How She Does It Karen Finerman

Women across all industries need more female mentors and role models, and perhaps nowhere is that more imperative than in the field of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). When we have more women in STEM, there’s a ripple effect — scientific and financial outcomes for women are improved across the board. 
The good news is that more women than ever are choosing career paths in the field. Paola Arlotta, a neurobiologist and stem cell scientist at Harvard University, is one of the women paving the way for other female scientists. She's showing that it’s possible to run a lab and raise a family at the same time, and this week she shares insight into her career and her work.

Takeaways:

Brain organoids are tiny pieces of brain tissue that are made in a lab from stem cells. They can be used to study the development of the human brain and understand neurological diseases.

Brain organoids have the potential to revolutionize drug development and personalized medicine. 

There are many different ways to be successful in science, and it's important to find your own path.

Having diverse role models is crucial for inspiring and empowering women in science.

Balancing a career in science with family life requires support and collaboration.

Advancements in technology and data analysis will lead to a leap forward in drug development and disease understanding.


Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:33 - Paolo Arlotta's Background and Decision to Pursue Science
00:06:24 - The Process and Significance of Creating Brain Organoids
00:10:25 - The Potential of Brain Organoids in Understanding and Treating Diseases
00:22:01 - Women in Science
00:28:12 - Challenges of Balancing Career and Family
00:31:01 - Role Models and Mentorship
00:34:52 - Lightning Round Questions

Join us! Snag all the latest episodes, savvy budgeting tips, investing advice, and even giveaways via the HerMoney Newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to research by Deloitte, the number of women who reach the highest level of leadership in financial services is on the rise, with women holding 18% of financial C-suite positions globally. But the research also says that number is climbing slowly — without a more concerted effort, women financial leaders may not even reach 25% by 2031.

Lindsay Hans, President and Co-head of Merrill Wealth Management, is working to change that. In her role, she’s committed to lowering the barrier to entry for women financial advisors — including being a strong advocate for their new training program which is more attractive to female advisors who may not have a pre-existing network of wealthy connections.
Takeaways: 

Historical reasons, such as wealth distribution and demographics, have contributed to the underrepresentation of women in the financial services industry. 

The presence of women in leadership roles in the financial services industry is slow but increasing

Younger women are increasingly knowledgeable and comfortable with financial decisions.

There is a preference for financial advisors of the same sex, but it varies on a case-by-case basis.


Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
06:51 - Lindsay Hans Career Advancement
16:20 - Initiatives to Support Women Financial Advisors
20:40 - Advisors and Client Relationships
25:58 - Challenges in Attracting Women to Financial Advisory Role
30:15 - Conclusion

More money news when you need it! Get the latest and greatest updates on all things investing, budgeting and making money. Subscribe to the HerMoney newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Making the decision to have kids is one of the biggest decisions a woman can make in her life, and increasingly, women (and men) are not waiting until they find the right person to have kids with — they’re walking the journey on their own. 
With a wide array of options from sperm and egg donors to surrogacy or adoption, there are more options than ever for those choosing the journey into parenthood. When Leigh Gallagher, Senior Managing Director at Teneo, was in her early 40s, she decided she was done waiting for the “dating gods” and made the choice to have a child on her own. She says that while she’s famously bad at making decisions, this was actually the easiest one she’s ever made. 
Listen in to hear details on how she chose a sperm donor, how she’s built a village of childcare to support her, and why her daughter knows that above all, they are always a team. 

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:05:02 - Decision to Have a Baby
00:11:31 - Pregnancy and Preparing for Parenthood
00:13:46 - Choices as a Single Parent
00:14:21 - Life Changes After Having Her Daughter
00:17:06 - Challenges of Single Parenthood
00:18:58 - Destiny and Parenthood
00:21:31 - Advice for Prospective Single Parents and Current Parents
00:24:09 - Lightning Round

Takeaways:

Making the decision to become a single mother by choice can be empowering and fulfilling.

Having a strong support system, such as a nanny or trusted babysitters is crucial. 

The process of fertility treatments and choosing a sperm donor can be challenging but ultimately rewarding.

Transparency is key when talking to children about their unique family structure.

For those considering becoming single parents, it's important to talk to others who have gone through the same experience and to think about the long-term impact of the decision.

Despite the challenges, being a single parent can bring immense joy and fulfillment.


