The Power of the Ask

Marcia Mantell, founder of Mantell Retirement Consulting and former VP at Fidelity Investments, joins The Power of the Ask to talk about what it takes to own your financial future. With 30 years of experience translating complex topics like Social Security and Medicare into language everyone can use, Marcia explores why women still remain disengaged from financial decisions, and how to change that. 

Marcia, Lisa, and Precious c...

Beth Battaglino, RN, CEO of HealthyWomen.org, joins The Power of the Ask to illustrate how health literacy and financial security are directly connected. Beth draws on more than three decades of women's health advocacy to explain why delaying care, skipping screenings, and staying quiet in the doctor's office can carry real financial consequences. She also shares how she made the boldest ask of her career, turning a hospital's abou...

Leadership coach, somatic practitioner, and Café con Pam podcast host Pam Covarrubias joins The Power of the Ask to talk about what keeps high-achieving first-generation women stuck, silent, and overworked, and what it takes to break free. Pam introduces the concept of Calladita Culture, the inherited system of silence and submission that conditions women to stay small, underpay themselves, and perform for approval rather than lead...

Financial thought leader and author Manisha Thakor joins the show to share her approach to financial health and emotional wealth. With over 30 years of experience in financial services, Manisha provides a clear roadmap for dismantling the cultural pressure on women to be perfect. She discusses the core principles of her book, MoneyZen, and explores how women can reclaim their power by asking the right questions of their employers, ...

Entrepreneur, nurse practitioner and Manhattan medspa founder Andi Assebian, MSN, AGNP-C, joins the podcast to share her journey from the Ivory Coast to the heart of New York City’s aesthetic medicine scene. Drawing from her extensive background in physiology and perioperative nursing, Andi discusses how she built a practice that supports anatomy-driven beauty standards. She shares the stark reality of navigating the medical ...

Financial expert Tricia M. Taitt shares her journey from Wall Street and Broadway to writing the Amazon bestseller Dancing with Numbers and founding FinCore, a financial planning platform for women entrepreneurs. Discover the mindset shifts that define a CEO, why financial literacy is essential for women entrepreneurs, and the most overlooked opportunity for increasing your business profit. Tricia also reveals the two biggest asks ...

Ready to level up your money game? This episode of The Power of the Ask podcast—brought to you by Marshalls—features CEO and financial mastermind behind the Your Rich BFF brand, Vivian Tu. Vivian takes us behind the scenes of her journey from Wall Street trader to one of today’s most trusted voices in personal finance. She shares how and why she built her viral, community-centered brand, what she’s learned a...

Award-winning CFP® Professional and Women and Wealth Authority Cary Carbonaro shares her remarkable, decades-long journey through the financial industry, shattering the glass ceiling. Carbonaro reveals the bold, decisive moves that shaped her career, including walking away from a half-million-dollar Wall Street salary after 9/11, quartering her income, and ultimately choosing to build her own multimillion-dollar financial planning ...

In a culture that glorifies the hustle, choosing to rest can feel like a revolutionary act. Licensed therapist, founder of Burn Bright Consulting, and host of Black Girl Burnout podcast, and 2025 Savvy Ladies Female FinFluencer Achievement Award Kelley Bonner shares her journey from clinical burnout to building a life centered on joy. She offers a radical perspective on ambition, arguing that much of what we call drive is actually ...

Are your subconscious beliefs about money holding your business back? This week, Lisa and Precious welcome Ruchi Pinniger, a venture capital investor and the founder of Watch Her Prosper®. Ruchi shares her journey from a successful Wall Street career to becoming a financial mentor for women entrepreneurs. She explains why traditional financial advice often fails without addressing the underlying money mindset. Ruchi discusses her s...

Certified Financial Therapist Erika Wasserman returns to The Power of the Ask to discuss how women can stop feeling shame around money and start building more confidence. Learn how a “personal board of directors” can help you on your financial journey. This conversation provides the tools you need to rewrite your money story and build a supportive community that helps you move forward. 

Key Takeaways 

• Asking...

Join Lisa Zeiderman and Precious Williams as they welcome Erika Wasserman, one of only 100 certified financial therapists in the United States and founder of Your Financial Therapist, to the Power of the Ask podcast. Drawing from her personal journey through divorce and reinvention, Erika shares her signature Money Mindset Method and reveals how our backgrounds, cultural influences, and past experiences shape our relationship with ...

On this episode of The Power of the Ask, we speak with Ivette Rivera, an inspiring Afro-Latina Nuyorican from Camden, New Jersey who transformed her life from homelessness to founding Harley, a trauma-informed fintech platform dedicated to helping women escape financial abuse and build wealth. 

Ivette shares her incredible journey of resilience, faith, and the bold asks that paved her path to success, including selling a domain...

Think insurance is dull? Think again! Join us as visionary CEO and turnaround expert Monica Adwani shatters myths about the insurance industry and entrepreneurship. With nearly two decades of experience, Monica shares how she built a thriving career from the ground up, empowering Latino and immigrant entrepreneurs through innovative solutions. Tune in to hear the surprising ways insurance saves lives and businesses, the truth about...

Tune in as Lisa Zeiderman and Precious Williams welcome Zoe Bogan, founder of ZB Agency and the visionary behind the Revenue Catalyst Program, which empowers women in traditionally male-dominated industries to excel in revenue-generating roles. Drawing on her experience as a former mergers and acquisitions leader at KPMG, Zoe shares her expertise helping women cultivate the confidence to overcome traditional barriers and boldly ask...

On this episode of The Power of the Ask, we welcome Melissa Cisco, Esq., Director of High School Innovation and Special Projects, NYC Department of Education, for a discussion on the surprising intersection of education and real estate. Melissa shares her journey of discovering the power of property ownership for building wealth and how she empowers her students with this knowledge. Tune in for these key takeaways: 

• Unlocki...

In this episode of the Power of the Ask podcast, hosts Lisa Zeiderman and Precious Williams reconnect with investor, writer, and facilitator Nirupa Umapathy. Nirupa explores the significance of embracing life’s transitions and advocating for your financial value. Discover how learning to say “no” and understanding your financial landscape can empower you to ask for and receive what you truly need.

Key Takeaways:

In this episode of The Power of the Ask, Jacqueline (JaQ) Campbell reveals her incredible story from a 16-year-old intern to a powerhouse wealth advisor. As founder and CEO of Alexander Legacy Private Wealth Management, she emphasizes the critical role of mentorship and is dedicated to empowering the next generation of financial leaders. Learn how her experiences have shaped her mission to create opportunities for women and people ...

In a time filled with challenging realities, Brenda Gonzalez, founder of the Tamarindo podcast and Director of Social Impact and Engagement at VPE Communications, focuses on the crucial connection between laughter and social change. Join hosts Lisa Zeiderman and Precious Williams as they engage in a compelling conversation with Brenda, a self-proclaimed political nerd, fitness instructor, and nonprofit capacity builder, who transfo...