Wealthing Podcast

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Leesa Soulodre for a wide-ranging conversation on global entrepreneurship, venture capital, and the long game of building value with intention.  Leesa shares her entrepreneurial journey and her current work across Luxembourg's innovation ecosystem, including her involvement with the Luxembourg Innovation Agency and the Luxembourg Supercomputing Center, offering a window into how public-private collaboration can fuel cutting-edge innovation. Leesa discusses her company's global expansion and the success of its fund, highlighting the Planet 43 program and the growth in portfolio value achieved through disciplined strategy and long-term vision.  Together, Alicia and Leesa explore core themes in venture capital: from market positioning and ethical considerations to the importance of trust, alignment, and enduring relationships between founders and investors. Grounded in personal experiences, the conversation reflects on the real challenges and opportunities within the startup ecosystem and what it takes to build companies and partnerships that last. About Leesa: Leesa Soulodre is Managing Partner of R3i Capital and Planet43, and Founder of the R3i Future Intelligence Lab. Through R3i, she has deployed capital across deep tech sectors including AI governance, climate resilience, healthcare, quantum computing, and water intelligence, guiding hundreds of corporations and funding more than 350 startups globally. At the core of her work is the Future Intelligence Lab, a proprietary intelligence platform designed to capture regulatory alpha at scale amid the €130 trillion global regulatory repricing. Using its ES-RAS™ framework, the Lab has analyzed over 119,000 companies, built a 250TB proprietary dataset, generated 1,000+ IP assets, and launched multiple spinouts across healthcare, regtech, fintech, and space.  Previously, Soulodre helped embed ESG and risk intelligence into 200+ institutional portfolios through advisory roles at RepRisk and GMI Ratings, shaping how global capital is allocated. Today, she serves on investment committees and boards across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia, teaches at leading business schools, and contributes to global AI and governance standards. A TRIUM Global Executive MBA graduate, she is building a multi-generational venture platform with a $1B deployment vision—proving that systematic intelligence, breakthrough technology, and real-world impact belong together. Connect with Leesa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leesasoulodre/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club  

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Diana Kleps, whose journey from the Dominican Republic to building a multi-industry career in the United States reflects a deep commitment to work ethic, service, and human connection. Diana shares how her early experiences shaped her belief in giving back, and how roles across banking and psychology taught her that emotional intelligence is one of the most powerful tools in business. She and Alicia explore the importance of building genuine relationships, setting boundaries, and fostering company cultures where people feel valued and heard. Their conversation moves through the practical and the personal—how to seek and integrate feedback, how understanding human psychology strengthens sales and leadership, and how technology continues to reshape the way we connect and work. They close with a thoughtful discussion on legacy, trust, and what it means to create impact across both personal and professional spheres.   About Diana: Diana Kleps is a business development and partnerships leader known for building B2B high-trust relationships, scaling revenue engines, and architecting high-performing cultures. With more than 17 years in sales across technology, financial services, real estate, and enterprise partnerships, Diana specializes in go-to-market strategy, negotiations, M&A, and strategic growth for organizations across North America, LATAM, Europe, and APAC. She has led teams through complex deal cycles, launched products, cultivated investor and stakeholder relationships, and helped enterprises and high-growth companies unlock new markets, improve sales performance, and build scalable systems rooted in trust, agility, accountability, and culture. Diana's leadership blends buying behaviors, business strategy, and relationship excellence while driving results and elevating people, purpose, and performance. Diana uses her Harvard graduate training in organizational performance and human dynamics to leverage her sales expertise––converting trust into revenue, alignment into velocity, and relationship excellence into sustained growth. Connect with Diana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakleps/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Benjamin Holmes and Nathan Castro, co-founders of Nanochon, a company bringing a new approach to cartilage repair into the world. Their journey from academic research labs to biomedical innovation reveals how curiosity and persistence can reshape the future of regenerative medicine. Ben and Nathan trace their path from early experiments in biomedical engineering and 3D printing to the creation of Nanochon. They share how each stage of their nine-year journey—iterative design, animal trials, regulatory navigation, and funding rounds, including support from Wealthing—shaped both their technology and their vision. Alicia and her guests dive into the promise of next-generation cartilage repair, exploring what it means to move a deep-tech medical innovation from concept to clinical reality. They discuss the challenges of translational science, the patience required to prove safety and efficacy, and the excitement of preparing to treat their first human patient. From scientific rigor to entrepreneurial resilience, this episode highlights the long arc of building meaningful medical breakthroughs—and the impact possible when innovation, discipline, and mission-driven leadership come together.   