The Purse Podcast

Shaz Bishop is a wealth manager at RBC Brewin Dolphin. With over 21 years of expertise in financial services, Shaz advises private clients on comprehensive wealth strategies, including tax-efficient investments, pension planning, inheritance tax mitigation, trusts, and international investments. Her holistic approach empowers individuals and families to navigate complex financial landscapes with confidence.Beyond her advisory role, Shaz is a dedicated advocate for financial literacy and women’s empowerment in wealth management. As a mother to two young daughters, she champions diversity and inclusion in the industry, striving to create a future where equitable representation is the norm. She’s passionate about educating underserved communities and breaking down barriers to financial access, ensuring the next generation inherits a more inclusive financial ecosystem.We cover the following in our conversation:02:22 Money origins story03:24 Cash ISA changes explained05:04 Women and investing shift08:05 Retirement barriers for women10:37 Choosing the right adviser11:45 One size policy limits13:50 Cashflow planning tool15:18 Risk and advice framing17:57 Reviews and life events18:59 Family planning and pensions22:37 Measuring success beyond markets24:02 Industry gaps and wealth transfer26:54 Closing ***

Kirsty Gibson is an Investment Manager in the US Equity Growth Team and has been a portfolio decision maker since 2016. She joined Baillie Gifford in 2012 and became a partner in 2025. Prior to joining the US Equity Growth Team, Kirsty also spent several years in the small and large-cap global equities departments. She graduated MA (Hons) in Economics in 2011 and MSc in Carbon Management in 2012, both from the University of Edinburgh.We cover the following in our conversation:01:57 Kirsty’s path to investing04:49 Why culture matters in growth06:52 Foundational vs created culture09:27 When founders return11:47 Architecting culture on purpose14:49 Shopify’s AI pivot19:06 Stripe’s culture in execution20:47 Acquiring Bridge and the opportunity in stablecoins 22:38 AI shockwaves and market panic29:31 What winners look like by 203031:34 Final takeaways.See: "The cultural architects: how great founders shape exceptional companies in changing times", written by Kirsty Gibson. ***

Amy Diehl, PhD, is an award-winning information technology leader, currently serving as Chief Information Officer at Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA. She is also a gender equity researcher and author of the new book Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work. Her writing has appeared in numerous scholarly journal articles and book chapters as well as in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Ms. Magazine. She is also a sought-after speaker, consultant, and lawsuit expert witness. Her passion is universal gender equality so that society and organisations can thrive and women can succeed.We cover the following:01:50 Defining gender bias02:52 How gender bias affects money and power05:15 Six barriers overview06:11 Male privilege and constraints07:20 Support and devaluation08:36 Hostility (including female hostility)13:35 Acquiescence and opting out16:19 Business case and examples21:00 Leadership accountability and ERGs22:44 Measuring bias 24:44 Gender bias incident example26:55 Don’t internalise gender bias29:13 Build support networks30:06 Toxic workplaces33:15 Leaders must own change34:03 Stories that wake up leaders36:59 Male norms and work design39:24 Allies taking action40:45 LinkedIn as safe space43:29 Kamala Harris double standards48:21 Progress and hope.***

Symmie Swil is the UK General Manager of Europe’s leading investment infrastructure provider, Upvest. With nearly twenty years of banking and fintech experience, Symmie is passionate about broadening access to investing. Symmie has previously held positions as Deputy Chief Operating Officer & Chief of Staff at Investec, and Head of SME Banking at Starling. We cover the following:01:09 Symmie Swil: From banking to building investing infrastructure02:41 What still holds women back from investing? 04:14 The gender wealth & gender pension gap explained. 07:41 What UpVest actually does (The ‘Stripe for investing’ behind the apps)09:33 Fractional investing 101: Why lower minimums change everything11:33 Trust in embedded investing: Transparency, security & regulation12:53 UpVest’s UK expansion: The opportunity, the data, and responsible scaling14:28 Five to ten year vision: Women designing the future of wealth tech16:28 Final thoughts.

Simon Glass is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Qodeo, a platform created to address the challenges he observed while working across the venture ecosystem. Qodeo matches venture and private equity investors with entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on founders from diverse, regional, and female communities.Simon has previously worked at two UK venture capital firms, including Amadeus Capital Partners, the first backer of ARM Holdings. His broader career includes roles at EY in academia and media, at WPP as Deputy Chair of a publishing house, and in project finance where he supported Roy Hill, the world’s largest private iron ore mine, in raising $9 billion.Simon has written for the Financial Times, holds a BA, MA, and MBA from the University of Cambridge, and completed training in corporate finance at London Business School.We cover the following:00:11 Meet Simon Glass: CEO of Qodeo01:13 Exploring the venture ecosystem02:35 Challenges for underrepresented founders05:55 Platform: matching investors and entrepreneurs14:05 Addressing unconscious bias in investing19:32 Comparing UK and US startup ecosystems28:40 Entrepreneurial boom in Europe32:01 Cultural shifts in entrepreneurship32:38 Moving the needle in who VCs invest in36:58 Challenges with angel investors49:28 Improving the startup funding ecosystem53:43 Final thoughts.***For more information on Qodeo, see: https://qodeo.com/ ***

Julie Angeles is an Investment Manager, Partner at Baillie Gifford. She has been a member of the International Growth Portfolio Construction Group since 2017. She joined Baillie Gifford in 2008 and became a Partner in 2022. She previously worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, advising firms in Denmark, Russia and Hungary. Julia obtained a BSc in 1999, an MSc in 2001 and a PhD in 2005 in Economics from the University of Aarhus, Denmark. She is fluent in Russian and Danish.We cover the following:00:56 AI and long horizon investing in healthcare05:24 The evolution of Moderna and platform science13:19 AI's impact on healthcare access and efficiency21:45 The untapped potential of women's health24:27 The need for more women in investing24:59 The disparity in female health investment25:29 Male allies in women's health26:53 Gameto: revolutionising fertility28:15 The science behind Gameto's innovations29:42 Ethical considerations in biotech31:14 The future of female longevity31:45 Brain health: the next frontier32:42 Progress in neurodegenerative disease research36:21 The role of AI in healthcare37:30 Addressing gender disparities in health research42:13 The promise of personalised medicine43:15 The future of human health: prevention and early detection47:18 Final thoughts and optimism for the future.

