in the UAE. Mina Al Oraibi was born in Iraq, and growing up her and her family were exiles in Saudi Arabia. She has spent time in the UK, US, and now the UAE. She shares her global perspective and a lifetime of experiences, plus what it’s like to be at the helm of large news organization in one of the most dynamic regions of the world.

The NYSE is an institution, and so is Bob Pisani. The CNBC veteran has been manning the floor of the exchange for the business network for more than 25 years. On this edition of Press Profiles, we hear about his encounters with notable luminaries such as Walter Cronkite, Muhammad Ali, and Barry Manilow (who knew he wrote the State Farm jingle?). We also discuss music posters, ignoring his dad's career advice, and many of his phrases to live by including, “when drinking with traders, stay one drink behind, and shut up.”

Peter Thal Larsen's career was shaped in part by the great financial crisis. As a reporter for the Financial Times, he had a front row seat to all the action. From there, he pivoted to Reuters’ financial commentary site, Breakingviews, and a little over a year ago he took the helm of the organization as Global Editor. We discuss that journey and the differences between reporting on the news and commenting on it. We also talk eBikes, the social media site Blue Sky, growing up in the Netherlands, baking bread, where he is steering Breakingviews, and of course, a wh...

On our season 3 premiere of Press Profiles, we’re doing our “Due Diligence” with the FT's corporate finance and deals editor. Arash Massoudi grew up in Tallahassee, Florida but has made himself a successful career across the pond reporting on the biggest corporate deals, and most recently, the growing intersection of sports and business. Arash’s journey to London included an unpaid internship for the Charlie Rose show, one failed job as a waiter, and a position in The White House with the Obama administration. We get into all those stints, discuss what he’s focused on today, where he sees th...

Barry Ritholtz just recorded his 500th episode of the highly regarded Master’s in Business radio show and podcast on Bloomberg. The journey to 500 has been anything but a straight line. On this episode of Press Profiles, we take a look at Barry’s multifaceted career as a podcast host, creator of the well-known Big Picture blog, and successful money manager. We also talk about lessons learned in law school, his love of cars, mucking out horse stalls, and finally what type of guests he’s looking for on Master’s in Business. (Hint: it’s the best of the best, n...

As a little kid, Andrew Edgecliff Johnson would read his father’s Financial Times. It’s no wonder that he would grow up and spend his career at the venerable global news organization. On this edition of Press Profiles, we sit down with the man they call “Edge” to discuss his role as US Business Editor, the 5 speeds of news coverage, the politics of ESG, champagne and sword tricks, his grandparents' wartime love letters, his blunt but practical advice for PR professionals, and of course, a whole lot more.

Devin Banerjee is certainly not risk averse. Whether it’s taking control of a 150-person daily college newspaper at Stanford in his sophomore year, turning down a full time offer at the Wall Street Journal to accept an internship at Bloomberg, getting his pilot’s license, or tackling the CFA exam, he has always followed his gut, pursued his dreams, and made an impressive impact. On this edition of Press Profiles, Devin takes us through his dynamic life and career. He also takes us inside LinkedIn and shares thoughts on how to get the most out of the multi-faceted medi...

When she was only about 5 years into her career,  Business Insider wrote a story with the headline, “Meet Maneet Ahuja—The 27-Year-Old CNBC Producer Who's More Connected Than God.” Maneet Ahuja has always been determined and she has always been ahead of the curve. On this edition of Press Profiles, we talk about how she built one of the best Rolodexes in the industry, her major career setback, her successful Alpha Masters book, her knack for creating new and exciting conferences - including next week’s Forbes Iconoclast Summit - and of course, a whole lot more.

Growing up in Australia, Coin Desk’s Chief Content Officer Michael Casey thought it would be cool to be in a band. While that didn’t pan out in the way he might have thought, he did end up as a rockstar of sorts among the legions of bitcoin and crypto currency followers after spearheading the Wall Street Journal's coverage of the nascent currency. On this episode of Press Profiles, Michael talks about the ups and downs of covering Bitcoin and the crypto markets, CoinDesk's award winning coverage of the FTX scandal, how some boring bus rides with an accou...

Justin Baer “lucked” into a job that would end up becoming a lifelong career. The Senior Special Writer at The Wall Street Journal was intrigued by the fast pace of news, and while he might have started out on the PR side of the equation, he eventually fell into the reporter role. Since then, Justin has worked for the leading publications in business news including Bloomberg, the Financial Times, and for the past 12 years, the outlet he always considered the “gold standard” of business journalism – The Wall Street Journal. On this episode, Justin and I discuss some of his more inter...

