Executive Vice President, Forbes Media; Publisher, ForbesWoman, Forbes Media LLC
ChangeMakers: Moira Forbes
Moira Forbes is the President and Publisher of ForbesWoman, a multi-media platform dedicated to successful women in business and leadership. She is also the Executive Vice President of Forbes Media where she is responsible for programming and branding Forbes events worldwide and driving new business initiatives across the company’s diverse media platforms.
She is currently the host of Success with Moira Forbes, a video series on the Forbes Video Network featuring candid, one-on-one interviews with today’s top women leaders.
Launched by Forbes Media in 2008, ForbesWoman includes a robust...
About Moira Forbes
Moira Forbes, Executive Vice President of Forbes Media and Publisher of ForbesWoman, has conducted a series of interviews with prominent figures in business, media, and philanthropy. In a 2023 video, she hosted Forbes editors who addressed myths about the Forbes Under 30 list, stating that nominees must be under 30 and that the list is an editorial initiative, not influenced by payments. In earlier interviews, Forbes spoke with figures such as Kara Swisher, who criticized tech leaders for a lack of diversity and accountability; Christine Lagarde, who discussed the importance of confidence, energy, and generosity in leadership; and Mellody Hobson, who described money as representing security and emphasized the value of making oneself indispensable in a career. Forbes has also interviewed Tory Burch, who defined success as happiness and contributing to the world, and Adena Friedman, who said that being a working mother should not cause guilt and that gender does not define her potential. Other conversations included Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, who argued that technology has amplified women's voices, and Robin Roberts, who spoke about choosing to focus on fighting rather than fearing a health crisis. Throughout these discussions, Forbes has consistently focused on themes of women's empowerment, career advancement, and the role of leadership in driving social and economic change.
Transcript (53 segments)
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Narrator0:03
Welcome to the Changemakers podcast, brought to you by City Current and powered by Lipsum and Pits Insurance. This show shares personal stories and insight from those who are giving back and making a difference so we can learn and do the same. We cover life lessons, business advice, passion, and purpose. Now here's our host Jeremy Park.
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Jeremy Park0:25
Welcome to the Changemakers podcast. I'm your host Jeremy Park. We are in for a wonderful treat. When you talk about inspiring and empowering women around the world, we have someone here with us today who's doing that for her whole career. We have Moira Forbes. She is the publisher and president of ForbesWoman and also the Executive Vice President of Forbes Media. When you talk about Forbes, all things through and through, we have Moira right here in Memphis being able to share with us. So you're a true changemaker. Love everything you're doing. How are you doing?
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Moira Forbes0:57
Oh thanks Jeremy, I'm excited to be here in Memphis. You gave me a great excuse to come down here. So often there are amazing cities that I love, and I always need a great work and a great mission to come to a city, especially a fun one like Memphis. I only wish I was here longer though.
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Jeremy Park1:12
Absolutely. Well, we are like I said excited and proud to have you here. So let's start. You're from the New York area, from New York is where you live. Give us a little bit of your backstory in terms of where you grew up and your childhood.
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Moira Forbes1:23
Sure. So I grew up about an hour and a half outside of New York in New Jersey. New Jersey has a bad rap, but I actually grew up on a farm. We had about 250 head of cattle, pigs, chickens, everything you name it. My parents were very creative about the animals we got attached to. We once raised a pig named Elmer that my father brought home in his winter coat. It taught me a lot about raising a pig, a random life lesson. Eventually the pig went on to finer pasture. My father grew up near there, my mother was a city girl from Europe, and they gave us an idyllic atmosphere. I'm one of five daughters, so we were each other's best friends and worst enemies. It taught us to keep it simple.
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Jeremy Park4:39
So sports or what were some of the things that you and your sisters did?
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Moira Forbes4:42
I wouldn't necessarily call us an athletically inclined family. That wasn't in the gene pool. We played sports at school, but we didn't have a lot of time for extracurriculars. We were voracious readers, loved to be outside, and I loved to build businesses. When I was eight, I asked for a cash register for Christmas. I was amazed that you could build something and make money off of it. I would create stores and resell things my parents had bought. They were not impressed. But I was so curious about creating and building.
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Jeremy Park5:36
Are you the child playing Monopoly and those sort of board games?
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Moira Forbes5:40
I was even less traditional than Monopoly. My parents were bewildered when I asked for a cash register for Christmas. I was so amazed that you could build something and people would buy things. I got my cash register and would create stores. I tried it all, some worked, some didn't. But I just loved the idea of creating something and making money. Anything we wanted growing up we had to earn, so it was almost like magic.
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Jeremy Park6:25
I could already picture you as a young girl with a cash register sitting outside your house saying there's an entrance fee to come in. Entrepreneur right there.
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Moira Forbes6:30
Yeah, I tried it all. And some of it worked and some didn't. But I was so curious and amazed that you could create something and make money. Anything we wanted we had to earn, so for me it was almost like magic. I loved building stores, playing office, I even wanted a briefcase and a nameplate for my desk. I always gravitated toward building things and being with people.
