Getting Rich Together

Join me for an extraordinary conversation with Biet Simkin, renowned spiritual teacher, bestselling author, and the self-proclaimed "David Bowie of meditation." Biet's journey from abject poverty in Queens with an awakened shaman father to becoming a sought-after spiritual guide earning seven figures is unlike anything you've heard before—and it will challenge everything you think you know about money, success, and destiny. In this raw and transformative episode, Biet shares her childhood growing up in a roach-infested tenement apartment after her mother died of pancreatic cancer, being raised by a father who believed love and consciousness were the only currencies that mattered. She was reading Carl Jung at nine years old, meditating deeply, and already convinced she possessed magic—even as she cried every day at public school where she was punched for seeming "too intelligent." Biet takes us through getting signed to Sony at 18, watching her music career collapse as the industry imploded, and descending into drugs, alcohol, and dating "the wrong men" as a DJ in New York's party scene. But after the devastating loss of her four-month-old daughter to SIDS, followed by her best friend's suicide, her father's death, and her house burning down, Biet found sobriety—and with it, her true calling. She reveals how she went from earning $12,000 a year (living on $1,000 a month in NYC) to $170,000 in one year, then tripling to over $400,000, and eventually hitting seven figures—all without following conventional business advice, creating funnels, or doing what everyone said she "should" do. Instead, she trusted her magic, priced herself like Picasso, and believed the quantum field would deliver. This episode is for anyone who's ever been told they're "too much," too spiritual, too unconventional—and for those ready to stop apologizing for their gifts and start claiming their worth. Key Topics: Why being raised in "abject poverty" by an awakened shaman became her greatest blessing The dangerous lesson: when you're taught that money is shameful and love is the only real currency From signed at Sony to career collapse: navigating the music industry implosion without a safety net How devastating loss and trauma became the portal to sobriety and spiritual awakening The moment her partner asked to see her numbers—and why shame kept her hiding from financial truth Going from $12,000/year to six figures by trusting her magic instead of business gurus The Picasso pricing philosophy: "I said so, therefore it's worth it" Why sales and marketing are spiritual practices—and how to sell yourself without apology   Connect with Biet online: Website: https://www.bietsimkin.com Instagram: @bietsimkin   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: wealthcatalyst.com Podcast: wealthcatalyst.com/getting-rich-together-podcast Download Syama's Free Resources: wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Laura Nix Gerson, CEO and co-founder of NixGerson Media and host of the VentureF podcast, where she champions women investing in women. Laura's journey from military kid moving across the globe every three years to becoming a pioneer in building communities for women investors is a masterclass in turning connection into catalyst.   In this rich conversation, Laura shares her formative years growing up in a military family, living everywhere from Korea to Iran to Germany, and how those constant moves taught her the art of building relationships and creating anchor points in times of change. She reveals the profound impact of her father's Sunday afternoon budget meetings—complete with handmade grids before spreadsheets existed—showing her the importance of allocating dollars across buckets including charity and savings.   Laura takes us through her fascinating career evolution: from launching her first nonprofit arts festival in college, to running prestigious art galleries (where she witnessed Elton John casually point at ten pieces of art without asking prices), to becoming one of LA's first "mommy bloggers," to ultimately founding VentureF. Along the way, she discovered a critical gap: brilliant women founders solving real problems but unable to access capital from predominantly male investors who couldn't understand why European baby formula or perinatal nutrition mattered.   Most powerfully, Laura discusses why she created VentureF as an aggregation point for women seeking to invest in other women—offering guides, glossaries, and curated communities to help accredited investors (many who don't even realize they qualify) deploy capital aligned with their values. With 66% of wealth transferring to women in the next decade, Laura is ensuring we're prepared to invest it wisely and meaningfully.   This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in building wealth through community, understanding alternative investments, or learning how to leverage relationships as your greatest asset. Key Topics: How constant change can become your superpower for building meaningful relationships The power of budget allocation: why dividing your money into buckets (including charity) sets you up for success Why building community and connection has been the through-line of every successful career pivot The hidden barrier to female founders: solving real problems that male investors don't understand or value What the great wealth transfer means for you: how to prepare for when 66% of wealth is in women's hands Where to start as an investor: finding resources, education, and deal flow without feeling overwhelmed How to have productive money conversations with your partner and raise financially literate kids The shift from investing for returns to investing with values: using your capital to create change   Connect with Laura online: Website: https://lauranixgerson.com/ https://www.nixgersonmedia.com/ Podcast: https://www.venturef.com/ VentureF Podcast (available on all platforms) The Foundry: Apply at venturef.co to join this invitation-only community for women investors   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: wealthcatalyst.com Podcast: wealthcatalyst.com/getting-rich-together-podcast Download Syama's Free Resources: wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com  

