Main Points Money isn’t just math, it’s a relationship. In this conversation with Certified Financial Planner and poet Uchechi Kalu, we unpack the real stories behind your bank account:Why your money mindset starts with culture & family, not spreadsheets.Uchechi’s 3-part framework: Technical · Psychological · Cultural; and how to use it like a wheel.The “Cost of Being You” exercise that reveals what enough truly means.How women of color can plan preventatively in an unstable economy...
How do you even start a business in 2025!? I sat down with my client (and friend) Uchechi Kalu, CFP®, 2024 Olympic Poet to talk about what it really looks like to go from being laid off… to working with over 700 clients, landing contracts with 5 major literary arts organizations, and already hitting 50% of her 2026 revenue goal. Uchechi’s layoff story and what it was like to start from zeroWhy starting a business isn’t for everyone (and why you probably shouldn’t work with me)How integrating ...
Do you remember when the American Psychological Association came at us in 2023 and declared that middle age starts at 35? The absolute disrespect…In this episode, I’m talking about the conversations I’ve been having with so many of my clients that I’ve also been going through myself. Maybe you’re feeling like: “I’m done giving 100%—even my 20% is what most people call their 100.”“I don’t need another title bump. I just want to embrace enough.”“I can’t deal with the gaslighting in this industr...
My turning point internship story that taught me doing great work isn’t enough—you also need to understand workplace culture, politics, and unspoken power dynamics.How to deal with workplace politics without being dirtyHow emotional intelligence (EI) drives leadership success research shows it outperforms technical skills and IQ.The four trauma responses (fight, flight, fawn, freeze) at work and practical scripts to stay calm in high-stakes conversations.How to integrate AI tools with EI for ...
Being “the only” in the room, the only woman, the only woman of color, the youngest person, the only one who thinks differently can be both an honor and a heavy responsibility. In this episode, I share how to navigate that experience while still earning respect, making an impact, and opening doors for others to join you at the table. You’ll hear: My personal journey of being “the only” from being born, my childhood to adulthoodThe tug-of-war blending in with honoring yourself6 proven strategi...
The science behind why your brain craves busyness (Answer: dopamine) How I’ve been rewiring my busyness cravings (& how you can too)What “rest guilt” really means, and how to repattern it especially if you’re a first-gen immigrant like me5 questions to help you reconnect with the version of you beyond your job title.Resources Mentioned: Rest is Resistance by Tricia HersheyEpisode 114: My 1st Place Pitch Replay from SCMSDC and how I hit 2024 Revenue in May: You can listen to this 34-minute...
Today, I celebrate 8 years in business, and in true realtalk fashion, I’m keeping it REAL so you don’t have to repeat it. In this episode I’m honest about: Following copy-and-paste frameworks I didn’t believe inBurning myself out where one day I slept at 9PM and woke up at 6PM the next day Hose I use to joke, “I’m a broken Asian - I don’t understand numbers” (until a mentor called me in)Thinking MORE is better (Spoiler alert: it’s not)AND - there’s so much to celebrate: I’m having the be...
Things are feeling heavy especially as a woman of color navigating work, family and everything else, so how do you even work right now in this chaos without betraying yourself? How do you make sure you honor yourself?How do you advocate and educate WITHOUT the burnout? Or how do you not feel guilty if you don’t have it in you? How can you be transparent with colleagues with how you’re feeling, while setting boundaries?In this episode, I’m sharing what I’m doing to personally naviga...
I just ended an incredible May, increasing my revenue by 65%. This month, I’m working on 2 courses for a company and partying a lot. But it’s not what you think, I have kid birthday parties literally every weekend #weold We’re half way through the year, and it’s my half-time, so I’m doing my own mid-year check-in to hopefully motivate you to also do your OWN mid-year check-in. Special bonus, I’m also sharing exactly what I’m doing to honor a slower summer season, and what I’m focusing on for ...
Replay + Breakdown of My SCMSDC #1 Pitch (& why that wasn’t even my goal) This episode isn’t just for business owners, it’s for leaders, job seekers, and anyone navigating relationships (yes, even the hard conversations with loved ones). Whether: You're pitching an idea at your next team meetingPrepping for a job interviewOr presenting to a clientThis episode is your reminder that pitching isn’t just about “selling,” it’s about being understood. 🎧 Listen in for the replay of the pitch tha...
