Cut The Tie Podcast
Episode 272

What if your personal story—full of family, faith, neurodivergence, and creativity—was your greatest business advantage? In this episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Averi Drummer (aka Siena Averi Feruzi), a womanist author, coach, and special education advocate who is building a life and business on her own terms.

From Spelman College to poetry, coaching, and special ed classrooms, Averi shares how cutting ties with perfectionism and self-doubt opened the door to confidence, creative ambition, and the launch of her new Bag Lady Financial Wellness coaching series. If you’ve ever waited to feel “qualified” before taking action, this episode is for you.

About Averi Drummer:
Averi Drummer is a Christian womanist author, coach, special education assistant, and founder of the Bag Lady Financial Wellness series. A graduate of Spelman College and the eldest sibling in a neurodiverse family, Averi brings lived experience, compassion, and creativity into everything she does. Whether she’s helping women with special needs families navigate identity or coaching aspiring creatives toward confidence, her mission is clear: to uplift others by using her voice and platform for change.

In this episode, Thomas and Averi discuss:

• Cutting ties with perfectionism and imposter syndrome
  Averi shares how she overcame the belief that she needed years of experience or accolades before she could coach or create.
• Building a purpose-driven business from scratch
  From nonprofit roots to affiliate marketing, Averi walks through her journey to financial freedom and creative leadership.
• Representing neurodivergent and Black women in business
  Averi opens up about growing up in a neurodivergent household and how Spelman College reshaped her identity and mission.
• Manifesting abundance through mindset and community
  Affirmations, coaching programs, and spiritual practices have played a vital role in Averi’s entrepreneurial path.
• Launching books, building confidence, and helping others grow
  With novels, poetry, and coaching on the horizon, Averi is designing a future that empowers both herself and her community.

Key Takeaways:

• You don’t need permission to start.
  Stop waiting for credentials or approval. Start where you are—with what you have.
• Perfectionism is a trap.
  It's a form of procrastination rooted in fear. Action beats overthinking, every time.
• Representation matters.
  Being a neurodivergent Black woman in business is a powerful act of leadership in itself.
• Coaching is about connection.
  You don’t have to be “perfect” to help someone else grow—you just need to show up authentically.
• You are the brand.
  Whether you’re writing poetry or building a movement, your voice and lived experience are your biggest assets.

Connect with Averi Drummer:
🌐 Website: siennavferuzi.gumroad.com
📧 Email: [email protected]

Connect with Thomas Helfrich:
🐦 Twitter: @thelfrich
📘 Facebook: Cut the Tie Group
💼 LinkedIn: Thomas Helfrich
🌐 Website: www.cutthetie.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
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