SheVentures

Have you ever struggled with personal finance or worried that you may never attain financial wellness? You're not alone. Certified financial planner Deanna LaRue is here to help you change your mindset.

LaRue recognizes the need for financial education, something often not taught in childhood or even high school. She started TimeWise Financial in 2009 — and with 18 years of experience — knows the importance of the personal connection between a financial advisor and her clients.

Money management is as much about mindset as it is about finding one's goals and planning for them. Listen to LaRue describe how she started her first business, at 24 (she knew her professional path earlier than many) and why she is intentional about women learning how to manage their assets. La Rue recalls obstacles and the other common challenges women face with personal finance.

Just in time for financial literacy month, LaRue provides a financial framework for women in each decade of their lives — and most importantly, she provides tips on how to overcome financial fear, on this episode of SheVentures.

1:55 LaRue discusses her professional path and her pivot to entrepreneurial clarity. 4:15 What are the key differences between a broker-dealer and a certified financial planner? 5:42 LaRue recalls her early hurdles including imposter syndrome. 12:50 What are the common financial roadblocks female clients face? 15:20 LaRue gives financial tips for women by decade. 29:30 Why it's crucial to consider relationships when it comes to money 31:30 Tips for overcoming financial fear 33:40 What are common money-related self-sabotaging behaviors? 37:00 What is one thing LaRue wishes she had done when she was younger? 38:00 Where you can learn more about LaRue and her business

Disclaimer: Any recommendations or statements do not take into account the financial circumstances, investment objectives, tax implications, or any specific requirements of readers/listeners. Tips provided by guests on SheVentures podcast and/or editorial content on our website should not be construed as investment advice.

Many of us are taught that it will take at least three to five years to crack a six-figure income as a small business. Dr. Karwanna D says it's possible to earn that amount in three to six months. How? From the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world always has cash on hand: the government.

Dr. Karwanna started in telecommunication sales and earned a high five-figure salary. She soon realized that working for a corporation meant losing agency over her time. She started bidding on small government contracts as a video creator and realized she could win government contracts after experiencing some early wins.

She has now taken lessons learned and converted them into a five-day challenge and a 90-day accelerator where she teaches small business owners strategies to land six- and seven-figure contracts with the federal, state, and local governments.

If you are interested in signing up for the next five-day challenge to pre-qualify your business, use this link.

As a speaker, author of Don't Duck the Government Because They've Got Your Money, and business coach, Dr. Karwanna shares what she learned during her pivotal foundation-building years. Her courses are designed to help you skip the learning curve, but you still need to do the work. Dr. Karwanna shows up, is charismatic, and is ready to share her knowledge.

Listen to her journey from barely seeing her kids to buying her time back via government contracting, on this episode of SheVentures.

03:17 Dr. Karwanna pivots from a 9-to-5 career to entrepreneurship 06:45 Her 9 to 5 and why she pivoted to entrepreneurship 14:09 How failing forward and government contracting returned Dr. Karwanna's time 19:29 She shows the steps to selling to the government 27:55 How one's mindset is crucial to wealth building 34:15 How her 90-day government accelerator program works 40:31 Tips for women who are starting as entrepreneurs 43:02 Dr. Karwanna shares her professional goals in 2023 45:19 Learn how government contracting could earn you more money in less time

How does a South Korean orphan who had difficulty walking grow up to become a seven-figure entrepreneur? One thing's for certain: It did not happen overnight for Sun Yong Kim-Manzolini.

Suffering from physical and psychological abuse for more than a decade as a child, Sun Yong Kim-Manzolini was adopted by an American family at the age of 14. The United States opened doors to a new life of creativity and hope for her.

While working as a nursing assistant for more than two decades, Kim-Manzolini realized her current salary would lead to a stark economic reality. She would not have enough money to live on in retirement. So she decided to teach herself about options trading. Not only did she succeed at it, but now, Kim-Manzolini wants to share her knowledge and strategies with the world.

A multifaceted entrepreneur, business coach, and mindset mentor, Kim-Manzolini is also the author of Opposites/Opposites, a guide to understanding partnership and compromise in a relationship.

Listen to Kim-Manzolini describe her traumatic upbringing and how she overcame a series of challenges to become a successful options trader, on this episode of SheVentures.

2:00 Kim-Manzolini describes growing up in an orphanage

11:50 She recalls transitioning into an American family

16:02 How she overcame childhood trauma

21:43 Career pivoting from nursing to options trading

28:23 Kim-Manzolini breaks down what options trading is

30:05 Types of strategies she uses with options trading

36:31 What should listeners be cautious about when trading options?

38:35 Where to find Kim-Manzolini on social media

Drinking in public can be awkward when you choose not to consume alcoholic beverages — for whatever reason. Becca Gardner, however, is paving the way to diminish this stigma.

Gardner is the founder and CEO of NKD LDY, an innovative company specializing in non-alcoholic spirits and beverages. The mission of NKD LDY is to ensure that delicious non-alcoholic mocktails are available along with wine and spirits. Gardner's personal experience stems from embracing sobriety after years of working in a high-profile and high-pressure NYC strategy consulting role. She pivoted both career and location and embarked on her purpose-driven business.

Garner hopes NKD LDY will normalize the choice to consume high-quality non-alcoholic drinks. Founded in Gardner's home state of Kentucky, NKD LDY uses actual distilled spirits as the base of its products. Once the alcoholic portion of these spirits has been gently removed, customers are able to enjoy aromatic and tasteful alternatives to whiskey, gin, and tequila.

Listen to Gardner discuss her experience with alcoholism and how she founded ALT Distilling, a venture-backed mission-based startup that creates non-alcoholic spirits under the brand NKD LDY, on this episode of SheVentures.

2:00 Gardner opens up about when she knew she had crossed the line into addiction — and how embracing sobriety led to a career pivot. 7:00 Gardner's "aha" moment with non-alcoholic drinks 9:35 How did Gardner translate a business idea she first identified while in the U.K. and apply it to the U.S.? 11:00 Gardner discusses the process of creating non-alcoholic beverages. 17:00 Curious about the NKD LDY product line?

18:10 Gardner discusses her success in raising venture capital.

21:40 How did Gardner create a board for NKD LDY?

26:20 Gardner shares her biggest surprise as a CEO.

30:20 Tips for women considering personal or professional pivots

If anyone knows how to create, run, take public, and exit a company successfully, it is Sheila Lirio Marcelo. The Filipino technology entrepreneur is famously known for founding Care.com, an online marketplace for childcare, special needs caregivers, tutors, and more.

After selling Care.com in 2020 for $500M, Marcelo embarked on a new business venture: the creation of Proof of Learn, a Web3 education platform, which allows students the opportunity to earn rewards while learning code blockchain, a skillset Marcelo says is rare.

Though Marcelo is an entrepreneurial icon, she is transparent about the values her childhood instilled in her that play a role in her success. Marcelo describes moving from the Philippines to the United States, and how it created challenges, biases, and opportunities to overcome on her way to the top.

Listen to Marcelo describe how she identified a gap in the market as a married mother and student that would lead her to create Care.com a decade before other companies embraced an online business-to-consumer model. She also shares the human side of entrepreneurship as well as the challenges she faced (and her wins), on this episode of SheVentures.

2:20 Marcelo describes growing up in the Philippines.

6:30 How did Marcelo balance both motherhood and a startup?

12:35 Marcelo weighs in on her educational accomplishments.

17:30 What was Marcelo's experience like as a woman of color founder?

20:32 Tips for women who aspire to be in leadership roles

23:10 Marcelo discusses her new career pivot, Proof of Learn.

29:50 How Marcelo's experience at Care.com influences her approach at Proof of Learn.

32:50 Marcelo speaks about a woman who inspires her and why

34:30 Where listeners can find more about Marcelo, her career ventures, and her current podcast, W3B'D.

Menstruation is often a taboo topic. From the potential confusion surrounding your first period to embarrassment while purchasing feminine hygiene products, there's a negative stigma many people associate with menstruation. And that's assuming you are not one of the 63 percent of women who have difficulty affording these necessary products.

However, CEO Vilmante Markeviciene, is bringing power and positivity to the feminine hygiene market. She is the founder of the U.S. brand Genial Day and the European brand Gentle Day, sustainable feminine care products aimed at minimizing rashes, skin irritation, and unpleasant period smells and spills.

Pivoting from a career in business administration and interior design, Markeviciene found herself at a crossroads in 2008. During the recession, she realized how expensive pads, tampons, period underwear, and related products were in the United States — and seized the opportunity to expand her business from the EU to the U.S.

Listen to Markeviciene describe her entrepreneurial journey, and how your purchases can support displaced Ukrainian people who menstruate, on this episode of SheVentures.

2:33 Markeviciene describes growing up in Lithuania.

7:22 Markeviciene's promise to donate one product to Ukrainians for each product bought

8:40 What were Markeviciene's early career pivots?

10:38 How did Genial Day start?

17:10 What is the product approval process?

26:20 Markeviciene discusses the complications of going global. Hint: How did she end up with two names for one company? Listen to her tips so it doesn't happen to you.

29:00 What role do women play in the feminine hygiene market?

36:00 Education is the base of Genial Day's mission.

43:30 Markeviciene breaks down sustainability with Genial Day products.

49:42 Tips for young entrepreneurs starting out

51:10 Where to find Genial Day products

Octavia Goredema, the founder of career coaching agency Twenty Ten, offers a variety of work strategy sessions and workshops for underrepresented employees. With areas of expertise in career mentorship, stress management, and navigation, Goredema works to amplify and redirect the needs of women of color in entrepreneurship and corporate America.

Goredema is the author of Prep, Push, Pivot: Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women, a career coaching guide for women of color.

Listen to Goredema discuss her career and life pivots from moving continents for romance to her wins and challenges as a minority business owner,career coach, and book author, on this episode of SheVentures.

1:45 Goredema discusses her childhood curiosity.

3:50 How Goredema was appointed to the Order of the British Empire 11:54 How Goredema pivoted from corporate America to startup agency founder and book author

17:30 What role has rejection played in Goredema's career?

