Emily Hikade on Going from CIA Officer to Entrepreneur

9 to 5ish with theSkimm

theSkimm

Entrepreneurship, Careers, Business

4.7 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 18 January 2023

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

From navigating war zones to negotiating with affiliates of terrorist organizations, Emily Hikade lived for the thrill of working as a CIA officer. But a near death experience at work made her realize: it was time to try a different kind of adventure. While in East Africa, Emily worked nights to start her luxury sleepwear brand, Petite Plume. Today, Emily shares how working in diplomacy prepared her for the challenges of being a founder and CEO. In this episode, Emily Hikade shares: Why she knew she’d have an international career from an early age The moment she started feeling vulnerable in her CIA career What a near-death experience put into perspective for her How she started her business while working full-time and being a mom of three Advice on how to know which investors are worth working with

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Slack, the digital HQ that brings our teams, tools, and ideas together in one digital space.
0:08.0	We'll explain more in a bit, but first let's get into the episode.
0:12.0	My plane started to go sideways, and the lights went out, people started screaming, and the planes started spinning toward the ocean.
0:20.0	We were losing altitude, and all I could see were the faces of my three little kids, and I think that was my aha moment.
0:28.0	I'm Carly Zaken, and I'm Danielle Weisberg. Welcome to 9-5-ish with the skin.
0:34.0	We've run into so many questions over the years, and had so many moments where we needed advice, and we got it, from women who'd been there.
0:44.0	And that's what we're bringing you with this show. Each week we're helping you get what you want out of your career by talking to the smartest leaders we know.
0:52.0	Because we know your work life is a lot more than 9-5.
0:56.0	Alright, let's get into it.
1:00.0	Hi everyone, today our guest is Emily Hikade. She is the founder and CEO of the Luxury Sleepwear brand Petit Plume.
1:10.0	But before Emily started her business, she worked around the world from places like Africa, Asia, and the Middle East as a CIA agent.
1:18.0	A job that had her meeting with affiliates, terrorist groups, and flying into war zones.
1:24.0	But after going through a near-death experience at work, which she wanted for herself and her kids changed.
1:30.0	As she started to think about life beyond the CIA, Emily remembered the sleek cotton pajamas she had seen in France, which inspired her brand Petit Plume.
1:40.0	Emily started her business in 2015 from East Africa, while she was still working at the CIA.
1:46.0	Eventually, the brand became her full-time gig, and now everyone from Prince George to Gwyneth Paltrow to Carly and Danielle, where her company's pajamas.
1:57.0	Emily, welcome to 9-5-ish. We are so happy to have you.
2:01.0	Thank you so much for having me to Danielle and Carly. I'm so excited to be here.
2:05.0	I cannot wait to learn more about you.
2:08.0	Your story is just so interesting. Let's dive in with the lightning round. Quick questions, quick answers.
2:15.0	What was the first job you got paid for?
2:18.0	I worked at dairy queen when I was 14.
	...

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