Kerry Washington Says Scandal Role Taught Her How to Run a Business

October 15, 2026 - 23:45

Kerry Washington credits her time on the hit television series Scandal with shaping her path as an entrepreneur. Speaking at the Inc. 5000 Conference and Gala, the actress explained that playing Olivia Pope gave her the skills she needed to lead a company of her own.

Washington said the role required her to understand how a real business operates. She studied how decisions get made, how teams function under pressure, and how leaders stay calm when everything around them falls apart. Those lessons stayed with her long after the cameras stopped rolling.

She described the experience as a kind of training ground. Learning to embody a character who solved impossible problems every week pushed her to think differently about leadership. Washington noted that she did not just memorize lines. She paid attention to the way power works and the way trust gets built.

Since Scandal ended, Washington has launched her own production company and invested in several ventures. She told the audience that the confidence she gained on set helped her walk into boardrooms and pitch ideas without hesitation. For her, the role was never just a job. It was a masterclass in running a business.