23:09 How race and representation affect women of color in corporate America

30:40 Goredema discusses the three most common areas where women of color seek coaching.

34:10 Where listeners can learn more about Goredama and her book, Prep, Push, Pivot: Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women

When you realize you are role models for millions of women, it's both exhilarating and scary. Sister co-founders Angela Muhwezi-Hall and Deborah Gladney had their reckoning this year as women of color founders. Both realized they are role models for all Black women — the 99.5 percent that haven't yet succeeded in raising capital like they have — and they feel added pressure and responsibility to succeed.

Last year when we spoke, these founders covered their oversubscribed raise of $1.4M after completing the Techstars accelerator. In this episode, the sister-founder duo talks about raising more capital and share how it was tougher this time despite both being a "known quantity."

Listen to them candidly discuss race, venture capitalists, the rebrand of their career-discovery platform to WorkTorch, and their goals for 2023. And yes, we set a date to speak again in 2024 to trace their growth, hardships, and wins.

As women of color, the pair discuss role-modeling for other women in entrepreneurship and tech and how important it is to remain confident.

Tune in to hear about what they believe they've done well, where they can improve, and their respective goals until we speak next year.

2:40 Muhwezi-Hall and Gladney discuss the milestones and barriers of raising capital.

8:10 The duo talk discrimination in the tech industry as women of color founders.

11:50 Tips for staying fueled and dealing with microaggressions in the workforce

14:00 All about WorkTorch and why a rebrand was essential

19:45 How WorkTorch is positioned as a B2C and a B2B company, always free for job seekers with a subscription model for companies

23:45 The impact and responsibilities Muhwezi-Hall and Gladney face as minority founders

27:20 Three tips about entrepreneurship the founder-duo would give to their past selves

31:50 Muhwezi-Hall and Gladney discuss their goals for 2023.

Representation of women in the fintech industry is scarce. So scarce that women make up less than 10 percent of fintech founders or executive board members, according to a recent paper from the International Monetary Fund. But Sofiat Abdulrazaaq is changing the game for women of color in fintech.

Abdulrazaaq is the co-founder of Goodfynd, a platform that began as a way to help consumers find nearby food vendors/trucks and facilitate ordering and delivery where available.

Goodfynd also has a B2B application. Abdulrazaaq identified the need for all mobile vendors — food or otherwise — to have an accessible and affordable one-stop shop to run their business. This "business in a box" model is meant to reach the under-served community of first generation and immigrant mobile vendors, allowing them to include what they need from the Goodfynd platform — without extra bells and whistles. What started off as an organic quest to find food trucks before the pandemic morphed into B2C and a scalable B2B model.

Pivoting from a stint in privacy law (she got her JD then decided to become an entrepreneur), Abdulrazaaq shows resilience in the face of hardship as a woman of color in a male-dominated world.

Listen to Abdulrazaaq discuss raising capital and launching Goodfynd, on this episode of SheVentures.

1:45 Abdulrazaaq discusses her career pivots.

4:20 How did the idea for Goodfynd emerge?

10:15 Abdulrazaaq reflects how a grant from Lighthouse Labs helped her and her co-founders create a proof of concept.

19:05 Will Goodfynd expand its business model to all mobile businesses?

22:12 What does being an "impact-first executive" mean to Abdulrazaaq?

25:22 Abdulrazaaq shares her experience as a woman of color raising capital.

33:55 What are her three tips for women pursuing entrepreneurship?

38:06 Where can listeners learn more about Goodfynd?

With nearly two decades of experience in brand strategy, Talia Boone is no stranger to marketing and brand collaboration. From pioneering a creative marketing agency to starting a fresh-cut flower business, Boone is a prime example of what it takes to creatively execute an idea.

Boone discusses how branding, creativity, and social change were a catalyst to start Inter:Sect, an agency focused on brand amplification and social issues. By implementing multimedia strategies and social impact initiatives, Inter:Sect gives consumers and partners a platform to showcase their brands.

It was during the pandemic when Boone was stressed that she turned to flower arranging for peace of mind. In doing so, she found an unexpected business niche in the flower market.

The idea of Postal Petals blossomed after Boone discovered that farmers needed a better way to sell their products. Now, Boone and her team provide consumers direct access to farm-fresh, high-quality flowers — delivered right to their doorstep.

Listen to Boone discuss her passion for social change and representation, as well as her pivot to entrepreneurship, on this episode of SheVentures.

1:17 Boone describes her activism awakening.

4:50 Boone discusses her creative marketing agency, Inter:Sect.

10:37 How have brands encapsulated the Black Lives Matter movement?

15:40 How to keep corporations and consumers accountable regarding representation

21:00 Boone shares her experiences as a woman of color in corporate America.

25:18 How did Boone start a business during the pandemic?

35:34 What can customers expect from Postal Petals?

37:37 Boone explores the most difficult and rewarding parts of starting a business.

43:17 Boone shares tips for women of color who want to start a business.

46:16 Where to find Postal Petals on social media