I am joined this week by the remarkable Maja Kristin. Maja is known as someone with a deep spiritual and philosophical foundation who creates massive change in the world, with "the heart of a philanthropist and the spirit of an entrepreneur."

Today, we dive deep into her journey from a challenging childhood in San Francisco to becoming a successful lawyer and later, a thoughtful impact investor and philanthropist. You'll hear about Maja's early life growing up in the projects with a single mother struggling with sobriety, her determination to pursue education as a way out, and how these formative experiences shaped her views on money, giving, and risk-taking.

Maja shares her path through law school, establishing her own women-focused law firm, and her eventual transition to impact investing. She discusses the pivotal moments in her life—including a divorce and her sister's passing—that led her to reconsider her relationship with wealth and how she wanted to use it to create positive change in the world.

Listen as Maja talks about creating her "Family and Beyond" vision statement, bringing her family together to collaborate on philanthropic decisions despite different political views, and her current philosophy of "the last breath, the last dime" as she prepares to distribute her wealth rather than passing it down. Maja's story is a testament to the power of aligning money with values and using financial resources to foster connection, healing, and love.

Key Topics:

1. Growing up in the projects of San Francisco with a single mother and how that shaped Maja's early money stories
   
   
2. The importance of education as a path out of poverty and Maja's journey through law school
   
   
3. Starting her own women-focused law firm at age 30 and building it into a successful practice
   
   
4. The impact of being kidnapped in her mid-30s and how it led to personal reassessment
   
   
5. Transitioning from litigation to a more healing-focused approach to law
   
   
6. How her divorce 15 years ago became a pivotal moment of financial liberation
   
   
7. Taking on her sister's three children after her passing and how family influences financial decisions
   
   
8. Creating the "Family and Beyond" collaborative giving model with family members across the political spectrum
   
   
9. The difference between traditional investment, impact investing, and philanthropy
   
   
10. Working with her daughter to make financial decisions aligned with their values
    
    
11. Preparing to "die with zero" and giving away wealth rather than passing it down
    
    
12. Evolving from a fear-based relationship with money to one grounded in love and connection
    
    
13. Finding joy in spending on travel, ocean adventures, and creating a nurturing home
    
    

Connect with Maja online:

https://www.Majakristin.com/

Get Her Memoir: Instructions Not Included by Maja Kristin

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://syamabunten.com/

Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com

Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

I am joined this week by the incredible Susan McPherson, founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies and author of "The Lost Art of Connecting." Susan is a renowned connector, communications strategist, and corporate social responsibility expert who has dedicated her career to helping businesses create meaningful social impact.

In this heartfelt conversation, Susan shares her journey from being "the tiniest one in the room" who had to find her voice early to becoming a powerhouse in the world of social impact. We explore her childhood in upstate New York, where her academic parents instilled in her the value of connecting others through their morning ritual of clipping newspaper articles to share with friends and colleagues – an early form of social networking that shaped Susan's approach to relationships.

Susan opens up about the profound loss of her mother at age 21 and how this tragedy shaped her financial mindset and career trajectory. Listen as she recounts her path from waitressing to fund her year abroad in Denmark, to working at USA Today, to eventually launching McPherson Strategies at age 48 without any formal business training. Susan's story demonstrates how personal values, lived experiences, and a commitment to service can create a meaningful career and lasting impact.

Key Topics:

1. How to start building your network by making conversations about other people
   
   
2. The surprising power of "clip and share" - Susan's parents' pre-internet social networking ritual
   
   
3. Why financial independence must come before entrepreneurial risks
   
   
4. How Susan navigated a successful career despite never taking business courses
   
   
5. The value of maxing out your 401(k) from day one (and why Susan has done this consistently for decades)
   
   
6. Why angel investing can be about learning and impact, not just financial returns
   
   
7. Building the courage to launch your own business after 45
   
   

Connect with Susan online:

Website: https://mcpstrategies.com/

Book: The Lost Art of Connecting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanmcpherson/

Twitter: @susanmcp1

Instagram: @susanmcp1

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://syamabunten.com/

Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com

Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://women.win/

Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

I am joined this week by the incredible Patricia Lizaraga. Patricia is not only the Founder of Hypatia Capital but also a passionate advocate for women in leadership, particularly female CEOs. Today, we dive deep into her journey from growing up in Lima, Peru during a military dictatorship to becoming a pioneer in investing in women-led businesses.

Patricia shares how her early entrepreneurial spirit emerged in high school, where she organized unprecedented events and discovered her ability to "build the world you want to live in." She reflects on her Yale education, where she started sororities against opposition, and her path through investment banking that eventually led her to launch Hypatia Capital in 2007 with the mission of having more female clients, investors, and colleagues.