About Ben: Dr. Ben Holmes is the co-founder and CEO of Nanochon. He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from The George Washington University, where his research focused on tissue engineering, biomaterials, and 3D printing for orthopedic applications. He earned his B.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia. Since founding Nanochon in 2016, Ben has led the company through scientific development, IP creation, regulatory planning, and capital formation. Under his leadership, Nanochon has raised over $13.5 million to date across both dilutive and non-dilutive sources, including federal SBIR grants, venture capital investment, and strategic partnerships. He was instrumental in driving the company's novel Chondrograft™ implant through 12-month large-animal studies and into its upcoming first-in-human trial, following Health Canada approval. Ben also serves as a public advocate for early-stage biotech, regularly appearing at industry events, investor forums, and in other public forums.  About Nathan: Dr. Nathan J. Castro is an experienced biomedical researcher and entrepreneur.  He has assisted in the design, testing, regulatory approval and clinical translation of 3D printed medical devices, as well as co-founded Nanochon, Inc.  He is skilled in policy analysis, life sciences, data analysis, and quantitative research with particular interest in clinical translational (bench-to-bedside)   Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbhceo/ Connect with Nathan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-j-castro/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Lisa Nelson—financial professional, advisor, and immigrant leader—whose journey from Serbia to New York City reveals how resilience and authenticity can shape a powerful career in finance and beyond. Lisa traces her path from Merrill Lynch to the fast-paced world of inter-dealer brokerage, sharing how each step honed her adaptability, sharpened her decision-making, and reinforced the value of taking calculated risks. She and Alicia explore what it means to remain true to oneself while navigating competitive environments, and how her early experiences as an immigrant continue to inform her leadership. They also dive into Lisa's current advisory and board work across disruptive technologies, including her perspective on AI's expanding role in trading and market dynamics. Through these reflections, she highlights her commitment to inspiring others—particularly those forging new paths—by sharing her story and hard-won insights. From cultural adaptation to technological transformation, this episode underscores the power of courage, curiosity, and mentorship. It invites listeners to imagine what's possible when lived experience, professional expertise, and a global perspective come together.   About Lisa: Lisa Nelson is a strategic operator and advisor known for transforming vision into disciplined, measurable execution. With a career built across financial services—from Wall Street trading floors to executive boardrooms—she has led global transformations, pricing strategies, post-merger integrations, and culture alignment initiatives that consistently drive sustainable growth. Lisa specializes in helping high-growth companies think like enterprises without sacrificing agility. She partners with founders and CEOs to streamline operations, optimize go-to-market and pricing strategies, and build resilient organizational structures that can scale. As an investor, she focuses on fintech, AI, biotech, and data-driven ventures that challenge conventional thinking and reshape industries. Deeply curious and mission-driven, Lisa is passionate about the evolving intersections of neuroscience, neurotechnology, longevity, and AI ethics. She is equally committed to fostering communities of exceptional women and elevating innovation that advances both business and society. Connect with Lisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/v-lisa-nelson/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Luke Hohmann—entrepreneur, technologist, game developer, and writer—whose unconventional journey from Buffalo to Silicon Valley reveals how creativity and community can shape a more equitable future. Luke traces his path across startups, self-built ventures, and the world of game design, sharing how each chapter of his career informed his passion for collaborative budgeting and civic engagement. He and Alicia dive into the promise of participatory budgeting in schools, exploring how involving students and communities in financial decision-making can strengthen educational ecosystems—even as the pandemic posed unexpected hurdles to its implementation. From community-driven resource allocation to a techno-optimist vision of technology as a force for good, this episode highlights the power of gratitude, resilience, and the choice to use one's professional skills in service of others. It's a conversation that inspires listeners to imagine what's possible when innovation and empathy come together.   