Dr Victoria Bateman is an economic historian whose latest book is Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth and Power. Victoria has twenty years’ experience teaching macroeconomics and economic history at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and has spoken extensively on radio and television, including as resident economic historian for BBC Radio 4’s “Understand: The Economy". In her spare time, Victoria also works as a historical consultant for period dramas, including The Forsytes (which is currently airing in the UK and comes to PBS America in 2026).We covering the following:00:11 Meet Dr. Victoria Bateman02:20 Victoria's journey to feminist economics05:08 The myth of male-dominated economic history07:22 Women in economic history: key figures and contributions10:11 The impact of excluding women from economic narratives20:12 Historical examples of women in finance26:26 Non-Western female economic pioneers32:51 Modern financial systems and women38:31 The backlash against women's economic progress50:34 The importance of rewriting economic history51:55 Final thoughts***

Vicky Pryce is Chief Economic Adviser at the Centre for Economics and Business Research and Visiting Professor at King's College London.She was previously Director General for Economics at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and Joint head of the UK Government Economic Service. Vicky has held senior roles across the private sector, including senior managing director at FTI consulting, Partner and Chief Economist at KPMG, and Partner at London Economics, following earlier positions in banking and the energy sector.She's also co-founder of Good Cooperation, a frequent media commentator, and the author of many books, including Women versus Capitalism. Her latest book, Mismanaged Decline, co-authored with Andy Ross, will be published by Biteback in November of 2025. We cover the following:01:16 Discussing 'Mismanaged Decline'02:51 The UK's economic challenges04:41 Policy missteps and industrial decline07:09 Service sector and underinvestment11:15 Industrial strategy and government role16:26 Impact of Brexit and COVID25:04 Honesty in economic policy32:25 Regulatory developments in the UK and Europe33:58 The role of UK leadership in crypto adoption34:45 Concerns about crypto and global positioning37:09 The politics of economic growth39:20 Challenges in economic policy communication50:11 The importance of gender inclusion in economic strategy56:57 The need for long-term industrial strategy01:00:12 Final thoughts on building a resilient economy***

 Trish Costello is the Founder and CEO of Portfolia, a micro venture capital firm and investing community built to activate women's capital. Portfolia launches thematic funds designed by and for women from women's health to FinTech and sustainability, engaging accredited investors who seek both strong returns and meaningful impact.Trish previously co-founded the Kauffman Fellows Program in 1994 where she created the first training programme for venture capital partners. And helps launch a new generation of investors. We cover the following:00:11 Meet Trish Costello: Founder of Portfolia00:53 The birth of Portfolia: a new venture model06:11 Portfolia's growth and achievements07:22 Pioneering women's health investments10:15 The impact and future of women's health innovation14:07 The role of research and AI in women's health22:41 Gameto: revolutionising fertility and longevity28:48 Empowering women investors29:22 Investment accessibility and inclusivity30:18 Understanding venture capital returns31:24 Innovative approach to venture funds32:16 Engaging with Portfolio companies35:37 Sourcing and evaluating deals38:25 Collaborating with other funds44:26 Scaling women's participation in VC51:33 Future vision for Portfolia.****

 Vicky Pryce is Chief Economic Advisor at the Centre for Economics and Business Research and Visiting Professor at King's College London.She was previously Director General for Economics at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and Joint head of the UK Government Economic Service. Vicky has held senior roles across the private sector, including senior managing director at FTI consulting, Partner and Chief Economist at KPMG, and Partner at London Economics, following earlier positions in banking and the energy sector.She's also co-founder of Good Cooperation, a frequent media commentator, and the author of many books, including Women versus Capitalism. Her latest book, Mismanaged Decline, co-authored with Andy Ross, will be published by Biteback in November of 2025. We cover the following:01:15 Current state of the UK economy02:28 Business confidence and investment06:17 Employment trends and challenges13:29 Impact of AI on productivity19:57 Inflation and monetary policy22:41 Domestic price issues in the UK23:06 Energy costs and market structure25:42 Trade, global headwinds, and tariffs30:06 Pensions for growth32:42 Autumn budget concerns39:42 Risks and hopes for the UK economy.***

Derek Shaw is Director of Entrepreneurship and Investment, where he leads the teams supporting Scotland's spinouts, startups, and scaling companies with wrap-around support and commercial investment. Under his leadership, Scottish Enterprise co-invests more than £50 million annually, making it Scotland’s most active early-stage investor, and the UK’s fourth largest by volume.The portfolio includes around 330 high growth companies, valued at approximately half a billion pounds.Alison Loveday is part of the extended management team and leads the National High Growth Entrepreneurship team. She focuses on ecosystem development, partnerships, and leadership programs for founders — including Pathways to Scale, a flagship initiative inspired by the 2023 Pathways Report, which supports female founders by upskilling leadership and investment readiness.Together, they're helping to shape Scotland's innovation economy.We cover the following:00:11  Meet Derek Shaw and Alison Loveday02:16  Overview of Scottish Enterprise03:08 Scottish Enterprise's strategic missions07:03 Supporting ambitious Scottish businesses12:06  Collaborations and female founders14:28  Challenges for deep tech companies20:31  Case Study: ZOEX and Ash Penley26:04 Working with universities and research centres28:21  Metrics and measuring success30:12  Supporting female founders35:17  Lessons from recent successes43:27 The future of Scotland's innovation economy.****

 Lorine Pendleton is a seasoned venture capital investor and former media and entertainment lawyer with deep expertise across sports, media, entertainment, and technology.In 2024, she launched 125 Ventures, a New York based VC fund, investing in women's sports, media and tech at the intersection of AI, data and the creator economy. Previously, a partner at Portfolia, she co-launched the Rising America Funds, top performing VC funds with net IRRs in the top 5% of their vintage, and has invested in more than 35 innovative companies as both an angel and VC.We cover the following: 00:10 Meet Lorine Pendleton02:17 Lessons from Prince: The power of ownership04:59 Launching 125 Ventures10:30 The solo GP Experience15:01 Barriers in venture capital24:20 Female founders and investment strategies24:41 Unique perspectives of female investors25:16 Learned experiences27:27 Due diligence in investment29:11 The rise of women's sports30:40 Media rights and market growth31:25 Challenges and opportunities in women's sports33:31 The future of women's sports investment37:48 Engaging with LPs and shifting capital40:25 Encouraging women to invest44:05 Final thoughts***