Many people have seen the HBO show, “Industry.” Alice Fulwood has lived it. Before landing at The Economist, the now-venerable Wall Street reporter was “working hard and playing” hard on the trading floor at a London investment bank…until she made what she calls, “the only decision she’s ever made.” That decision? A leap into journalism, starting with an internship at The Economist. And as they say, from there, the rest is history. Now a well-known (and as she says, hopefully not too scary) reporter covering all things Wall Street, Alice is tackling everything from quant funds and Artificial Intel...

Dakin Campbell’s calls aren’t always welcome on Wall Street. The seasoned journalist seeks to “uncover issues that management teams and other subjects would rather keep quiet.” On this episode of Press Profiles, we explore his approach to creating understanding and ensuring accountability. We also discuss his many years covering Goldman Sachs, growing up in Cooperstown NY, the paltry hit rate of responses to the cold emails he sends potential sources, his new book on IPOs called Going Public, and as always, a whole lot more.

Stephanie Mehta was first starstruck by a front-page story in the “Daily Northwestern.”  These days she’s rarely starstruck, leading two cutting-edge business publications which track the next generation of companies and entrepreneurs. During her impressive career she’s logged time everywhere from the Wall Street Journal to Vanity Fair and conducted interviews with Oscar winners and hall of fame athletes. Now she’s on the business side of the equation experiencing a whole new adventure, while continuing to add her creative spin to the content along the way.

Rebecca Jarvis spent the early days of her career in investment banking thinking of all the ways she could get out of a career in investment banking. The journalism bug was tugging at her. After plenty of rejections, she finally broke into the business. Then, a stint on a new reality show called  “The Apprentice” got her noticed by CNBC, and as they say, the rest is history. Now, she is leading business, technology, and economics coverage for ABC news. We talk about her breakthrough reporting on the Theranos scandal for “The Dropout” podcast, reporting for Good Morning America, early int...

The daughter of a journalist, Francine Lacqua spent the first twenty years of her life living in Moscow, Washington, London, and Paris. On this edition of Press Profiles, on location in London, we talk about how that upbringing influenced her career, discuss her many great interviews, filming a show on a Ferris wheel, shots of espresso, and of course, a whole lot more.

Maureen Farrell was always curious and had a deep desire to learn new things. It’s no wonder she cast medical school aside and ended up as a journalist. On this episode of Press Profiles, we hear about her journey as a journalist, including tea with Hillary Clinton, being star struck in the WSJ newsroom, the paragraph that landed her the WeWork book deal, utter chaos on the home front, and of course…a whole lot more.

Howard Kapiloff loves writing about characters; it’s no wonder he ended up covering the hedge fund industry. For more than 20 years he has been following the ups and downs of the smart and intriguing cast of characters that make up the industry. On this episode we talk about how he helps fill the pages of Hedge Fund Alert each week, how the industry has changed, playing the long game, using Bruce Springsteen references to get managers to open up, coaching soccer, Borscht Belt humor, and of course….a whole lot more.

Matt Turner never dreamed of being a journalist. But, a random comment in a bar set him on his way. On this episode of Press Profiles, Insider’s Editor in Chief tells us about his fortuitous path into journalism, taking the leap from The Wall Street Journal into the unknown, utilizing data to understand what readers want, ultra-marathons, being confused for the US World Cup soccer goalie, and of course, a whole lot more.

Matt Wirz was always good with words. But, it took a stint living in Moscow listening to the stories of other reporters to know that he wanted to be one, too. Now, after over a decade in the industry, including 12 years at The Wall Street Journal, Matt has covered all sides of the credit and fixed income world. On this episode of Press Profiles, we cover Matt’s upbringing as the child of immigrants, his road to reporting, how he comes up with the perfect lead, what happens when the reporter becomes part of the story, his love for th...

Carleton English likes to dabble. From dancing the tango, to drinking whiskey, to sampling Broadway; a little bit of everything has made for an interesting life. On this edition of Press Profiles, we dive into her impressive career journey including her pivot from the irreverent NY Post to straight-laced Barron’s, her commitment to financial literacy, her Pete Sampras obsession, and of course, a whole lot more.