Her Money Moves is joined by two special guests, Marie Cano of Agility Bank and Kelly Kirk of Greymark, to talk about the financial hurdles of being a female business owner and the unique partnerships that create monetary success for women-led businesses. Kelly Kirk shares her insight as a second generation woman business owner and Marie discusses her perspective as a commercial banker at a women-led bank. Talking points include the costs (personal and financial) of entrepreneurship, supportive relationships between clients and bankers, and financial advice for bootstrapping business owners. 

Her Money Moves goes to Houston for the HITEC Leadership Summit to talk to the Board Chair of HITECH Foundation and Chief Channel Officer of Sorenson, Ivonne Valdes. A visionary leader with a passion for breakthrough tech, Ivonne has lent her expertise to companies like HP and Oracle as an employee, and now gives back to her community as a Board member of student-focused organizations like Conectado and Caldwell University. Talking points in this insightful interview include managing work-life balance as a mother, dreaming of getting involved on a private equity Board, and making your salaries and bonuses into an investment in your financial future.  

Her Money Moves makes its way to Detroit in this week’s episode, recorded live at the NFL Draft. Staci talks with Marissa Solis, Senior Vice President of Global Brand and Consumer Marketing at the National Football League (NFL), about being the top Latino in a massive company and leading the charge to change the face of the League. Talking points include fielding job offers from top companies, evolving brands for future relevance, and advocating for yourself as a woman in male-dominated fields. 

Daniela Blanco, CEO of Sunthetics, creates an impactful reaction with Staci at South By Southwest as they talk about reducing the carbon footprint and environmental impact of chemical engineering. Based in San Marcos, Sunthetics accelerates eco-friendly innovation in the chemical industry through an easy-to-use machine-learning platform capable of leveraging small datasets to generate big insights. Talking points include receiving $1 million in grant funding from the National Science Foundation, reducing emissions and toxic waste, and defying the odds as a young Latina CEO in a white male-dominated field.

Resh Sidhu, Global Director of Arcadia Creative Studio at Snapchat, joins Staci at South by Southwest in Austin to take a journey from humble beginnings as a child obsessed with computers to breaking ground as a successful woman in tech. Reflecting on her past and looking to the future, Resh explains how her mother’s teachings on excellence and financial independence still influence her decisions today as a mother and a professional. Talking points include navigating a male-dominated industry, getting introduced to augmented reality, and pursuing financial literacy against all odds.  

Liliam Lopez, President of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SFLHCC) and the SFLHCC Foundation, joins the pod in beautiful Miami to talk about growing one of the biggest Hispanic Chambers in the nation. Established in 1994, South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization that promotes business leadership, creates economic prospects and provides legislative advocacy for the Hispanic business community in South Florida. Talking points include taking advantage of what the Chamber offers, elevating underprivileged Hispanic youth, and advocating for diverse board positions at corporations. 

Adela Cepeda, Business, Finance and Capital Markets leader, joins Staci in Miami for an in-depth discussion on fundraising and investing in Latino-led projects and professionals. Adela is also the Board Chair of Angeles Investors, a venture capital firm based in Chicago with a mission to find, fund, and grow the most promising Hispanic and Latinx ventures. Talking points include learning the ropes of investment banking, empowering Latina professionals in venture capital, and creating representation in boardrooms.

Elizabeth Oliver-Farrow, Board Chair of the Latino Corporate Directors Association and Vice Chairman of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, joins Staci at Miami tech hub, Mana Tech. Throughout her career, Elizabeth has been a torchbearer for Latina representation on corporate boards, becoming the first female chair of the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the first elected Latina Board Director of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. Talking points in this episode include elevating underserved communities, engaging Hispanic students in higher education, and empowering Latinas to use their unique skillsets to join boards.  

Paula Harris, Vice President of Community Relationships for the Houston Astros and Executive Director of the Astros Foundation, shares her current work and her aspirations for her future legacy this week. Paula has worked in oil & gas, has served on several Boards, and now makes an impact in the Houston community every day. Talking points include being a woman in the male dominated oil field, protecting your reputation as a hard worker regardless of your industry, and becoming a board member to make an impact. 

Stephanie Tsuru, Founder of SheSpace, brings her leadership wisdom and love for other women to the pod to talk about intentional space making. Headquartered in Houston, SheSpace is a work and meeting place where bold women gather to find community, amplify ambition, and propel their dreams forward. Talking points include personal and professional growth at SheSpace, entrepreneurs and remote workers collaborating together, and the future of all-women spaces in Houston and beyond.