Meghan Markle offered a candid glimpse into her entrepreneurial philosophy during the latest episode of her Lemonada Media podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, just as her half-brother Thomas Markle Jr. confirmed he is writing a tell-all memoir about the Duchess. The episode, released Tuesday, features a conversation with Heather Hasson, co-founder of billion-dollar medical scrubs company FIGS, and marks the sixth installment of the series.
"It can get messy and the best founders are not afraid to get their hands dirty," Markle said. She clarified, "And I don't mean play dirty. I mean, when it's 'clean up on aisle five' time, you are the first person there with a mop."
The Duchess spoke extensively about building her lifestyle brand As Ever, highlighting the need for founders to be deeply involved in day-to-day operations. "The types of minutia that at the onset you kind of have to be across every single granular detail," she said. "I don't know how to not have love in the details."
She also shared how her experience as a theater major at Northwestern University shaped her leadership mindset. "You couldn't just do the acting. You had to do soup-to-nuts, every part of what a production would entail," she explained. "Wardrobe department and sewing were part of it too, so I am comfortable with a sewing machine."
The episode comes amid staffing shifts in the Sussexes' professional team. Meghan recently appointed Sarah Fosmo as her first chief of staff. Fosmo, 45, previously held executive roles at Gates Ventures and Tony Robbins' organization. "Sarah and Lianne exemplify the strength and vision driving the Duke and Duchess forward," a source told The Telegraph.
Prince Harry's team has also seen change. After Josh Kettler's departure following a three-month trial period, Harry promoted Lianne Cashin-his former executive assistant and Archewell's head of operations-to senior consultant. Cashin is expected to help guide the Duke's next steps and played a key role in facilitating his recent BBC interview, where he discussed his legal disputes and his strained relationship with King Charles.
In parallel with Meghan's business push, her estranged half-brother Thomas Markle Jr. revealed he is working on a memoir about the Duchess and their childhood. Speaking to The Mirror from the Philippines, he said, "When my book is finished, ooh it'll be swooped up real quick cause it's getting there. I'm working on it. It's coming out. It's gonna be good."
Thomas added he hopes the book will lead to a documentary adaptation. "I really want to spin off the book, then when the book gets read, the documentary will follow," he said. "I'm not a greedy person, it's not about the money - it's about the principle." Still, he acknowledged, "It would be nice to have a nice little cushion from selling a book."