Join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women’s ability to access high-quality, affordable, healthcare is a huge issue. From conception to asking questions about IVF and egg freezing, to our peri and postmenopausal life stages, we need easy access to specialized care for a lifetime. That’s exactly why Kate Ryder created Maven Clinic, a comprehensive 24/7 virtual platform that offers support and referrals related to fertility and family planning, pregnancy, postpartum health, adoption, surrogacy, parenting, and menopause. 

Kate details how she went from journalist to startup founder, and how Maven provides straightforward access to care for women at all life stages. 
Takeaways:

Increasing access to affordable fertility care is crucial for women's health.

Maven Clinic provides comprehensive support and referrals for various stages of women's health.

The need for more women in the healthcare industry and venture capital

The impact of recent IVF restrictions in Alabama on patients and clinics.


Chapters: 
00:00 Introduction and the Importance of Access to Fertility Care
06:52 The Origin Story of Maven Clinic
14:43 Expanding Services to Support Conception and Menopause
26:53 The Unprecedented Situation in Alabama
28:17 The Need for Comprehensive Women's Health Services

Join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re always so impressed when we hear about female founders who can turn a product they start making in their homes into a multi-million dollar business. So, how did they do it? Did they always dream of starting something bigger or did it take time for them to realize that their humble idea could really scale? And do the skills it takes to run a small business translate to running one with many employees, where the day-to-day tasks are wildly different?
Starr Edwards is one of those founders. In 2010, she was looking for creative ways to provide for her young family, and with just $200 and a used Vitamix, she started selling her dips, with a clever name – Bitchin' Sauce. After starting with small sales at the San Diego Farmers Market, today the company is a $50 million dollar business, and their vegan almond dip is sold everywhere from Costo to Whole Foods. Edwards shares how she scaled her company while raising a family of five, and what she learned when she shipped the sauce to Colorado (hint: it got messy!)

Takeaways:

Starting small and scaling organically can lead to significant growth over time.

Learning from peers and industry experts can be invaluable in navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.

Maintaining a personal connection to the brand and product can drive passion and success.

Providing childcare as a benefit can have a significant positive impact on employees and the company as a whole.

Finding the right fit for team members and harnessing their talents can lead to greater fulfillment and value for the company.

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Background
00:03:29 - Scaling Production from Home Kitchen to Manufacturing
00:04:32 - Getting into Whole Foods and Challenges with Distribution
00:09:20 - Balancing Family Life and Business Growth
00:11:10 - Learning from Peers and Avoiding Mistakes
00:18:18 - Benefits of on-site Childcare
00:21:32 - Future Aspirations
00:23:55 - Hiring Strategy and Building a Team
More money news when you need it! Get the latest and greatest updates on all things investing, budgeting and making money. Subscribe to the HerMoney newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding out about our family's history can tell us so much about ourselves, and our place in the world. For a long time, Deb Liu, CEO of Ancestry.com, said she felt like a victim of her history. She grew up in South Carolina, and since she was one of the only Asian-American kids in her classes, she was often made the target of pranks and bullying. She had to fight for her place in the world. 

Fast forward years later, Liu credits Sheryl Sandberg, her mentor at Facebook, for helping her come out of her shell and embrace her true self. One day after a meeting, Sandberg pulled her aside and said, “You can stop fighting now. You can be gracious.” This statement profoundly changed the way she worked. Listen in to hear her advice on leading with warmth, how to avoid falling into the trap of ‘strategic ambiguity’ in your career, and why she thinks more women should plan their marriages the same way they plan their wedding day.

Takeaways:

It's important to speak up and advocate for yourself in the workplace. Don't be invisible; make your contributions known.

Building relationships is key. Seek out allies, mentors, and sponsors who can provide advice and open doors for you.

Transition from a mindset of fighting to one of building connections. Success in the workplace is about teamwork and relationships, not just individual achievement.

 Plan your marriage with the same care as your wedding. Discuss expectations and roles to create a partnership where both parties contribute and support each other.


Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:43 The Road to Becoming a CEO
03:23 Speaking Up and Building Relationships
06:27 The Importance of Allies, Mentors, and Sponsors
09:25 Asking for What You Want
10:34 Transitioning from Fighting For What You Deserve to Building Connections
14:27 A Swim Lane Marriage
21:14 The Vision for Ancestry.com
26:36 Lightning Round
29:43 Where to Find Deb Liu

Join us! Snag all the latest episodes, savvy budgeting tips, investing advice and even giveaways via the HerMoney Newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices