In Could, Bravo confirmed that Bozoma Saint John, a high-profile C-suite govt with buzzy tenures at Netlix, Endeavor and Uber, can be becoming a member of the forged of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for its 14th season.
The information impressed a cycle of trade gossip, because it’s uncommon for somebody with a resumé like Saint John — the native of Ghana served the streamer as chief advertising officer from 2020-22 — to pivot from speaking technique in elite board rooms to being in entrance of cameras on actuality TV the place brawls, catfights and quippy catch phrases are the norm. However then once more, Saint John is used to individuals speaking in regards to the strikes she makes.
As she was making one other — from the pink carpet to a seat inside Intuit Dome on the venue’s opening night celebration and concert that includes Bruno Mars — The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Saint John to debate why she stated sure to Housewives, whether or not there’s a path again to the board room in the future and the way she’s feeling now about life after Netflix.
What responses have you ever fielded from govt pals and C-suite friends after information broke that you just had joined the Housewives forged?
You already know the reply to that. Everyone was like, “What the f are you doing?” It’s so humorous to me, and I’d say, “However y’all act such as you behave otherwise within the boardroom than these girls behave on TV.” The purpose is that we have now all these human interactions and communications with moments of connections. There shall be moments of battle and there shall be moments of reconciliation. All of these issues exist behind closed doorways however on a present like this, you simply occur to see these moments on TV. For me, I’m it as a manner of understanding a brand new group of people who I haven’t interacted with earlier than. Properly, aside from a couple of however that’s solely been mild interactions as a result of we run in comparable circles. I’m it as a option to discover, talk and attending to know individuals.
Have been you hesitant in any respect about placing your life on actuality tv?
OK, I can inform you this since you’ve seen the iterations [of my career]. And I’ve by no means been afraid of the strikes that I’ve made — by no means. That is most likely a much bigger dialog however, truthfully, I don’t suppose I’ve ever been championed in any transfer that I’ve ever made. Folks have at all times questioned it. In fact, in hindsight, individuals will say, “Sure, I knew she ought to have left Apple to go to Uber.” And, “Sure, I knew she ought to’ve left Uber to go to Endeavor.” And, “Sure, I knew she ought to have left Endeavor to go to Netflix.” However in these moments, individuals frowned upon the strikes I used to be making till I made these strikes my very own. That’s the level of what I’m doing now. That is actually my transfer and that is what works for me proper now.
Do you suppose there’s a path again to the boardroom after this?
Sure, sure, sure. Basically, look, I don’t know what the longer term holds 5 years from at the moment. I’ve truly by no means completed that and approached my profession in that manner. I’m not somebody who has 5 to 10 yr plans. I’m dwelling within the second and centered on what’s related to me proper now. Wherever the longer term goes to take me subsequent, I shall be open to it. The reality is none of us know. We’ll see if I’m going again to the boardroom.
So, you aren’t pondering, if I do X now, it’ll get me to Y later?
It’s query and possibly I’ll reply it another way by saying that I’m not calculating in that manner. What I’m occupied with is progress. I at all times wish to be taught. I need the brand new alternatives to show me one thing. I’m not going to do something simply because I really feel that I’ve already mastered that [job]. Each job I’ve had has taught me one thing new, and I’ve been capable of construct on that basis with each new function. Even with [Real Housewives], I’m approaching it with the muse of all of the work I’ve completed earlier than and realizing it has ready me to enter this house. The relationships I’ve made alongside the way in which in popular culture are serving to me on this house. I don’t know what the subsequent function goes to be or what I’m going to do subsequent, however I’m hopeful that what I’m doing now could be going to broaden me and open up these doorways too.
The final time I interviewed you, it was on one other pink carpet at an Emily’s Checklist occasion proper after you exited Netflix in 2022. Now that a while has handed, have you ever gained any perception or perspective about your time there?
Gosh. That have for me was so robust. As a result of I acquired the job at the beginning of the pandemic, there was a lot warmth on the corporate as a result of everybody was turning to it. There have been jokes on the time about individuals sitting on their couches for therefore lengthy that they acquired to the tip of Netflix. We ended up making a industrial that poked enjoyable at that. Once I determined it was time to go away, it was actually solely as a result of I needed to discover specializing in my e-book. I do know individuals didn’t perceive that on the time as a result of individuals are at all times in search of battle, or a nasty factor. However the fact is I’ve a lot respect for [Ted Sarandos] and [Reed Hastings], and so they actually allowed me to even write my e-book whereas I used to be doing my job. Towards the tip, I knew that I must put it up for sale and I must go deep into that course of. My e-book was not simple. It wasn’t like I wrote a e-book about climbing the company ladder. I wrote a e-book about loss and grief and I had to return to that place, carrying the burden of it daily whereas doing promotion and my day job? It was going to be inconceivable. It was a tough determination and I felt that it was a danger to resign nevertheless it was the fitting factor to do on the time. I don’t know that I may have completed it some other manner, truthfully.
Bozoma Saint John poses together with her e-book, The Pressing Life, throughout an occasion in New York on Feb. 13, 2023. On RHOBH, Saint John joins forged members Garcelle Beauvais, Erika Jayne, Dorit Kemsley, Kyle Richards and Sutton Stracke with Kathy Hilton and Jennifer Tilly showing as “pals” of the core forged.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Pictures
Your checking account will not be my enterprise, so forgive me for asking this query however was it arduous to go away behind the Netflix paycheck?
The cash’s nice however, child, let me inform you: I’ve been very sensible about it. I personal inventory at each firm I’ve ever labored, and I really feel good and comfy with that. This ties into my private life as a result of when my husband died, my daughter was 4. I checked out her future and mine and thought, holy shit. How do I present for her and for myself in the long term? If there’s anyplace I’m conservative, it’s about my cash. My outfits aren’t conservative however my spending is. My cash is nice.
It’s an attention-grabbing topic to talk to you about as a result of the Actual Housewives franchise can appear very a lot about cash, status, standing, and many others., and the entire issues that go together with that.
The one factor I’ll say about that’s that I’m not a DEI govt. I by no means have been. I’m a Black lady. Each room that I enter, individuals have a look at me a sure manner or they are saying that I’m diversifying that house. Can I simply be each? On this house, I really feel some accountability in showcasing the truth that there are profitable Black girls who additionally exist in these areas.
I’m chatting with you on the eve of the Democratic Nationwide Conference and Kamala Harris’ bid to grow to be the president. Are you going to Chicago? Do you could have plans to assist the marketing campaign?
I really feel so excited. I don’t know if you happen to bear in mind this however I used to be with Kamala Harris when she went to Ghana for a state go to. I used to be a part of the delegation, so I’ve lengthy been within the Kamala Harris fan base as a supporter. I’ve had many visits to the White Home whereas she was part of the present administration. Most not too long ago, I used to be there, most likely in Could or near it. I met with President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden. I imagine within the hope, the good hope for this nation. I assist the concept that we don’t need to be one dimensional. If there’s a lady who’s Indian and Black, who attended a Black establishment for college, who practiced regulation in California, will be president of america, why wouldn’t I wish to assist that? It’s superb. You’ve seen all these calls not too long ago — Black girls for Kamala, girls executives for Kamala and I simply obtained one for the diaspora for Kamala. I’m going to test all of the packing containers. I wish to assist in as many was as I can. I’m very excited.