The Duchess of Sussex has released the seventh episode in her Confessions of a Female Founder podcast series – and revealed how university helped her prepare for running a business

Meghan spoke about building up her brand in her new podcast episode(Image: The Drew Barrymore Show)

Meghan Markle has spoken about ‘getting her hands dirty’ while building up a brand in the latest episode of her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder. The Duchess sat down for a conversation with Heather Hasson, the founder of FIGS – a billion-dollar company which revolutionised the medical apparel industry.

The two women discussed the challenges of growing a business, and the need to get involved in every aspect in order to succeed. “It can get messy and the best founders are not afraid to get their hands dirty,” Meghan said.

She further spoke about what she had learned during her days at Northwestern University – and how the experience prepared her to be a future founder.

“I was a theater major, and part of the program was that you couldn’t just do the acting. You had to do soup-to-nuts, every part of what a production would entail, which I actually think is incredible training for when you’re running a team because you appreciate what the sound person does and what the lighting person does,” the Duchess said.

“Wardrobe department and sewing were part of it too, so I am comfortable with a sewing machine,” she added, bringing the discussion back to Hasson’s scrubs business.

It comes after it was revealed that Meghan and husband Harry have made some major changes amongst their staff, with the Duchess appointing her first chief of staff – Sarah Fosmo, who will be her most senior adviser as she continues a new shift in career.

Sarah, 45, has an impressive CV; she previously worked for Gates Ventures, Bill Gates’ private office, in executive administration for six years. Before that, she spent seven years working for Tony Robbins, an American motivational speaker, as a senior executive assistant.

Prince Harry also has a new chief of staff after his last pick, Josh Kettler, left after his three-month trial period. Rather than bringing in a new replacement, one of Harry’s most senior members of staff, Lianne Cashin, a former executive assistant and Archewell’s head of operations, has been promoted to a ‘senior consultant’.

Article continues below

She will be responsible for guiding the Duke through the next stage of his post-royal career. According to the Telegraph, she will also have played a pivotal role in arranging Harry’s BBC interview last week, in which he spoke candidly about the ongoing rift with his father King Charles and complained of an “establishment stitch-up” after losing his legal appeal against the Government over security provision.

A source told the publication: “Sarah and Lianne exemplify the strength and vision driving the Duke and Duchess forward.”

But while things are moving forward for Meghan professionally, she is set for another bombshell in her personal life. Her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jnr, has confirmed that he is writing a tell-all book about the Duchess and her childhood. Speaking from the Philippines, where he has relocated with their father, Thomas Markle Snr, he vowed that the book is “gonna be good.”

In an interview with the Mirror, Thomas 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.”

He continued: “I really want to spin off the book, then when the book gets read, the documentary will follow. I’m not a greedy person, it’s not about the money – it’s about the principle.” However, he went on to add: “It would be nice to have a nice little cushion from selling a book.”