Laura Brown is the founder of LB Media, and the chair of (RED)’s Creative Council. She sits on the boards of (RED), The Fashion Trust US, and me too. Movement, and Foot Soldiers Park, Selma. Previously, she was editor-in-chief ofInStyle, executive editor of Harper’s Bazaar, and senior editor at W. She earned her BA in arts and communication from Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia. She lives in Manhattan with her husband.
Kristina O’Neill is head of Sotheby’s Media and editor in chief of Sotheby’s Magazine. Previously, she served as editor in chief of WSJ. Magazine, executive editor at Harper’s Bazaar, and worked at New York magazine and Time Out New York. O’Neill also serves on the board of Swedish fashion brand Toteme and is a City Meals ambassador. A graduate of NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, she serves on the Gallatin Alumni Council. O’Neill lives in Brooklyn with her family.
LB: There was an extremely specific moment! I was fired from my role at InStyle in February 2022, and Kristina was let go from WSJ. Magazine 14 months later in April 2023. I was traveling at the time, but when I got back, we met for a drink in New York. On the way down to the bar, I texted Kristina and said, “Here’s what we’re gonna do. We’re going to take a picture for Instagram, look really cute, and caption it, ‘All the cool girls get fired.’” We knew in our guts that we needed to own it.
KO: The response was overwhelming—so many women commented, “I’ve never said this out loud, but I got fired too.” I think our honesty felt refreshing. I called Laura while I was getting ready for work that morning and said, “This is a book.”
LB: We know firsthand that levity helps you through. Being able to see past the situation you’re in, knowing you’re not alone, and most importantly, knowing that you won’t be unemployed forever. And honestly, we felt like we needed a prescription! When Kristina and I were laid off, we resorted to Googling things—like lawyers, healthcare, etc—that we had to handle immediately, but knew absolutely nothing about. This is the book we wished we had: a prescription, a road map—and a hug.
KO: We didn’t want to come off as preachy—we’re not career coaches or therapists. What we could do is share our own very real missteps and coping mechanisms with a touch of humor, because sometimes laughter is the only way through. With a bit of perspective, we hope that these practical steps help women feel less alone and more in control.
LB: We deliberately chose high-profile, successful women to be interviewed, because guess what, when they were fired, they were neither of those things. They were like so many of us: crying on the couch, worried about money, about what people thought of them. But they got up and look at them now. These women are a reminder that everyone feels the same after being fired: like shit. But if you let them, they’ll also fire up your dreams.
KO: I was surprised by the total recall every single woman we interviewed had of the day she was fired. It underscored just how seismic that moment feels. What also struck me was how quickly many of them reframed it, acknowledging that sometimes you have to step back to move forward.
LB: Can it be one hybrid? Enthusiasm and getting it done. Over the years, that has built relationships and trust, both of which we relied on immensely after losing our jobs.
KO: We once had a boss who always said, “No is the first point of negotiation.” And I think that stuck with me. I’ve never been afraid to push back, ask again, or find another way in. Persistence pays off.
LB: Tilda Swinton. She is visible when she wants to be, invisible when she doesn’t. She’s adventurous in her choices: otherworldly but grounded at the same time. She also has the best out-of-office message: I emailed her once, and the reply was something like, “I’m out of the office until 2048.”
KO: My daughter, Stella. She’s 18, whip-smart, funny, and unafraid to speak her mind. My greatest joy is seeing her develop into a curious and confident woman.
LB: Nature. Funnily enough, I rejected it when I was younger in Australia, wanting to move to New York so desperately. Now, it’s the antidote to everything.
KO: Sleep. It feels more elusive—and more essential—than ever.
LB: Owning getting fired and what happens next! We hope All the Cool Girls Get Fired brings a revolution in women’s attitudes about their careers.
KO: What LB said!
LB: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: the most brilliant mix of decompression, humor and information. When I’m tuckered out, I’ll just flop on the couch and turn it on. I’m devastated that it’s been canceled, but I know Stephen will find a happy home elsewhere.
KO: Sex and the City. Not just because it was iconic television, but because it was literally where I got my start—working as Candace Bushnell’s assistant when she was still writing the column that became the show. The show captured a moment in New York, and in many ways, it became the backdrop of my early career. It fills me with such nostalgia.
All the Cool Girls Get Fired: How to Let Go of Being Let Go and Come Out on Top to be published on October 14th and available for pre-order here.
