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This week In The Suite welcomes Velera Wilson into the guest chair. Velera is a powerhouse author, speaker and coach with 15 years of marketing strategy experience working at Fortune 500 companies. As a champion of women, Velera is committed to helping ambitious women lead with confidence in relationships, careers and everyday life. In fact, Velera received industry-wide recognition when she was named as a Money 20/20 USA Rise Up Woman in 2018. 

In her latest book, “You’re Absolutely Worth It,” Velera is speaking to those ambitious women she’s mentored and coached throughout her career who silently battle with self-doubt. Using her own experience in Corporate America, Velera unpacks how to move past negative internal chatter and begin to own your greatness. 

In our discussion, Velera dives into what causes self-doubt, along with her process for shifting past it; how she’s successfully navigated corporate settings; and how all women can start to build their personal brand – even when they’re feeling timid. 

Join the discussion to hear about:

• The inspiration behind “You’re Absolutely Worth It” (4:18)
• Why so many high-performing women struggle with self-doubt (7:30)
• The three things that hinder or propel us throughout our lives (9:20)
• How Velera managed to move past her own feelings of insecurity and self-doubt (16:52)
• What Velera learned working at AT&T (18:55)
• Tips and tricks for navigating the unknown of your career (23:08)
• Why it doesn’t matter how small or big an organization is when it comes to achieving success (24:15)
• The Kenny Roger’s approved career guidance (27:00)
• How to start moving past limiting beliefs and self-doubt into a positive direction (31:02)
• How to get involved as a mentor or mentee in the National Black MBA Association (35:36)
• What to do to improve your personal branding – even as an introvert (41:21)
• What Velera uses to tap into her own superpower (50:11)

Referenced Materials

• Velera Wilson - Website
• Velerea Wilson - LinkedIn
• Velera Wilson - Twitter
• Velera Wilson - Instagram
• You're Absolutely Worth It: Release Self-Doubt, Embrace Confidence and Own Your Yes Book - Website
• You're Absolutely Worth It: Release Self-Doubt, Embrace Confidence and Own Your Yes Book on Amazon

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It’s an honor to welcome Lori Lustberg, CFP®, CDFA™, JD to In the Suite today. Lori shares her personal story about divorce and how she found her purpose in life as a financial planner working with women, and leading them through growth and transformation. Lori is an incredible inspiration, and a woman who embodies the gift of a beautiful mind and heart and I’ve seen it over the last 36 years. 

Lori is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® at Pathway Financial Advisors. Lori knows how the power of financial planning can transform lives. She’s a co-author and editor of a book. Don’t forget she’s also a JD, Juris Doctor. Is there anything Lori can’t do?

In this podcast episode, Lori teaches us about life after divorce and the light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope, inspiration, and resilience in this podcast episode.

Join the conversation to hear about:

• What Lori has been up to since she and Tina graduated from high school (3:50)
• The psychological and emotional implications around finances (6:30)
• What brings Lori’s life meaning (10:00)
• How she navigated divorce and post-partum depression (13:00)
• Healing wounds and seeking meaningful relationships with people (18:30)
• What Lori recommends as a starting place if you’re thinking about divorce (26:25)
• The types of cases Lori prefers taking and why (31:00)
• How different court systems within a state varies (35:00)
• Lori explains what a collaborative divorce is (40:40)
• For anyone wondering “how much is this going to cost me?” (46:35)
• The true power of vulnerability and opening yourself up for help (50:00)
• Encouragement and feeling like you belong (54:20)
• Lori shares her special superpower! (58:30)

Referenced Materials

• Lori Lustberg, CFP®, CDFA™, JD - LinkedIn
• Lori Lustberg, CFP®, CDFA™, JD- Twitter
• Divorce and Separation Vermont: A practical guide to making smart decisions (Divorce Books America) - Amazon
• Divorce and Separation: A practical guide to making smart decisions (Vermont edition) - Website 
• Association of Divorce Financial Planners
• Lori Lustberg, CFP®, CDFA™, JD- Pathway Financial Advisors Website
• Living Together, Separating, Divorcing: Surviving During a Pandemic: Over 70 Leading Mediators help you deal with the loss of income, lack of ... together if you can, and if you can't...) by Michael Lang and Peter Nicholson on Amazon 

🤩 Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support and 5-star reviews of our show!!!

