Stop Waiting Until You’re Ready: Sylvia Kwan on Women, Wealth, and Leadership

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How many times have you talked yourself out of pursuing an opportunity, telling yourself it wasn’t for you, that you weren’t ready, or you weren’t qualified?

What if that hesitation wasn’t self-awareness but a script you internalized?

And it isn’t because women are somehow inherently less suited for leadership or financial independence. The systems of power, patriarchy, sexism, and misogyny that we live in every day shape the voice in women’s heads that tells them they’re not meant to be a leader.

We are in a political and cultural moment where women’s rights and autonomy are facing incredible pushback at all levels. It’s vital that we examine our internalized biases towards ourselves and others, where we limit our ambitions for roles we have the skills and abilities for, and where we’re giving up our power because of the stories we’ve been told by our society.

My guest today is a beautiful example of a woman who hadn’t considered herself for a CEO role, but who stepped into the position and has grown into the kind of leader we just might need most right now. In our conversation, we talk a lot about women and finances and also about what we believe about our abilities and the opportunities we deserve to pursue.

Sylvia Kwan is a Chartered Financial Analyst with more than 30 years of industry experience. Prior to Ellevest, she founded SimplySmart Asset Management and held senior portfolio management positions at Financial Engines and Charles Schwab. Sylvia serves on the Board of Exit 182, the investment committee that oversees the endowment of Grinnell College.

• How Sylvia’s commitment to Ellevest’s mission bolstered her through the abrupt and sometimes isolating shift into being CEO

• How she navigated the tension between wanting to be transparent with her team and needing to project calm

• The scripts about who she is and the work she excels at that Sylvia had to rewrite, and why it’s a continuing process

• How the financial industry subconsciously reinforces sexist ideas about women and money

• Why taking the stigma out of women talking about money is a key piece of closing the gender wealth gap

• How women accruing wealth actually supports communities and creates more equity

• How convoluted jargon and perfectionism keep women from getting started with investing

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Click here for the full archive of The Unburdened Leader

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• Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny, Kate Manne

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• Power with purpose: How women’s leadership boosts the economy and society | Devex

• Whidbey, T Kira Madden

• CeCe Winans - Goodness of God

• Ted Lasso

What story about ambition, leadership, or money have you inherited that you’re beginning to question?

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