NYSE president Stacey Cunningham

Stacey Cunningham lives and breathes the New York Stock Exchange, which she’s led since 2018. She spent her early career as a trader in “the pit” on the floor of the NYSE, and after a few years away, returned to rise up its ranks and become the first female president of the 227-year-old organization. Now she’s on a mission to change how the exchange operates and how companies think about public markets in general.

Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman

Stephen Schwarzman is one of the most influential figures in finance. Not only does his firm, Blackstone, manage more than $500 billion, he has the ears of world leaders like Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Ahead of his new book “What It Takes,” Schwarzman told us how he knew it was time to start his own business and why he’s still on the lookout for opportunities to grow.

'The Simpsons' star Yeardley Smith

Yeardley Smith has been the voice of Lisa Simpson since “The Simpsons” first started airing in the ‘80s. More than 30 years later, the animated series is now the longest-running American sitcom. Smith never planned to become a voice actor, and was even bullied for her voice as a child. But now, she appreciates all the doors the role has opened for her.

Fashion designer Alexander Wang

Alexander Wang started his own label at just 20 years old. Today, his brand is worn all over the world and recognized by some of the most influential figures in the fashion industry. Over the last decade and a half, Wang has learned whose criticism matters, how to balance the business and the creative, and what it means to create meaningful work.

Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio

Ray Dalio is the billionaire founder and co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund. Dalio is as well known for his unique philosophy as he is for his investing prowess. Dalio takes us through key moments from his career, including when he almost lost it all.

Gates Foundation cofounder Melinda Gates

Melinda Gates is one of the world’s most influential philanthropists. In her new book, “The Moment of Lift,” Gates argues that empowering women is the ultimate solution to eliminating poverty. Gates spoke with Business Insider about how her time as a Microsoft executive and raising three children taught her what it means to be an effective leader.

Oracle CEO Mark Hurd

Mark Hurd joined Oracle in 2010 and almost immediately dramatically changed how the tech company does business. He saw a need for a shift to cloud computing, and transformed the way his team built and sold products. It wasn’t easy. Hurd tells us why he believed his plan would work even when hundreds of employees pushed back, and what the experience taught him about leadership.

Bonus Episode: How KFC took over Christmas in Japan

This week, an unexpected success story. Household Name's Dan Bobkoff and Sally Herships bring us the tale of how a Japanese businessman made KFC a Christmas tradition… in a country that didn’t celebrate Christmas. Subscribe to Household Name.

IndyCar champion Danica Patrick

Danica Patrick is the most successful female race car driver ever, but she didn't want to be a trailblazer for women. She got into Nascar and IndyCar racing because she wanted to win. Patrick may have retired from racing earlier this year, but she's still applying that winner-take-all philosophy to her work — this time, in business.

Grammy-winning DJ Afrojack

Nick van de Wall, known professionally as Afrojack, is a world-famous Dutch DJ. He writes original music and collaborates with artists like Pitbull, Nicki Minaj, and David Guetta. After 15 years of playing everywhere from small clubs to big arenas, Afrojack is now using a hands-on approach to discover and mentor young DJs. He’s the CEO of the talent management company LDH Europe and the head of his own record label. One piece of advice he’s giving new artists: put the hours in, even if you don’t see success for years.