Make It Happen: Women Designing and Achieving Wealth, Entrepreneurship, Success
On the wealth building panel L to R: Loretta McCarthy, Anu Bhardwaj, Staria WIlliams, Angela Franco, and Hyacinth Tucker.
“As women, we are often the architects of our dreams,” said Hyacinth Tucker, founder and owner of Laundry Basket Delivery at the recent Take The Lead Power Up Conference on Women’s Equality Day in Washington, D.C. “So let’s share our stories, struggles, and triumphs knowing together we are stronger.”
“As women, we are often the architects of our #dreams. So let’s share our #stories, #struggles, and #triumphs knowing together we are #stronger. — Hyacinth Tucker of The Laundry Basket LLC”
The winner of the Visionary Award exemplifying the Know Your History Power Tool, Tucker, who was in the 50 Women in Entrepreneurship cohort, told the Together We Lead conference participants, ”We carry the weight of our aspirations. This is a testament to the power of perseverance, even when the world may not yet see it.”
Read more in Take The Lead on Hyacinth Tucker
Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of Take The Lead echoed the sentiment, reminding the participants, “You are the CEO of your own life.”
“You are the CEO of your own life. - @GloriaFeldt1 #womeninpower #leadership #entrepreneurship”
Introducing the wealth panel moderator, Loretta McCarthy, a Take The Lead board member after its founding 10 years ago, and co-chief executive officer and managing partner of Golden Seeds, LLC., Feldt said, “This organization could not begin to be what it is without you.”
Learn more from Gloria Feldt on Loretta McCarthy
Discussing the challenges and strategies of women and wealth, Anu Bhardwaj, founder of Women Investing in Women, The State of Women, and SHEQONOMI, was also a member of Take The Lead’s 50 Women in Entrepreneurship cohort.
“Part of my journey is building tech for a podcast listening app for women around the globe to share their podcasts,” Bhardwaj said, who is also offering $11 million total in scholarships to train women around the world in AI.
Read more in Take The Lead on Anu Bhardwaj
SHEQONOMI is a mobile app accessible globally that carries 5,000 podcasts to download. “People can listen and learn no matter where they are,” Bhardwaj said.
Starting with content centered on women’s health, she said, “There are 1.2 billion women in the world who have never seen a doctor.” The recorded content can be converted into digital content and is available in 65 languages.
As senior vice president and director of risk management at Industrial Bank, the oldest Black-owned bank in Washington, D.C., Staria Williams said, “I represent a financial institution founded to give opportunity to those who do not have opportunities in the financial space.”
“I represent a financial institution founded to give #opportunity to those who do not have opportunities in the financial space. — Staria Williams of @BankIndustrial”
Williams said of communities, “As long as you know you belong there, that is what you do. You create space and save space. You never miss an opportunity to course correct someone.”
Read more in Take The Lead on women in finance
Also based in D.C., Angela Franco, the president and CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce, said for the past four years she has been building her own wealth “so I can make decisions independently.” Her intention, she said, is building a women’s program “wherever I go.”
Tucker, whose laundry business has expanding to Maryland, N. Virgina, Ohio, and Toronto, said, “My super power is finding opportunities and building doors.”
For historic context of the complexity and challenges facing women independently building wealth, McCarthy said, “In 1960, women gained the right to open their own bank accounts.” Before that, their spouses needed to co-sign. Fourteen years later, “In 1974, women gained the right to get a personal loan,” without a spouse co-signing. “In 1988, women got the legal right to sign for their own business loan.”
While the gender wage gap has shifted in that time, it has still not reached parity and particularly for women in color, who lag behind white women in earnings.
In the process of working to attain wealth, women need to move from ambivalence to action, McCarthy said.
“The first process is to ask yourself, ‘What am I afraid of?’” Franco offered. That narrative needs to shift to, “I deserve to have a certain level of income, I deserve to buy this house.” She added, “The most successful business people are mission-driven. When you have a mission, money will follow.”