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Jeremy Park7:35
Well, it makes perfect sense with what you're doing now. So give us maybe one fun family tradition. Something that stands out as a fun memory or tradition with your family.
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Moira Forbes7:46
We had a lot of traditions. One of my favorites was the crazy nights at home on a weekend when my father was home. At the witching hour, my sisters and I would do fashion shows on the staircase, put on plays, or gymnastics routines. My parents sat there and watched and encouraged, even though they were probably miserable. They let us do it even though our gymnastics routines were terrible.
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Jeremy Park8:52
That's hilarious. So at what age did you realize that Forbes is a huge organization? At what point did it click for you?
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Moira Forbes9:27
I don't think the scale of the brand or the company really clicked. It was more that when you work in a family business, everyone is expected to work, and there are no lines between family and work. From a very early age we were at events, entertaining clients, meeting customers and employees. My grandfather was eager for us to get involved. We always knew there was this family business. When your last name is the business, it's inherent to who you are. You have to work for it day in and day out. I've worked at Forbes for 17 years, but really it's been a lifetime.
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Jeremy Park11:30
And recently you had a chance to ring the New York Stock Exchange bell as part of the celebration. How cool was that to represent your family?
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Moira Forbes11:41
Yeah, this year has been a really interesting milestone for Forbes. It marks our 100th anniversary. Forbes was started by my great-grandfather B.C. Forbes in 1917. He had a classic American success story, from a small town in Scotland with a grade school education. He had huge ambitions and started Forbes with a clear purpose: business was originated to produce happiness, not to pile up millions. That purpose has allowed us to survive and thrive for 100 years. This year has been a moment to look back at our history and also to think about how to propel forward.
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Jeremy Park13:44
Absolutely. And I think to your point, going back to the beginning with ForbesWoman, you've been able to take it into new areas and use it as a force for good to inspire and empower women. Talk about ForbesWoman and that journey for you.
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Moira Forbes14:08
I think when we talk about the Forbes brand, it's all about empowering people to achieve success in business and in life. As I was building my career, I was looking for resources to give me career advice and share lessons from women I admired. I didn't want to see expensive dresses; I wanted great stories. I started this platform at a time when there wasn't a lot of conversation around content for women in business. It was a tough road for many years, but now I believe we're at a tipping point. When I started, people thought it was a cute little project, but for me it had a much higher purpose.
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Jeremy Park15:59
Well, absolutely. You've been able to build out a board and a support network for this. You've really built out a platform. We do a lot of women lunches and they talk about different issues. The dynamics of how men network versus women are interesting. Give us maybe one or two main topics you're seeing out there that you're trying to tackle.
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Moira Forbes17:02
I think you bring up a great point. Women are really eager to find a sense of community. They bring more of their whole selves to the conversation. Last night I was at a dinner with amazing CEOs, and I jumped into a conversation with two women about strollers and Halloween costumes. We went from talking about pivotal business moments to what stroller to buy. That creates a unique bond. It makes it easier for me to bring my whole self. For women, work-life balance doesn't really exist; it's about identifying priorities. I just emailed my husband a to-do list and then emailed my team about revenue goals. We're seeing more conversations around female entrepreneurs and issues like women in tech and Hollywood. This year has been a tipping point with things like Wonder Woman and the Harvey Weinstein revelations. When you bring issues to the surface, you can move conversations into action.
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Jeremy Park21:22
I think one of the other big ones is that women don't necessarily support each other as much as men do. But what you're doing is empowering that support, saying we're in this together.
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Moira Forbes21:59
Yeah, I think it's starting to change. Ten or fifteen years ago, opportunities for women in leadership were so limited that it felt like a zero-sum game. Now women are stepping up and championing each other. Equally important, we need men supporting women and women supporting men. It has to start from the top and be measurable.
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Jeremy Park23:14
Absolutely, very well said. So you mentioned you have a chance to interview a lot of amazing people. Give us one or two that really stand out, maybe some great advice you could share.
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Moira Forbes23:35
Sure. I always love interviewing people whose jobs I couldn't imagine doing. I remember interviewing Janet Napolitano, head of Homeland Security. I asked her how she goes to sleep at night. She said you have to learn to compartmentalize and find space in your brain to put things away for the night. That was a great reminder to create boundaries. Another favorite is Angela Ahrendts, former CEO of Burberry. She talked about being an authentic leader and the power of stretching yourself and taking risks. She kept saying no to the CEO role because her kids were young, but eventually she took it. That reminded me that you have to take risks even when you feel comfortable. And Meg Whitman, who has had many different careers, is a lesson in constantly looking at experiences and how they translate into other arenas.
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Jeremy Park26:59
So who would you consider your role models or mentors? Who do you draw inspiration from?
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Moira Forbes27:10
I was just with Warren Buffett a few weeks ago, and he talked about the importance of having heroes. One person I spent a lot of time with recently is Martine Rothblatt, founder of Sirius. After she sold Sirius, her daughter had a life-threatening illness with no cure. She bought a biotech company and saved her daughter. She kept saying 'I will never take no for an answer.' When I find bumps in my life, I look at people like her.
