Working Girl's Guide #32: Holiday travel and Wardrobe Basics Wrapped

We’re talking a big-time reno in Paris, the belt you’ll wear forever, and my best tips for holiday travel planning.

Let’s get into it.

What we know about Luigi Mangione

In case you’ve missed it, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down in Midtown Manhattan last week, and police have arrested a suspect: 26-year-old Ivy League grad Luigi Mangione was recognized at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania and reported to police soon after the killing. Mangione has apparently been dealing with significant back pain, which may be related to his feelings about the healthcare system (unconfirmed). Upon entering a courthouse yesterday, he was overheard saying “That’s completely out of touch, and an insult to the intelligence of the American people” (although it’s not exactly clear what he was referring to).

A $740 reno in Paris, complete

Remember how Notre Dame Cathedral burned down a few years ago? And everyone was posting their latergrams from their previous Euro travel? Good news: after 5 years of renovations, the cathedral is officially back open. With $1 billion in donations from L’Oreal, LVMH, Gucci-parent Kering, and others, there’s still plenty of cash left for ongoing restoration.

Two media giants combine to fight for their slice of the advertising pie

Omnicom announced that it’s buying rival company Interpublic Group for $13.25 billion; estimates put their combined future revenue at $25 billion per year. This is in response to big brands getting more efficient with their ad spend (thanks to AI), which means they’re spending less on advertising. The best way for agencies to get ahead? Combining resources (so long as their collaboration doesn’t bring on antitrust concerns).

I went to a party this weekend with the extremely inventive theme of "Dress as a Parent." I was given a 1-hour lead time for this party, so I had to act fast, and am TBH very proud of what I put together in less time than it typically takes me to get dressed. I immediately grabbed my fake Dior bag and Hermes belt (thank you streets of NYC!) and my handy-dandy wig (I have multiple) and was ready within seconds. Turns out I was one of the only people who actually dressed up, which really makes me question who I spend my time with.

This one’s for those of you who have been watching my ascent to understanding the power of good basics (real ones remember when I purchased my first (!!) white t-shirt this past summer). Jeans. Flats. Black top. If there was a contest for best wardrobe staples, iterations of these three items would win. I have a million versions of this fit, and I recommend all of them, but am currently really feeling the turtleneck vibe (yes I realize it doesn’t get colder than 50 degrees in SF).

We’ve talked holiday flights and travel stress, but let’s get into the ultimate hack for keeping it low-effort (aka lazy girl friendly) while still looking like a pro traveler. For some reason, the day I need to pack for a holiday trip is also always the busiest possible day at work. Suddenly everyone and their mother needs something from me and also I forgot to do a single load of laundry and I’m boarding in two hours? Help. But there’s a way to get through it all without breaking a sweat (or your carry-on zipper).

Here’s the hack: build a travel survival kit tailored for you. This isn’t just throwing snacks in a tote! It’s a curated bundle of everything that keeps you calm, comfy, and lazy-girl efficient. These are the things I keep ready to go so I don’t have to think about ‘em during the holiday rush.

Here’s what’s all ready to go, packed in my carry-on.

The beauty things: Compact, multi-use products — I keep hydrating mist, a mini skincare set, and a water bottle. Why? Because I want to land feeling like a human, not a prune. And I don’t want to spend my last thirty minutes pre-flight decanting my regular products into tiny containers (I’ve already done that, and my products are in these amazing magnetic pods).

The Experience: Downloaded playlists, podcasts, or offline Netflix, because (unlike Annie) I refuse to work on a plane, and refuse to watch the ads on those seat-back TVs.

The Snack: Protein bars/nuts, because no I’d rather not spend $100 on a tiny cardboard sandwich at the airport.

Happy traveling!

One of the best parts of the corporate world? Watching the mentee-to-mentor glow-up. Ross recently realized he’s become the “wise, seasoned pro” (his words, not mine), and honestly, it’s kind of beautiful.

This week, Ross and I dive into mentorship—how it’s shaped our lives, why peer mentors deserve more hype, and of course some highly questionable methods to snag a mentor. (Think: golf bag hiding and elevator sabotage.)

We’re also tackling listener questions, like office makeup etiquette, using AI to fire someone (yikes), and whether rigging the company golf sweepstakes is worth it. Buckle up—it’s a good one! Listen here.

Thanks for reading!