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Today we’re excited to welcome Zaneilia Harris, CFP® into In The Suite. Zaneilia is President of Harris & Harris Wealth Management Group, LLC,  author of the book, Finance 'n Stilettos: Money Matter for the Well-Heeled Woman. Zaneilia brings a wealth of knowledge gained from her more than 25 years of experience in the financial and accounting industry. Her expertise has been featured in prominent publications and media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, US News & World Report, Forbes, Today Money, Women’s Day, Essence, Black Enterprise, Women’s Wear Daily, and PBS. She resides in a Maryland suburb just outside of Washington, DC, with her husband and daughter. 

Zaneilia has a zest for all things finance, from inspiring her daughter to save for college and aim for greatness from empowering women to live and define the legacy they wish to leave. For mothers of daughters, Zaneilia offers her personal advice on how to start discussing money with the next generation. She's a true inspiration for all women on how to break behaviors and create legacies to empower future generations of women and young girls In The Suite. 

In this episode, we also talk about microaggressions in life and in the workplace and have an open dialogue about the lack of Black women CEOs, toxicity from microaggressions, and facing health issues due to stress. 

Furthermore, Zaneilia shares her strategies on how to negotiate to get what you want. She advises women not to go into negotiations empty-handed; rather, do your research extensively. Research about the position, research about what others are being paid for that opportunity. Ultimately, she advises women to ask for what they deserve; it's about realigning your career to meet your values. Zaneilia teaches us it’s never too late to face the path of your dreams rather than diverting further and further from it.

Join the conversation to hear about:

• Microaggressions and the lack of Black women CEOs (6:00)
• Encountering corporate trauma and emotional trauma (8:45)
• Why Zaneilia dedicated her 30s to growth and health (15:25)
• How to empower the next generation by having conversations about money (18:15)
• Why Zaneilia wrote her book, Finance 'n Stilettos  (26:50) 
• Zaneilia’s advice on nailing your next negotiation (32:30)
• Ask for what you want (35:30)
• Why having a child changes the way you look at the world (38:25)
• Taking control and recognizing that money is a tool (40:30)
• What Zaneilia wants her legacy to be (43:50)
• Where you can find Zaneilia on social media (49:35)
• Zaneilia tells us what her superpower is (50:55)

Referenced Materials

• Harris & Harris Wealth Management - Facebook
• Zaneilia Harris, CFP® - LinkedIn
• Zaneilia Harris, CFP® - Twitter
• Zaneilia Harris, CFP® - Instagram
• Harris & Harris Wealth Management Website 
• Finance 'n Stilettos Book: Money Matter for the Well-Heeled Woman on Amazon
• The Memo Book by Minda Harts
• The Art of Healing Center - Dr. Virletta C. Bryant

🤩 Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support and 5-star reviews of our show!!!

❤️ Please follow us on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/inthesuitepod/

📧 Want to get in touch? Email me at [email protected]

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Today we’re excited to welcome Kelly Waltrich into In The Suite. There’s so much to talk about in this episode. Kelly is Chief Marketing Officer of Orion Advisor Solutions. At Orion Advisor Solutions, they help advisors find success by offering personalized financial management continuum, including advisor technology and investment solutions.

Kelly is like a butterfly. There’s art in the metamorphosis. There’s beauty in change. Kelly believes in adapting to change as it comes, which it inevitably will. Change is always looming, always near. Just be ready for it. You’ll hear Kelly talk about “change all day every day” and the conversation that made a gigantic impact on her first week at Orion.

Join the conversation to hear about:

• Kelly beliefs about building trust with your peers  (5:55)
• How to hire and find the right people (8:20)
• Ways the Orion workflow has shifted since COVID (12:30)
• Latest big news and updates at Orion (17:10)
• Thinking about the steps of the Orion client journey (19:20)
• Orion’s unique spin to content (24:00)
• Hosting events in a post-COVID world (26:45)
• Why you need to design your own career path (30:20)
• The reason why welcoming change is so important (36:00)
• Why we should lift each other up and build your community (43:50) 
• How a conversation changed Kelly’s life (46:10)
• Tips on staying connected with your team and showing you care (51:40)
• How Kelly champions her superpower every day (56:20)

Referenced Materials

• Orion Advisor Tech - Website 
• Orion Ascent Conference 2021 - August 30 - September 2, 2021
• Orion Advisor Tech - Twitter 
• Kelly Waltrich - Twitter
• Kelly Waltrich - LinkedIn

🤩 Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support and 5-star reviews of our show!!!