 Ashley Penley is the founder and CEO of ZOEX, the UK's only female founded wave energy company. She transitioned from 15 years in offshore oil and gas complex installation projects to marine renewables, where she developed a modular wave energy converter that tackles the sector's biggest challenge, high cost.She's also a mother of two, Zoe and Alex, and became a British national after moving to Scotland 25 years ago for her original oil and gas career.We cover the following in our conversation:00:11 Meet Ashley Penley01:45 The challenges of wave energy03:30 The 'Aha moment': Realising the gap in wave energy05:29 Innovative solutions for wave energy07:55 The business model and market potential12:32 Designing ZOEX for real-world conditions19:49 Partnerships and raising capital23:02 Trials and commercial rollout in Turkey25:22 Project setback and recovery27:17 Validation and success27:35 Global attention and future plans28:30 Challenges and personal sacrifices30:08 Company vision and funding31:56 Navigating a male-dominated industry33:29 Balancing family and career37:12 Advice for entrepreneurs***

Tiffany Irving joined Mesirow Wealth Management in 2021 and has 25 years of financial experience. She is a Senior Vice President, Wealth Adviser and a member of the Mesirow Inclusion Council. She provides comprehensive wealth management planning and advice to high-net-worth individuals, families and non-profit organisations.Tiffany is a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, and Legacy Partners, an association of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation. She is a Board Member for the Caring Place and the Women’s Impact Fund for the Porter County Community Foundation. She is a frequent speaker on the WGN radio show “Your Money Matters.”Tiffany earned her degree in Finance from DePaul University and her MBA from the University of Phoenix. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) and holds FINRA licenses.We cover the following:02:09 Tiffany's early money experience03:28 Generational differences in financial perspectives09:28 Financial literacy and confidence among women11:39 Common misconceptions about women and money17:01 Challenges in the financial services industry23:01 The Great Wealth Transfer: are we ready?25:13 The importance of high EQ in financial advisory25:20 Building trust with female clients26:18 Legacy planning and generational wealth29:33 Values-based and impact investing35:42 Female investment in female founders43:05 Closing the gender wealth gap47:15 Final thoughts

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 Ettinger03:34 Shifts in women's approach to investing08:45 Challenges in the financial industry17:35 Demographic and cultural trends24:44 Women in business and career challenges30:50 The impact of diversity in leadership32:35 Financial planning for women: a holistic approach37:11 Rethinking financial adviser incentives41:12 The role of fintech in closing the gender investing gap45:33 Women using capital for social impact50:18 The influence of US administration on women's financial power53:04 Final message to women.***

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 Introduction01:53 Julie’s career journey: From Specsavers to Wyseminds, cancer diagnosis, and finding purpose04:15 Emotional journey: Loneliness, transition from corporate to founder, and the importance of mentorship06:49 Passion to purpose: How founders can reconnect with their vision and values11:12 Value-based recruitment: Building the right team and letting go of misaligned people13:31 Lessons from Specsavers: Purpose-led growth, partnership, and culture16:18 Funding and credibility: When to raise money, bootstrapping, and financial confidence19:22 Stakeholder mapping: Communicating with family, friends, and supporters22:24 Strategy vs. purpose: Diagnosing founder frustration and the importance of realignment24:93 Letting go: The founder’s journey, growth, and the power of release27:33 Mindset shifts: Freedom, release, and realigning with purpose29:53 Personal energy & recovery: Routines, rest, and sustaining long-term entrepreneurship43:33 Final advice: Vision, growth, guardrails, and support for female founders.***

 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 Smith02:33 The UK scale-up story for women03:18  Challenges and opportunities for female founders04:44 The importance of community and the ecosystem04:57 Leadership styles and cultural shifts05:51  Blind spots08:31  Funding and capital issues 11:02  The role of government 17:09  Inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem26:33 The power of community 29:38 Building an inclusive innovation ecosystem29:55 Challenges faced by female founders30:29 A new financial system for women31:12  The importance of inclusion in entrepreneurship34:27 The potential of the UK in the global market38:03 The need for a coordinated entrepreneurial ecosystem40:41  Future vision for the UK scale-up ecosystem42:49 The importance of education in entrepreneurship51:44  Action plan for supporting female founders56:06 Final thoughts.***

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 contraction04:15 Inflation and interest rates07:42 Unemployment and labour market pressures12:43 Tax reform and wealth flight18:07 Spending review and defence budget24:37 Economic challenges and future outlook32:45 Challenges of an aging workforce34:46 Government's role in workforce adaptation36:26 Corporate strategies for inclusivity42:28 HR's role in modern workplaces43:41 Government R&D: how women-led ventures and SMEs can access this48:33 Trade and energy security55:34 UK: economic threats and optimism*The interview was recorded Friday, 13 June****

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 capital02:33 Melissa's investment philosophy and career Insights05:40 The role of family offices in sustainable Investment07:51 Understanding risk and building effective teams11:26 Blackhorn Ventures: focus on resource efficiency15:05 AI and digital infrastructure in heavy industry17:43 Current market challenges and opportunities26:34 Supporting portfolio companies and success stories31:08 Gender diversity in venture capital45:42 Engaging more women LPs in venture52:49 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 author02:13 Cary's journey into wealth management03:48 Empowering women through financial literacy05:20 Challenges faced by women in finance06:39 Cary's professional setbacks and resilience08:19 The financial industry's gender bias13:12 Misconceptions about women and money18:10 The rise of female breadwinners21:03 The Great Wealth Transfer22:55 The future of financial services for women24:43 Core principles of female-centric financial advice25:48 The importance of female leadership in finance26:27 Challenges and opportunities for women in the industry30:29 Emotional ties and financial decisions38:50 Women investing in women entrepreneurs42:48 Rebuilding the financial system for women***

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 expert02:14 Anthony's journey into the industry04:15 Defining digital assets and ICONOMI's role05:49 The macroeconomic climate 10:19 US administration's impact on digital assets13:19 Business adoption and why it matters16:26 Bitcoin as a hedge against currency debasement19:50 Institutional approach to crypto25:12 Women in crypto: opportunities27:39 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 investing02:43 Investment strategies and diversification04:01 Equity crowdfunding and philanthropic investments07:46 Women in investing and healthcare10:58 Evaluating deals and overcoming bias14:56 Impact investing19:49 Challenges and support for startups22:31 Valuation, portfolio construction, and dilution29:22 Exit strategies and economic conditions34:03 The future of angel investing and alternative models36:32 Encouraging more women to invest38:18 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 Capital02:06 Cate's journey to wealth management05:24 The founding principles of Tribe Impact Capital08:08 The gender Investment gap and female investors14:26 Values-driven investing and impact investing23:20 Defining sustainable investing and its performance33:52 Separating the noise from long-term trends34:24 Exploring asset classes in sustainable impact investment34:59 Exciting developments in the debt space36:42 Challenges and misconceptions in sustainable investing42:50 Political and economic pushback on ESG & DEI51:00 The future of sustainable investing55:17 Encouraging female-led ventures and angel investing59:57 The role of AI and fintech in wealth management01:02:45 Final thoughts ***

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 money02:17 The taboo of money and financial literacy03:40 Understanding financial stress06:23 Impact of the pandemic on financial stress15:19 Women, financial stress, and caregiving21:05 Seeking help for financial stress33:28 Role of universities in financial literacy36:52 Final thoughts ****The Purse Ltd.

