Banking On Girls

69: Women, Wealth & The Work Ahead: Inside Gloria Steinem's Living Room 21.05.2026 7min

In this personal episode, I recount an extraordinary evening at the Manhattan brownstone of iconic feminist and activist Gloria Steinem — the very home where Ms. Magazine was founded in the 1970s. The dinner was organized as part of the Milken Women's Financial Security Initiative, led by Cheryl Evans, and brought together 20 remarkable women from across the United States to discuss one of the most pressing issues of our time: women's financial security. To learn about Banking On Girls Mother Daughter Workshops: Mother-Daughter Financial Literacy Workshop For the referenced Architectural Digest feature on Gloria Steinem's Brownstone: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/visiting-gloria-steinem-in-her-longtime-manhattan-brownstone

68: Mom, Teach Me About Money! 08.05.2026 15min

To celebrate Mother's Day, I surveyed six college women on the best financial advice their moms gave them, the worst financial advice they had received — and what they still wish they knew. The results are honest, eye-opening, and full of heart. This one is for every mom and daughter ready to take the next step together. What We Cover Why budgeting and credit are the lessons moms teach the most often The $27.40/day compound interest rule every teenager needs to hear (David Bach, Mel Robbins Podcast) Why investing is the conversation most moms aren't having — and why it matters The "money comes and goes" mindset and why it can quietly cost young women their financial agency Small, confident first steps any young woman can take today This Week's Challenge: Moms — start the investing conversation, even if you're still learning. Daughters — pick one thing and do it this week. One step is all it takes. Learn more about Banking On Girls Mother Daughter Workshops: https://mom-daughter-workshop.lovable.app/ This podcast does not provide financial, tax, legal or investment advice. It is for educational purposes only.

67: Why Women Are Better Investors Than They Think — And The Data That Proves It (With Stanford Associate Professor Saumitra Jha) 23.04.2026 21min

Why Women Are Better Investors Than They Think — And The Data That Proves It | With Professor Saumitra Jha Most of us have heard of the gender wage gap. But there's another gap that gets far less attention — the gender investing gap. And according to new research from Stanford, the fix might be simpler than anyone expected. In this episode, we sit down with Professor Saumitra Jha, Associate Professor of Political Economy at Stanford Graduate School of Business and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Affairs. He joins us to share findings from his groundbreaking study published in The Economic Journal (January 2025), co-authored with Moses Shayo, which reveals that simply participating in stock trading — even in a study setting — measurably closes the gender confidence gap in finance. WHAT WE COVER — How the gender gap shows up in investing: lower participation, lower confidence, and less financial risk-taking — even among women with strong educational and career credentials. — Why the confidence gap may matter more than the knowledge gap. Confidence, participation, and knowledge are mutually reinforcing — and breaking into any one of them can shift all three. — The surprising findings from the study: women who participated in the trading experiment were more engaged, answered more factual questions correctly, and ended up with at least comparable — if not slightly better — investment returns than men. — Why men in the study actually became more reserved in their self-assessments over time, while women grew in confidence. — How women can take their first steps into investing: practical, low-pressure ways to build familiarity, knowledge, and confidence with markets. Access Professor Jha's paper here: https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/working-paper/trading-stocks-builds-financial-confidence-and-compresses-gender-gap Learn more about Banking On Girls Mother-Daughter Workshops here: https://mom-daughter-workshop.lovable.app/ This podcast does not provide financial, tax, legal or investment advice. It is for educational purposes only.

66: She Invests Better Than Him — So Why Is She 25% Poorer? 09.04.2026 10min

This International Women's Month, we're zooming out and looking at the bigger picture of where women stand financially, what's holding them back, and what each of us can do about it. The numbers are sobering. The World Economic Forum estimates it will take 123 years to close the gender economic gap at the current pace. Women are expected to accumulate just 74% of the wealth men do over a full working lifetime. And yet — when women do invest, research shows they can achieve better returns than men. The gap isn't ability. It's access, knowledge, and confidence. In this episode, we explore: Why financial literacy is the lever — and why the gender gap in investing is one-third a confidence problem, not just a knowledge problem The age-seven finding — research from the University of Cambridge showing that many money habits form before age seven, and what that means for how we raise financially capable children The silence that has a cost — why money being treated as taboo in so many households hits girls hardest, and what happens when we break that silence The generational ripple effect — why financial literacy in one woman doesn't stay with one woman This episode is for anyone who believes the 123-year timeline is unacceptable, and wants to understand the role they can play in shortening it. For more information on Banking On Girls Mother-Daughter Workshops go to: https://mom-daughter-workshop.lovable.app/

65:Why Avoiding A Money Conversation Is Costing Your Daughter Everything 27.03.2026 9min