❤️ Please follow us on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/inthesuitepod/

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Today we’re excited to welcome Marsha Guerrier into In the Suite. Marsha is a multi-hyphenate businesswoman who, while having a full-time career in Financial Technology, also manages to be a bestselling author, speaker, business coach, and CEO of HerSuiteSpot.

For the past seven years, Marsha has produced the HerRise Conference, formerly called The Women on the Rise Forum & Expo. She created the conference after observing friends and women she mentored who wanted to progress in their careers but became stuck as they figured out how. The conference – this year taking place virtually on October 9th and 10th – is thus geared towards advancing women of color leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and their allies in their careers and businesses.

Marsha organizes her life around four main pillars: mindset, marketing, money and media. In our discussion, Marsha speaks to how she continues to do this through all of the many things and people she touches, including the non-profit she runs, the Yva Jourdan Foundation. 

Join the conversation to hear about:

• Marsha's tip of the day for In The Suite listeners (4:45)
• How you can experiment with new media forms for your business (6:57)
• The impetus of Marsha starting HerSuiteSpot (8:52)
• Why giving away micro grants to budding entrepreneurs can be life-changing (17:50)
• The answer to whether you should start your own foundation (25:15)
• The secret to how Marsha is also a three-times bestselling author (29:42)
• How Marsha went from a corporate job in high school to working in fast food to being a multihyphenate businesswoman (34:55)
• A day in the life of Marsha Guerrier (38:34)
• How Marsha champions her superpower and gets it all done (42:47)

Referenced Materials

• Marsha Guerrier's LinkedIn
• Marsha Guerrier's Twitter
• HerSuiteSpot
• HerRise Conference

🤩 Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support and 5-star reviews of our show!!!

❤️ Please follow us on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/inthesuitepod/

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This week In The Suite welcomes Keena Pettijohn into the guest chair. Keena has navigated her career for nearly half a century. She made a revolutionary move away from all the tech solutions, instead focusing on establishing conversations as an opportunity to create a result. She has an almost clairvoyant capacity to recognize the moment to jump ship, breaking patterns and barriers as she does it. 

She has such a long career and resume, which she breaks down in the podcast episode. Now, Keena is the CEO and Founder of Lifelogixs, a strategic consultancy firm that embraces holistic technology solutions, transforming an Advisor into a “Life Coach” by addressing the wealth, health, and happiness needs of the clients they serve.

In our discussion, you’ll discover some of Keena’s best advice for establishing a career that you can grow with for years to come. She has deep expertise in how to stay relevant and maintain a career that can last a long time in a world where things are designed to break down. You will love hearing what she has to say about why she decided to work for herself, her thoughts on lifelong learning, as well as the importance of breaking patterns. You’ll want to write notes for this episode, it’s chock full of amazing advice.

Join the conversation to hear about:

• How Keena first embarked on her business journey (6:25)
• The elements that attracted Keena to the profession (9:30)
• The three industries she was first recommended to start in (12:40)
• Creating a confidential data profile (18:40) 
• Her biggest takeaway for being ahead of the curve and on top of trends (22:00)
• The importance of finding and breaking the patterns (26:20)
• Why Keena decided to work for herself (31:30)
• How she got into Lifelogixs and learned the technology (38:50)
• Lifelong learning and why you always should look for new information (43:30)
• Keena walks us through the innovation lab experience (50:00)
• Figuring out social media and the virtual world  (55:00)
• What Keena is focusing on and working on next (61:10)

Referenced Material

• Keena Pettijohn - LinkedIn
• Keena Pettijohn - Twitter
• Lifelogixs website
• Bank Insurance & Securities Association (BISA) 

🤩 Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support and 5-star reviews of our show!!!

❤️ Please follow us on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/inthesuitepod/

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Today In The Suite welcomes Nami Baral, Founder and CEO of Harvest Platform. Nami is an innovative and ambitious woman who finds herself at a unique point in time: a FinTech founder working at the intersection of finance and technology. And as an investment banker turned executive turned female founder, Nami has illustrated through her career the beauty of the pivot.  

