Host Meredith Lowry sits down with Sarah Catherine Gutierrez of Aptus Financial to discuss the psychology of "caveman brain" spending, the truth about "golden handcuffs," and why every person in America needs to know their personal savings rate.

• Aptus Financial’s Mission: The firm focuses on helping clients, particularly young physicians, "pay themselves first" and invest in tax-efficient ways.
• Accessibility: Traditionally, financial advice required significant wealth, but Sarah Catherine targets clients as "broke as possible" to help them avoid major mistakes early in their careers.
• The Physician Trap: Many high-earning doctors graduate and immediately inflate their lifestyles with expensive homes and cars, eventually living paycheck to paycheck despite $500,000+ salaries. This financial "entrapment" is a primary driver of professional burnout.

The "Save 10" Philosophy

• The Golden Number: Sarah Catherine advocates that everyone should know their "savings rate"—specifically saving 10% of their income—to earn the right to stop working one day.
• Golden Handchecks: This term refers to being forced to stay in a job you dislike because you are dependent on the next paycheck.
• The Power of Automation: To combat the natural "caveman brain" (basal ganglia) that wants to spend immediately, Sarah Catherine recommends "paying yourself first" by having savings automatically deducted before they even hit a checking account.

Modernizing Retirement Plans

• Language Barriers: Sarah Catherine argues that the 401k system fails many because it relies on jargon and tax codes (e.g., 401k, 403b, vesting) rather than simple language.
• The "Bucket" Concept: She reframes retirement accounts as "buckets" where employers literally put a pile of cash for the employee’s future.
• Overcoming Gender Tropes: The podcast addresses the historical exclusion of women from finance (noting that women couldn't get credit cards independently until 1974) and emphasizes that women are excellent savers once they take ownership of their money.

Tactical Advice: "But First Save 10"

• Payroll Deductions: Most payroll departments can easily split a direct deposit into multiple accounts.
• High-Yield Savings: Utilizing accounts like Ally or American Express for automated deposits helps build a "pile of confidence" for emergencies or business opportunities.
• Physician-Specific Savings: High earners often need to save 20% to 30% because they start their careers later and rely less on Social Security to replace their income.

Upcoming Books

• But First Save 10: Aimed at median-income earners, focusing on the simple move of saving 10%.
• Hi Doc, Meet Money: Scheduled for release in mid-April, this book provides a specific framework for physicians and high earners to calculate their long-term savings rates.

Host Meredith Lowry sits down with Shunqetta Cunningham, the powerhouse behind Kharis Consulting and the Over a Cup Initiative, to discuss the true meaning of power, the necessity of building community for women entrepreneurs, and her mission to elevate the economic landscape of Arkansas.

Meredith: I am so excited today to have my friend Shunqetta Cunningham with us on the podcast to talk about all the things you're doing.

Shunqetta: Kharis Consulting started exclusively as a grant writer after leaving our local municipality. My family was growing—by then, I had three of the now five kids. Grant writing turned into full consulting for nonprofits a little over 13 years ago.

Shunqetta: Connection sometimes doesn't equate to currency in business. My first client was pro bono; they received a $40,000 grant, but they did not contract with me afterward because they expected free help. Eventually, I had to rise to the level of service where I knew nonprofit does not mean "no profit".

Shunqetta: In business, "help" insinuates what that is—help—but "providing consultation" or "facilitation" reduces that question. In Northeast Arkansas, I have been able to flourish as a solopreneur, but it has not been easy.

Shunqetta: You have to create community. I have had to come to Little Rock or Fayetteville just to get a different mindset of what it is to run a business outside of my passion. I am blessed to have a supportive husband who encourages my creativity. My children see this example; if I am going to leverage influence for everyone else, I am going to first start at home.

Shunqetta: The Over a Cup Initiative (OAC) is an intentional networking connection space for Black women entrepreneurs in Northeast Arkansas. We affectionately call one another "sister bosses". I started it in 2018 so people could ask questions about business terminology—profit, loss, capital—without feeling intimidated.

Shunqetta: Three years ago, FORGE Community Loan Fund took a chance on us to launch the LEAP Academy (Leveraging Expertise to Accelerate Profit), an incubator for women. We have graduated nearly 30 women from the program. We use terms we understand culturally—"where does the money reside"—to make the process less intimidating.

Shunqetta: It has never been as much about race as it is about economics. Dr. King’s message of reconciliation wasn't the catalyst for anger; the threat came when economic justice started to be at the forefront. Arkansas industries must work together because technology and AI are changing every facet of this nation.

Shunqetta: I have a book out called When I Awake, I Decree. It is a 366-day devotional to help people reframe their conversations with positivity no matter what is going on in the world. My faith tells me that my voice matters too.

Shunqetta: I self-published, and it prompted me to release a resource guide for nonprofits called Get Off The Ask. It empowers organizations to ask for what they need, whether that is fundraising, grants, or volunteers.

Shunqetta: As Arkansans, we should be tired of leading from the bottom in socioeconomic status, health, and infant mortality. We are at a point where we are going to burst into change.

Shunqetta: You can find me on social media under Shunqetta Cunningham or Kharis Group Consulting (K-H-A-R-I-S). We also have an Over a Cup page. We meet monthly on Saturdays for women entrepreneurs. It is a space for access to information and connection where we say, "Hey, you got this, sister boss".

Join host Erica Gee as she explores the power of collaborative leadership with the team at the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, discussing their bold vision to create a hunger-free Arkansas through community trust and systemic change."

Erica Gee: I’m Erica Gee, partner at Wright Lindsey Jennings and your host. Joining me are Sylvia Blain, Tomeka Williams, and Jennifer Buie of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. These women are powerhouses in hunger relief. Sylvia is the CEO, Tomeka is the Director of Operations, and Jennifer is the Director of Development.

Sylvia Blain: I approach leadership in a collaborative manner. I like to bring everyone in on what we’re working on. If you make decisions in a silo without team buy-in, your ideas won’t go anywhere. People have to feel they have ownership.

Temeka Williams: My leadership style is to exemplify what should be done and how it should be done the right way, following our policies and structure.

Jennifer Buie: My style is trying to maximize everyone around you. Every person at the Alliance is a fundraiser. They are walking, talking billboards for the mission. Relationship building takes time and trust. It’s about the relationship with the mission: creating a hunger-free Arkansas.

Erica Gee: Sylvia, you mentioned a lofty vision.

Sylvia Blain: We have a vision to eradicate hunger in Arkansas. We are the number one most food-insecure state in the country. The Alliance was formed through a Donald W. Reynolds Foundation grant that brought together five Feeding America food banks to work together.

Erica Gee: How are you responding to shifting government funding?

Sylvia Blain: Our mission isn't changing, but funding cuts are inevitable. We are in planning and action mode. The biggest challenge is uncertainty. For example, our SNAP-Ed nutrition program is set to be defunded in September, yet we haven't heard from the government on how to move forward. We have to plan for the worst-case scenario.

Jennifer Buie: Sustainable change starts with how we view hunger. It doesn’t always look like someone in a food pantry line. It’s a mom halving formula or a senior choosing between protein and prescriptions. 49% of Arkansans are "ALICE"—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. They work every day but still can't afford groceries.

Sylvia Blain: One in five people in Arkansas is hungry. Hunger is not static; it’s inconsistent. The reason it persists is a lack of will. It is solvable.

Jennifer Buie: I wish people knew that hunger is in their community—likely even in their family line. The stigma behind getting help is alarming. To make an impact, go to our website and donate.

Erica Gee: Any upcoming events?

Jennifer Buie: September is Hunger Action Month. On Thursday, September 18th, we have our Hunger Action Breakfast. We’ll recognize 11 people around the state with "Acting Out Against Hunger" awards. Learn more at arhungeralliance.org.