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Jessica Karr, the heart-centered venture capitalist and founder of Coyote Ventures, who is transforming women's health and wellness through strategic investments. Jessica's journey from biochemist to early team member at Impossible Foods to launching her own impact-focused venture fund is a masterclass in following your values while building wealth. In this episode, Jessica shares her unconventional path from working in her father's dental practice in Amarillo, Texas, to becoming a force in Silicon Valley venture capital. You'll hear how she navigated stock options as an early employee, the pivotal moments that shaped her investment philosophy, and why she chose to focus exclusively on companies advancing women's health and wellness. Jessica opens up about the realities of raising a first fund, living capital-efficiently to play the long game, and why being "all in" on private markets aligns with her values—even when wealth managers cringe. Her story illuminates how scientific thinking, patience, and an unwavering commitment to impact can create both financial returns and meaningful change. Key Topics: Finding alignment between science, sustainability, and personal health through early experiences in healthcare Navigating stock options and secondary markets as an early Impossible Foods employee Transitioning from consulting to venture capital without traditional training Raising your first fund and securing institutional LPs like Bank of America Living capital-efficiently to enable long-term, high-reward opportunities Building a thesis around women's health and wellness investing Creating community and balance while pursuing ambitious career goals Why being "all in" on private markets reflects living in integrity with your mission Connect with Jessica Karr online: Website: https://www.coyote.ventures/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicarkarr/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellojesskarr/?hl=en   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: wealthcatalyst.com Podcast: wealthcatalyst.com/getting-rich-together-podcast Download Syama's Free Resources: wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Josie Cox, award-winning journalist, author of Women Money Power, and founding editor of The Persistent. Josie's journey from a tiny Swiss village to becoming one of the most compelling voices in economic equality is a testament to the power of purpose-driven work and unwavering conviction. In this deeply personal episode, Josie shares her unique upbringing as a "third culture kid" — growing up in Switzerland to a Czech mother and English father, navigating multiple languages and cultures, and learning early on about inequality when she transitioned from public school to an international school system. We explore how these formative experiences shaped her understanding of socioeconomic differences and fueled her passion for financial journalism. Josie opens up about her career path from Reuters in Frankfurt to London and eventually New York City, making crucial decisions that prioritized passion over paychecks. She candidly discusses the tension between artistic fulfillment and financial security, her experience with eating disorders during college, and how meeting her now-husband transformed her understanding of partnership and shared resources. Most powerfully, Josie reveals the moment that inspired her book *Women Money Power* — an off-the-record interview with a prominent CEO whose dismissive views on women's economic ambition became her call to action. Her mission is clear: to illuminate why economic inequality persists and to give courage to those fighting against it. This conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in economic justice, the intersection of gender and finance, and how one person's voice can amplify change across generations.  Key Topics: Choosing passion over profit: starting a journalism career despite modest pay Navigating relationships and money with partners at different income levels Combining finances in marriage and recognizing the value of unpaid labor Why the gender pay gap persists and what we can do about it The legacy she hopes to leave for her daughter and future generations Speaking truth to power through journalism and advocacy   Connect with Josie Cox online: Website:https://www.josiecox.com Book: Women Money Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josie-cox-68476a52/ Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: wealthcatalyst.com Podcast: wealthcatalyst.com/getting-rich-together-podcast Download Syama's Free Resources: wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com  

I'm fired up to introduce a business legend today. Melinda Emerson is known nationwide as the number one small business lady and the powerhouse behind Small Biz Chat. She's a bestselling author of "Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months" and has helped countless entrepreneurs launch, grow, and thrive. Melinda shares her journey from realizing writing was her magical power at age 12 to landing her dream job in broadcast television—only to discover she hated it. At 26, she left that job in the middle of February sweeps to start her business in her basement with just a laptop, a fax machine, and a dream. That was 26 years ago. We explore the invaluable lessons she learned from her serial entrepreneur mother and career salesman father, how she prepared financially before leaving her job, and the spiritual transformation that happened when she realized success wasn't about hitting a number. Melinda opens up about navigating divorce as a business owner, finding joy in community, and her exciting new venture: teaching women 45+ how to buy businesses instead of starting from scratch. Key Topics: Learning entrepreneurship from her mother's side hustles and father's sales mastery Her father's lessons on credit, savings, and delayed gratification that shaped her financial foundation Preparing to leave her six-figure job by paying off debt and saving strategically The spiritual shift from measuring success by money to measuring it by impact Navigating divorce and business ownership while learning to find joy again Why she's passionate about teaching women to buy existing businesses and franchises Launching the Next Act CEO Summit to help women 45+ become business owners fast Connect with Melinda online: Website: https://www.smallbizlady.com/ Book: "Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months"   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: wealthcatalyst.com Podcast: wealthcatalyst.com/getting-rich-together-podcast Download Syama's Free Resources: wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com  