I always get asked, ““Elaine, how are you even getting all these speaking gigs and clients when you don’t even have 5,000 followers on IG or LinkedIn!?” Great question. And the truth is... I don’t. 😅 But what I do have are real relationships and a strategy that works offline. I’m headed to the B3 Conference for Minority Business Owners next week in LA—where I’ll be speaking, pitching (as a finalist!), and meeting with procurement officers from companies that are actually hiring. There’ll also...
“Ugh that generation is so entitled!” But are they really? As Jackie Dacanay shares, “The problem isn’t Gen Z asking so much, it’s not having the conversation early enough.” So how do you lead a team made up of Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers especially when there are unspoken biases, stereotypes, and different values at play? In this fireside chat I had at HR Retail, I talk with Jackie Dacanay, Northern California Regional Director of Service Culture & Engagement at Fairmont Hotels, a...
Got a team member who keeps missing deadlines and making mistakes? Dealing with a colleague who seems annoyed by anything that comes out of your mouth? Last month, I did 3 speaking gigs back-to-back with different audiences: A C-Suite Retreat in Laguna Beach (fancy, right?)A session with the West Valley Warner Chamber of Commerce on teamwork cause the teamwork makes the dream works!)A private retreat at Lido House in Newport Beach for API government affairs execs from Intuit, Coca-Cola, Turo,...
“My job as a therapist is to get fired by you.” When my EMDR therapist said that, I was like, “Wait, what!?” 😳 I’ve been going to therapy since college because it was “free” with my tuition. But after almost a decade of talking about the same stuff without much change, I started noticing how my body reacted whenever I got triggered—tightness in my chest and throat, that fight-or-flight mode kicking in. That’s when my therapist shared how EMDR can heal my trauma and triggers. And I responded -...
I recently had the honor of sharing the stage with Chéla Gage, a Global HR Executive, speaking to HR leaders in Los Angeles about how to lead through chaos and make impactful decisions. Spoiler alert: Brave leaders ask for advice, feedback, and insights—regardless of job titles (and egos). In this podcast episode we discuss: How to inspire your team to problem solve (vs. going to you like Google)How to set boundaries and say no (cause it protects your team’s well-being -- and your own, tooHow...
With the rise of layoffs in tech and finance, consumer trust in a low, many professionals and business owners are reconsidering their next steps. I share personal stories, client examples, and actionable strategies to help you make an empowered, strategic career decision. What We Cover in This Episode: How to assess your current career and financial stabilityKey questions to ask yourself before deciding to stay, leave, or pivotSteps to prepare for a transition while maintaining financia...
Between news, notifications and nonstop content… Thinking about a personal brand isn’t top of mind. BUT how do we get our personal brand to stand out, while being empathetic with the chaos? This is exactly what we tackled at my Soho Works Personal Branding Panel last week. Fun fact: I got invited to this panel 6 days before the event, and invited my friend, Bernadette, to join the panel the day after and we still packed the room with 35 powerhouse leaders who showed up ready to learn and supp...
Happy Lunar New Year! For me, 2025 started yesterday cause of the hot mess this past month. And if 2025 ain’t cuttin it in February, we have the Persian New Year on March 20. 2025, YOU got a full quarter to pull yourself together. No excuses. With everything going on in the world, how do we even market in 2025!? Here’s what’s real: We have a trust problem. So, how do we fix it?How do we even market this year?And what trends should we actually pay attention to?The answers? I got you. What ...
If you’re from California, last week was an endless cycle of FIGHT OR FLIGHT. And even if you’re not in LA, moments of crises affect us all -- it’s part of being human, we don't live in LA, we are human and unfortunately face moments of crises. This past Monday, I had a therapy session to process everything. It was ironincally perfect timing. We talked about how important it is to protect our peace and prioritize our nneeds. She shared that many clients are navigating the same t...
2025 is in 2 days. I know -- WTH!? I know that “New Year, New You” energy is coming in strong. The social media algorithm just wants us to dive straight into goal setting, and getting cute planners. BUT. HOLD UP, AND WAIT A MINUTE. Before we spring into 2025, let’s sit with 2024 and CHILL for a second. Because let’s be real, 2024 came with lessons and a whole lotta plot twists. And I got receipts from my own messy, beautiful 2024 to share. So before you unpack your lessons, why not sip ...