Jodi Kantor

In this deeply reflective episode of Design Matters, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jodi Kantor shares the evolution of her career, from her early days as a disenchanted Columbia student to her groundbreaking investigative work at The New York Times. She recounts her pivotal decision to leave Harvard Law School despite familial skepticism, her formative years at Slate Magazine, and her transformative role in exposing Harvey Weinstein and igniting the Me Too movement through the book She Said. Kantor then discusses her current focus on the Supreme Court, particularly its secretive 'shadow docket' practices, and how she and her team are using rigorous journalism to hold the highest court accountable. The conversation culminates in her new book, How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work, which offers a hopeful, practical framework for young people navigating an uncertain job market. Drawing from her own journey—from being kicked off a campus newspaper to becoming a leading investigative journalist—Kantor emphasizes that meaningful careers are built at the intersection of craft and need, and that entry-level work, though often dismissed, is where true skill and resilience are forged. Her message is one of courage: listen to your positive emotions, take risks, and trust that even in chaotic times, a fulfilling life’s work is possible.