In This Episode What I've been up to and what's coming this season Why moms and daughters learning together makes all the difference The moment teen girls realize time is their biggest financial superpower The emotional side of money nobody talks about How a shared financial language turns conflict into connection Stay Connected Learn more about the workshops: https://mom-daughter-workshop.lovable.app Subscribe wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts

64: REWIND EPISODE What your children are learning about money on social media and how to start a conversation with them 08.08.2025 7min

In this REWIND episode, I speak with Josina Kamerling from the CFA Institute and discuss how parents can help their kids, especially girls, think critically about the financial advice they encounter on social media. We cover essential conversations that empower children to evaluate information effectively and build a solid understanding of money management. For those interested in more on this topic, this episode references Josina Kamerling from the CFA Insitute's paper The Finfluencer Appeal: Investing in the Age of Social Media.

63: How Dr. Darla Bishop turned her money struggles into financial wisdom for others 25.07.2025 28min

In this episode of Banking on Girls, I sit down with Dr. Darla Bishop—author of How to Afford Everything, Madeline's Money Adventure (for ages 4–8), and How to Afford College and Grad School. Darla brings her signature mix of humor, wisdom, and real talk to help people of all ages build a healthier relationship with money. From being a doula to a military spouse, healthcare consultant, and now a voice in financial education, Darla shares her own money journey—and how she's raising her daughter to be money-smart and confident. We talk about: 💸 Why so many people are afraid to look at their finances 🎓 Smart ways to pay for college and grad school (especially if you have more than one kid heading there!) 👩‍👧 The impact your words have on your child's money mindset 💡 How to build financial habits that feel good—not guilt-ridden Resources: Where to find Darla Bishop: darlabishop.com/social Darla's free resources: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhowtoaffordeverything.com%2Fresources&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ca888a0777ec54dbc07b708ddc5b713ef%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638884112292568888%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rPrYolv3WmXgnV2V1IoWEShfWQmRj%2FcHDyLHBlr7aPU%3D&reserved=0

62: What I learned at the UN Part 2- Women, technology & AI 10.07.2025 5min

In this follow-up to Episode 61, I return with Part 2 of my reflections from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW69), where I served as a delegate with the FEZANA NGO. This episode dives deep into the intersection of gender, technology, and financial inclusion. 💡 In this episode, you'll hear about: The dangers of AI bias—from credit access to deepfakes targeting women Why women must be involved in developing ethical AI frameworks Global examples of regions building inclusive AI models (Canada, EU, Singapore) What questions we must ask to ensure AI equity 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter at www.bankingongirls.com 👉 Follow and share to keep the movement growing.

61: What I learned at the UN: Part 1 - Women, Climate & Finance 26.06.2025 6min

In this powerful episode of Banking on Girls, I take listeners inside the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York, where I attended as a delegate with the FEZANA NGO. From Kyrgyzstan to Latin America, the stories shared at the UN revealed a deep and urgent truth: climate change is not just an environmental crisis—it's an economic and gender justice crisis. You'll hear: Why microfinance matters more than ever for women in climate-affected regions The problems with loan-based aid—and the need for grants and true financial partnerships Insights from global leaders like Bridget Burns (WEDO) and Young Hee (Adaptation Fund) How programs like Agro-Mujer empower women without land ownership Why women and girls must be seen as agents of change, not just aid recipients 🎧 Listen now and stay tuned for Episode 62, where we explore how AI and tech are impacting women and girls globally.

60: Thirty Minute Mentors Podcast, Adam Mendler's lessons from 500 leaders 12.06.2025 22min

In this special episode recorded live at the 2025 Milken Global Conference in Los Angeles, I sit down with Adam Mendler, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and host of the top-rated podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he's interviewed more than 500 of America's most successful leaders. Together, we discuss: Highlights from Milken 2025 What Adam has learned about leadership from hundreds of top CEOs and changemakers The difference (if any) in how women and men rise to the top Why starting early and staying the course is the secret to building real wealth What parents and mentors can do to raise confident girls in a shifting economic landscape And the one piece of advice Adam gives to every future leader: "Be a good person." 🎧 Tune in and share with someone raising the next generation of changemakers. For more information on Adam and Thirty Minute Mentors: https://adammendler.com/podcast/

59: Banking on the Future: Insights from the 2025 Milken Global Conference 29.05.2025 7min

