Lessons Learned From Wealthy Women
In case you haven’t heard, we host Coffee & Coin events once a month, where we like to sit down with an inspiring local woman to talk all things money.
We partnered with Capital One to host the last three because they don’t just offer checking accounts—they bring together communities all over the country to enhance financial empowerment. And you know how much we love financial empowerment.
Our last Coffee & Coin of the year was with Whitney Akchurin, product marketer at Vrbo.
To celebrate a successful event series (130+ women showed up to each one! What?!), we rounded up our favorite lessons learned from the badass women we spoke with.
1) Investing in yourself is never a bad idea
This nugget comes from our conversation with Monica Ceniceros back in August. Over the course of her career in waitressing, marketing, consulting, and art, she learned one powerful lesson: invest in yourself. A large portion of what she makes at her day job goes right back into her passion project at #atxGALS. Because she’s totally self-funded, she gets to retain all creative licenses AND take bigger, more exciting risks, like purchasing an old church and repurposing it as a co-working and event space in East Austin. (Check it out: The Cathedral).
2) Make business personal
At September’s C&C with Mary Ellen Dugan, she hit us with this soundbite that we’re going to leave here in her own words because it’s pretty much perfect: “People always say it’s not personal in business, and I say that’s ridiculous. If it’s not personal for me, I shouldn’t be your executive. I spend at least 40 hours per week here, and that is part of the package you’re going to get with me.”
So don’t think you have to stay at a job you don’t like, because it works both ways. We all know it’s personal when you spend your precious time and energy on something as important as your career. Remember to take stock of where you are and where you want to be headed to make sure you’re in alignment. Aka, make sure your job is working for you and that you’re not just working.
3) FEEL excited about the future
Whitney Akchurin, product marketer extraordinaire, has a net worth of over $1M. She attributes most of it to staying conservative with her money, saving religiously, and never spending above her means. Another key to success: believe that anything’s possible. Take a minute to envision what excites you about the future, and then take the incremental steps to get there. For Whitney, it’s more time to jet-set around the globe. After taking a Factora Circle, she realized she didn’t just want more money; she wanted her time back. So she made a conscious choice to leave a W-2 job for a contract role where she’s earning more and has more freedom over her schedule (she left the next day for a vacation in Ireland!). What makes you excited about the future? Are you working towards that?
4) Stay connected
Okay, this one comes from us. These events are so incredibly special because there’s nothing more empowering than speaking about a “taboo topic” openly. When you hear what’s possible for other women (buying real estate, making millions, having a bulletproof retirement plan), you expand what you believe is possible for YOU.
Speaking of community—we want to thank our partners at Capital One, who are on a mission to change banking for good by bringing humanity, ingenuity and simplicity to customer’s needs. By putting people first, they are igniting positive change and becoming a force of good in local communities through their innovative Capital One Cafe concept where we’ve been hosting our Coffee & Coin events. To ensure real and lasting change, they work with a network of nonprofit organizations, local leaders and influencers who enhance financial educational and empowerment opportunities among the masses. We are very proud to work with a bank that puts people and communities first and are so supportive of our women & wealth mission. (Learn more by going to www.capitalone.com/about).
Keep Learning With Us
Get even more insights with our weekly podcast, Coffee & Coin, hosted by our Founder & CEO, Allegra Moet Brantly.
Ready to take your financial life to the next level? The Wealth Circle is our live online course and community dedicated to helping women invest confidently and reach financial freedom.