CNN’s Laura Coates on Sacrificing Financial Independence for a Career Move

In 2015, Laura Coates traded courtroom drama for newsroom deadlines, leaving her job as a Justice Department prosecutor to dive into a journalism career. She was a new mom with no media experience or contacts, but knew she’d regret it if she never tried. Fast forward to today. Laura is CNN’s Chief Legal Analyst, a Sirius XM host, and a trusted voice on today’s most pressing legal stories. Despite her success, it didn’t come without sacrifice. Listen as Laura gets real about the hard conversations she had with her husband – and herself – about prioritizing her professional ambitions over financial security. 

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Laura shares: 

• How she charmed her husband when they first met, despite having a waxed off eyebrow
• Why she found it difficult to financially depend on her husband while figuring out her career 
• How she got her foot in the door in media with no connections, and why getting the second foot in is more important
• Why she never shuts down her kids’ curiosity around current events
• How she’s dealt with big personalities in the courtroom, and on television 

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