In this episode of Bold Steps with Sarah, Sarah Martinez sits down with Melissa Couradet, financial planner, educator, and proud member of the Francophone Women Network in BC, for an honest and grounded conversation about the one topic most entrepreneurs avoid the longest — money.

Melissa didn't grow up planning a career in finance. She stumbled into it after losing a job, hitting a financial wake-up call, and discovering how little most people — including herself — actually know about managing money. What followed was a mission to make financial literacy feel human, simple, and accessible to anyone.

Together, Sarah and Melissa dig into the money stories we picked up as kids and never questioned, why so many capable women still feel anxious or avoidant around their finances, and what it actually looks like to start building real wealth — not just the appearance of it. They talk about money mindset, the difference between looking wealthy and building wealth, what financial planning really means (and why you don't need a seven-figure income to start), and the one simple first step you can take today if you've been avoiding your bank account.

If you've ever undercharged for your work, outsourced your finances to someone else, or told yourself you'll deal with it later — this conversation is for you.

Show Notes:

• The money stories most of us were handed as kids — and never questioned
• Why your pricing problem might actually be a self-worth problem
• The employee mindset vs. the entrepreneur mindset when it comes to money
• Why so many women avoid looking at their finances — and what's underneath that
• The power of automating your savings to remove emotion from the equation
• Looking wealthy vs. building wealth — and why the difference matters
• What financial planning actually is, and why you don't need to be rich to start
• The concept of "action money" and how to put it to work intentionally
• The biggest financial blind spots in early-stage business
• Why reinvesting in yourself is one of the highest-return moves you can make
• The very first step to take if you've been avoiding your finances

This episode is a reminder that your bank balance is not your identity. Awareness is where everything starts — and it costs nothing to begin.

The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Please consult a licensed professional for advice tailored to your situation.

Where to find Melissa:→ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/melissa_couradet→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-couradet/

Follow Sarah:→ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldstepswithsarah/→ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.holistic.business.coach/→ Website: https://www.sarahmartinezcoaching.com

🎧 Follow @boldstepswithsarah for more conversations on growth, business, and becoming the version of you you're meant to be.

Learn more about your host: Sarah MartinezApply to be a guest on Bold Steps with SarahSong by: St. Finnikin