I'm thrilled to share my conversation with Madeline Tomseth, a fourth-generation member of the Les Schwab Tire family who is reimagining what it means to steward family wealth through intentional philanthropy. Madeline's journey from growing up immersed in a relationship-driven family business to navigating the unexpected sale of that business offers profound insights into identity, values, and creating meaningful impact. You'll hear about how she's channeling her great-grandfather's legacy of radical generosity into her own donor advised fund and working alongside other next-gen philanthropists to reimagine impact investing. Madeline opens up about the emotional journey of inheriting wealth, defining her own identity separate from family legacy, and how she and her husband navigate money and values together. Key Topics: Growing up in the Les Schwab family where service and people-centered leadership were core values Following her creative passion to pastry school and learning the power of food to create community Processing the unexpected sale of the family business and the grief that came with it Wrestling with worthiness as a wealth inheritor versus wealth generator Founding her own donor advised fund to honor legacy while finding her own voice Viewing nonprofit support as true investments rather than one-time gifts How next-gen philanthropists are aligning their entire portfolios with their values Connect with Madeline online: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinetomseth/   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: wealthcatalyst.com Podcast: wealthcatalyst.com/getting-rich-together-podcast Download Syama's Free Resources: wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com  

I am here today with Erin Gallagher, America's number one hype woman. Erin has taken stages across the country to rally women around their power, and she is the author of the upcoming book, Hype Women: Breaking Free from Mean Girls, Patriarchy, and Systems that are Silencing All of Us. In this powerful conversation, Erin takes us back to her Coast Guard upbringing, moving every two to four years and navigating her parents' divorce while taking on the role of family caretaker at a young age. She shares how sports became her outlet for anger and intensity, and how finding sisterhood in an unexpected place—her college sorority—shaped her understanding of collective power. Erin opens up about her journey from wanting to be a lawyer fighting for justice to pivoting into marketing and communications, where she thought she could use big brands' power to inspire change faster. We dive deep into her 15 years in corporate America as an ambitious, unhealed, people-pleasing perfectionist who lost herself serving others, and how becoming a mother finally gave her less room for bullshit. She courageously shares the painful reality of co-founding a company where she didn't demand her value or worth, leading to a devastating business divorce. Erin reveals the mantra that changed everything: "I will no longer abandon myself in service to others." We explore why not all women deserve hype, how to identify mean girls and patriarchy's foot soldiers, and why karma is currency and hype is capital in the new ecosystem she's building.   Key Topics: Learning early that anger and service were gendered expectations—and writing a manifesto about it at age 10 Finding sisterhood and collective power through sports and sorority life as essential survival tools Pivoting from law to mission-driven communications work after witnessing injustice firsthand at a legal nonprofit Becoming a mother and finally running out of room for corporate bullshit and performative people-pleasing The devastating reality of business divorce and being undervalued in a company you co-founded Why "I will no longer abandon myself in service to others" became the mantra that changed everything Identifying mean girls and patriarchy's foot soldiers—not all women deserve your hype or energy Creating the Hype Women economy where we shift capital (time, energy, money, platform) to each other strategically Connect with Erin online: Book: Hype Women: Breaking Free from Mean Girls, Patriarchy, and Systems that are Silencing All of Us Get it Here: https://www.hypewomen.com/ Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/erin.gallag.her/?hl=en   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: wealthcatalyst.com Podcast: wealthcatalyst.com/getting-rich-together-podcast Download Syama's Free Resources: wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com  

