The Clever Girls Know Podcast With Bola Sokunbi

On this episode of the podcast, we're joined by Lara Olutunbi, Founder and Creative Director of LarAllan, a London-based contemporary handbag brand known for timeless statement pieces that blend sculptural design, functionality, and African heritage.

Originally from Nigeria, Lara built an international career in financial services across the UK, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States before turning a lifelong passion for design into a business.

After training at Central Saint Martins and completing the Fashion Executive Masterclass through the London School of Economics and Africa Fashion Week London, she founded LarAllan in 2017. Since then, the brand has earned international recognition through Nordstrom.com, the ADAN x Zalando Black-Owned Brands Accelerator, CANEX, and other global fashion platforms.

In this episode, Lara shares how she made the transition from finance to fashion, the realities of building and growing a product-based business, the financial lessons that have shaped her as an entrepreneur, and why creating greater visibility for African luxury is such an important part of her work.

What Lara Discussed on the Podcast:

• Her journey from an international career in financial services to founding LarAllan.
• Turning a lifelong passion for design into a viable fashion business through education and preparation.
• The early realities of launching a handbag brand, from funding and manufacturing to product development and finding customers.
• The challenges of building and growing an independent luxury accessories brand.
• Financial lessons around pricing, inventory, cash flow, and deciding where to invest in the business.
• How her finance background shaped her approach to risk, growth, and strategic decision-making.
• What a career in finance couldn't prepare her for about entrepreneurship.
• Creating opportunities that led to international recognition and retail placement on Nordstrom.com.
• How to evaluate opportunities and say no when something doesn't make financial or strategic sense.
• What African luxury means to her and the importance of increasing its visibility within the global fashion industry.
• The decisions and lessons that have shaped nearly a decade of building LarAllan.
• Advice for women who want to explore a creative business idea without immediately walking away from an established career.

AND SO MUCH MORE

How to Keep Up With Lara:

• Shop on Website: https://LarAllan.com and on Nordstrom.com
• Instagram: @larallan

Latest Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

Some of the most popular financial advice sounds great in theory, but doesn't always work in real life. After more than 10 years in personal finance and helping hundreds of thousands of women through Clever Girl Finance, I've learned that technically correct money advice can still be bad advice when it's too rigid, unrealistic, or impossible to sustain.

On this episode, I'm sharing 4 pieces of financial advice I no longer give, why I've changed my perspective, and what I believe works better for building wealth over the long term.

What you'll learn:

• Why you don't necessarily need to pay off all debt before you start investing
• When it actually makes sense to use your emergency fund
• Why cutting every small joy out of your budget can make your financial plan harder to sustain
• Why waiting until you feel completely ready can keep you from investing, negotiating, starting a business, or pursuing bigger financial goals
• How to think beyond rigid personal finance rules and make smarter decisions for your own circumstances
• Why sustainable financial habits matter more than trying to follow a "perfect" money plan

The biggest lesson I've learned is that personal finance is rarely all-or-nothing. The goal isn't to follow the strictest financial rules—it's to build a financial life you can realistically sustain for decades.

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

AI can help you plan a vacation, write an email, compare products, and answer almost any question you can think of, so it's no surprise that more people are turning to tools like ChatGPT for help with their money, too.

In this episode, I break down how to use AI as a helpful financial education and research tool without handing over your financial decision-making. From understanding financial concepts and asking better questions to recognizing when AI might be giving you incomplete, outdated, or simply incorrect information, this conversation is all about staying informed and keeping yourself in the driver's seat.

• The difference between financial education and personalized financial advice
• Smart ways to use AI to learn about money
• Why AI doesn't know your complete financial situation
• How AI can give incorrect information with a lot of confidence
• Why changing tax rules, contribution limits, and regulations should always be verified
• The risks of blindly following AI-generated investing recommendations
• Financial and personal information you should be cautious about sharing with AI
• How to use AI to ask better financial questions instead of making decisions for you
• Why consequential financial information should be verified with trusted primary sources
• When it may make sense to consult a qualified financial, tax, or legal professional
• Why financial literacy matters even more in the age of AI
• How to keep yourself, not AI, as the CEO of your financial life

The bottom line: AI can be your research assistant, brainstorming partner, and financial education tool, but it shouldn't become the CEO of your financial life. Use it to become a more informed decision-maker—not to hand over your decision-making.

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

Wanting to build wealth doesn't make you greedy, selfish, or ungrateful. But for many women, believing that intellectually and truly believing that wealth is available to them are two very different things.