Erica Gee: Any last words?

Sylvia Blain: We can always go deeper if you have another hour!

Erica Gee: I always have an hour for you. Thank you all for being here.

Join host Meredith Lowry In this episode of the Women Run podcast, you will learn about the multi-faceted life and career of Shamim Okolloh, a Little Rock-based banker, author, and community advocate.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

• The Intersection of Banking and Community Outreach: How Shamim serves as an access point for underserved communities in Arkansas, focusing on first-time homebuyers and small businesses.
• The Gender Gap in Commercial Lending: Why women represent a high percentage of banking employees but remain significantly underrepresented in commercial lending and C-suite leadership roles.
• Early Financial Education for Children: The importance of teaching children about money habits before age seven and how Shamim co-authored the Ella the Banker children's book series with her son, Liam.
• Building a Family Business: How Shamim uses her book series and her children's side businesses (lawn care and jewelry making) to teach real-world financial concepts like revenue, expenses, and compound interest.
• Resilience and Transparency: Shamim’s personal journey through public service, past reliance on government aid, and her recent diagnosis and recovery from Stage 2 breast cancer.

Highlights and Key Takeaways

• From Lab Scientist to Community Banker: Shamim began her career as a scientist working on bioremediation before pivoting to public service and banking to engage more directly with people.
• Changing the Narrative on Banking: The Ella the Banker series was born from a desire to show children that banking is a career option beyond the "bank robbery" tropes often seen in media.
• The "Bank of Mom": Liam learned the burden of debt firsthand by taking a commercial loan from his mother for his lawn care business, complete with a 5% interest rate and monthly statements.
• Cultural Representation: Shamim intentionally incorporated her Kenyan roots into her books, using Swahili names like Pesa Bank (Money Bank) and Nuru (Light), and ensuring diverse characters are represented.
• Destigmatizing Public Aid: Shamim openly discusses her past use of WIC, Medicaid, and downpayment assistance to show that these programs are temporary "stepping stones" toward stability and success.

Key Quotes

• On the lack of women in leadership: "Even if the industry does have a lot of women, we tend to be support staff or in the retail role, we're not the people driving the engine of banks, and that's the commercial side."
• On teaching children about debt: "He did not like paying $17 interest more than the minimum payment... and he was like, 'You know what, I'm a work hard and pay this off,' and he paid it off in two months."
• On life after a cancer diagnosis: "I'm more cognizant of my time... I've really slowed down a lot and I just put my energy into things that matter to me the most."
• On her personal journey: "A decade ago, I was on welfare... so to be on the other side of building my own story... and knowing what's possible for other people in the community... I really try to be vulnerable and transparent."

Welcome to Episode Seven of Woman-Run – The Podcast, hosted by Wright Lindsey Jennings’ PR & Marketing Director, Rickie Smith. Rickie is joined by Dr. Shaneil Ealy, Ed.D., Executive Director of the Women’s Leadership Network (WLN)—the nonprofit behind the Women’s Leadership Academy, Business Showcase, and Wind Down Wednesday events. Dr. Ealy shares how WLN helps women grow through mentorship, community, and confidence-building.

In this episode, you’ll learn: • How WLN evolved from a university outreach program into a statewide nonprofit focused on personal growth as the foundation of professional success. • What makes the Women’s Leadership Academy unique—seven months of training, scholarships, and service projects like Babies in Bloom. • How WLN’s “brave spaces” help women confront impostor syndrome and build authentic connections. • Practical ways to expand your network—find mentors, use free resources like The Conductor in Conway, and host accountability “work parties.” • Why affordability and access matter: $10 memberships, scholarships, evening sessions, and family-friendly scheduling. • What’s next—statewide Academy expansion, a youth track in the Showcase, and the Level Up Entrepreneurship Conference on capital, marketing, and AI.