This week, host Syama Bunten welcomes Danielle Corcione, a powerhouse equity partner at CSG Law, former federal prosecutor, and champion for women's leadership. Danielle shares her remarkable journey from a small-town Long Island upbringing to becoming a respected trial attorney, angel investor, and voice for balanced ambition. From her first job at Blockbuster to prosecuting white-collar criminals and human traffickers at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Danielle opens up about the financial trade-offs she made to pursue meaningful work, the student loan burden she navigated without guidance, and how she built a thriving law practice on principles of generosity and alignment. Listen as Danielle discusses modeling work-life integration for the next generation, teaching law students that feeling good drives success, and raising grateful children in a different financial reality than she experienced. Her story illuminates how strategic career pivots, authenticity, and values-driven decision-making can create both professional success and personal fulfillment. Key Topics: Taking massive pay cuts for meaningful work—from big law to in-house to federal prosecution Navigating $200K+ in student loans without financial education or family guidance Working through pregnancy as a new federal prosecutor without maternity leave benefits Building a law practice on generosity instead of competition—and why it works Moving from representing $50 billion companies to angel investing in women founders Raising financially secure children while teaching them gratitude and contribution Teaching the next generation that feeling good comes before success, not after Connect with Danielle Corcione online: Website: https://www.csglaw.com/people/danielle-m-corcione/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chiesa-shahinian-&-giantomasi-pc   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: wealthcatalyst.com Podcast: wealthcatalyst.com/getting-rich-together-podcast Download Syama's Free Resources: wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com  

Join me as I sit down with the dynamic Jami Stigliano, founder and franchisor of Diva Dance, who has built an incredible business around empowering women through dance while creating wealth-building opportunities for franchisees across the globe. Jami takes us through her journey from growing up in small-town Texas with entrepreneurial role models to spending 20 years in the music industry in New York City, and ultimately finding her true calling in building a dance franchise that helps women own their power. You'll hear about her strategic approach to bootstrapping a business to 52 locations without outside investors, her partnership with her husband in both business and life, and her upcoming capital raise. This conversation is packed with insights on franchising as a wealth-building vehicle, the importance of an abundance mindset, and how to scale a values-driven business while maintaining authentic community connections. Key Topics: Growing up with abundance mindset and quality over quantity lessons from dad Surviving the music industry in NYC while building 401k wealth The Miami breakthrough moment that changed everything Bootstrapping through sacrifice: roommates, in-laws, and side hustles Why franchising beats licensing for building real assets Selling their Manhattan apartment to fund business growth Scaling to $2.3M revenue without investors and preparing for capital raise Connect with Jami online: Website: divadance.com Franchise opportunities: divadancefranchise.com LinkedIn: Connect with Jami Stigliano Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamistig/   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: syamabunten.com Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit: women.win Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

I'm absolutely thrilled to share this conversation with the brilliant Dia Bondi - someone I deeply respect, admire, and have the absolute best time with. Dia is not only the author of "Ask Like an Auctioneer" but also one of the most courageous and bold leadership communication experts I know, helping transformational leaders find their voice and make big decisions. In this deeply personal conversation, Dia takes us back to her roots growing up in Sonoma County in a family of small business owners, where she learned early lessons about entrepreneurship from watching her dad leave his job to start a construction company with the philosophy "don't buy a dump truck till you need a dump truck." What strikes me most about Dia's story is how she's always followed her instincts - from that visceral reaction in a corporate interview that told her she couldn't work in a cubicle, to spending a year and a half discovering what she truly wanted to do, to eventually building a thriving leadership communications business that has generated million-dollar payouts. Dia shares candidly about how she and her husband have approached money as business partners from day one, reading books like "The Millionaire Next Door" to create a shared operating system around spending and saving. She reveals how she made money "unimportant" for years due to family stories about the dangers of wealth, and how she gradually learned to value her work appropriately and participate in the upside she creates for clients. This conversation is packed with tactical insights about transitioning from corporate work to entrepreneurship, pricing your services, and building wealth while keeping your cost of living intentionally low to protect what matters most - your time, energy, and freedom. Key Topics: Why visceral reactions to traditional career paths can guide you toward entrepreneurship  How to practice new skills creatively (like offering free coaching at flea markets) How family money stories can make you afraid of wealth accumulation Why keeping your cost of living low creates space for freedom and choice How to negotiate equity and participate in client value creation The power of automated wealth building through simple, consistent investing Why "money is dangerous" beliefs can limit your entrepreneurial potential Connect with Dia online: Website: https://www.diabondi.com/ Book: "Ask Like an Auctioneer" - available wherever books are sold   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: https://syamabunten.com/ Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://women.win/ Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