In this special recap episode of Banking on Girls, Marina Batliwalla takes you inside the Milken Global Conference 2025—a gathering of world leaders, innovators, and investors—to uncover what the future of finance, technology, and equity means for women and girls. You'll hear takeaways from thought leaders like Tony Blair, Jensen Huang, and top minds in retirement, caregiving, and Gen Z finance. From the rise of AI to the realities of caregiving and generational inequality, this episode unpacks the conversations that matter for building financial power and confidence in the next generation. In This Episode, We Cover: 💡 How AI is reshaping every job—and why digital fluency is now essential to financial literacy 💸 Why young women should front-load their savings early in life 👩‍👧‍👦 How caregiving affects women's financial futures—and how to plan for it 📉 The broken "social escalator" and what Gen Z and Millennials are up against 💰 Why the average woman's portfolio is still 70% cash—and how we can change that 🌍 The role women will play in the largest wealth transfer in history Take Action: ✔️ Share this episode with a girl, young woman, or parent in your life ✔️ Talk to your kids about AI, investing, and debt—early and often ✔️ Download a budgeting app together or set up a mock investment account ✔️ Subscribe to Banking on Girls for more conversations on raising financially fearless girls Links & Resources: 🔗 Milken Institute: milkeninstitute.org

58: How the Fires Changed Everything - and Sparked a Lesson in Money, Motherhood, and Community 15.05.2025 56min

On Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 10 a.m., everything changed. In this powerful episode of Banking on Girls, we sit down with three mothers who lived through the terrifying Palisades fires in Los Angeles—watching the flames reach their homes in real time through security cameras and dash cams left behind. As smoke filled the sky and evacuation orders came fast, for some, their neighbors stepped in to protect what they could. What followed was a test of emergency planning, emotional resilience, and financial preparedness. We talk about: How it felt to watch the embers ignite their homes remotely as they raced to safety The critical role of having a plan to avoid panic-driven decisions during an emergency Why community support matters not just in the moment, but months later during long-term recovery The unexpected financial lessons born from loss And how the way we handle crisis teaches our kids—especially our daughters—what strength really looks like Thank you Elaine Paul, Lynne Weaver and Brooke Crane for sharing your stories. This episode is a testament to friendship, preparedness, and the quiet optimism of women rebuilding from the ashes. As one mom says, "The kids are watching. Take care of yourself first." Resources: www.ready.gov https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/ready_emergency-financial-first-aid-toolkit.pdf

57: How a SIFMA Foundation Survey has Revealed What Parents Really Want — and What It Means for Financial Education 26.04.2025 17min

Today, we're thrilled to welcome back Melanie Mortimer, President of the SIFMA Foundation — the nation's leader in youth investor and financial education. Melanie holds a Master's in International Management and an MBA from Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, and a BA in English from Agnes Scott College in Georgia. In this episode, we dive into the findings of a brand-new survey conducted by the SIFMA Foundation on U.S. parents' views about financial education for kids. Melanie shares eye-opening insights, including the surprising statistic that nearly three-quarters of parents would consider moving their child to a different school if it offered financial education! We also discuss: The fact that women often feel less confident than men when it comes to teaching kids about investing (and how we're working to change that!) How the SIFMA Foundation is supporting families, schools, and communities in building financial literacy from an early age Practical ways parents can get involved and start teaching money concepts at home If you're passionate about preparing the next generation — especially girls — for financial success, you won't want to miss this conversation! https://www.sifma.org/about/sifma-foundation/ Click here to receive the free Banking On Girls newsletter for actionable tips and inspiration on raising kids to be money-smart

56: How the World Bank's Wendy Teleki is empowering women entrepreneurs around the globe 09.12.2024 23min

In this episode of the Banking on Girls podcast, we are excited to feature Wendy Teleki, the Head of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) at the World Bank. We-Fi plays a crucial role in supporting women entrepreneurs in over 60 developing countries by enhancing their access to finance, markets, skills, and technology. Wendy has been recognized as one of Forbes's "50 Over 50" women in finance for her outstanding leadership in advocating for women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. She is also the co-author of "Rebalance: How Women Lead, Parent, Partner and Thrive," where she shares her personal journey and insights on finding purpose in one's career. In this episode, Wendy discusses the valuable support the We-Fi project provides to women entrepreneurs, addressing the challenges they face at every stage of the entrepreneurial process—from launching their businesses to accessing necessary funding. As a bonus, she offers advice for young women beginning their educational and career journeys, emphasizing the importance of choosing a purposeful path, a journey which she herself, outlines in her book. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about empowering women in business and the steps we can take to create a more inclusive financial landscape. Click here to receive the free Banking On Girls newsletter for actionable tips and inspiration on raising kids to be money-smart

55: How UCLA's Professor Hal Hershfield's work in connecting to your future self can change savings habits and transform lives 21.11.2024 28min

In this episode of Banking on Girls, we're joined by Professor Hal Hershfield, a distinguished expert in marketing, behavioral decision-making, and psychology at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. As the author of Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today, Professor Hershfield explores how understanding and connecting with our future selves can transform the way we make long-term financial decisions. What You'll Learn in This Episode: How Professor Hershfield's research helps people visualize and emotionally connect with their future selves to improve saving behavior. How Professor Hershfield learned about money as a child and how he is raising his own children. Practical strategies for parents to teach children about saving, spending, and giving. Key Takeaways: Building a connection with your future self can inspire actionable change in the present. Early financial education is crucial for instilling lifelong habits of thoughtful saving and spending. Simple, relatable techniques can help children and adults alike envision a more financially secure future.

