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Shawna Thomas has always stood out — from winning a prestigious college scholarship when she was 13 years old, to working her way up the ranks at NBC News from intern to senior producer. Over the course of her career, she’s won multiple Emmys and a Peabody, among other awards. Today, she’s in control of one of the nation’s top morning news shows, CBS Mornings. Listen to this week’s episode, where Shawna talks about how to shine in front of your boss and potential employers.
On Interviewing
Shawna: I literally in interviews ask people, where are you from? Where did you grow up? What's the thing you like to do that has nothing to do with news? What's your favorite movie? Just try to get at what makes people tick a little bit more. What’s the thing that they have, that other people don't have, that just makes their lives a little bit richer?
On Taking Risks
Shawna: It was really scary to leave NBC, to leave the comfort of the longest-running show on television, and people who I knew and still love. But once I did it, it didn't seem that scary to do it again.
On Workplace Diversity
Shawna: From a business level, more eyeballs is actually more money. And I think businesses are starting to realize that, too. I'm not going to say it's all altruistic, by any means. But the product is better.
On Transitioning To A New Job
Shawna: One thing in the transition, especially between VICE and Quibi is I did actually take time off. I did not do that from NBC to VICE, for various reasons — I took one day off and then I started at VICE. That was a mistake.
Live Smarter
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