Listen as Patricia talks about her 20-year journey building Hypatia Capital, from hosting exclusive CEO seminars to creating the WCO ETF, a publicly-traded fund focused on women-led companies. She shares her vision for equal opportunity in corporate leadership and her belief that investing in women CEOs is a powerful lever for change. Patricia's story demonstrates how financial power can be leveraged to create meaningful impact and a more balanced business world.

Key Topics:

1. How to start building the world you want to live in (even when you're young!)
2. The untapped opportunity of investing in women-led companies and why Patricia created the WCO ETF
3. Why financial independence must come before taking entrepreneurial risks
4. How Patricia navigated male-dominated finance when there was no level playing field
5. The simple way anyone can invest in women CEOs with just $31
6. Why after 20 years of research showing diversity outperforms, women are still under 10% of CEOs
7. The "100 Shares for Women" campaign that could create the fastest growing ETF in America

Connect with Patricia online:

Websites: https://www.hypatiacapital.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricializarraga

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://syamabunten.com/

Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com

Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalystsummit.com/

Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

I am joined this week by the incredible Jenny Fielding. Jenny is not only an accomplished venture capitalist and co-founder and managing partner at Everywhere Ventures, but also a published author of the book "Venture Everywhere," an exited founder, and a passionate community builder supporting female founders and investors.

Today, we dive deep into her journey from growing up in Manhattan to becoming a successful investor in the venture capital landscape. You'll hear about Jenny's early life in New York City, her parents' entrepreneurial backgrounds running their own businesses, and how these formative experiences shaped her views on money and financial security.

Jenny shares her traditional career path starting at JP Morgan after law school and how she bootstrapped her first startup while still working full-time. She discusses the emotional challenges of transitioning from a prestigious corporate job to entrepreneurship, the insecurities that initially held her back, and how she ultimately found the courage to chart her path.

Listen as Jenny talks about her investment philosophy, balancing high-risk venture investments with conservative personal finance habits, and her commitment to supporting women in tech and venture capital. Jenny's story is a testament to the power of maintaining financial security while still taking calculated risks that can lead to tremendous rewards.

Key Topics:

1. Growing up in Manhattan with entrepreneurial parents and how that shaped Jenny's perception of money and financial security

2. Bootstrapping her first startup while working full-time at JP Morgan and transitioning to entrepreneurship

3. The fascinating contrast of having a high-risk venture investment approach while maintaining extremely conservative personal finances

4. Investing in real estate as a strategic counterbalance to high-risk venture investments

5. How Jenny discovered unexpected investment opportunities by following founders' visions (including early Bitcoin investments)

6. The importance of dollar cost averaging and portfolio diversification when investing in venture capital

7. Jenny's mission to support female founders and investors and create a more diverse tech ecosystem

Connect with Jenny online:

Get Her Book: Venture Everywhere

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyfielding/

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://syamabunten.com/

Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com

Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalystsummit.com/

Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

Join me this week with the brilliant Liz Faircloth, co-founder of The Real Estate InvestHER and a powerhouse in the world of women's real estate investing. Liz has been building her real estate portfolio for years, focusing on owning and managing residential and commercial properties, while also creating platforms that empower women to achieve financial freedom through real estate investing.

In this enlightening conversation, Liz takes us through her journey from a middle-class upbringing in New Jersey to becoming a successful real estate investor and community builder. She shares the single book that transformed her perspective on wealth building and set her on a path to financial independence.

We discuss the challenges Liz faced during the 2008 market crash, how she and her husband navigated through financial difficulties, and the strategic decisions that helped them build a portfolio of thousands of multifamily units. Liz also opens up about her personal journey of finding purpose beyond wealth accumulation, which ultimately led to the creation of InvestHER.

This conversation is filled with practical wisdom on real estate investing, building successful teams, and making a meaningful impact while achieving financial freedom.

Key Topics:

1. Growing up in a middle-class family and the early money lessons that shaped Liz's approach to finance

2. Getting her start in real estate with a $30,000 family loan and navigating the 2008 market crash

3. The strategic transition from scattered investments to focusing on multifamily properties

4. Building effective teams and partnerships while learning to set clear boundaries

5. Finding purpose beyond wealth accumulation and the birth of The Real Estate InvestHER

6. Creating supportive communities for women in real estate through conferences and networking platforms

7. Building a legacy that creates ripple effects of positive impact across generations

Connect with Liz online:

The Real Estate InvestHER: https://www.therealestateinvesther.com/

InvestHER Conference: https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/

InvestHER Plus: https://plus.investhercommunity.com/

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://syamabunten.com/

Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com

Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalystsummit.com/

Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

I am joined this week by the remarkable Hall Rockefeller. Hall is a sixth-generation member of the iconic Rockefeller family and an entrepreneur reimagining how women can invest in and support female artists through her business, Lesson Half.

Today, we dive deep into her journey from growing up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan to becoming a passionate advocate for women artists and art investors. You'll hear about Hall's early entrepreneurial ventures, all of which foreshadowed her future as a business owner.