On this episode, I'm talking about why so many women struggle to believe they deserve wealth, from the examples we grew up seeing and the pressure to always be the giver, to imposter syndrome, financial setbacks, guilt around wanting more, and the money stories we carry with us.

• Why some women struggle to believe they deserve wealth
• How the messages and examples you grew up with can shape what you believe is financially possible
• Why wanting wealth is not the same as being greedy or selfish
• How imposter syndrome can quietly affect your earning, investing, and financial decisions
• Why always being the giver can make prioritizing your own financial future uncomfortable
• How past financial setbacks can cause you to limit what you believe is possible
• Why healing your money story is an important part of building lasting wealth
• How to start shifting the beliefs that may be holding you back financially

I also share how my mother's sacrifices shaped what I believed was possible for my own life, and why building wealth requires more than budgeting, saving, and investing. We have to examine the beliefs driving our financial decisions too. Because wealth isn't greed. Wealth is options. Wealth is security. Wealth is the ability to take care of yourself, support the people you love, give generously, and make decisions from a place of greater freedom.

If you've ever wondered whether you're allowed to want more financially, this conversation is for you.

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

On this episode of the podcast, we're joined by Emily and Cassidy, co-hosts of The Finance Girlies podcast, for a practical conversation about managing money as a freelancer, creative, or anyone with a nontraditional career.

After spending more than a decade writing and editing personal finance content for brands like Yahoo, Experian, and NerdWallet, they realized that much of the financial advice available simply didn't reflect the realities of Millennial and Gen Z women.

Together, they share why traditional money advice often falls short for freelancers and entrepreneurs, along with practical strategies for managing inconsistent income, planning for retirement without an employer, building financial stability, and creating systems that make running a business, and your finances, feel far less overwhelming.

What Emily and Cassidy Discussed on the Podcast:

• Why traditional financial advice often misses the realities of Millennial and Gen Z women.
• How conventional money advice falls short for freelancers, creators, and self-employed professionals.
• Practical strategies for managing inconsistent income and improving cash flow.
• Retirement planning options for freelancers and business owners without employer-sponsored plans.
• The financial foundation to build before leaving a traditional job to freelance or start a business.
• The financial realities of working for yourself that social media often overlooks.
• Common money mistakes freelancers and creatives make—and how to avoid them.
• Financial systems and habits that help business owners stay organized and confident.
• How young professionals can prepare for a future where careers and income are increasingly nontraditional.
• Their best financial advice for freelancers and creatives just starting out.

How to Keep Up With Emily and Cassidy:

• Website: thefinancegirlies.com
• Behind the scenes of how they manage their finances: thefinancegirls.com/bts
• Instagram: @thefinancegirlies

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

On this episode of the podcast, we're joined by Requel, a personal finance educator who is passionate about helping women take control of their money and build financial confidence, especially after major life transitions like divorce.

After spending more than 20 years believing her household finances were being managed as a partnership, Requel found herself unexpectedly becoming the CEO of her own financial life. She had to quickly learn how to manage investments, protect her retirement, negotiate child support, and make major financial decisions while navigating the emotional challenges of divorce.

Today, she uses those hard-earned lessons to help other women replace money stress with practical strategies, personalized financial roadmaps, and the confidence to create a more secure future. Her guiding philosophy, "Work with what you have," reminds women that meaningful financial progress starts exactly where they are.

What Requel Discussed on the Podcast:

• Her personal financial journey and what inspired her to become a personal finance educator.
• The moment she realized her household finances weren't being managed as she had believed.
• Financial conversations and warning signs she wishes she had recognized earlier in her marriage.
• Becoming the sole decision-maker for her finances during separation and divorce.
• Navigating major financial decisions, including protecting her retirement, negotiating child support, and buying out her ex's share of the family home.
• The meaning behind her philosophy, "Work with what you have," and why it helps women overcome financial overwhelm.
• The habits that helped her build confidence after taking ownership of her finances.
• How shifting from thinking in dollars to thinking in percentages transformed her financial decision-making.
• Her multiple bank account budgeting system and why it has been so effective.
• The biggest fears and misconceptions she sees in women who are just beginning their financial journeys.
• Encouragement for women who feel like they're starting too late or have never managed their own finances.