Highlights & Takeaways: • Mentorship multiplies impact: mentees become mentors who open doors for others. • Accessibility is intentional: WLN limits cost and meets women where they are. • Service builds leaders: Academy cohorts raise funds and implement projects that ripple for generations. • Culture is created: value people, stay flexible, celebrate wins. • Connection > competition: low-pressure events like Wind Down Wednesday foster organic collaboration. • Balance is a myth: align priorities with your season and rest intentionally.

Mentioned in the Episode: Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) • Women’s Leadership Academy • Women’s Business Showcase • Gold Rush Gala • International Women’s Day Brunch / Shelly Mehl Empowerment Award • Level Up Entrepreneurship Conference • The Conductor (Conway)

Links & Events: Website – WLNArkansas.org | Social – @WLNArkansas (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) • Gold Rush Gala: Oct 2 @ Legacy Acres, Conway • Wind Down Wednesday: 2nd Wed monthly | 5–7 PM | rotating locations • International Women’s Day Brunch: March (annual) • Women’s Business Showcase: annual @ UCA | expanding 2026 • Level Up Entrepreneurship Conference: spring 2026

Programs & Membership: • Women’s Leadership Academy – 7-month program; applications open now; scholarships available. • Membership Directory – $10 individual | $25 business | corporate tier coming. • Workshops & networking on topics like leading in male-dominated industries and women/wealth/wine.

Enjoy this motivating conversation about mentorship, access, and community—and how WLN is raising a new generation of Arkansas women leaders. Follow Woman-Run and WLN for updates and ways to get involved.

Welcome to Episode Six of Woman-Run – The Podcast, hosted by Wright Lindsey Jennings attorney Jennifer L. Smith. Jennifer is joined by Dr. Diane Wilder, a medical oncologist at CARTI. Dr. Wilder shares her extraordinary journey from a South Texas ranch to medical school at 38, reflecting on resilience, purpose, and the art of caring—for patients and for oneself.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How early life on a Texas ranch and years in Mexico shaped Dr. Wilder’s empathy, curiosity, and love of service.
• Why she left a successful corporate career to pursue medicine later in life—and how perseverance opened unexpected doors.
• The emotional realities of balancing family, loss, and medical training, and how those experiences inform her patient care today.
• The three pillars that drew her to oncology: lifelong patient relationships, holistic care, and ever-evolving science.
• How CARTI’s team-based approach surrounds patients with both technical excellence and human compassion.
• Simple, evidence-based wellness practices—from “50-10” movement breaks to the 80/20 nutrition rule—that sustain both physicians and patients.

Highlights & Key Takeaways:

• “Just stir the spaghetti pot.” — Dr. Wilder’s counselor’s advice on honest perseverance through hardship.
• Going to medical school at 38 required rebuilding scientific foundations but proved that courage outweighs age.
• Oncology offers a model for whole-person medicine: integrating nutrition, psychology, and precision science.
• CARTI’s collaborative culture ensures patients are never alone—care extends well beyond the exam room.
• Small, consistent movement (“activity snacks”) improves health as effectively as longer workouts.
• Each life stage for women brings its own beauty, strength, and opportunity.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• CARTI (Cancer Center of Arkansas)
• Exercise is Medicine (global initiative)
• American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR)
• American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines
• Highland Park Schools (Dallas)
• Runge and Goliad, Texas

Quotes:

“We tell them: the road looks dark; put one foot in front of the other. It’s a step of faith.” — Dr. Diane Wilder

“Each age in a woman’s life is wonderful and glorious, and it has its unique challenges, but it is a place of beauty and a place of opportunity.” — Dr. Diane Wilder

Enjoy this inspiring conversation about resilience, compassion, and redefining success at every age. Follow Woman-Run: The Podcast and Wright Lindsey Jennings for more stories of women leading with courage and purpose.

