Episode summary
Ivanka Trump: Most People Can’t Tell Signal From Noise
The Diary of a CEO
· · 1 hr 36 min · Hosts: Steven Bartlett · Guests: Ivanka Trump
Summary
Ivanka Trump says being underestimated, especially as the child of prominent parents, became an advantage early in life and later a disciplined way of operating in business and politics. She describes growing up with intense public scrutiny, including reporters outside her school during her parents’ divorce, and says those experiences taught her to build a strong radar for people while trying not to become cynical. Her mother and grandmother are presented as central influences: her mother modeled ambition and resilience, while her grandmother provided tenderness, stability, and a sense of unconditional love.
She also argues that success in negotiation comes from listening closely, understanding what the other side actually wants, and using silence strategically. In business, she says she preferred to be underestimated, worked harder to compensate, and looked for agency, judgment, and decency when hiring. She says her fashion and jewelry business grew to nearly $800 million in annual sales before she shut it down to comply with government rules after joining the administration.
On politics, Ivanka says she did not expect her father to run for president, but once he asked for help she felt it was a duty to serve. She says her White House work on child tax credits, paid family leave, technical education, apprenticeship programs, and anti-trafficking laws was meaningful, but also a sacrifice. She now says family comes first and that she is not willing to put her children through another return to public service.
Key takeaways
- Ivanka Trump says being underestimated in real estate and public life often worked to her advantage because she was always prepared.
- She says the key to negotiation is listening for what the other side really wants and using silence as a weapon.
- Ivanka Trump says her fashion business reached about $800 million in annual sales before she shut it down to comply with government ethics rules.
- She says her White House work helped deliver the child tax credit expansion, paid family leave for federal workers, and anti-trafficking legislation.
- Ivanka Trump says she is prioritizing family now and does not want her children to pay the cost of another government role.
Notable quotes
“my mother taught me that being underestimated is not a bad thing. It's very powerful thing actually”
“to find the signal in the noise. I just don't get distracted by the outside noise”
“I think being underestimated is is not a bad thing. I think it's like a very powerful thing actually”
“Silence can also be a weapon. People get very uncomfortable in moments of silence and then they start talking”
“We were doing um close to $800 million in sales annually um when I shut it down when I went into government”
How the episode opens
She was extraordinary. Um, my mother taught me a lot about just like bringing intention to what you do. Bringing sorry and being the child of accomplished parents. Most people thought that I would lack the ambition, the preparedness, but my mother taught me that being underestimated is not a bad thing. It's very powerful thing actually and it almost always worked to the detriment of the person who underestimated me.
From real estate to her own multi-million dollar fashion line, Ivanka Trump continues to carve her own path into the business world, succeeding at every turn. — And then you learn 2 weeks before he announces your father decides he wants to be president of the United States. Did you have any sense that this was at all on the horizon?
Not really. And then when he pulled the trigger, it was full steam. Well, most people wouldn't give up an $800 million annual business to go into government. Why did you?
He asked us for help. He's like, "But I have to warn you. They're going to come at you hard.
They're probably going to hate you. But one of the things I've learned in moments of tremendous pressure and scrutiny where any slip up is completely weaponized against you is to find the signal in the noise. I just don't get distracted by the outside noise.
That's probably the thing that has been most helpful to me in terms of performance and success because you have a choice only in how you respond.
You've said politics is a pretty dark world. This is quite a difficult question to ask, but when you heard the news that there was an assassination attempt on your father's life, do you remember where you were and like what's that like as a daughter?
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- negotiation tactics
- building a billion-dollar brand
- ai revolution leadership
- therapy and success
- real estate and business
Companies and tickers mentioned
- Trump Organization
- Planet Harvest
Watch the episode
Watch “Ivanka Trump: Most People Can’t Tell Signal From Noise” on YouTube
Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
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