About Luke: Luke is a four-time author, three-time founder, SAFe® Fellow, investor, and internationally recognized expert in Agile Product Management, Portfolio Management, and Software Development. Coming from Silicon Valley, he knows how to help founders and business leaders build sustainably profitable businesses, because it is only through sustainable profits that a business can thrive. He's also a game designer who especially enjoys bringing joy to people and organizations through play.   Connect with Luke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukehohmann/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley, PhD, MBA, MSci, sits down with Nigist Goytom, founder of Ha:Hu::, a pioneering company transforming the way cultural and linguistic knowledge is preserved and shared. Nigist traces her remarkable journey from to social entrepreneurship—beginning with her mission to create Amharic learning materials for her son and evolving into a scalable platform that empowers communities to document, celebrate, and exchange cultural data. Together, she and Alicia delve into the enduring value of stories and proverbs as vessels of wisdom, the fusion of language and AI in cultural preservation, and the exciting potential of gamification to make education both meaningful and engaging. Blending heritage with innovation, this episode is a powerful exploration of how technology can help safeguard identity, nurture connection, and inspire a new generation of culturally conscious entrepreneurs.   About Nigist: Nigist was born and raised in Ethiopia. She gaduated in Architecture from Addis Abeba University (EIABC), and completed her Masters in Architecture Art and City in Rome Italy (Roma Tre). She tarted to practice architecture in Zürich and eventually switched to the Edtech startup world through Ha Hu. She is a wife and mother to three fantastic kids. She enjoys and appreciates all sorts of art and expressions very much.  About Ha:Hu::: Ha:Hu:: is a women-led, data-focused EdTech startup tackling the loss of indigenous languages and the resulting learning poverty. Through our AI-powered digital platform, Bee Educate,  we archive, digitize, and gamify underrepresented writing systems and languages — making them accessible to diaspora families, schools, and cultural institutions. Our work not only preserves linguistic heritage but also provides high-quality training data for AI companies developing models in small and niche languages.   Connect with Nigist: linkedin.com/in/nigist-goytom-4652b779/?originalSubdomain=ch 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club  

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley speaks to guest Michel Thomas about his remarkable journey from publishing to media, charting the evolution of his company from print storytelling to television and the launch of the Eco Channel—the first green TV channel in the United States. Michel reflects on the vision behind pioneering environmentally focused media and the mission to elevate sustainability conversations in mainstream entertainment. The discussion highlights Earth Week and major events in Fort Lauderdale, emphasizing corporate responsibility, environmental consciousness, and community-driven initiatives. Throughout the episode, the speakers underscore the importance of honoring human connection in an increasingly digital world, reminding us that technology should support—not replace—the relationships that drive meaningful progress. They explore the value of continuous learning and adaptability in business, along with the significance of individual action in environmental stewardship. Michel shares his optimism for the future, speaking to the power of awareness, collaboration, and preserving natural environments as critical steps toward creating a healthier planet. This episode offers an inspiring look at the media's role in shaping sustainability culture, the personal commitments behind mission-driven leadership, and the hopeful belief that small actions can fuel big impact.   About Michel Thomas: Michael received his formal education from the Sorbonne University and the École Polytechnique in Paris. He has built a distinguished career at the intersection of creativity, media, and business strategy, with extensive experience in sales, marketing, publishing, event management, and production. Upon relocating to New York, Michel founded Accents on Hair, an upscale bilingual beauty industry publication distributed across 30 U.S. states and 10 countries. The magazine achieved immediate success, selling 30,000 copies within its first month of release.   In response to the evolving media landscape, Michel established International Event and Media Consulting in 2004, focusing on event production, publishing, and marketing initiatives. Building on this success, he founded VSN Media in 2010, a creative agency specializing in video production and brand development for the beauty, fashion, health, and luxury lifestyle sectors. Under his leadership, VSN Media launched The ECO Channel, recognized as the first "green" multimedia platform in the United States.   