In our discussion, Nami walks us through each major shift she’s made in her career and how all of her previous chapters helped write the one she’s currently in with Harvest Platform.

Nami created Harvest Platform to support the average American, who is riddled with debt. Backed by a group of powerhouse investors, Harvest Platform uses AI & automation to help users reduce bank fees, credit card charges and more, to ultimately increase net worth & achieve financial stability.

With a wealth of experience making challenging career choices, Nami shares her wisdom for how women at every stage of their career can walk the tight rope of being a woman and being successful in the business world. Her story is an undeniable testament to how living life on passion and purpose always grants you a seat In The Suite.

Join the conversation to hear more about:

• How medicine brought Nami from Nepal to New York (5:20)
• Why Nami believes the recession we’re in right now is markedly different from years’ past (8:37)
• Advice on where new grads can take their career (12:00)
• Nami’s experience at Twitter, working under Jack Dorsey (15:30)
• How a female leader gets on the radar of someone like Jack Dorsey and benefits from their leadership (18:36)
• Why Nami believes that each of her unique career chapters was needed to launch Harvest Platform (24:40)
• How Harvest Platform tackles an oft ignored financial area (31:05)
• The leading indicator of financial health that is at the center of Harvest Platform (33:14) 
• Why success stories are integral for start ups and the ones Harvest Platform has heard (40:45)
• The debt distinction Americans would benefit from understanding (46:00)
• How you know you have what it takes to be a founder (53:07)
• The psychological and physical things Nami leans on for strength (58:39)

Referenced Material:

• Nami Baral - Twitter
• Nami Baral - LinkedIn
• Nami Baral - NYC FinTech Women
• Harvest Platform
• Harvest Platform - Twitter
• Harvard Business School

🤩 Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support and 5-star reviews of our show!!!

❤️ Please follow us on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/inthesuitepod/

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This week In The Suite welcomes Kate Healy into the guest chair. As the managing director of Generation Next at TD Ameritrade Institutional, Kate supports current and future Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and independent financial advisors. She’s a woman who wants to help others empower themselves in their careers, whether that’s positioning themself for a new position or her philanthropic efforts to offer financial advice to those who can’t access it.

She talks about growing up always knowing she wanted to be involved with money in some way. Kate navigated her way through different careers and found a way to make it to the top while helping others around her succeed too. Kate says people ought to seek out the job that's going to help you learn the most. When you're first graduating or starting a career, you don't always know what that's going to be, so that’s part of the discovery process.

In our discussion, you’ll discover some of Kate’s best secrets and top strategies to grow a great business, build a strong brand, and lead teams in the 21st century. You'll enjoy hearing her personal stories of triumph, trepidation, and transformation in hopes of becoming a better leader ourselves.

Join the conversation to hear about:

• How Kate first established her career (7:00)
• What Kate always tells people about dealing with roles and client expectations (12:40)
• The importance of getting thrown into the fire in order to learn (16:20)
• How she used her finance experience as a marketer (19:00)
• Why marketing is important and beneficial to push a brand forward (21:00)
• Interns are the future (26:30)
• How the financial industry has grown over the years (29:00)
• Kate explains TD Ameritrade’s cutting-edge next steps (31:45)
• Being intentional about figuring out your career path (37:30)
• How to create a new role at your current job (43:00)
• Why Kate is so passionate about financial planning support  (48:00)
• The one thing Kate wishes she’d known when she first started her career (53:30)
• How mentorship has changed and will change due to COVID (58:20)
• Kate shares what her superpower trait is (64:00)

Referenced Material:

• Kate Healy - Twitter
• Kate Healy - LinkedIn
• Kate Healy - TD Ameritrade Institutional
• Women’s Initiative at CFP Board
• RIAConnect® NextGen
• Invest in Others 
• Foundation for Financial Planning - Pro Bono Planning 

🤩 Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support and 5-star reviews of our show!!!

❤️ Please follow us on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/inthesuitepod/

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This week In The Suite welcomes Eugenié George into the guest chair. As a financial wellness specialist and educator, Eugenié helps corporate and private clients lead their best financial lives. Eugenié is a determined and refreshingly transparent woman who shares how she was able to move past feelings of unworthiness to knowing she was more than enough through her journey with money.