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Jeremy Park28:44
Talk about community. Going back to the founding roots of Forbes, that businesses are to create happiness and give back. How can we be better leaders and be more engaged from what you've seen?
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Moira Forbes29:11
I think often times we think giving back is about writing a check or having a big job title. But to lead a purposeful life, it's about the decisions you make day to day. To leave a legacy, you have to live it every day. We all have resources - time, talent, community - and we need to be creative about leveraging them. It's about small simple actions that add up over time. Anybody can change the world with the voice and platforms they have. You have to have a clear sense of purpose and realize you have incredible resources that are often underutilized.
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Jeremy Park30:53
It's funny, we were just talking to some college students about that very thing. Going in and doing an audit of your resources as a family or business. Even little things like rounding up at dinner and letting the kids decide where the money goes. You can make big change from small things. So knowing that, what would you tell young women, especially entrepreneurs, based on your career?
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Moira Forbes31:38
First, have a clear sense of what problem you want to solve and what value you can add. Don't start a business just to start one. You have to have a passion because there will be obstacles. There are no playbooks, so you need a sense of purpose to ground you. Second, don't be afraid to ask for help. Far too often we don't want to bother people. Raise your hand because you never know what you'll get in return.
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Jeremy Park33:38
Love it, so we're going to get to our favorite part, which is the lightning round. So this is a lot of pressure. Short answers, short random questions. First one: what's a recent book you've read?
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Moira Forbes34:05
Recent book was Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. One of my favorite books I've read in a long time. You see big business, but he had huge ups and downs. Amazing story.
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Jeremy Park34:22
What's a recent movie or TV show that you've watched?
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Moira Forbes34:25
I just watched the entire season of Glow, which is Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. It's a new Netflix show, but it's actually a really great show about women and camaraderie and finding a sense of purpose. I loved it, I was surprised.
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Jeremy Park34:50
What's a favorite vacation spot?
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Moira Forbes34:52
Anywhere near the beach. I'm married to an Australian, so everything we do is beach related. I love being in the water and the sun, being outside. Anywhere by the beach, even if it's bad weather.
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Jeremy Park35:16
What do you like to do to relax besides just tune out and watch TV?
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Moira Forbes35:19
Right now I've got a 2-year-old and a 5-month-old, so just being by myself, having time by myself. A shower where no one interrupts me, or being able to watch an entire season of a show is joy to me.
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Jeremy Park35:31
What's a favorite quote or saying? Something that you live by.
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Moira Forbes35:38
One mantra I say to myself all the time is 'Don't wish for it, work for it.' So often you hear 'I wish I could do this' but wishes are fairy tale land. You have to put in the hours, roll up your sleeves, and that's what makes it rewarding.
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Jeremy Park35:50
Are you more of an early riser or stay up late to get things done?
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Moira Forbes35:53
I'm an early riser, but I am cursed in that I need 7 to 8 hours of sleep, and that doesn't happen all that often.
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Jeremy Park36:00
What would you tell young women, especially entrepreneurs, based on your career, launching something new?
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Moira Forbes36:02
First, have a clear sense of what problem you want to solve and what value you can add. Don't start a business because you want to start a business. Have a passion because there will be obstacles. There are no playbooks, so you need a sense of purpose to ground you. Second, don't be afraid to ask for help. Raise your hand because you never know what you'll get in return.
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Jeremy Park36:48
So you talked a lot about a hundred years even on your end thinking about your legacy. With small children and your own family, what do you hope your legacy is? What do you hope people say about you many years from now?
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Moira Forbes37:01
I hope on the business side, people will recognize the work I've helped catalyze at Forbes to empower women to be successful. To be a resource for them in their leadership journey and create opportunities for more women to achieve their ambitions. And at the end of the day, the proudest thing is my family. If my family is intact and I've instilled the values my parents gave me, then my life will be a success.
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Jeremy Park37:28
So the last question is always the easy one. Where do you encourage listeners to go to learn more about ForbesWoman and Forbes?
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Moira Forbes37:30
I would go to forbes.com, but also to our social communities. I think it's really fun to put content out there and see how people react and engage with it. Sometimes people don't realize how much we listen to the feedback. It's a dialogue. Find us on Twitter, Facebook, on our articles, and be a part of the community. Use your voice; it will have an impact and we will listen.
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Jeremy Park38:18
I think it's neat too that we were talking about before we started that you'll have your own podcast soon. You have a lot of exciting things ahead.
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Moira Forbes38:21
Yeah, there's no shortage of opportunities. My mission in life is to be a storyteller. I have this fortune and opportunity to meet incredible people, and if I can share their lessons, then I'm in a pretty lucky position.
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Jeremy Park38:40
Well Moira, thank you very much for being on the Changemakers podcast. You are a changemaker. Greatly appreciate all you're doing to inspire, empower, and help us all achieve success. Thank you for coming on the show.
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Narrator38:50
Thank you for listening to the Changemakers podcast produced by City Current, empowered by Lipsum and Pits Insurance. To learn more about our guests and to share your stories of others leading by example, visit us online at citycurrent.com. Connect with us online using @citycurrent or follow the conversation using the hashtag changemakers. Now think big, start small, and act now. Be a changemaker.