Elisabeth Prager began her career in life and pension and then moved into private banking. Subsequently she transitioned to a strategy consulting firm, and later freelanced for various philanthropic and multilateral agencies. Nitika Vyas began her career in investment banking, and then moved into a hedge fund, before becoming the COO of a broker. Alongside her career, her interest in psychology prompter her to pursue a counselling qualification. Together they have over 30 years experience in financial services and have seen first hand just how underserved women are when it comes to their personal finances. They co-founded Aila Money, a fintech startup on a mission to close the gender wealth gap. Aila helps women plan, learn and get ongoing guidance on their finances. The free solution leverages behavioural science, AI, and expert advice to empower women financially.We cover the following:00:16 Meet Elizabeth Prager and Nitika Vyas02:13 Identifying problems in financial services05:37 The decision to start Aila Money08:32 Challenges in financial services for women12:09 Gender stereotypes in finance17:05 The importance of women investing20:24 Common money mistakes women make23:48 The role of societal norms25:09 Encouraging financial engagement25:41 Aila Money's approach to financial fitness26:37 Trends in women's financial behaviours28:40 The rise of single women29:25 The Great Wealth Transfer30:20 Emotional decisions with inherited wealth32:50 Building Aila Money35:42 Personalised financial journeys42:26 Fundraising and future plans45:50 Challenges for female founders55:26 Advice for women: how to lean into investing59:05 Conclusion***The Purse Ltd.

Priya Parrish is Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Impact Engine, an institutional venture capital and private equity investor driving positive impact in economic opportunity, environmental sustainability and health equity. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Strategy and Impact Investor in Residence at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Priya is the author of "The Little Book of Impact Investing" published by Wiley. Prior to joining Impact Engine, Priya served as Chief Investment Officer at Schwartz Capital Group, a single-family office investing across global markets. Previously, she was Strategy Head at Aurora Investment Management, a multibillion-dollar hedge fund, and managed development of investment products that incorporated environmental, social and governance factors (ESG) at Northern Trust Asset Management and KLD Research & Analytics. Priya holds a B.S. in Business Management from Babson College and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.We cover the following in our conversation:00:10 Meet Priya Parrish: impact investing pioneer02:19 Priya's journey into impact Investing05:29 Understanding impact investing08:55 Impact Engine: a women-led venture capital firm11:12 The growing demand for impact investments14:07 Women and millennials driving change21:02 Defining and measuring impact23:49 Understanding measurement in impact investing23:56 Two schools of thought on measurement24:49 Investor-focused measurement26:07 Challenges in impact investing27:52 Financial performance and impact31:01 AI and impact investing33:00 Tools and resources for measuring impact33:55 Supporting early-stage impact companies36:11 Challenges and risks in impact investing38:44 Avoiding impact washing39:48 The Little Book of Impact Investing42:36 Supporting female investors in impact investing44:29 Final thoughts.***The Purse Ltd.

Carla Hoppe is the founder and CEO of Wealthbrite, whose mission is to help businesses cultivate financially and commercially savvy talent. Wealthbrite was born out of Carla's understanding of the critical need to bridge the financial skills gap, especially among early-career professionals. Carla is a passionate advocate for greater financial literacy to help young people entering the workforce so they can go on to become economically secure.With a diverse career spanning law and financial services at prestigious firms like PwC and EY, Carla brings a wealth of experience to her role as the founder of Wealthbrite. Her journey as a mixed heritage woman and first-generation professional who went on to have a successful career in finance has given her unique insights into the challenges faced by young professionals navigating the complex world of personal and business finance.We cover the following in our conversation:00:12 Meet Carla Hoppe: founder of Wealthbrite02:07 Carla's journey from corporate to entrepreneurship03:33 The importance of financial literacy09:12 Challenges of financial literacy in the UK13:00 Financial resilience and mental health18:38 Addressing the financial gender gap21:49 Inside Wealthbrite: mission and training programmes26:35 The realities of starting a business30:50 Fundraising success: Carla's journey31:05 Navigating the pre-seed round31:44 Choosing the right investors33:16 Diversity in startup investing33:44 Leveraging personal networks36:19 Investor event strategy37:56 Key lessons from fundraising38:46 Challenges with traditional investors40:00 Current investment climate41:11 Finding the 'right tribe'42:28 Encouraging female investors47:31 Vision for Wealthbrite50:27 Personal financial strategies54:58 Policy changes for financial Literacy58:25 Conclusion****

Jem Stein is the founder of Daring Capital, an impact investor syndicate supporting early-stage, purpose-driven founders who strive to make the world a better place. Since launching in September 2023, Daring Capital has facilitated over £1.5 million in investments into purpose-driven founders from underrepresented backgrounds.  Prior to founding Daring Capital, Jem established and led The Bike Project, a social enterprise providing bicycles to refugees across England. Under Jem's leadership, The Bike Project scaled to £2.5 million in annual revenue and garnered multiple awards, including Social Entrepreneur of the Year and the EU Social Innovation Prize. With extensive experience in raising social investment, Jem also serves on the social investment committees of two major charitable trusts. We cover the following: 00:13 Meet Jem Stein: founder of Daring Capital 01:43 The journey to Daring Capital 02:56 Understanding impact investing 04:57 Daring Capital's 'founder-first' approach 05:19 Defining and measuring impact 06:23 Challenges and successes in impact investing 21:51 Supporting female founders 34:33 The future of impact investing 41:30 Closing remarks ***