About the ECO Channel: The ECO Channel is the first "green" television network in the United States and a global multimedia platform dedicated to advancing sustainability, innovation, and positive impact. Available on Roku, Amazon TV, and other major streaming platforms, it reaches an international audience with original programming that celebrates eco-conscious living, forward-thinking innovation, and real-world environmental solutions.   Through original series, documentaries, and live event collaborations, The ECO Channel has become a trusted voice in the global sustainability movement. Partnering with over 40 organizations worldwide, the network amplifies initiatives that inspire change. Its signature event, Earth Week Miami, now in its sixth season, stands as a premier international celebration of our planet and a showcase of creativity, leadership, and commitment to a sustainable future.   Connect with Michel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelthomasm/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Natasha Tsakos, a visionary artist bridging the worlds of theater and space exploration, to uncover how creativity can truly transcend gravity itself. Natasha shares her remarkable journey from the stage to the stratosphere, revealing the inspirations behind Paraboles—a groundbreaking multimedia performance in microgravity that fuses dance, theater, cinema, and science. Together, she and Alicia explore the rigorous training required to perform in weightlessness, the intricate balance of merging art and technology, and the boundless curiosity that drives her mission to reimagine human expression beyond Earth. From artistic innovation to personal transformation, this episode celebrates the courage to chase seemingly impossible dreams—and invites listeners to join a cultural movement that expands both imagination and community.   About Natasha: Natasha Tsakos is an award-winning showmaker creating theatrical adventures at the intersection of art, technology, and space. Her work has spanned the G20 Summit, Super Bowl with Cirque du Soleil, TED, Discovery Channel, and Tribeca Film Festival. She speaks at global platforms including the United Nations General Assembly and Google, exploring how performance, science, and technology drive human transformation. With training from NASA, MIT's New Space Economy program, and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, Tsakos is developing PARABOLES, the first prototype for the performing arts in space, captured aboard Zero-G aircraft in partnership with MIT Space Exploration Initiative. The project culminates in an art film, docuseries, immersive installation, and training curriculum for future artists working in space environments. A founding member of a NASA-awarded space food startup, Tsakos is building the cultural infrastructure for humanity's expansion beyond Earth. Her mission: to become the theatrical foundation of the space industry, creating utterly original performance on Earth and in orbit.   Connect with Natasha: linkedin.com/in/natashatsakos/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Payel Farasat, former asset manager and current impact investor, to discuss the intersection of finance, dignity, and sustainability. Payel shares her journey from traditional asset management to her work with FINCA International, where she champions the concept of "Return on Dignity"—an approach that measures success not just in profits, but in human impact. Together, she and Alicia reflect on their shared experiences as immigrants, Alicia's research on money and happiness, and how dignity serves as a bridge between business and well-being. From emerging markets to everyday choices, this episode challenges us to imagine a more humane approach to investing—one that uplifts both investors and founders alike.   About Payel: Payel Farasat helps capital grow up, not just grow. A global growth advisor to funds, ventures, and nonprofits, including FINCA International, Payel works at the intersection of finance, inclusion, and storyproving, helping investors and founders build systems that are both profitable and purposeful. She often says "capital grows quarterly, but capital grows up when it learns patience because real resilience doesn't happen on quarterly timelines." With roots in Silicon Valley asset management and a career spanning impact finance, philanthropy, and emerging markets, Payel has become a leading voice in reimagining how money moves from transactional to transformational. Her work proves that impact investing is the future of outperforming. Known for her belief that "the best returns compound not in dollars, but in dignity," Payel brings a rare blend of strategic rigor and soulful storytelling to the world of resilient finance, which reminds us that capital grows not just faster, but wiser, when it remembers its purpose.   Connect with Payel: linkedin.com/in/payelfarasat/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley speaks with Naava Mashiah, CEO of ME LINKS and Geneva-based impact investing specialist, about how private capital can help unlock Africa's potential. A former Israeli diplomat, Naava now works with family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals to channel investment into emerging markets through innovative, sustainable financial structures. She shares how a single photograph from the refugee crisis inspired her mission to mobilize capital for social good, and how firsthand experience can reshape the way investors view opportunity. A conversation on legacy, purpose, and the ripple effects of intentional investing—showing how small actions can build a more equitable world.   