Podcast Summary: She's So Lucky

Episode: The Media Moves Fast—Here’s How to Keep Up with Nikki Ogunnaike of Marie Claire
Host: Les Alfred
Guest: Nikki Ogunnaike, Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire
Release Date: August 19, 2025

Overview

This episode of She’s So Lucky features an in-depth conversation between host Les Alfred and Nikki Ogunnaike, the Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire US. The discussion centers on Nikki’s journey through the rapidly evolving world of media, her approach to leadership, personal growth, style, and how women can create their own luck by embracing adaptability, intention, and self-definition. The episode also delves into the importance of critical thinking and media literacy in today’s digital landscape and explores Nikki's much-discussed "Ins and Outs" list for 2025.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nikki Ogunnaike’s Journey and Concept of Luck

• On Feeling Lucky: Nikki feels particularly lucky to be leading Marie Claire during a time when women—and especially women of color—are gaining more leadership opportunities.
  • “It dovetails with all the things that I care about, so fashion, style, but also money, politics, identity…” (02:31, Nikki)
• Opportunity and Preparation: Nikki emphasizes how the media landscape’s evolution (especially post-2020) opened doors that were once inaccessible to many.
  • "In 2020, there was that shift, and things sort of broke open. Like, the industry broke open, and it let a lot of us in.” (03:43)

2. Evolution of Media & Adapting to Change

• Digital Shift: Nikki’s willingness to pivot from print to digital media contributed to her professional rise.
  • “If I had not decided that pretty early on in my career… I’m not going to be a print editor anymore, I’m going to go work on websites exclusively… being flexible… has really served me.” (07:18)
• On Social Media: Emphasizes understanding platforms instead of feeling pressure to master every new format (e.g., TikTok).
  • “It's not for me… it was more about understanding it and saying, I don’t really want to do that. I want to double down on this because this feels like it's better for me.” (08:58)

3. On Passion, Trying, and Giving Yourself Permission

• Finding Your Medium: Both agree creators don't have to do "everything"—just the things they're passionate about and can be great at.
  • “Whatever you’re going to do, be good at it. Have some passion for it and then that will shine through.” (15:34, Nikki)
• Titles and Self-Definition: Encourages claiming your achievements and not waiting for external validation or traditional milestones.
  • “No one said to me ever, like. And I didn’t tell myself, like, I can’t be an editor in chief because I haven’t checked all of these boxes.” (17:44)
  • “People are often very quick to either shy away from giving themselves monikers or giving themselves titles. I’m a runner. I’m a writer. ...I really implore other people to not feel that way.” (16:54–17:44)

4. The Power of Running & Movement in Personal Growth

• Why Nikki Started Running: To accomplish something separate from work in a hustle-focused environment.
  • “I really wanted something that I wanted to achieve a goal before I turned 30 that had nothing to do with work. And for me, that was running a half marathon.” (19:08)
• Running as Metaphor for Work/Life: Endurance, patience, and self-belief learned from running translate directly to professional and personal challenges.
  • “One of the reasons why I hired you is because you run races. And so I knew that you had the stamina for this.” (20:49, Nikki quoting her boss)

5. The Myth of Effortlessness and Value of Trying

• Busting the Myth: Both Les and Nikki reject "effortlessness" as an aspirational quality.
  • “I love people who try. Try hard, try more. Trying is cool…” (23:48, Nikki)
• Effort vs. Appearances: Cultural pressure to “look effortless” often invisibilizes the work behind success.
  • “Effortlessness… is probably genetics, honestly. And that’s not fair to put yourself up against.” (24:17)
  • Referencing Beyoncé: “She is who she is because of how much she rehearses and practices and experiments and tries.” (25:50, Les)

6. Reframing Confidence and Imposter Syndrome

• Lena Waithe’s Perspective: Standout moment from Nikki’s podcast "Nice Talk":
  • “Oh, I don’t have imposter syndrome… I go into these rooms and I think about what is additive to me. I know that I should be in that room. I’m invited in that room for a reason.” (27:11, Nikki quoting Lena Waithe)
• Masculine Confidence: Observing men at GQ helped Nikki reclaim professional confidence without self-minimization.
  • “None of those men had imposter syndrome… There was just an air of confidence that permeated all of the GQ spaces.” (30:18)

