On this episode of “The Power of the Ask,” financial services veteran Tina Powell joins co-hosts Lisa and Precious for an inspiring conversation about her personal and professional journey. Tina is the Chief of Community at Intention.ly, a growth engine design firm transforming the way fintech and finserv organizations approach growth, and the founder and former CEO of C-Suite Social Media.

Growing up, Tina watched her single mother juggle two jobs to make ends meet, which inspired her to pursue her own financial empowerment through education and a career in wealth management. She credits her aunt, an estate planning attorney and the first in her family to earn a law degree, with setting an early example of what she could become in spite of her family’s financial instability. Tina also touches on the positive impact of male allies in an industry like financial services, and emphasizes her passion for building community through her work.

Tina also opens up about her recent battle with stage four lung cancer, stressing the importance of seeking help and support in dealing with life’s challenges, whether they’re health related, financial, or personal, and shares her approach to mindfulness and staying present during difficult times.

During the episode, Tina:

• Offers guidance and inspiration for those experiencing challenges, particularly to seek help and build community
• Shares her approach to remaining mindful and present during difficult times
• Emphasizes the power of the ask: “If you don’t ask, you don’t get”

Throughout the episode, Tina’s passion for her work at Intention.ly and empowering the next generation of financial services talent shines through. She draws inspiration from seeing young professionals succeed and from witnessing the positive impact of her work on others.

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About Tina Powell:

Tina Powell is a trailblazer in the digital marketing industry, with over 20 years of experience driving growth for financial services companies. As the Chief of Community at Intentionly, she works alongside CEO and Co-Founder Kelly Waltrich, revolutionizing how financial technology and services companies approach marketing. Tina’s track record of delivering results for her clients led to her founding C-Suite Social Media, a high-growth digital marketing agency that Intentional.ly later acquired.

Her passion for helping financial services companies thrive in the digital age is further demonstrated through her industry-renowned podcast, In The Suite, where she spotlights the careers and leadership of mid to senior-level women in the financial services industry. Tina earned a Master’s from NYU in Graphic Communications Management and Technology and the NYU Prism Alumni Achievement Award. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, magna cum laude, from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Important Links:
Savvy Ladies
Precious Williams' LinkedIn
Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn
Tina Powell's LinkedIn

This episode of the Power of the Ask podcast features Bonnie Wan, AdAge 2022 Chief Strategy Officer of the Year, partner and Head of Brand Strategy at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners and the bestselling author of “The Life Brief.”

An immigrant from Taiwan who lived in both Los Angeles and New York City, Bonnie has always been fascinated by human behavior, by what drives people, and by what fuels their purpose. That curiosity led to her transformative roles in branding and strategy and to develop the “Life Brief,” a creative brief that helps people find clarity about their life goals and navigate challenges with purpose.

For many people, the idea of transformation brings images of giant leaps, but Bonnie suggests small changes that can be implemented every day to help create forward momentum. Bonnie has written briefs to fit all aspects of life, from marriage to leadership to finances. She notes that the practice of being very clear and connected to your innermost truth about what you want and what matters most at each stage of your life will help you navigate through that compass.

In the financial realm, that means asking the right questions. As a strategist, Bonnie says questions are her best friends. Her first wealth brief question is, ‘What is enough?’ The second is, ‘What do you want to be rich in?’ Bonnie believes the power of the ask is important to women, especially financially. She declares, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” She concludes by saying women need to know what they’re worth, what’s sacred and what’s worth fighting for. That kind of clarity allows them to pivot their careers and their asks in different ways when the time calls.

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About Bonnie Wan:

Bonnie Wan is Partner and Head of Brand Strategy at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners and the bestselling author of “The Life Brief.” AdAge named her the 2022 Chief Strategy Officer of the Year and a 2023 Leading Woman for reaching new heights in an ever-changing marketing landscape. A career brand strategist, Bonnie has spent more than 30 years working with companies to articulate the essence of who they are and has transformed this practice into a creative brief for her life and a personal development strategy for individuals — “The Life Brief.” Bonnie’s creative brief has grown from an agency talk into a workbook, keynote talks and workshops, and, in 2024, a book.

“The Life Brief: A Playbook for No-Regrets Living” is a USA Today bestseller and Amazon Best Book of the Year 2024. Modeled after the creative brief, a tool used by many innovative companies to unlock clarity and unleash action, The Life Brief carves a path for living with intention and imagination.

Today, Bonnie teaches others how to get clear, get creative, and get courageous about living without regret through her keynote talks, workshops and retreats. And thanks to the clarity she found in her own Life Brief, Bonnie answered her desire to spend more time with her husband, four kids and dog Charlie.

Important Links:
Savvy Ladies
Precious Williams' LinkedIn
Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn
Bonnie Wan's LinkedIn

This Power of the Ask podcast episode features smart shopping expert, lifestyle journalist and TV commentator Trae Bodge.

With a passion for helping people save and get the best value for their money, Trae has been featured on national and regional news, sharing her expertise in smart shopping, saving money, and setting financial boundaries. She not only teaches others to be mindful of what they spend and how, but she also walks the talk. Trae calls herself a notorious penny pincher but notes she doesn’t sacrifice style or fun. She encourages open discussions about financial boundaries, setting spending limits, and creating allowances.

On the podcast, Trae provides practical tips for smart shopping, including timing purchases for sales, using deal sites, earning cash back, and leveraging credit card points. She highlights the significance of regular savings for emergencies, vacations, education, and retirement. At the same time, Trae emphasizes the balancing act between saving and prioritizing yourself, saying it’s important to enjoy life while creating joy for others.

As the mother of a teen, Trae understands that teaching kids about money is the key to preparing them for a financially independent future. She shares ideas on teaching them about identifying money, understanding its value, and distinguishing wants from needs. For adults, she suggests setting personal spending limits, shopping in their closets, and making saving a positive habit. Trae concludes by discussing the importance of saving for both short-term needs and long-term goals, encouraging listeners to adopt mindful spending habits and utilize available tools to enhance their financial well-being.

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About Trae Bodge:

Trae is an accomplished lifestyle journalist and TV commentator specializing in budget-friendly living, personal finance, family travel, and retail for more than a decade. She has appeared on-air over a thousand times, including GMA, Today Show, NBC Nightly News, CBS Mornings, Inside Edition, and network affiliates around the country. Her writing and expert commentary have appeared in Forbes, Time, Marketwatch, MSN, USNews.com, Kiplinger, Yahoo, and numerous others. Her money-saving tips can be found online at truetrae.com and at @truetrae on IG, FB, and Twitter.

Trae was selected as a founding member of the Kiplinger Advisor Collective, named one of 5 Black Financial Influencers to Follow in 2024 by Nerdwallet, one of 10 Best Savvy Shopping Bloggers for 2024 by Cardrates, a Top Voice in Retail by LinkedIn, and a top personal finance expert by GoBankingRates and FlexJobs. In 1997, she co-founded the cult cosmetic brand, Three Custom Color Specialists and is co-founder of the media coaching firm, One Take.

Important Links:
Savvy Ladies
Lisa Zeiderman, Esq., CDFA, CFL - Forbes Business Council | LinkedIn
Precious L. Williams - Perfect Pitch Group | LinkedIn
Trae Bodge |Linkedin