About Naava: Naava is the CEO of ME LINKS, a financial advisory firm serving ultra-high-net-worth families and family offices. The firm specializes in designing innovative financial structures and investment models with a focus on sustainability. Currently, Naava is leading initiatives to mobilize private capital from family offices into emerging market opportunities through creative and impact-oriented financial vehicles. She is also the founder of The GlassBox: Unlocking Capital from Family Offices, an online course that equips enterprise leaders with practical tools to engage family offices and raise capital effectively. In addition, Naava serves as Director of The Founders Kitchen, a private equity fund investing in disruptive Israeli high-tech ventures.  A former Israeli diplomat, Naava has spent over two decades fostering economic cooperation across the MENA region. She has been an active member of YPO since 2015, holding numerous leadership roles at the chapter, regional, and international levels—including Impact Officer for Europe and Financial Services Network Chair. Naava also advises the Global Steering Group for Impact Investing (GSG) and serves on several distinguished boards and committees, including the Swiss Romande Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the WIZO UN Member Council, and the International Advisory Board of the Jerusalem Press Club and Mishkenot Sha'ananim Cultural Center. She is a founding member of the Israeli-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Israeli Forum for Impact Economy, and an expert judge for MassChallenge Switzerland. Her insights on Middle Eastern affairs have appeared in Status Magazine, Common Ground News, Khaleej Times, and Daily News Egypt, and her firm ME LINKS has been featured in Globes. Connect with Naava: Naava Mashiah LinkedIn 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club  

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley speaks with filmmaker and advocate Catherine Gray about her journey from television advertising to advocating for underrepresented populations in entrepreneurship. Catherine shares how projects like I Can't Marry You and She Angels have elevated LGBTQ rights and women's empowerment, and how storytelling can shape culture and drive impact. They discuss the progress women have made in entrepreneurship, the importance of mindset and alignment, and the value of focusing energy on supportive communities. Catherine also highlights the success of her documentary Show Her the Money, which has toured over 100 cities and helped demystify venture capital for new audiences. The conversation is an insightful look at legacy, resilience, and using media to spark meaningful change.   About Catherine: Catherine Gray is the Executive Producer of the Show Her The Money movie, as well as a venture capitalist, Author, Keynote and TEDx Speaker, and Host of the Invest in Her Podcast. Catherine is also the Founder/CEO of She Angel Investors and Co-Founder of the She Angels Foundation.  As CEO of She Angel Investors' multi-media platform, Catherine helps connect founders and funders to resources and to each other. She has a new book out that is the same name as the movie: Show Her The Money. It's about the riveting personal stories of the founders and funders behind the movie and the movement. Connect with Catherine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinelgray/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club  

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Marko Gargenta, founder of Plus Plus, a learning platform used by leading tech companies like Salesforce and Netflix. Marko shares his journey from teaching tech to building tools that scale institutional knowledge and empower professional growth. Alicia and Marko explore the importance of aligning work with personal purpose, the privilege of building with exceptional teams, and how AI is reshaping creativity, bias, and our understanding of what it means to be human. They discuss the risks of algorithmic misrepresentation, the challenges of maintaining trust at scale, and the philosophical questions emerging at the intersection of consciousness and technology. The conversation offers a thoughtful look at learning, legacy, and how education can drive personal evolution in an increasingly AI-driven world. Connect with Marko: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markogargenta/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club  