I'm thrilled to share this deeply moving conversation with Sun Yong Kim-Manzolini, whose story is nothing short of extraordinary. Sun Yong's journey from a disabled orphan in South Korea to a successful options trader and entrepreneur in America is a testament to the power of resilience, taking action despite fear, and never giving up on your dreams. In this episode, Sun Yong opens up about her early childhood in Korean orphanages, learning to walk at age six, being adopted by an American family, and working her dream job as a medical assistant for 33 years. But here's where her story takes an incredible turn - at age 54, she made the bold decision to retire early with only $10 in her checking account and teach herself options trading as a "hobby." What happened next will inspire you: Sun Yong developed her own trading system and turned that hobby into a six-figure income in her first year. She shares the practical details of her journey, from using virtual money to practice, to taking a home equity loan to fund her real trading account, to eventually turning her husband's $164,000 retirement fund into over $600,000 in just 11 months. This conversation is packed with wisdom about taking calculated risks, the importance of financial education, and how money can be a tool for creating the life you truly want. Sun Yong's earnestness and integrity shine through every moment of our discussion.   Key Topics: 1. How childhood trauma shaped her money mindset and resourcefulness 2. Leaving her "dream job" after 33 years to pursue financial independence 3. Learning options trading at age 54 with zero tech experience 4. Using virtual money to master trading before risking real capital 5. Turning $164K retirement funds into $600K in 11 months 6. Managing multiple revenue streams in minutes per day 7. Taking action despite fear and imperfect timing 8. Building a legacy of financial empowerment for others   Connect with Sun Yong: Book: Invest Yourself and Throw Away Your Excuses and Turn Your Life Around Opposites (co-written with her husband) Mention this podcast for 50% off signed copies LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sun-yong-kim-manzolini-5105a8203/ Upcoming Event: Thrive 360 - A live event focusing on the four pillars of a dream life: mental health, physical health, spiritual health, and financial health.   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: https://syamabunten.com/ Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://women.win/ Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com  

I'm absolutely thrilled to share my conversation with the incredible Coco Sellman, founder and CEO of A Force for Good and author of the transformative book by the same name. Over the past 25 years, Coco has built and advised over 500 startups, launched five companies, and successfully exited her healthcare business. But what makes this conversation so powerful is hearing how she went from growing up on food stamps in rural Iowa to building multimillion-dollar companies. Coco gets beautifully vulnerable about her journey from a single-mother household where she thought food stamps were "cool" to discovering her worth through a shocking $20,000 salary correction early in her career. She shares the gritty reality of bootstrapping businesses while working full-time, the stomach-churning fear of investing her own money, and the moment she realized she was operating from scarcity rather than abundance. This is a masterclass in transforming your relationship with money, building wealth through entrepreneurship, and using success as a platform to lift others. Key Topics: Growing up thinking food stamps were cool Getting a $20,000 salary correction that changed everything Living paycheck to paycheck while maxing out your 401k Building businesses while working full-time for years The stomach-churning reality of investing your own money Growing from zero to $6.5M in 18 months (and why it wasn't enough) Transforming from a scarcity mindset to abundance thinking Connect with Coco Sellman: Website: https://aforceforgood.biz/ Book: "A Force for Good" - https://amzn.to/4lIZIuq LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cocosellman/   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: https://syamabunten.com/ Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://women.win/ Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

I am absolutely thrilled to share my conversation with the remarkable Vanessa Cartwright, a powerhouse in the marketing and agency world who has navigated multiple countries, career pivots, and life transitions while building lasting wealth. In this candid conversation, Vanessa takes us through her incredible journey from rural England to London, Vancouver, and New York, revealing how she's created financial security through strategic property investments, calculated career moves, and most recently, her bold transition from C-suite executive to independent consultant. Vanessa gets incredibly honest about the realities of divorce, single motherhood, and the financial pressures of planning for children's education in the US. She also shares her creative approach to wealth building through remote Airbnb property management and her current life chapter of choosing autonomy over traditional corporate security. This conversation is packed with insights for anyone considering major life transitions or looking to build wealth across borders. Key Topics: Moving countries without a job lined up Building wealth through international property investments Managing finances through divorce as the primary earner Running an Airbnb remotely while climbing the corporate ladder Walking away from C-suite security to choose freedom The hidden isolation of senior leadership roles Selling your primary home to buy back your options   Connect with Vanessa Cartwright: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessajgcartwright/ https://www.alandoconsulting.com/   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: https://syamabunten.com/ Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