Barbara Huson, formerly known as Barbara Stanny, is the leading authority on women, wealth, and power. A bestselling author, financial therapist, wealth coach, and founder of The Wealth Connection, Barbara's mission is to help women build their wealth and assert their power, as a woman. With a diverse resume—including, business woman, journalist, teacher, financial therapist, along with a Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology, Certification in Trauma Treatment, author of 7 books, and her personal experience with money, she’s guided millions to live up to their financial and personal potential. Her proven process quickly reduces her clients overwhelm and fear while increasing their confidence and motivation to build wealth. As the author of 7 financial books for women, including titles such as Overcoming Under-earning, Secrets of Six Figure Women, and Rewire for Wealth, Barbara serves as a trusted expert in women’s financial empowerment. We cover the following: 01:39 Welcoming Barbara Huson 01:49 Impact of 'Sacred Success' 04:07 Barbara's personal journey with money 05:32 The Course in Miracles 10:27 The four prongs of financial success 16:24 Women and power 18:37 Sharing ideas and giving credit 21:20 Barbara's impact on feminine wealth 21:44 The importance of inner peace 22:07 Healing emotional blocks for financial independence 22:55 The power of words and thoughts 23:51 Addressing repressed emotions and trauma 28:27 The journey from survival to affluence 30:13 Surrounding yourself with supportive people 34:29 Living in integrity with money and wealth 38:15 Creating a feminine face of power 41:45 Final thoughts. *** To learn more about Barbara click here.

 Dan Bowyer is a Partner at SuperSeed VC based in London. He is a four times exited entrepreneur now investing in technical founders who are transforming how the world works. We cover the following in our conversation: 01:21 Dan Bowyer's career 03:56 Challenges faced by founders 08:21 UK vs. US startup ecosystem 12:55 Government's role in supporting startups 17:25 The future of AI, blockchain & crypto 25:00 Female founders and investing in women 36:59 VC: tech innovation and impact 38:49 Conclusion ***

Dr Amy Diehl is an award-winning information technology leader and gender equity researcher who has authored numerous scholarly journal articles and book chapters. Her writing has also appeared in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Ms. Magazine. Glass Walls is her first book. She is also a sought-after speaker, consultant, and lawsuit expert witness. She resides in a small town in Pennsylvania. We cover the following in our conversation: 00:10 Meet Dr. Amy Diehl: gender equity advocate 01:50 Understanding gender bias 02:52 Impact of gender bias on women and money 05:15 The six gender bias barriers 06:11 Male privilege and disproportionate constraints 07:20 Insufficient support and devaluation 08:36 Hostility at work: manager sabotage 13:35 Acquiescence: internalising gender bias 15:26 The cost of gender bias in organisations 17:45 Victoria's Secret: a case study 21:14 The role of leadership in addressing gender bias 22:44 The gender bias scale: measuring and addressing bias 24:44 Personal experiences with gender bias 26:07 Understanding and identifying gender bias 28:47 Strategies for momen to combat gender bias 29:15 Building a support network 30:06 Considering alternatives in a toxic environment 33:15 The role of leaders in addressing gender bias 39:24 The importance of allies 43:29 Gender bias in politics: VP Kamala Harris 48:21 Concluding Thoughts

Hayley James is Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Personal Financial Wellbeing at Aston Business School. Hayley’s research interests concern sociological perspectives on money, finance and value, and how they intersect with gender, ageing and the lifecourse. We cover the following: 01:16 The importance of financial wellbeing 01:59 The asset economy and financial engagement 04:40 Gender and financial systems 05:50 Defining financial wellbeing 09:10 Subjective vs. objective financial wellbeing 11:54 Interdisciplinary approach to personal finance 19:07 Gender neutral to gender friendly finance 24:29 Challenges in retirement planning 26:20 Challenges of imagining later life 27:09 The Impact of financial literacy and support systems 31:30 Gender norms and financial decision making 35:42 Policy and financial education for women 39:41 The role of community in financial education 41:31 Implications of the recent UK budget 45:03 Future research in personal finance 46:21 Rethinking retirement 50:08 Conclusion and final thoughts ***

Vicky Pryce is Chief Economic Adviser and a board member at the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). She was previously Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, Director General for Economics at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and Joint Head of the UK Government Economic Service. Before that she was Partner at the accounting and consulting firm KPMG after senior economic positions in banking and the oil sector. She has held a number of academic posts and is a Fellow and Council member of the UK Academy of Social Sciences, a Fellow of the Society of Professional Economists and a Companion of the British Academy of Management. She was until recently on the Council of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and is a member of the Advisory Board of the central banking think-tank OMFIF and of the Economic Advisory Group of the British Chambers of Commerce. She is also a Patron of the charities Pro-Bono Economics and Working Chance. Her books include: “Greekonomics: The Euro crisis and Why Politicians Don't Get It”; “It's the Economy, Stupid- Economics for Voters”, with Ross and Urwin; “Redesigning Manufacturing”, with Nielsen and Beverland”; and “Why Women Need Quotas” and "Women vs Capitalism”, was published by Hurst in November 2019. She is a frequent contributor to media broadcasts and debates on the economy and on the economic rationale for gender equality. She is co-founder of GoodCorporation, a company set up to advise on corporate social responsibility, is a Freeman and Liveryman of the City of London, was the first female Master of the Worshipful Company of Management Consultants and has been sitting on the City’s Members Diversity Working Party. We cover the following: 00:58 Overview of UK Budget and initial reactions 03:33 Post-budget market reactions and economic implications 06:37 Impact on businesses and investment 09:20 Technological advancements and productivity 12:54 Public services and long-term growth 22:07 Brexit and its ongoing impact 27:54 Training and apprenticeship levy 28:51 Diversity and inclusion in training 29:22 Supporting female founders 30:56 Investment in UK equities 34:52 Crypto, blockchain and CBDCs 44:47 Potential financial Shocks 48:38 Impact of US election on markets 51:28 Evaluating the success of the UK budget 52:42 Final thoughts. ***

Amy-Willard Cross is the founder of Gender Fair, the first consumer ratings system for gender equality which produces ratings on brands, colleges,  B2B vendors and nonprofits so people can align their dollars with their values of equality. She was named a Global Thinker by Foreign Policy for her work in “Economic Girl Power”. Cross was formerly an author, editor and writer, is the great-granddaughter of a suffragist and named for Frances Willard who supported unions, equal pay and regulation of business monopolies. We cover the following: The Female Domestic Product (FDP) Women's growing financial influence How this is translating into broader social and political change for women The role women's focused investment vehicles play What strategies women can use to build and protect their wealth in today's economic climate. ***

