Why ‘Ambition’ Is Sometimes a Dirty Word, on The Businessweek Show

After asking geniuses about genius, risk-takers about risks and a billionaire about his moonshots, The Businessweek Show is turning to ambition. Are you born ambitious? How does ambition manifest? How much is the right amount? And why does the word connote such nastiness?

Bethann Hardison, who’s been a model, advocate and agency owner, helped reshape what American beauty looks like on runways, in magazines and on television. American fashion is more diverse because of her, but Hardison doesn’t think she’s ambitious. “It’s not like I don’t like the word,” she says. “Ambition to me is someone who actually plans to actually do something.” Hardison, who managed Ralph Lauren model Tyson Beckford, prefers to call herself a troubleshooter—or revolutionary. “That I live with very well. I believe I am. I know I am.”