Join host Syama Bunten for a raw and inspiring conversation with Sel Watts, serial entrepreneur and founder of What's Next PX. Sel shares her remarkable journey from childhood instability and domestic violence in Australia to building a successful international consulting firm - all without any formal business education, startup capital, or family support. In this candid conversation, Sel reveals how early adversity shaped her fierce independence and entrepreneurial drive. You'll hear about her transformative experience with life coaching at 27, the bold decision to start her business with a three-month-old baby and just $60 an hour in revenue, and her unwavering commitment to betting on herself. Sel also opens up about the challenges of bringing her husband into the business, nearly losing everything, and her audacious move to New York City at 45 with three kids to start over. This episode is a masterclass in resilience, self-belief, and the power of having "No Plan B" - Sel's life mantra that she's literally tattooed on her arm. Her story proves that you don't need credentials, connections, or capital to build something extraordinary - you just need unwavering belief in yourself. Key Topics: How early adversity can fuel entrepreneurial drive - Learn why difficult childhoods often create the strongest business leaders The investment that changed everything - Discover how spending $1,000 on life coaching at 27 unlocked Sel's hidden potential Starting a business with zero capital - Get the blueprint for launching with just $60/hour and a 9-month deadline Why you should spend money you don't have - Understand the psychology of investing in your vision before you can afford it How to use rewards to fuel long-term motivation - Learn why public goal achievement inspires everyone around you The hidden costs of mixing family and business - Explore what happens when spouses join established companies and how to navigate it Making life-changing moves in your 40s - Find out why it's never too late to chase audacious dreams, even with kids The power of eliminating backup plans - Discover why removing safety nets forces breakthrough success   Connect with Sel Watts: Website: https://www.wattsnextpx.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/selwatts Sel is currently building her culture consulting business for founders and would love to connect with business owners who want to create amazing people experiences while achieving their goals.   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: syamabunten.com Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com  

Join Syama Bunten for an inspiring conversation with Suze Dowling, co-founder of Pattern, a multi-brand consumer goods company operating on a unique private equity model. Suze takes us on her remarkable journey from growing up in a lead-smelting town in rural Australia to becoming a successful entrepreneur in New York City. In this conversation, Suze shares how her father's entrepreneurial spirit and financial wisdom shaped her early relationship with money, her bold move to New York with just a few thousand dollars, and the serendipitous meeting that launched her career in digital media. You'll hear about the risks and rewards of building Jin Lane Media, the agency that took equity in now-iconic brands like Harry's, Reformation, and SweetGreen, and how that experience led to founding Pattern. Suze's story is a masterclass in betting on yourself, taking calculated risks, and building wealth through entrepreneurship while staying true to your values and desire to help others succeed. Key Topics: Growing up in small-town Australia - Life in a blue-collar lead-smelting town and early lessons about money from her single father First jobs and financial foundations - From peeling potatoes at a kebab shop to learning the value of hard work and her father's lesson about always keeping emergency money The scholarship that changed everything - Moving to Sydney at 15 and discovering how money could be leveraged, not just survived on Taking the leap to New York - Moving to NYC with just a few thousand dollars and the power of cold emails that led to meeting her future business partner Building Jin Lane Media with an equity model - How taking equity in early-stage brands instead of just cash fees created generational wealth Transitioning from agency to brand owner - The decision to launch Pattern and move from building brands for others to owning a portfolio of consumer brands Current investment philosophy - Balancing stable long-term investments with higher-risk angel investing in female-led startups Building legacy through education - Creating resources for future entrepreneurs through the D2C Operator project Connect with Suze Dowling: Pattern: https://www.patternbrands.com/ D2C Operator: Coming soon - reach out to Suze for early access and to share what resources would be most helpful for founders LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzedowling/     Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: syamabunten.com Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

