The Profile: New York’s most powerful woman & the woman from Coldplay’s ‘kiss cam’

This edition of The Profile features Kathryn Wylde, Esther Perel, and others.

Good morning, friends!

On Wednesday, I published my profile on New York power broker Kathryn Wylde. What drew me to her story is just how unlikely her career trajectory is. She began as a community organizer, leading sit-ins, protests, and marches. She attracted criticism from politicians who labeled her “a communist.”

Over time, she evolved from a social activist into an advocate for pro-growth, business-friendly policies. In 2000, Wylde was named CEO of the Partnership for New York City, and became the rare figure who could bridge Wall Street and City Hall.

Her path from activist to power broker is unusual. I wanted to know: How does she respond to those who say she went from protesting the establishment to enabling it? And that’s the tension I explored in the piece.

It was such a pleasure to write this one because Wylde gave me real access to her world. I shadowed her to meetings, breakfasts, and events. I saw exactly how she moves through the world and how she interacts with those in her orbit.

I also spoke with more than 20 people, including Governor Kathy Hochul, ex-Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein, and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. But interestingly, the most revealing anecdotes came from those who know her best: her husband and her friends.

One anecdote that really stayed with me long after I wrote the profile came from her friend Lindsay Newland Bowker, who has known her since the 1970s.

One Christmas, the two friends were baking for her annual holiday party, and the cookies were elaborate, carefully shaped, and intricately frosted. But one of them wasn’t quite perfect. Newland Bowker told her: “Nobody will notice once it’s on the tray.”

To which Wylde responded: “People only see the cookie they get.”

The cookie story is a reminder that power isn’t abstract. Every decision made at the top is felt by someone on the receiving end.

Wylde’s story is ultimately about power in its most practical form — how influence is used to move people, align interests, and arrive at solutions.

I hope you enjoy this one, and please send me your feedback. I would love to hear what you think.

---

PS: I wrote this profile with two toddlers and newborn twins. Interviews happened during naps, and there was a lot of one-handed typing. But working on something that energizes me has been a real gift in the hazy days of postpartum. Shout out to all the parents out there making time for it all. (For more behind-the-scenes updates, follow me on Instagram here.)

PROFILES.

— The most powerful woman in New York [**HIGHLY RECOMMEND**]
— The woman from Coldplay’s ‘kiss cam’
— The modern relationship whisperer
— The surrogates caught in a nightmare
— The AI company operating on ‘code red’

PEOPLE TO KNOW.

The most powerful woman in New York: Kathryn Wylde has spent four decades connecting billionaires, politicians, and institutions in New York City through relentless, behind-the-scenes dealmaking. A former activist turned power broker, she believes real power is about getting the right people in the room and making things happen. Now, as she steps down from the Partnership for New York City just as a Democratic Socialist mayor takes office, her influence is being tested — and perhaps needed more than ever. (The Profile)

“She is unique in knowing who’s who, who knows who, who knows what, and who gets what done. She can get all of those ‘whos’ to answer her call and get them all into the same room.”

The woman from Coldplay’s ‘kiss cam:’ After a ‘kiss cam’ moment at a Coldplay concert went viral, Kristin Cabot found her personal and professional life upended overnight. The video sparked intense online scrutiny, leading to public humiliation, safety threats, and her eventual exit from her job. The profile shows how a private lapse became a global spectacle, fueled by social media and celebrity amplification. (The New York Times)

“I was so embarrassed and so horrified.”

The modern relationship whisperer: Esther Perel has become the cultural shorthand for modern intimacy, reframing sex, desire, and infidelity as questions of aliveness rather than morality. A polyglot therapist and master communicator, she built a global following through books, podcasts, and real-life therapy sessions that confront how we actually relate. As dating grows lonelier and more mediated by technology, Perel’s message is that real connection requires risk, honesty, and getting off the apps. (GQ; For more, check out my Profile Dossier on Esther Perel here)

The surrogates caught in a nightmare: Thai women recruited as surrogates in Georgia believed they were entering paid, temporary pregnancies but instead found themselves trapped, surveilled, unpaid, and subjected to medical procedures they did not understand or consent to. Their experiences expose how the global fertility industry exploits legal gray zones, moving women across borders and stripping them of autonomy over their bodies. At its core, the story asks an unsettling question: What happens when the desire for a child outweighs the humanity of the women asked to carry them? (The New York Times)

“Somebody is making lots of money, and that’s why commercial surrogacy with very few regulations and nonexistent monitoring remains.”

COMPANIES TO WATCH.

The AI company operating on ‘code red:’ OpenAI has entered a rare internal “code red” as Sam Altman warns employees that the company is facing its most serious competitive threat yet — this time from Google. Despite ChatGPT’s massive user base and high-profile partnerships, rivals like Google’s Gemini and Anthropic are rapidly gaining ground in both consumer and enterprise markets. The showdown increasingly looks like a founder duel — Altman versus Google AI chief Demis Hassabis — with the future standard-bearer of AI still very much up for grabs. (FORTUNE)

“You just don’t let any competitor get oxygen.”

✨ The rest of this newsletter is only available for premium members of The Profile, whose support makes this work possible. If you’re not already a premium member, consider upgrading your subscription below for access to an additional section of weekly audio + video recommendations. ✨