Hall shares her transition from retail work to art writing and how the pandemic unexpectedly kickstarted her personal art collection. She explains her mission of developing a "matronage" philosophy—not just about women buying art by women artists, but creating substantive, holistic engagement with their careers over time.

Listen as Hall talks about the importance of financial literacy for women, the potential returns on art investment, and how collecting art can be both personally fulfilling and financially rewarding. Hall's story is a testament to finding your unique path at the intersection of passion and purpose while creating space for women to build wealth through value-aligned investments.

1. Growing up in the Rockefeller family and how that legacy inspired Hall's entrepreneurial spirit
2. Hall's childhood business ventures and early money mindset around saving
3. Navigating life after college and searching for work that provided both intellectual stimulation and creative problem-solving
4. The transition from retail work to writing about art and founding Lesson Half
5. How the pandemic created space for Hall to begin collecting art
6. The "matronage" philosophy and empowering women to invest in female artists
7. Looking at art as an alternative asset class with examples of significant returns
8. How Hall approaches advising clients on art purchases and investment decisions
9. Balancing legacy wealth with personal financial decisions and business investments
10. The legacy Hall hopes to create in promoting female creativity across all mediums
11. The joy of spending on home decor, craft, and vintage fashion

Websites: https://lessthanhalf.org/

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: https://syamabunten.com/

Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit (May 13th at MasterCard HQ in Manhattan): https://wealthcatalystsummit.com/

Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

I am joined this week by the brilliant Kate Cannova. Kate is a powerhouse Broadway producer with a fascinating dual career path that has allowed her to pursue her creative passions while maintaining financial stability.

In this episode, Kate shares her journey from being a young performer in Broadway shows to navigating the corporate world while building her producing career. You'll hear about Kate's early money mindset growing up in a traditional Italian-American family, her formative experiences that instilled a fierce desire for financial independence, and how she strategically planned each phase of her professional life.

Kate opens up about her education at USC, her transition into corporate America, and how she balanced demanding corporate jobs with her continued work in theater. She details her bold decision to leave the corporate world to focus entirely on her production company, the devastating impact of the pandemic just months later, and how she pivoted to working alongside her husband in his auto parts business while continuing to produce Broadway shows.

Listen as Kate explains her approach to democratizing Broadway investing by targeting at least 40% of women and people of color in her productions and ensuring that at least 50% are first-time Broadway investors. Her insights on maintaining separate finances in marriage, her philosophy on investing in arts and culture, and finding balance in a demanding dual-career life offer valuable lessons for anyone pursuing their passions while building financial security.

Key Topics:

1. Growing up in a traditional Italian-American family and how that shaped Kate's perspective on money and work ethic
2. Starting work at age 11 as a performer in a Broadway show and developing financial independence early
3. Strategically planning career moves while maintaining financial security
4. Balancing corporate success with pursuing creative passions in theater
5. The experience of leaving a secure corporate job and pivoting during the pandemic
6. Democratizing Broadway investing by increasing participation from women and people of color
7. Managing unconventional work arrangements with her husband while maintaining separate finances
   
   

Connect with Kate online:

Website: https://www.wheelership.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katecannova/

Instagram: @kate.cannova

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://syamabunten.com/

Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com

Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit:http://www.wealthcatalystsummit.com

Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

I am joined this week by the incredible Stephanie Skryzowski, founder of 100 Degrees Consulting, which has been helping nonprofit leaders grow and expand into their fullest potential for years. Stephanie isn't just a successful business founder—she's passionate about increasing wealth while making a meaningful impact.

In this inspiring conversation, Stephanie shares her journey from childhood entrepreneurship to becoming a CFO at 28 and eventually launching her thriving consulting business. She opens up about her early career pivoting away from law, discovering her purpose in nonprofit finance, and how she built a successful company while prioritizing impact and financial abundance.

Stephanie challenges the common nonprofit mindset that you must sacrifice financial well-being to do meaningful work, arguing instead that we can "ditch the scarcity mindset" and thrive while serving causes we care about. She reveals how she's built her business to support nonprofits while creating financial freedom for herself and her team.

Don't miss her powerful insights on building a profitable business model, making strategic decisions like selling off a portion of her company, and embracing the limitless potential of entrepreneurship!

Key Topics:

1. Her childhood entrepreneurial spirit and creative money-making ventures

2. The career pivot that led her from law to nonprofit finance

3. Challenging the "martyr to the mission" mentality in nonprofit work

4. Building a profitable business model serving mission-driven organizations

5. Making the strategic decision to sell off a portion of her business

6. Embracing abundance and seeing no ceiling on wealth potential

7. Creating a legacy of financial empowerment, especially for women

Connect with Stephanie online:

Website: 100 Degrees Consulting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://syamabunten.com/

Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com

Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit: www.wealthcatalystsummit.com

Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com