Join host Syama Bunten for an inspiring conversation with Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, the global platform advancing women and underrepresented talent in the workplace. Cate shares her remarkable journey from a middle-class upbringing with an FBI agent father and teacher mother to leading multi-billion-dollar corporate banking units at JP Morgan and HSBC, before launching her own company at age 44. In this candid conversation, Cate reveals how her Gen X "save, save, save" mentality and early lessons about hard work shaped her financial foundation. You'll hear about her pivotal "what's your number?" moment at JP Morgan that changed how she thought about compensation, her strategic decision to self-fund Luminary instead of raising venture capital, and how she navigated building a business through a global pandemic. This episode is a masterclass in calculated risk-taking, the power of using your own capital to maintain control, and why profitable, sustainable businesses don't need to be unicorns to be successful and impactful. Key Topics: How Gen X saving habits create entrepreneurial freedom - Learn why the "pay yourself first" mentality enables bigger life moves later The compensation conversation that changes everything - Discover how asking "what's your number?" can transform your earning potential Why self-funding beats venture capital for some businesses - Understand when using your own capital gives you speed and control advantages Building cash-positive businesses from day one - Get the blueprint for creating sustainable companies that don't rely on endless fundraising Navigating major life changes as financial catalysts - Explore how divorce and career pivots can clarify money priorities and goals The strategic advantage of being a seasoned founder - Learn why starting a business in your 40s brings networks, experience, and better judgment Smart acquisition strategies for growing businesses - Discover how profitable companies can grow through buying complementary businesses Balancing lifestyle and business reinvestment - Master the art of paying yourself appropriately while funding company growth Connect with Cate Luzio: Luminary: luminary.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cateluzio   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: syamabunten.com Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

Join host Syama Bunten for an inspiring conversation with Catherine Gray, CEO and founder of She Angel Investors and executive producer of the award-winning documentary "Show Her the Money." Catherine shares her remarkable journey from growing up with entrepreneurial parents outside Washington, DC to becoming a trailblazer in cable television advertising and eventually a passionate advocate for women in venture capital. In this engaging conversation, Catherine reveals how she built multiple successful businesses, from a college photography franchise to pioneering cable TV advertising when only four channels existed. You'll hear about her bold leap into creating content that changes culture, including producing groundbreaking LGBTQ+ programming and documentaries. Catherine also opens up about her strategic approach to real estate investing, her philosophy of balancing wealth-building with enjoying life, and her mission to educate women about alternative investments. This episode is a masterclass in recognizing emerging opportunities, the power of storytelling to drive social change, and why women need to claim their space in venture capital and alternative asset investing. Key Topics: How entrepreneurial parents shape money mindset - Learn why early exposure to business ownership creates lifelong wealth-building habits Spotting ground-floor opportunities before they explode - Discover how to identify emerging industries and ride the wave of growth The art of strategic real estate flipping - Get the blueprint for Catherine's $40k profit on her first property purchase Why you should invest in what you're passionate about - Understand how funding causes you believe in creates both impact and returns Breaking into venture capital as a woman - Learn the difference between angel investing and VC funds and why diversification matters Using media and storytelling to change culture - Explore how investing in film, theater, and content can drive social transformation Building wealth through alternative assets - Discover why only 2-5% in venture capital can outperform traditional market investments The power of "paying yourself first" - Master the psychology of saving and investing before spending on lifestyle Connect with Catherine Gray: Show Her the Money: https://showherthemoneymovie.com/ She Angel Investors: sheangelinvestors.com Invest in Her Podcast: Available on all major podcast platforms LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinelgray/   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: https://syamabunten.com/ Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

I am here today with the incredibly kind, generous, and brilliant Wendy Li. Wendy is the co-founder and Chief Investment Officer at Ivy Invest, where she's democratizing access to the same sophisticated investment strategies typically reserved for billion-dollar endowments and foundations. Today, we take a deep dive into Wendy's remarkable journey from growing up in a tight-budget immigrant family in Pennsylvania to becoming a top institutional investor managing multi-billion dollar portfolios. You'll hear about her early relationship with money shaped by her parents' financial struggles and eventual success, her unexpected discovery of finance as a career path at Columbia, and her unique experience working in the investment offices of prestigious institutions like the Met Museum. Wendy shares candid insights about being a natural saver from her early twenties, the power of compounding through market volatility, and her bird's-eye view of the vast landscape of investment opportunities most individual investors never see. She opens up about the scary but ultimately rewarding decision to leave the security of institutional investing to build Ivy Invest, and how her mission is to bridge the gap between what billion-dollar institutions can access and what individual investors have available to them. Listen as Wendy discusses her "endowment in a box" approach, the importance of building financial cushions that provide life optionality, and her vision for helping the next generation of investors build wealth in ways they didn't previously think possible. It's a conversation filled with practical wisdom on investing, risk-taking, and creating meaningful impact through financial innovation. Key Topics: Growing up in an immigrant family with financial struggles that transformed when her father completed his PhD and entered the semiconductor industry Discovering finance as a career path at Columbia through Wall Street recruiting, despite initially planning to become a lawyer Starting her career at the Met Museum's investment office under female leadership and learning the institutional investing landscape Developing a natural saving mindset in her twenties, living frugally in NYC to maximize investments and build wealth through market volatility Understanding the vast world of alternative investments as an institutional investor - from private equity to real estate to specialized credit strategies Making the difficult decision to leave institutional investing security to co-found Ivy Invest with her family's support Building "endowment in a box" - democratizing access to sophisticated asset classes with just a $1,000 minimum investment Balancing legacy building through both family relationships and creating pathways for others to build wealth Connect with Wendy online: Website: https://www.ivyinvest.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-li-cfa/   Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: https://syamabunten.com/ Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com      

I am here today with the beautiful and brilliant Meredith Noble, a successful entrepreneur who has created an incredible business helping others make money through grant writing - a niche that not too many people have really thought about. While today's conversation touches on Meredith's entrepreneurial success, we dive much deeper into what it's like to live an expansive life with intention and purpose. Meredith takes us on a fascinating journey from her childhood as a fifth-generation cattle rancher in Wyoming, where she learned the value of hard work and frugality at age four, through her early entrepreneurial experiments (including selling Swedish tobacco out of her high school locker), to building a million-dollar grant writing business that allows her to pursue ambitious dreams like purchasing 10 acres in remote Alaska. You'll hear about Meredith's strategic approach to career building through informational interviews, her calculated leap from corporate consulting to entrepreneurship, and the near-death experiences her business faced before finding the right model. Meredith shares candid insights about paying herself properly, reinvesting in growth, expanding her capacity to receive wealth, and her vision for creating generational impact through both her business and her Alaska property development. This conversation is packed with practical wisdom on entrepreneurship, financial discipline, strategic risk-taking, and designing a life that balances security with bold expansion. Key Topics: Growing up on a fifth-generation cattle ranch in Wyoming and early money lessons about debt, frugality, and hard work Early entrepreneurial experiments from high school through college and learning through creative "failures" Mastering the art of informational interviews to create career opportunities and bypass traditional job hunting Making the calculated leap from corporate consulting to entrepreneurship and managing financial runway Building a sustainable grant writing business model through near-death experiences and strategic pivots Scaling personal wealth while reinvesting in business growth and learning to pay yourself properly Expanding capacity to receive wealth and pursuing ambitious dreams like the Alaska property project Creating generational impact and legacy through both business success and physical spaces for future generations Connect with Meredith Noble online: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/22meredith/ Get her book: How To Write A Grant: https://amzn.to/4nzG8CT https://www.learngrantwriting.org/ Attend a FREE training, "Dreamy Customer Journey Map" on informational interviews - DM Meredith on Instagram for access here: https://www.instagram.com/learngrantwriting/ Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: https://syamabunten.com/ Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com  

I am thrilled to bring you this inspiring conversation with the remarkable Dee Poku, a visionary leader who is spearheading the future of what success looks like for women. Dee is known within women's communities as someone building the future of community, powerful homes, powerful lives, and true independence. Before creating this incredible impact, she built a successful career in entertainment that took her from the UK to the United States. Today, we dive deep into Dee's fascinating journey from a sheltered childhood in the UK to experiencing wealth inequality firsthand in Ghana at age six, through her rebellious university years, her climb in the entertainment industry, and ultimately her transition to entrepreneurship and community building. You'll hear about Dee's early financial awakening through credit card debt, her strategic career moves including an international relocation, and the pivotal moment when she walked away from a prestigious corporate career to build something meaningful. Dee shares her insights on navigating identity crises during career transitions, learning to advocate for her worth, and the evolution from hosting informal gatherings to building a thriving business centered on connecting powerful women. This conversation is packed with wisdom on financial empowerment, community building, and creating a legacy that uplifts future generations of women. Key Topics: Growing up between the UK and Ghana and witnessing wealth inequality at age six Early financial awakening through university credit card debt and learning money management Choosing creativity over corporate finance and transitioning through fashion to entertainment Strategic career moves, salary negotiation, and making the bold leap from UK to US The pivotal moment of leaving prestigious corporate entertainment to pursue entrepreneurship Navigating identity crisis, self-worth challenges, and learning to charge for value Evolution from failed first business to building a thriving community-centered company Building a legacy focused on women's economic empowerment and equal representation Connect with Dee Poku online: https://www.deepoku.com/ https://www.instagram.com/deepoku https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepoku https://www.thewiesuite.com/ Find more from Syama Bunten: Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod Website: https://syamabunten.com/ Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com