AND SO MUCH MORE

How to Keep Up With Requel:

• Connect with Requel via email [email protected]
• Her event planning business: http://sfk2events.com/

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

Money changes your life, but it doesn't magically erase fear, self-doubt, comparison, or the money stories you've carried for years. In this video, I'm sharing a side of building wealth that doesn't get talked about enough.

After building a business, writing six books, and reaching financial milestones I once only dreamed about, I've learned that wealth isn't just about growing your bank account. It's about growing into the person who can manage, protect, and enjoy it.

You'll learn:

• Why money mindset work never truly ends
• The new financial decisions that come with building wealth
• Why comparison never really goes away
• The fear of losing what you've built
• Learning to actually enjoy your success
• Why your financial journey is never a straight line

If you've ever wondered why reaching a financial goal didn't magically change how you feel about money, this conversation is for you.

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

On this episode of the podcast, we're joined by Nadia Kotsev for a powerful conversation about rebuilding your finances—and your life—after divorce, cancer, grief, and major personal loss. As a public-school educator, Nadia spent years navigating challenges that included cancer-related infertility, the loss of her best friend, divorce, and the difficult decision to walk away from toxic family relationships.

While she was financially functional, she realized she had been operating on autopilot rather than making intentional decisions about her future. Today, Nadia is in a very different place: she increased her income, rebuilt her credit, and created a thriving Teachers Pay Teachers business that generates income beyond her classroom work.

In this inspiring listener interview, she shares how courage, self-trust, and a willingness to face discomfort transformed both her finances and her outlook on life.

What Nadia Discussed on the Podcast:

• Her journey through cancer, divorce, grief, family estrangement, and financial rebuilding.
• The realization that sparked her shift toward intentional financial decision-making.
• Advice for women facing difficult personal or financial crossroads.
• Building a successful Teachers Pay Teachers business and creating income beyond a traditional job.
• Rebuilding credit and confronting financial blind spots.
• How her definition of financial success has evolved through different life stages.
• The decisions she is most proud of and how they changed the trajectory of her life.
• Encouragement for women who feel like they are starting over later than planned.

How to Keep Up With Nadia:

• Facebook: Nadia Kaye
• Personal Instagram: @nadiakaye17
• Website: www.authenticeducatorconsulting.com
• Business Instagram: authentic_educator_consulting
• Linktree: The Authentic Alchemist
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiakauthenticalchemist/

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

On this episode of the podcast, we're joined by Myasi Jackson for an inspiring conversation about building financial stability against the odds.

Myasi shares her journey from living in a group home, working low-wage jobs, and focusing on survival to creating a life grounded in financial confidence, intentionality, and long-term growth. Along the way, she navigated challenges including debt, eviction, living paycheck to paycheck, and taking an unconventional path through college before earning her degree at 30.

Most recently, she won a $10,000 financial challenge—an achievement that reflects years of consistency and commitment to changing her financial future. Through her story, Myasi offers encouragement, practical lessons, and proof that meaningful financial progress is possible no matter where you start.

What Myasi Discussed on the Podcast:

• Her financial journey from living in a group home and working low-wage jobs to building stability and confidence.
• How early life experiences shaped her relationship with money.
• The difference between surviving financially and intentionally building wealth.
• The mindset shift that helped her stop seeing herself as unfortunate and start seeing herself as capable and deserving.
• How budgeting worked when money was extremely tight.
• Lessons learned from experiencing eviction, debt, and living paycheck to paycheck.
• Her perspective on using debt strategically and understanding the difference between helpful and harmful debt.
• Staying committed to long-term goals despite setbacks and an unconventional college journey.
• What winning a $10,000 financial challenge taught her about consistency, opportunity, and growth.
• The habits that had the biggest impact on her financial transformation.
• Encouragement for anyone who feels behind or discouraged about their financial progress.
• What financial success means to her today.

How to Keep Up With Myasi Jackson:

• Follow on Instagram: @myasijanne

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

Building wealth as a woman isn't just about saving more or investing earlier. There are unique financial realities that many women face—and most traditional money advice doesn't talk about them.

On this episode, I share 8 important truths every woman should know about building long-term wealth, including how the wage gap, career breaks, caregiving responsibilities, longer life expectancy, and financial expectations can shape your financial future.

You'll learn:

• Why negotiating your salary matters more than you think
• How career breaks impact long-term wealth
• Why women need a different retirement strategy
• How to protect your financial future while supporting family
• Why building wealth isn't just about discipline—it's about strategy

If you're serious about becoming financially independent and building lasting wealth, this conversation is for you.

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance