The Purse Podcast

Heather Ettinger is the Founder and CEO of Luma Thrive, a boutique coaching and consulting firm dedicated to empowering women of wealth and purpose—and the advisers and institutions that serve them.

With over 35 years as a trailblazing adviser and former CEO in wealth management, Heather created Luma Thrive to redefine how women engage with their wealth through life visioning, values alignment, and legacy planning.

She is the author of the best-selling book Lumination: Shining a Light on a Woman’s Journey to Financial Wellness and a nationally recognised speaker and thought leader featured in The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and Bloomberg.

Her trademarked Lumination Process™ underpins transformative coaching, keynote speaking, and consulting programs that guide women in aligning resources with purpose, while helping institutions build stronger, more meaningful relationships with female clients.

A recipient of the “Women to Watch,” “Icons and Innovators,” Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Savvy Ladies Changemaker awards, Heather has also co-authored pioneering research on women of wealth.

She lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio, with her husband and is most proud of raising three community-minded children.

We cover the following:

01:53 Welcoming Heather Ettinger

03:34 Shifts in women's approach to investing

08:45 Challenges in the financial industry

17:35 Demographic and cultural trends

24:44 Women in business and career challenges

30:50 The impact of diversity in leadership

32:35 Financial planning for women: a holistic approach

37:11 Rethinking financial adviser incentives

41:12 The role of fintech in closing the gender investing gap

45:33 Women using capital for social impact

50:18 The influence of US administration on women's financial power

53:04 Final message to women.

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Julie Perkins is an accomplished entrepreneur, business owner, purpose-led coach, and growth advocate. She founded Wyseminds after spending 20 years growing Specsavers Opticians in the Netherlands.

Through her experiences, both good and bad, she discovered the transformative power of a purpose-driven approach to business growth.

This insight inspired her to establish Wyseminds, a platform dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs, helping them achieve growth with greater joy and freedom.

We cover the following:

• 00:00 Introduction

• 01:53 Julie’s career journey: From Specsavers to Wyseminds, cancer diagnosis, and finding purpose
• 04:15 Emotional journey: Loneliness, transition from corporate to founder, and the importance of mentorship
• 06:49 Passion to purpose: How founders can reconnect with their vision and values
• 11:12 Value-based recruitment: Building the right team and letting go of misaligned people
• 13:31 Lessons from Specsavers: Purpose-led growth, partnership, and culture
• 16:18 Funding and credibility: When to raise money, bootstrapping, and financial confidence
• 19:22 Stakeholder mapping: Communicating with family, friends, and supporters
• 22:24 Strategy vs. purpose: Diagnosing founder frustration and the importance of realignment
• 24:93 Letting go: The founder’s journey, growth, and the power of release
• 27:33 Mindset shifts: Freedom, release, and realigning with purpose
• 29:53 Personal energy & recovery: Routines, rest, and sustaining long-term entrepreneurship
• 43:33 Final advice: Vision, growth, guardrails, and support for female founders.

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 Sam Smith is a trailblazing entrepreneur, board advisor, and is a passionate advocate for inclusive, purposeful business. Best known as the founding CEO of FinCap, the first female led stockbroking firm in the city, she led the business from a startup within JMFinn to a £50 million investment bank, supporting hundreds of growth companies along their scale and exit journeys.

Over 24 years, Sam built what became Cavendish Financial on principles she still champions today: empathetic leadership, inclusive culture, and high impact governance.

Her bestselling book, the Secret Source, captures the mindset behind super scaling, empowering talent while staying true to purpose. It's no surprise that one of her favourite reads is Grit by Angela Duckworth, a philosophy she's lived by through every deal, boardroom and pivot points.

She now holds multiple NED roles across a range of sectors. In 2023, she co-founded The SuperScalers alongside Rosaleen Blair, CBE, and Ollie Barrett, MBE, a global community on a mission to help underrepresented founders grow from £1 million to £50 million+ in revenue. By connecting high potential entrepreneurs with those who've already scaled, The SuperScalers is shifting the narrative of who gets to build big.

Sam is also a committed voice for equity in entrepreneurship. She's advised the UK Government's Taskforce for women-led high growth businesses, contributes to the Scale Up Institute's work on female-led scale-ups, sits on the Everywoman advisory board and is a patron of the Entrepreneurs Network.

She's currently campaigning to integrate entrepreneurship into the school curriculum, giving every young person, regardless of background, the tools to shape their own future.

This podcast interview was recorded on 18 June, 2025.

We cover the following:

• 00:11  Meet Sam Smith

• 02:33 The UK scale-up story for women
• 03:18  Challenges and opportunities for female founders
• 04:44 The importance of community and the ecosystem
• 04:57 Leadership styles and cultural shifts
• 05:51  Blind spots
• 08:31  Funding and capital issues
• 11:02  The role of government
• 17:09  Inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem
• 26:33 The power of community
• 29:38 Building an inclusive innovation ecosystem
• 29:55 Challenges faced by female founders
• 30:29 A new financial system for women
• 31:12  The importance of inclusion in entrepreneurship

• 34:27 The potential of the UK in the global market
• 38:03 The need for a coordinated entrepreneurial ecosystem
• 40:41  Future vision for the UK scale-up ecosystem
• 42:49 The importance of education in entrepreneurship
• 51:44  Action plan for supporting female founders
• 56:06 Final thoughts.

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Vicky Pryce is Chief Economic Adviser and a board member at the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), and one of the UK’s most respected voices on economic policy and reform.

She was previously Joint Head of the UK Government Economic Service, Director General for Economics at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting. Earlier in her career, she held senior economic roles in banking, the oil sector, and was a Partner at KPMG.

Vicky is a Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences and the Society of Professional Economists, and sits on several advisory boards, including the Economic Advisory Group of the British Chambers of Commerce and the central banking think tank OMFIF. She is also a Patron of Pro-Bono Economics and Working Chance.

She is the author of several influential books, including "Women vs Capitalism", "Greekonomics", and "Why Women Need Quotas", and is a frequent contributor to media and public debates on the economy and gender equality.

We cover the following:

00:52 UK Economy: growth and contraction

04:15 Inflation and interest rates

07:42 Unemployment and labour market pressures

12:43 Tax reform and wealth flight

18:07 Spending review and defence budget

24:37 Economic challenges and future outlook

32:45 Challenges of an aging workforce

34:46 Government's role in workforce adaptation

36:26 Corporate strategies for inclusivity

42:28 HR's role in modern workplaces

43:41 Government R&D: how women-led ventures and SMEs can access this

48:33 Trade and energy security

55:34 UK: economic threats and optimism

*The interview was recorded Friday, 13 June*

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Melissa Cheong is a Managing Partner of Blackhorn Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on catalysing and scaling industrial resource efficiency investment opportunities. In this role, she balances her time between managing the firm’s strategic goals, partnering, and working with talented and inspiring portfolio company founders, and developing the firm’s investment strategy for current and future funds.

Melissa has over 20 years of industry experience, with her most recent roles focused on a range of sustainable investment opportunities. Prior to

Blackhorn, Melissa was Chief Investment Officer at ZOMA Capital, the private family office of Ben and Lucy Ana Walton, and held various positions at Treehouse Investments, Imprint Capital (now Goldman Sachs-Imprint), Plainfield Asset Management and Deutsche Bank. Melissa holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Chicago and received an MBA from Columbia Business School, with a concentration in Finance and International Development.

We cover the following:

00:10 Meet Melissa Cheong: A journey in venture capital

02:33 Melissa's investment philosophy and career Insights

05:40 The role of family offices in sustainable Investment

07:51 Understanding risk and building effective teams

11:26 Blackhorn Ventures: focus on resource efficiency

15:05 AI and digital infrastructure in heavy industry

17:43 Current market challenges and opportunities

26:34 Supporting portfolio companies and success stories

31:08 Gender diversity in venture capital

45:42 Engaging more women LPs in venture

52:49 Closing comments

Cary Carbonaro is an award-winning Certified Financial Planner™ professional with over 25 years of experience, and currently serves as Managing Wealth Advisor and Women and Wealth Ambassador for Ashton Thomas. She leads a multi-million dollar financial planning practice, specialising in empowering women to overcome financial challenges and increase their financial literacy.

Cary is the author of the bestselling book The Money Queen’s Guide: For Women Who Want to Build Wealth and Banish Fear,  Morgan James, Oct 2015. Cary’s second book.  Women and Wealth: A Playbook To Empower Clients and Unlock Their Fortune,  published by Wiley April 29, 2025.  

She serves as a CFP® Board Ambassador, representing the financial industry in the media, and has been honored six times on Investopedia’s Top 100 Financial Advisors list. In 2016, she was awarded the prestigious Investment News Women to Watch recognition. In 2024, Cary was appointed as the sole female member of the Nasdaq Advisor Council.

We cover the following:

00:13 Meet Cary Carbonaro: Financial expert and author

02:13 Cary's journey into wealth management

03:48 Empowering women through financial literacy

05:20 Challenges faced by women in finance

06:39 Cary's professional setbacks and resilience

08:19 The financial industry's gender bias

13:12 Misconceptions about women and money

18:10 The rise of female breadwinners

21:03 The Great Wealth Transfer

22:55 The future of financial services for women

24:43 Core principles of female-centric financial advice

25:48 The importance of female leadership in finance

26:27 Challenges and opportunities for women in the industry

30:29 Emotional ties and financial decisions

38:50 Women investing in women entrepreneurs

42:48 Rebuilding the financial system for women

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Anthony Fernandez stands at the forefront of the evolving cryptocurrency landscape as the Head of Business Development and Sales at ICONOMI, an FCA-registered digital asset portfolio management firm. With a rich background in asset management, foreign exchange, and cryptocurrency mining & trading, Anthony has become a leading authority in blockchain technology, including DeFi, derivatives trading, and cross-chain solutions.

With over 8 years in fintech and wealth management, Anthony has transitioned into the alternative investment space, specialising in Bitcoin and various digital assets.

Before his role at ICONOMI, he honed his expertise leading a Bitcoin mining team, helping both professional and retail investors to earn passive income.

A sought-after speaker, Anthony illuminates financial seminars with his deep understanding of macroeconomics and the crypto ecosystem. His practical insights guide investors through the intricacies of blockchain investments and the ever-changing digital economy.

00:12 Meet Anthony Fernandez: crypto expert

02:14 Anthony's journey into the industry

04:15 Defining digital assets and ICONOMI's role

05:49 The macroeconomic climate

10:19 US administration's impact on digital assets

13:19 Business adoption and why it matters

16:26 Bitcoin as a hedge against currency debasement

19:50 Institutional approach to crypto

25:12 Women in crypto: opportunities

27:39 How a business start engaging in digital assets

Marcia Dawood is an early-stage investor who serves as the vice-chair on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee. She is a venture partner with Mindshift Capital, a member of Golden Seeds, and the chair emeritus of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), a global professional society for angel investors.

She is the author of the award-winning book 'Do Good While Doing Well, Invest for Change, Reap Financial Rewards, and Increase Your Happiness'. She is also an associate producer on the award-winning documentary 'Show Her the Money'.

A TEDx speaker and the host of the award-winning Angel Next Door podcast, Marcia walks the talk and holds investments in over fifty early-stage companies and funds. She is committed to expanding support for diverse companies that overcome the world’s biggest problems and accelerate positive change. She is passionate about bridging the gap from early-stage inception to building thriving, profitable companies.

Previously, Marcia worked in sales, marketing, and operations for Kaplan Education for over sixteen years. She received an MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Marcia currently splits her time between New York City and North Carolina with her husband, Izzy, and she feels lucky to be the stepmom to three amazing sons.

We cover the following:

02:21 The evolution of angel investing

02:43 Investment strategies and diversification

04:01 Equity crowdfunding and philanthropic investments

07:46 Women in investing and healthcare

10:58 Evaluating deals and overcoming bias

14:56 Impact investing

19:49 Challenges and support for startups

22:31 Valuation, portfolio construction, and dilution

29:22 Exit strategies and economic conditions

34:03 The future of angel investing and alternative models

36:32 Encouraging more women to invest

38:18 Conclusion

Cate Quentin is a Partner and Wealth Manager at Tribe Impact Capital, the UK’s first dedicated Impact Wealth Manager. Cate’s client base of HNW individuals, families and charitable foundations is varied, but she has a particular focus on female wealth holders and inherited wealth. Cate strongly believes in the transformative power of money to achieve both financial returns and positive impact.  

Before joining Tribe, Cate spent seven years at Standard Bank Group where she managed the wealth of West African families and individuals and developed the Ghana wealth business from inception. Prior to Standard Bank, Cate worked in consultancy focussing on private sector development across Africa. Cate has an MSc in Development Studies from SOAS University and a PGCert in Philanthropy and Social Investment from Bayes Business School.

We cover the following:

00:10 Meet Cate Quentin: Partner & Wealth Manager at Tribe Impact Capital

02:06 Cate's journey to wealth management

05:24 The founding principles of Tribe Impact Capital

08:08 The gender Investment gap and female investors

14:26 Values-driven investing and impact investing

23:20 Defining sustainable investing and its performance

33:52 Separating the noise from long-term trends

34:24 Exploring asset classes in sustainable impact investment

34:59 Exciting developments in the debt space

36:42 Challenges and misconceptions in sustainable investing

42:50 Political and economic pushback on ESG & DEI

51:00 The future of sustainable investing

55:17 Encouraging female-led ventures and angel investing

59:57 The role of AI and fintech in wealth management

01:02:45 Final thoughts

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Dr. Jelena Janjusevic is Associate Professor of Finance and Head of Accountancy, Economics and Finance at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University Dubai. She teaches both Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes in finance and economics. She has been a part of the University since 2017. In her 20-year-long working experience, Dr. Janjusevic has worked with government of Montenegro officials, municipalities, social partners, foreign government officials, and international institution representatives ie from the World Bank, IFC, EBRD, USAID, UNDP, CHF, EC.

Besides teaching, Dr. Janjusevic has strong managerial and research experience. She has previously been engaged with many different projects dealing with macroeconomics, sustainable development, and public administration capacity building (initiating several reforms in the energy sector, urban planning, financial, health, pension system, education system, investments, business environment, and legislation improvement).

We cover the following in our conversation:

01:40 Early experiences with money

02:17 The taboo of money and financial literacy

03:40 Understanding financial stress

06:23 Impact of the pandemic on financial stress

15:19 Women, financial stress, and caregiving

21:05 Seeking help for financial stress

33:28 Role of universities in financial literacy

36:52 Final thoughts

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The Purse Ltd.