Read more in Take The Lead on investing in women’s businesses
Williams reminded the conference participants, “Your mission is also going to make you a profit. You always need to let go of the shame of making money. Bill Gates is not ashamed to be a billionaire. Do not be ashamed because you can be profitable and still help people.”
“Your #mission is also going to make you a #profit. You need to let go of the shame of making money. Do not be ashamed because you can be profitable and still #helppeople. — Staria Williams”
On the subject of economic inequality and the gap in access to attaining wealth, Williams said, “There’s a difference between being equal and being equitable.”
The present culture does not support the idea of wealth and proud women, Williams said. “So many women have a toxic, unhealthy relationship with money.” She added, “You don’t want to cut your grass with scissors. The more fearless you are as it relates to money is best.”
Read more from Gloria Feldt on women building wealth
Bhardwaj agreed and shared with the panel and audience that she was a recruiter for Goldman Sachs, earned her MBA, a Fulbright Award, worked for the U.S. State Department and the Department of Commerce, and invested in crypto as early as 2016. “I am all about risk,” she said. “You are not going to win, if you don’t play.”
Tucker seconded that intention, adding, “Take emotional risk. Be bold, build a community, people want to see you win.” She added, “It’s about people that we serve. There are people who will help you. I look at people we are helping. They are the heroes of our story.”
“Take #emotionalrisk. Be #bold, build a #community, people want to see you win. It’s about people that we serve. There are people who will #help you. — Hyacinth Tucker of The Laundry Basket LLC”
Read more in Take The Lead on risk and wealth
Franco reiterated Feldt’s declaration at the start of the panel, saying, “When you show up as CEO, you are the CEO.”
Rosser Goodman, film director, television writer, and philanthropist won the Define Your Own Terms power tool award, as did Marissa Hambleton, chief delivery officer, CEO, and founder of MH2X.
According to Goodman, who was part of the 2018 Take The Lead Women in Media & Entertainment cohort as well as the Women in Entrepreneurship cohort, is a philanthropist who strategically funds films, financing a recent film for $3 million.
Hambleton told the conference participants that her journey was from teen mom to CEO. “I learned early to become a trailblazer. I was often the only dark-haired head, only Chicago, only woman in the room.” She took that experience to start her own platform as a Salesforce community organizer.
To learn more about all 9 of the Leadership Power Tools that have given Goodman and Tucker such success, check out the new courses available for purchase now. There’s one for you if you are an entrepreneur and one for you if you are in an organization or trying to figure out what your next move will be. Doors open October 1 to access the courses but you can join at any time and take them at your own pace.
Later in the conference, in her Brand Your Brilliance Interactive Workshop, Felicia Davis, CEO and founder of Black Women’s Collective told the group, “Great leaders are great communicators and great communicators are great storytellers.” Davis added, “If you do not have a big dream, you will always be led by someone else’s vision.”
“#Greatleaders are great #communicators and great communicators are great # storytellers. — Felicia Davis, CEO of Black Women’s Collective”
Among many other strategies, Davis offered a five-step formula for thought leadership. First, “frame the problem. This creates tension.” Secondly, explain the reason, as this establishes credibility and believability. Third, say, “My prediction is,” as this shows authority. Fourth is to say, “Here’s what we must do,” as this is a value proposition. Finally, say, “That’s why,” as this shows you are committed to a solution.
Listen to a podcast with Gloria Feldt and Felicia Davis
“You must have the willingness to get out of your own way,” Davis said. “Focus on the vision, not the circumstance.
Closing out the conference on Women’s Equality Day, Feldt summarized with a toast to Take the Lead’s mission. “This is the day. Carry the spirit of it with you.” She added, “We still have a lot of hell to raise”
Leadership Takeaway of The Week:
“You always need to let go of the shame of making money. Do not be ashamed because you can be profitable and still help people.”
Staria Williams, Senior Vice President, Director of Risk Management, Industrial Bank