Ayesha Ofori is the founder and CEO of Propelle, a pioneering investment platform designed to empower women to achieve financial independence. As a former Executive Director and Private Wealth Adviser at Goldman Sachs, Ayesha personally managed over £500 million in client assets, working closely with ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Motivated by a desire to bridge the gender investment gap and make investing more accessible to all women, Ayesha left her successful career in traditional finance to launch Propelle. With an MBA from London Business School and a Master’s degree in Physics from Imperial College London, Ayesha combines deep financial expertise with a passion for helping women build wealth and securing their financial futures. To find out more, please visit https://propelle.io/ We cover the following in our conversation: 00:13 Meet Ayesha Ofori: From Goldman Sachs to Propelle 02:12 Ayesha's early money lessons 04:45 Women's relationship with money 09:52 The gender investment gap 16:05 How women think about investing 27:45 Challenges in financial services for women 34:24 Introducing Propelle: a female-focused investment platform 39:55 Fundraising challenges and successes 43:16 Understanding the gender gap in investment 43:42 Bootstrapping and early funding challenges 44:02 The impact of Google’s grant 44:23 Navigating the VC landscape 47:24 Building a strong team 52:17 The importance of advisors and mentors 57:49 Future roadmap and vision for Propelle 01:03 Encouraging women to invest 01:11  Final thoughts ***

Merryn Somerset Webb is a senior columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, covering personal finance and investment, and host of the Merryn Talks Money podcast. Previously, she was editor in chief of MoneyWeek. She published her second book, Share Power: How Ordinary People Can Change the Way That Capitalism Works - and Make Money Too. We cover the following in the conversation: How have we become a nation of share owners and what does this give us the ability to do? What are the stats on the number of women who invest in the stock market? What has been the increase in/from 2020? Share Power: what is the main premise of your book? Should companies have a purpose and should they have a social responsibility? The fund industry: what role does it play in the markets and in representing the share owner? Are they doing a good job? How can we judge whether they are or not?  Women's wealth is growing. More women are investing in the stock market than ever before: what does this mean for businesses and institutional investors? What are the steps I need to take to become an active share owner in the companies I hold shares in? What are your final words to women investors who want to become much more active or activist even, in helping to build they world they want to see by voting with their money and exercising their vote?

Danish born Ida coined the term Femtech in 2016. Ida Tin is the co-founder and former CEO and chairwoman, of Clue the most trusted female health app. Clue has more than 10m active users in over 190 countries.Ida has been interviewed or featured in major media including The New York Times, New York Magazine, Forbes, Der Spiegel and Le Figaro. She was also a speaker at prestigious conferences such as TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, LeWeb in Paris, Forbes Most Powerful Women in Montreal, Slush in Finland and many more.Before starting Clue, Ida led motorcycle tours around the world for five years in the motorcycle touring company MotoMundo she cofounded with her dad Hjalte Tin. She guided tours in Mongolia, Cuba and Vietnam amongst other destinations. Ida attended various art schools in South Africa and London, and graduated in 2004 from the progressive social entrepreneurship BA level business school The KaosPilots in Denmark. Ida currently lives in Berlin and has two children.She is now working on a new book about Femtech and is an active voice in the Femtech space. She is running three series of Femtech courses, from June 2024. We cover the following in our conversation: 00:11 Meet Ida Tin: the pioneer of femtech 02:02 Ida's childhood 05:01 The birth of Clue: a revolutionary femtech startup 07:20 Challenges and vision in femtech 10:22 Understanding femtech and its impact 14:51 Addressing the gender health gap 19:58 The importance of diversity and inclusion 27:24 The impact of gender in leadership 28:19 The rise of femtech 29:30 Flo Health 31:22 Ethical concerns in tech 32:54 The importance of diverse leadership 36:35 Building trust and transparency 45:14 Imagining a new system 49:29 Leadership and emotional intelligence ***

Ozge Dogan is the Founder of Karman Beyond, Türkiye’s first independent multi-family office – democratising wealth management for families. Karman Beyond’s goal is to guide families – together with experts – to manage the unique potential of their wealth. Karman Beyond guides them to personalised, globally-minded solutions and go beyond traditional financial services, including risk management; tax and legal; governance and legacy planning; and lifestyle / concierge services. As a next-generation family leader, Ozge founded Karman Beyond in response to her own family’s wealth management needs and the lack of a single, central, advisory solution. They seek to provide Türkiye’s families with the best access to the guidance and expertise they need – much like her own family originally required. She is a strong believer in enacting positive social change, and is a Board Member at Yanındayız Derneği – a rights advocacy NGO promoting gender equality in Türkiye via the prism of universal human rights. We cover the following in the conversation: The definition of wealth What is a family office? How has it evolved over the last 10 years? Generational wealth and the dynamics at play Female inheritors vs female founders The impact women and the next gen have on money decisions Succession planning Women and money ***

Marypat Thenell Smucker, CFA, MA Economics, MS Finance, is Co-Founder and Principal of Parallelle Finance. She has published a range of research pieces on sustainable and gender lens investing, including Parallelle’s in-depth quarterly reports on sustainable investing and women in the global workplace. Her work has been featured on the CFA Institute's Enterprising Investor site. She has contributed to sustainable investing sites and provided numerous media quotes on gender lens investing. Prior to co-founding Parallelle, Marypat was a consultant in investment communications and editorial services for global asset management firms. She began her consultancy following a role as Managing Editor of institutional investment communications at T. Rowe Price. Before that Marypat worked in transaction services for KPMG. She began her finance career as an analyst at Emerging Markets Partnership, a firm which managed the first private equity funds for emerging markets infrastructure.Parallelle Finance is a leading provider of research on sustainable and gender equality-focused investing. The firm consults globally on sustainable and gender lens investing. Parallelle recently authored Gender Bonds: A Toolkit for the Design and Issuance of Gender Bonds in Africa, published in early 2024 by Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Africa. Gender bonds are positioned for growth in global fixed income markets, driven by high growth in women-owned businesses and ongoing funding gaps. In addition, Parallelle provides investment advisory services to U.S. investors and an analysis tool for U.S. and global investors to score public and private investments with an equality lens. We cover the following in our conversation: What is gender lens investing? Market update Gender bonds The gender lens scorecard Investing in gender equality Women in leadership Directing capital to gender lens funds ***