7. Dissecting and Reclaiming Personal Style

• Style as a ‘Living, Breathing Thing’: Encourages individuality over trend-chasing or Internet “link culture.”
  • “Get off the Internet. Go people-watch. New York has some of the best people watching in the world.” (41:20, Nikki)
• Self-Expression Over Copy-Paste: Nikki prefers cultivating a wardrobe that reflects personal utility and joy, not rigid capsule lists or trends.
  • “Capsule wardrobes are supposed to make your life easier. I don’t think they should be prescriptive… The way I operate is more like, you know, something, a dress that makes you feel like a million bucks…” (54:49–56:12)
  • “Personal style will find you. You don’t have to find personal style. It’ll find you.” (56:32)

8. 2025 "Ins and Outs" — Nikki’s Life & Style Manifesto

• What’s In: Power lunches, skepticism, critical thinking, mini martinis, flexibility, water before coffee, changing your mind, spa time, group chats, minding your business, being basic (in a good way), embracing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
  • “All incredible. All I still wholeheartedly believe in. Especially taking it to the group chat. And critical thinking, please. Critical thinking girl summer, more of that.” (46:37)
• What’s Out: Pretending to like caviar, "quiet luxury" (the term), early morning scrolling, dupes/dupe culture, capsule wardrobe rigidity, beige tyranny, micro-trends, work breakfasts, obsessing over finding personal style, and oversharing online.
  • “Dupe culture… really just watered down personal style because it led to that copy and pasting… It’s bad for the environment.” (50:45)
  • "The tyranny of beige... that's just not fun. Like where's the personality?" (52:28)
  • “Let's cut [oversharing] out, guys... take it to the group chat.” (57:00)

9. Critical Thinking & Media Literacy

• On Media Literacy: Nikki stresses the need for double-checking sources, awareness of bias, and learning distinguishing fact from fiction (especially given social media and AI-generated content).
  • “It’s only going to continue to be more and more important…” (47:06)
  • “Really consider where this information is coming from… is this a biased source?” (47:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Being an Editor-in-Chief:
  • "I have the top position. Boom, period." (17:42, Nikki)
• On Confidence:
  • “I’m okay with making the room feel uncomfortable a little bit.” (32:45, Nikki quoting her boyfriend)
• On Early Morning Routines:
  • “Retrain your attention span. And, like, cut the early morning scrolling.” (54:18, Nikki)
• On the Value of Being Basic:
  • “Some people may say, like doing pilates and getting a matcha is, like, basic. I don’t know. That makes me really happy. So I’m going to do those things.” (57:58, Nikki)

Timestamps for Noteworthy Segments

• Nikki describes her ‘lucky moment’ & Marie Claire’s mission: 02:31–04:42
• The evolution of media, embracing change: 07:18–09:40
• On choosing your platforms & not mastering every trend: 08:53–09:40
• Self-definition, owning your title: 16:54–18:07
• How running impacts her approach to challenges: 19:08–21:30
• Effortlessness and the virtue of trying: 23:48–25:11
• Beyoncé as the embodiment of effort and excellence: 25:50
• Lena Waithe on dismissing imposter syndrome: 27:11–29:11
• Confidence lessons from working at GQ: 30:18–31:48
• Practicing critical thinking & media literacy: 47:41–48:35
• 2025 Ins and Outs breakdown: 45:57–58:41

Conclusion & Where to Find Nikki

Nikki Ogunnaike’s approach to media, life, and style is about intentionality, embracing adaptability, and refusing to let external definitions limit your possibilities or expression. Her advice for listeners: “Personal style will find you. You don’t have to find personal style.” (56:32). For more from Nikki:

• Podcast: “Nice Talk” (new episodes Thursdays)
• Instagram/Twitter: @nikkiogun
• Marie Claire: marieclaire.com

This episode is a resource for anyone navigating creative or professional spaces—especially women—offering perspectives on confidence, adaptability, and setting your own terms for success and style.