Welcome to Episode Five of Woman Run – The Podcast, hosted by Wright Lindsey Jennings attorney Meredith Lowry. Meredith is joined by Keesa Smith, Executive Director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. Keesa traces the organization’s nearly 50-year history, explains major policy wins, and outlines the urgent work on maternal health, childcare, and safety-net programs across Arkansas.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The origin and mission of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and why focusing on children advances whole-family economic mobility.
• How ARKids (Arkansas’s child health program) was built and why state-led solutions matter.
• The role of SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid in stabilizing families — and common myths about program users.
• Recent policy wins (school breakfast expansion; Healthy Moms Healthy Babies Act) and the ongoing fight to extend postpartum Medicaid to 12 months.
• Practical barriers to maternal care (provider shortages, transportation, coverage gaps) and why postpartum coverage saves lives.
• How community fundraising (Soup Sunday) and new data tools (the children’s fiscal map) power advocacy and local investment.

Highlights & Key Takeaways:

• Arkansas Advocates played a lead role in creating ARKids — an Arkansas model copied elsewhere.
• Extending postpartum Medicaid remains a top priority; Arkansas currently provides only 60 days of postpartum coverage versus 12 months in most states.
• Many people who rely on SNAP or Medicaid are working families; safety-net programs are often short-term bridges, not lifetime dependency.
• Childcare affordability is a workforce issue: high child-care costs reduce labor force participation and hurt local business.
• The new children’s fiscal map offers county-level visibility on how dollars for children are spent — a tool for smarter policymaking.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
• ARKids (children’s health coverage)
• SNAP, WIC, Medicaid
• Healthy Moms Healthy Babies Act
• Soup Sunday (fundraiser)
• Children’s fiscal map (new resource)

Quotes:

• “One out of three births in Arkansas are paid for by Medicaid.” — Keesa Smith

Enjoy this episode, as an urgent, data-driven conversation about maternal health, childcare, and policies that strengthen Arkansas families. Follow Woman-Run and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families for updates and ways to help.

Welcome to Episode Four of Woman-Run, hosted by Wright Lindsey Jennings Public Relations and Marketing Director Rickie Smith. Rickie is joined by Mandy Richardson, Publisher of Soirée Magazine and Founder of the Women’s Leadership Symposium & Summits. Mandy shares lessons from her deadline‑driven publishing and events career, her leadership philosophy, and practical tips for building culture, balance, and community in business.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Mandy pivoted from a student‑loan role during the 2008 federal program shutdown into a dynamic career in publishing and event management.
• The real difference between an editor’s role versus a publisher’s responsibilities—managing P&L, vision, and sales for multiple consumer‑focused products.
• Strategies for seeking honest feedback: finding mentors who’ll tell you what you need to hear, whether it’s a spouse, best friend, or a former executive colleague.
• Why culture‑first companies invest in surprise perks—from in‑office playrooms to financial wellness programs—to keep employees engaged and valued.
• Best practices for pitching media and speaking at industry events: tailor your angle to each outlet’s audience and always come prepared well in advance.

Highlights & Key Takeaways:

• “Publishing is 80% spreadsheets and deadlines—and 20% magic.” How Mandy balances left‑brain data work with right‑brain creative shoots.
• The origin story of the Women’s Leadership Symposium & Summits: a grassroots launch in 2018 to fill a statewide gap in general leadership training for women.
• Mandy’s leadership style: delegate, build trust, and never ask others to do work you wouldn’t tackle yourself.
• The “quiet leader” paradox: running high‑profile magazines and summits while personally avoiding the spotlight.
• Work–life reality check: ditch the myth of balance, focus on presence, and guard your mental health by setting clear email boundaries.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Soirée Magazine
• Women’s Leadership Symposium & Summit
• Wright Lindsey Jennings

Quotes:

“I really don’t enjoy the spotlight—being front and center is out of necessity for the job.” – Mandy Richardson

“In publishing, plan six months ahead for print; digital can pivot overnight.” – Mandy Richardson

“If you’re not happy outside the office, you won’t perform well inside it.” – Mandy Richardson

Enjoy this candid conversation to discover new ways to lead, collaborate, and thrive—both in business and beyond.