Christina Teo is the chief builder of SHE1K, which is the world's first C-suite executive angel syndicate. She has built a community of 170 C-suite and senior executives who have invested $6m+ in 30 startups. Christina has built her career mostly outside of Singapore. She started in market research, she then took on regional sales, marketing, product and P&L roles in technology and in companies such as Acer, IBM, and 3Com. During the dot com boom, she became the first country manager at Yahoo! Singapore, followed by launching the world's first Windows smartphone at O2, where she single-handedly spearheaded the business from scratch to $300m in revenue. Christina retired for the first time at the age of 41. She went on to New York to pursue her personal destiny but returned as CMO of Hong Kong's CSL, carrying half of the company's P&L with a 90 person team. Christina has lived in Hong Kong, in Taiwan, France, Italy, and New York, and pursued a master's in psychology at NYU, with a bachelor's at National University of Singapore. We cover the following in our conversation: Chris's successful corporate career How Chris immersed herself in the startup community Launching an angel syndicate The investment thesis Engaging female angel investors How to invest Important investment lessons And how do we encourage more women to engage with their money? ***

Vicky Reynal runs a London-based private practice that specialises in financial psychotherapy. She is the author of "Money on your Mind: the Psychology behind your Financial Habits", which recently won Best Book at The Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards. With a dual background in psychology/psychotherapy and an MBA from London Business School, she has worked with people from a range of industries, public sector, and creative professions. She has years of experience as a psychotherapist in the private and public sectors, including the British NHS and has lived and worked in nine different countries across three continents. We cover the following: What is financial psychotherapy Gender roles and money Generational differences in women's financial behaviour Childhood influences on money habits Money avoidance and crisis points Money behaviours and self-sabotage Money dynamics in relationships Therapy sessions and overcoming financial issues How women can engage more with their money ***

Adeo Ressi is revolutionising global entrepreneurship and venture capital. As CEO of Decile Group, he helped launch nearly 50% of all new VC firms worldwide in 2023, and Adeo serves as Chairman and Co-Founder of the Founder Institute, which runs startup accelerators in over 300 cities worldwide and has over 7,000 portfolio companies. He is committed to solving the world's problems by having visionary limited partners back ethical investors to fund pioneering entrepreneurs. Adeo previously served on the Board of the X PRIZE, created the original SAFE note, drafted the Mensarius Oath for ethical investing, and founded companies with over $2bn in exits. We cover the following in our conversation: How to invest ethically The impact of AI Investing in female founders How to invest in diverse founders Adeo's investment thesis And how to encourage more women with capital to invest in startups? ***

Linda Scott is Emeritus DP World Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Oxford, as well as a visiting professor at Brown University where she teaches gender and economics.  She is the author of The Double X Economy, a 2020 book that deeply documents the worldwide and historical pattern of women’s economic exclusion and makes a passionate argument for the economic and humanitarian reasons to eliminate this destructive inequality.  Recognised as an outstanding work of science and economics, the book has been translated into 14 languages. Scott continues her work as a gender consultant for a wide range of major world institutions, such as USAID and the World Bank. We cover the following in our conversation: What is sexism? UK: The Equality Act -how effective is it? Financial services industry: the 'Sexism in the City' report How sexism shows up for women: the gender pay gap, the motherhood penalty, women in leadership and as women entrepreneurs. Men becoming allies Startups: female founders vs male founders. Investing in AI vs fixing organisations for women Economies grow by investing in women. ***

Grace O’Brien is an award-winning Creative Director at AKQA, an international creative and innovation agency.  Over the last 10+ years Grace has worked with global clients such as Volvo, TikTok, Nike and Jordan. Her work has been recognised by Cannes Lions, the WARC Awards, Fast Company, the London Design Museum, The Earthshot Prize and more. Beyond the creative industry Grace is an accomplished scholar with an academic background in economics and a passion for climate action and gender equality. In addition to building Pink Chip with colleague and founder Sam Rowlands, Grace leads communications for Generation Climate Europe, the region’s largest coalition of youth-led networks pushing for stronger climate action, and advises UN-led women’s economic inclusion projects in the global south.  Sam Rowlands is a Multi-awarded Creative Lead and Art Director at AKQA. She has worked with many local and global clients, such as Gucci, Nike, Toyota, and Tourism Australia, just to name a few. Her work has been recognised on the world stage, including at the Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show and Webbys. With a wealth of experience, Sam has also served as a judge at leading award shows across many categories, including creative excellence, innovation and visual storytelling.  Beyond her professional accomplishments, Sam mentors numerous female creatives, offering guidance and support in navigating the male-dominated industry. As the visionary founder of Pink Chip, an investment initiative challenging investor bias against female leaders, Sam is dedicated to enlightening businesses and investors about the economic power of having women at the helm. The launch of Pink Chip and its US index on International Women's Day in partnership with UN Women has delivered exceptional performance. Backdated for over three years, the Pink Chip US Index has outpaced US benchmarks like the S&P500 by over 80%. Featured on Bloomberg and in renowned publications such as Forbes, this milestone marks just the beginning of Pink Chip's journey toward challenging bias against female leaders. Sam has been on the path to creating Pink Chip for over four years. We cover the following in the conversation: Investor gender bias The outperformance of female CEO leadership The Pink Chip Index -why we need it The journey to launch The criteria used for the Pink Chip index Performance vs standard indices The impact on promoting gender diversity and inclusion What's next for the Pink Chip? What do companies need to do to be included in the Pink Chip Index? You can see more about Pink Chip via: Website: pinkchip.org  Instagram:@pinkchipofficial  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pink-chip ***