In her new book, “Our Money Stories,” Eugenié intertwines data and storytelling to help people understand how their personal history, ancestry, and environment play a role in their money habits. Eugenié has used her own history with money – which includes a life-defining moment where she found herself evicted and jobless – to inform her work.

In our discussion, Eugenié points out some of the nuances Women of Color deal with when it comes to accessing wealth, along with how all women can start reflecting on their stories to help write a better financial future. 

Join the conversation to hear about:

• The life-defining moments that led to Eugenié’s career in financial services (10:00)
• What Eugenié did to move out of debt and better understand money (14:07)
• Why therapy is a necessary component for marginalized groups to better understand money (16:55)
• Why Black women are doubly emotionally taxed as they deal with money (22:07)
• How mainstream wealth conversations ignore the Black Tax (26:00)
• What is Adverse Childhood Experience and how it affects women (34:32)
• The money story that had the greatest impact on Eugenié (38:20)
• What goes into Eugenié’s 6-week financial wellness plan (46:55)
• Eugenié’s perspective on how to support Women of Color on Black Women Equal Pay Day (54:45)
• Eugenié’s superhero personality trait (61:25)

Referenced Materials:

• Eugenié George – Website
• Eugenié George – LinkedIn
• Eugenié George – Money and Flow Podcast 
• Eugenié George’s Amazing List of Resources
• “Navigating the World as a Person of Color” by Eugenié George posted on Kitces.com – Michael Kitces 
• Black Women’s Equal Pay Day 2020 – August 13, 2020 
• The Memo Book by Minda Harts
• Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
• The Trauma of Everyday Life by Mark Epstein, MD

🤩 Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support and 5-star reviews of our show!!!

❤️ Please follow us on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/inthesuitepod/

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This week In The Suite welcomes Stephanie Foster into the guest chair. From starting as an intern in FinTech nearly two decades ago to working her way up to her current role as Head of Regional Product Management for the Americas at Finastra, the third largest FinTech company in the world – Stephanie’s career is one of risk-taking, perseverance and continued learning. 

In addition to her role at Finastra, Stephanie is a member of multiple professional organizations, including Women Driving Innovation in Atlanta, which she co-founded, that aims to connect, inspire and showcase the next generation of female thought leaders in tech. 

In this episode, we dive into Stephanie's commitment to strengthening diversity and inclusion in FinTech, a predominately white and male industry. Throughout the conversation, Stephanie uses her love affair with statistics to present not only the case for continued D&I efforts, but also the tangible, research-informed ways in which we can all offer support to Black women in the industry. 

Stephanie has a wealth of unique industry knowledge and perspectives that she brings forth in a conversation that I know will inspire and activate you. 

Join the conversation to hear more about:

• The powerful industry event that Stephanie nearly didn’t attend that led to this conversation In The Suite (6:09)
• Stephanie’s untraditional career path from intern to now managing more than $50 million in revenue and over 1,000 agent locations in 13 territories (12:24)
• Stephanie’s helpful advice for anyone looking to ascend in their career (16:45) 
• How product marketers can best glean insights to know what the market wants (18:40)
• The four skills Stephanie points to recognizing that someone is meant to be in FinTech (22:52)
• Why this line item makes its way onto Stephanie’s personal budget (26:40)
• Which financial technology organizations we all should know and look to join (34:18)
• Stephanie’s timeless advice to young professionals on managing their career (44:50)
• The stats that illustrate the State of Black Women in Corporate America (49:17)
• Five ways you can support and elevate Women of Color in Corporate America (54:00)
• The tangible and intangible things that gives Stephanie superhero strength in the suite (61:45)

Referenced Materials:

• Finastra
• Wnet - Women's Network in Electronic Transaction
• Certified Scrum Product Owner®
• Pragmatic Marketing Certification (PMC III) 
• Pfizer
• INROADS
• Women Driving Innovation
• TSYS- A Global Payments Company
• Stephanie Foster's LinkedIn

🤩 Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support and 5-star reviews of our show!!!

❤️ Please follow us on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/inthesuitepod/

📧 Want to get in touch? Email me at [email protected]