54: How Maura Cunningham, Founder of Rock the Street, Wall Street is changing the landscape for girls and finance 08.11.2024 22min

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Maura Cunningham, founder of Rock the Street, Wall Street—a groundbreaking non-profit organization dedicated to empowering high school girls by teaching them the fundamentals of math, investing, and finance. Maura brings over 25 years of Wall Street experience in finance and wealth management, as well as insights from her journey as a mother to a successful trial lawyer. Together, we discuss Maura's mission to shatter the math barrier for girls in the U.S. and foster financial literacy from an early age. Maura explains how Rock the Street, Wall Street has been creating transformative impacts for young women, particularly those in high school, preparing them for financially independent futures. In This Episode, We Cover: Maura's Motivation: What inspired Maura to leave her successful Wall Street career and start Rock the Street, Wall Street. The Lifecycle of Girls in Math: Maura outlines the typical "math journey" for girls in the U.S. and why many are discouraged from STEM at an early age. Breaking the Cycle: How her high school programs are designed to build confidence in finance and investing, cultivating the next generation of women leaders in finance. Raising Financially Savvy Girls: Insights from Maura's personal experience raising her daughter, with advice for parents raising girls in today's fast-paced, complex world. Connect with Rock the Street, Wall Street: Learn more about Maura's organization, their programs, and ways to get involved: https://rockthestreetwallstreet.com/

53: What your children are learning about money on social media and how to start a conversation with them 19.10.2024 7min

In this episode, we discuss how parents can help their kids, especially girls, think critically about financial advice they encounter on social media. We cover essential conversations that empower children to evaluate information effectively and build a solid understanding of money management. For those interested in more on this topic, this episode references Ep 42 with Josina Kamerling from the CFA Insitute, and her paper The Finfluencer Appeal: Investing in the Age of Social Media.

52: How Milken Institute's Cheryl Evans is helping solve America's problem with lifetime financial security 03.10.2024 25min

My guest today is Cheryl Evans who leads the Lifetime FInancial Security Program at the Milken Institute and recently released the paper Shifting the Retirement Paradigm: Moving Towards Financial Security. As a mom herself to a teen daughter Cheryl cautions, "No one's coming to rescue you - be your own hero!" Listen here to learn: Why you need to make saving money a priority from a young age Where you can start on your own financial knowledge journey How you can overcome biases to make conscious choices to help save for your future-self Learn more here: https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/research-and-reports/reports/shifting-retirement-paradigm-moving-toward-lifetime-financial-security

51: REWIND EPISODE How money mindset and business coach Rasa DiSalvo's career with athletes, executives and celebrities began as a volleyball player in Lithuania 03.09.2024 23min

Today's epsiode is a rewind of my conversation with Rasa DiSalvo, a business and high-performance coach, transformational speaker, and athlete. Rasa has coached founders, pro-athletes, Hollywood celebrities, corporate executives, and CEOs. Rasa's passion for human potential and high performance has been uniquely shaped by a career as an athlete, where human beings are tested to the limits of their mental, physical and technical abilities. In her coaching, she unites the concept of training our mind, body, and spirit. Prior to starting her own coaching business, Rasa spent 15 years as a Strategy & Transaction Consultant where she led multinational transactions all at the same time competing on a Pro-Beach Volleyball tour on the weekends. In this episode, Rasa helps us understand that whether we feel wealthy or not depends a lot on our internal state of mind and our attitude towards abundance in life. Her number one piece of advice is that parents should avoid telling children that "I can't afford it" but rather to question "how can I afford it?", as this ultimately opens up resourcefulness and creativity. Learn more about Rasa's work here: https://www.rasadisalvo.com/

50: REWIND EPISODE How Australian diplomat Kylie Hargreaves' early life and travels formed her views on leadership and financial literacy 18.08.2024 22min

Today's episode is a rewind of my converstion with Kylie Hargreaves, Chair of the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity and Deputy Chair for Regional Development Australia. Kylie is an experienced diplomat and is passionate about water, waste and energy. She has over 25 years experience in Federal and State Governments, including as Australia's Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner in the US, UK and Spain and as former Deputy Secretary for several portfolios (including resources and energy) in the New South Wales State Government, Australia. In this episode Kylie gives us a glimpse into her early life traveling the world as the daughter of a diplomat, and later as a diplomat herself. As a former Australian Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles, and as one of the founders of the G'day USA program, she transformed the way Australia conducted public policy in the US and around the world. For Kylie, early lessons in self-reliance have led to a lifetime of financial discipline and ultimately the freedom to pursue career and personal goals.