Rachel Cook is the Founder of Seeds (seedsgives.com), a cryptocurrency mutual aid ecosystem which has helped people in need in 30 countries and counting, with a focus on women.  When you help someone in need through Seeds, you receive SEEDS cryptocurrency in thanks, empowering people to build wealth *through* giving. Rachel was a career-profitable pro stock trader in Chicago and on Wall Street before the misogyny drove her to quit.  She began buying Bitcoin at ~$90 a coin, and was extremely excited about blockchain technology's potential to transcend the discrimination baked into the old system.  However, she was forced to sell her Bitcoin in 2013 to keep Seeds alive, largely because misogyny in venture capital means that 98.1% of investment dollars go to men. To help other women avoid this, anyone in need can redeem a single SEED to ask for the amount of funding they need, and receive it as a gift.  Rachel hopes that one day Seeds will render venture capital obsolete.  With the 4th Bitcoin Halving, the historical catalyst for the giant market surges we've seen in the past, she is working to help as many women as possible build wealth in cryptocurrency this market cycle.Rachel is nomadic, but recently built a tiny house from a kit, on land she owns in Western Massachusetts.  Both the land and the house were purchased with cryptocurrency.  Her travel buddy is her 9 year old rescue pup, Bowie. We cover the following topics: Why did Rachel transition into crypto and Web3? Context: what is Web2 vs Web3? Bitcoin halving and the crypto market Seeds: building a new economic ecosystem based on abundance The challenges of being a female founder What is the future of Seeds? How do more women engage in Web3 and invest in crypto? ***

Sharon Lechter is internationally recognised as a financial literacy expert, keynote speaker and business mentor. She is a 5x New York Times Bestselling author, successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and enjoyed a 35 year career as a licensed CPA. She has advised two US Presidents on the topic of financial literacy. Sharon co-authored the international bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad and 14 other books in the Rich Dad series. In 2008, when the economy crashed, she was asked by the Napoleon Hill Foundation to help re-energise the teachings of Napoleon Hill. Her best-selling books with the Foundation include Three Feet from Gold, Outwitting the Devil, Think and Grow Rich for Women and Success and Something Greater. She is also featured in the movie Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy and on the national television series World’s Greatest Motivators. In 2021, Sharon’s title, Exit Rich was released to support entrepreneurs in building value and scalability in their businesses so they can be in the position of greatest potential. Her newest title, How Money Works for Women was released in July in cooperation with WealthWave Media. We cover the following in our conversation: The importance of financial education Women's relationship with money What are the three biggest financial challenges for women? What is the money mindset? How money works for women Building financial resilience Creating multiple streams of income Investing in crypto and digital assets More+ ***

Pierre N. Rolin is Founder and CEO of Ankh Impact Ventures. A Canadian entrepreneur with over 35 years of real estate investment advisory as well as venture capital experience, Pierre was previously based in London, Frankfurt, and New York and has closed more than 550 real estate investments valued in excess of $17 billion and delivered an average 20% net IRR for his clients. Pierre was appointed Global Head of Credit Suisse International Real Estate based in London at the age of 35. Following his career at Credit Suisse, Pierre founded a global real estate advisory firm where he managed assets of $6.4 billion including 125 direct properties and four customised private equity real estate funds. Pierre is currently Chairman and CEO of Ankh Real Estate, Inc., an independent global real estate investment advisory firm whose clients include ultra-high net worth private investors, foundations, private equity firms, alternative managers, and property developers. Pierre also advises real estate owners and operators on strategic projects including M&A, capital allocation and recycling strategies, take privates, joint ventures, recaps, roll-ups, and platform investments. In 2006, Pierre established a private nonprofit grant-giving foundation that promoted learning opportunities for gifted underserved youth through art, education, and cultural heritage programs. From 2015 to 2020, Pierre advised and invested in over 20 venture-backed early-stage, growth and late-stage technology companies. Based on these experiences and a desire to create sustainable social impact beyond philanthropic giving, Pierre established Ankh Impact Ventures in 2020 with a new philanthro-capitalist business model to foster impact entrepreneurship by diverse agents of change from all global geographies. Pierre has shared his experiences at numerous conferences and events globally, such as The World Economic Forum in Davos, The Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, and the Young Presidents Organisation in London. We cover the following: Why Pierre started Ankh Impact Ventures Investing in female and diverse founders Investment thesis- patient capital Female pitch competitions Female founders are a better investment Why male investors need to back women. ***

Vanessa Northway is the Deputy Vice-Principal for Learning and teaching at Heriot-Watt University Dubai. She has been working with the University since 2009. Over the years, Vanessa has directed the start-up and implementation of the Fashion, Fashion Marketing, and Interior design programmes. As part of her management role at SoTD, Vanessa has been responsible for resourcing and ensuring – along with the academic team in Dubai and Scotland – the development of programmes suitable for the market within Dubai and the MENA region and globally relevant skills. We cover the following: Financial education as it relates to children, teenagers, and young adults. The role of schools and universities in teaching our kids about money. Why parents play a crucial role in how kids grow up thinking about money and how to manage it too. The impact of teaching girls about entrepreneurship and financial management. Why teaching financial independence and how to invest is crucial. How technology can be used to encourage children and young adults to become financially literate and financially confident. ***

David Fogel is a seasoned VC and startup operator that has spent the last 20 years working with and advising more than 1,000 founders across Europe, Asia and Africa. The startups David has supported have raised more than $500m over the years. David Co-founded Bramble Club, a boutique Startup advisory firm, working with founders and venture capital firms across EMEA.David was CCO and COO at Wefarm scaling it to 3.5m users and 150 Employees. Before that David co-founded ADV, a £150m VC fund focused on early stage startups. David led the corporate venture arm for Telefonica and worked on M&A deals across the globe. Before moving into venture David built Fintech and Telco products in Israel. Where he grew the team from 4 to 60 employees and reached 70% market penetration.David also co-founded Alma Angels, a diverse community of more than 300 people dedicated to supporting ambitious female founders. Over the last four years, Alma Angels has backed more than 180 women-led startups which have raise $160m in follow-on funding.  We cover the following: Angel investing: US vs UK Male allies and eradicating 'bad behaviour' in VC Investing in female founders Gender bias in VC Raising capital as a female founder How to build a startup investment portfolio ***

Chloe Lin is an international speaker who has been invited to countries around the world, including Japan, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and many others. She has partnered with Mary Buffett to establish the Buffett Online School, where she leads operations in Japan. Her extensive knowledge and success in the stock market have enabled her to become a full-time investor. She has also been featured in Singapore’s official Chinese newspaper, Lian He Zao Bao, on radio stations like Money FM 89.3, and in the online magazine Zuu Online, sharing her experiences on how to invest safely as a female investor and how to achieve consistent results from the stock market.  You can follow Chloe's work at www.arigatoinvestor.com, and her social media channel @ArigatoInvestor on Youtube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn and Telegram.  We cover the following in our conversation: Why investing in relationships is the key to a richer life Money mindset and money habits How Chloe invests her money Difficult but important investing lessons How do Millennials and Gen Z think about investing? And how do we encourage more women to invest? ***