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley speaks with Aaron Fitzgerald, a three-time founder and carbon removal entrepreneur reimagining how we manufacture the materials that shape our world. As CEO of Mars Materials, Aaron leads a team of "Planeteers" working to embed captured carbon into industrial supply chains—unlocking a trillion-dollar market opportunity while securing critical resources like freshwater and clean materials for transportation and energy. Aaron shares his journey from growing up in poverty to working in the U.S. Senate, and ultimately building a climate tech company backed by organizations like Breakthrough Energy and Shell. He opens up about the personal and professional turning points that shifted his focus from profit to purpose, and how a chance moment at Lake Tahoe reframed his relationship to opportunity and legacy. The conversation highlights Mars Materials' breakthrough in developing a sustainable, cost-competitive form of acrylonitrile—an essential chemical used in carbon fiber and water treatment—alongside a major partnership with industry leader SNF. Alicia and Aaron also reflect on capitalism as a force for good, the role of storytelling in innovation, and the importance of thinking beyond business.   Connect with Aaron: linkedin.com/in/fitzgeraldaaron/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes David Isaac Mathews, Founder AIPath.one. David shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship and the creation of AIPath, a SaaS platform that simulates decision-making to align product and marketing strategy.   Alicia and David explore the challenges leaders face when navigating uncertainty, the importance of empathy and structure in strategic work, and how AI can be both a powerful tool and a source of unintended bias. They discuss the future of technology in business, the evolving nature of leadership, and what it means to build systems that help—not replace—human judgment. Along the way, David reflects on the lessons he's learned from scaling a company, productizing insights, and building with intention. The conversation offers thought-provoking insight into the practical uses of AI, the complexity of strategic choices, and the often-overlooked trade-offs involved in innovation and growth. Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidisaacm/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Viktorija Trimbel, Managing Director of Coinvest Capital and a pioneering force in European venture capital. With over three decades of experience in strategic management and finance, Viktorija has shaped a unique approach to investment that blends innovation, fairness, and long-term ecosystem building. Under her leadership, Coinvest Capital has redefined what it means to co-invest by introducing a groundbreaking profit-sharing model that caps the fund's internal rate of return and passes surplus gains to private investors. This bold model has helped the fund achieve extraordinary recognition: #1 in Lithuania in 2023 and 2024 (Dealroom), #3 in Central & Eastern Europe in 2024 (Pitchbook), and #7 in Europe in Q2 2025 (Sifted). With 49 startups co-invested and 6 successful exits, the fund has already deployed more than €53 million in partnership with private investors. Alicia and Viktorija dive into the philosophy behind this model and why it challenges traditional VC practices. Viktorija explains how aligning investor incentives not only makes venture capital more inclusive but also strengthens the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem. They discuss the role of collective intelligence and flux networks in shaping the future of business and society, and why she believes collaboration and shared success are essential for building wealth at scale. The conversation also touches on Viktorija's broader journey as a leader. From being recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Tech in Europe (2012) to making history as the first Lithuanian woman to serve as Governor of Rotary International District 1462, her story reflects both resilience and vision. She shares insights into Lithuania's growing startup ecosystem, what makes it unique, and the lessons it can offer to other markets worldwide. This is an inspiring and forward-looking dialogue about capital, community, and the future of wealth creation — one that highlights how innovative thinking and purposeful leadership can transform not just portfolios, but entire societies. Connect with Viktorija: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viktorijatrimbel/ 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club  

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Dr. Manuela Raith, a seasoned global executive and entrepreneur whose career spans senior leadership roles in major multinationals, groundbreaking start-ups, and now, a thriving social enterprise. With over 20 years in senior management across Europe, Asia, and Africa, Manuela has built a reputation as a turnaround manager, innovator, and mentor. From restructuring Siemens' IT services in China, to scaling Solarkiosk's solar-powered platforms across Africa, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to transform organizations and empower local teams. Today, she is the co-founder and Managing Partner of MWINGI Kenya Ltd., a tech-enabled, scalable social enterprise that provides essential food and household products to underserved communities at the last mile. By leveraging a robust ERP and PoS system and an innovative franchise model, MWINGI has already established more than 160 shops and is on track to scale to thousands more, bringing affordable essentials and economic opportunity to bottom-of-the-pyramid markets. 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes veteran technology executive and entrepreneur Mark Edwards, whose remarkable career spans some of the most transformative phases in computing and healthcare innovation. Mark began his journey at tech giants Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft UK, where he helped skyrocket the Windows operating system's market share from under 10% to over 90%. He later founded CRT Multimedia, whose product became a top-five software bestseller in the US. His leadership continued through key roles at Psion Computers and Symbian, where he helped steer global strategy as smartphones emerged on the world stage. As CEO of Mformation Technologies, Mark drove the company to the forefront of mobile device management, then led Aylus Networks through its evolution in mobile video and communications. Today, Mark is co-founder, CEO, and Chairman of ViewMind, a healthtech company using cutting-edge eye-tracking technology to revolutionize early detection and monitoring of cognitive decline. In this conversation, Mark shares: His unconventional path through tech and entrepreneurship What it takes to scale innovation across industries How ViewMind is tackling one of healthcare's biggest challenges: early cognitive assessment Lessons learned from decades of leading teams at the intersection of software, data, and human impact Whether you're a tech entrepreneur, investor, or curious mind, this episode offers insights into the future of innovation—both digital and biological. https://thewfund.com 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club  

In this inspiring and energizing episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Kate Brodock—CEO of SWITCH and General Partner at The W Fund—for a candid conversation on reshaping the future of tech through gender equity, venture capital, and decisive leadership. Kate shares her two-decade journey in the startup world, from leading a global 60+ chapter organization focused on women in tech, to building SWITCH into a powerful global ecosystem advancing representation in innovation. As a seasoned operator and investor, she opens up about the urgent need to rethink how capital is allocated, why representation matters at the investor level, and how women and underrepresented founders are already building the future—we just need to pay attention. The conversation covers practical strategies for founders, the challenges of rewriting systems from the inside, and what it takes to make real, lasting change in venture capital and beyond. Kate and Alicia dive into her work with The W Fund, the importance of networks like Techstars, and how her lived experiences on a hops farm in Upstate New York influence her leadership style and personal resilience. https://switchthefuture.com https://thewfund.com 🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club  

In this insightful episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley speaks with Shyam Natarajan, PhD, a biomedical engineer turned medtech innovator who is transforming how we detect and treat prostate cancer. As the co-founder and CEO of Avenda Health, Shyam shares how his work is reshaping patient outcomes through precision medicine, machine learning, and image-guided therapies. A former NIH-funded professor at UCLA in urology, surgery, and bioengineering, Shyam explains how he transitioned from academia to entrepreneurship to address a critical need: improving treatment for the one in seven men at risk for prostate cancer. His company's platform leverages AI to guide targeted therapies—offering a less invasive, more personalized alternative to traditional treatments. The conversation dives deep into the science behind Avenda's platform, the challenges of commercializing medical technology, and what it takes to bring academic research to the real world. From his time in the lab to his leadership in the boardroom, Shyam's journey is a powerful example of innovation driven by purpose. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, and don't forget to subscribe to the Wealthing Podcast for more inspiring conversations! 🌐 Visit avendahealth.com  🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club  

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Young Juhn, CEO and co-founder of Wellysis Corp., a digital health startup spun off from Samsung. With more than 30 years of experience in healthcare business across the U.S. and South Korea, Young brings a unique global perspective on health technology, corporate innovation, and entrepreneurship. Young shares his journey from building enterprise IT systems at Johnson & Johnson and leading digital health strategy at Kaiser Permanente, to spearheading global healthcare innovations at Samsung SDS. He dives into how Wellysis is leveraging cross-Samsung technologies—such as BioProcessors, AI platforms, clinical data, and personal devices—to deliver cutting-edge solutions in wearable health monitoring. This conversation covers the future of remote patient monitoring, the challenges of spinning off a startup from a major conglomerate, and the strategic importance of timing and partnerships in scaling digital health solutions. Young also reflects on the cultural and business lessons he's learned throughout his international career and offers insights into the mindset needed to innovate within—and beyond—large corporations. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, and don't forget to subscribe to the Wealthing Podcast for more inspiring conversations!  🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club