"When you make a decision that you can do it, your help will come." - Alice Tang

In this special role-reversal episode, guest host Laura Salerno Owens sits down with the visionary behind Women's Million Dollar Conversations (WMDC), Alice Tang. After interviewing over 60 high-achieving women, Alice reflects on her own journey and how the WMDC project has shaped her views on financial freedom, building meaningful community, and leaving a legacy that endures for generations.

We dive deep into:

• Wealth Beyond Money: Why your health and time are invaluable currencies.
• Shedding the Joneses: How to stop building someone else's perfect life and start honoring your own.
• Micro-Mentoring: Why 15 minutes of advice can change a career path.

Join the conversation and gain powerful wisdom to carry with you on your own journey to the million-dollar mountain top.

Can you save students $1 billion while building a million-dollar company?

In this episode of Women's Million Dollar Conversations, Alice Tang sits down with Kim Thanos, CEO of Lumen Learning. Kim shares how she moved from a stable career at HP to founding a company that replaces traditional textbooks with digital learning software that supports better student outcomes at a fraction of the cost.

Inside this episode:
• The $1 Million Milestone: How Lumen Learning reached seven figures in revenue within three years.

• Detaching from the "Baby": Why viewing your company objectively makes you a more effective leader.

• The Power of "Why": How Kim used a failed grant application to level up her business strategy.

• Trust-Based Leadership: Hearing the feedback that actually moves the needle.

Connect with Alice Tang for more insights: https://www.askalicetang.com/

Is your career path a straight line or a patchwork quilt?

Kristi McFarland explains why she intentionally seeks out "challenging and messy" problems to solve. Alice Tang dives into how a non-traditional career path—spanning HR, Marketing, and Strategy—can lead to a million-dollar milestone and a deeply fulfilling life.

Key Takeaways:
• Challenge the Status Quo: Why the "good stuff" is hidden in complex problems.

• Sailing Toward Success: Why your journey doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

• Investing in Innovation: How Kristi supports women entrepreneurs and local art.

• The Friday-to-Monday Jump: Graduating and starting a new chapter under pressure.

Connect with Alice Tang for more insights: https://www.askalicetang.com/

How much is your reputation actually worth? Join Alice Tang as she speaks with Shari Dunn, author of Qualified, about the "millions of dollars" sitting in your current network. Shari reveals her transition from nonprofit leadership to hitting seven-figure revenue in her second year of consulting. Learn why showing up consistently as your authentic self creates a financial backstop for your future and why Shari believes in sharing the "secrets" of success with everyone.

In this episode, you'll learn:
The Network Asset: Why your professional history has a specific financial value that can power a new business.

The Publishing 80/20 Rule: Why 80% of a book's success depends on business strategy rather than the writing itself.

Ownership Oversight: The necessity of maintaining oversight on every aspect of your business, from websites to financials.

Breaking the Scarcity Mindset: Shari's move from a paycheck-to-paycheck community to understanding wealth generation.

Key Moments
00:00 – Network as an Asset: Shari explains why your reputation is worth millions.
01:52 – Transition to Consulting: Starting a business after 25 years in law, policy, and journalism.
03:00 – The $1M Milestone: Reaching seven-figure revenue in the second year of business.
05:45 – The Ultimate Backstop: Why business owners must review everything themselves.
07:08 – Bite-Sized Resilience: Managing the overwhelm of business by focusing on "now, now, now".
08:42 – The Business of Books: Shari reveals the shocking investment required to promote a book.
10:01 – Traditional Publishing Hurdles: The critical role of agents and the auction process.
13:00 – Cashing in Credibility: Realizing that her New York network had a hidden financial value.
14:34 – Mentorship Renewal: Why conversations with students re-energize the mentor more than the mentee.
15:35 – Scarcity Mindset: Coming from a working-class background and finding the courage to save early.
17:15 – Broad Legacies: Using time and board service to preserve nature and support workforce access.

Motherhood should not be a professional obstacle, yet many women face a "pregnancy penalty." Jigna Kapadia joins Women's Million Dollar Conversations to discuss the raw reality of losing up to two years of career momentum with each pregnancy. Jigna shares anecdotes about office "rumor mills" and managers who assumed she wouldn't return to work after having kids. Discover her tactical advice on standing up for yourself without being abrasive, and why she is now openly discussing menopause in the workplace to normalize real-life experiences for senior leaders.

In this episode, you'll learn:
Authentic Styling: Why a "nurturing" leadership style can be just as effective as an aggressive one.

The Immigrant Tax: Understanding the financial burdens of early-career immigrants supporting global families.

Identifying Assumptions: How to confront and correct managerial biases regarding pregnancy and commitment.

End-of-Life Planning: The emotional and physical importance of preparing for later-life transitions to free your future generations.

Key Moments
01:38 – 24 Years in the U.S.: Jigna reflects on her life as a first-generation immigrant and her transition from engineering to marketing.
02:50 – The 20-Year Save: Why Jigna's road to the first million was long due to family obligations in India.
04:31 – Dual Biases: Facing skepticism about technical skills as a woman and creative skills as an Indian immigrant.
05:52 – Rumor Mills and Assumptions: Tracing office gossip back to a manager who assumed she wouldn't return after pregnancy.
07:05 – The Pregnancy Penalty: Calculating the loss of career pathing time with each child.
08:43 – Normalizing Menopause: Why senior leaders should speak openly about hormonal transformations in life.
10:15 – Pitying the Aggressive: A pivotal lesson from a senior woman leader about being "labeled" in a sea of men.
11:55 – Don't Change: Jigna's core advice to remain perfect in your authentic style.
13:53 – The Ohana Way: Introducing a new venture focused on compassionate end-of-life and aging transitions.
15:10 – Tactical Transitions: Addressing the needs of 10,000 people turning 65 every day.

Are you pushing yourself too hard for immediate results? Join Alice Tang as she speaks with Kristin Bauer, VP at Bank of the Pacific, about the long game of professional success. Kristin reveals how she landed a $5 million client account and why she had to learn to be her own best advocate to overcome her "inner enemy." Learn why Kristin believes you must put on your own "oxygen mask" first to be effective for your family and your team, and how a "marathon mindset" can sustain you through the long journey of a 16-year banking career.

In this episode, you'll learn:
The Oxygen Mask Principle: Why you cannot help others effectively if you are not prioritizing your own health and breathing.

Input-Result Alignment: How to recognize when your current efforts aren't working and pivot your "inputs" to achieve different results.

Confidence in Meetings: The tactical advice to "just say one thing" to add value in rooms full of highly respected peers.

The Marathon Strategy: Why grit and perseverance are the best tools for navigating internal and external career hurdles.

Key Moments
01:38 – 16 Years of Banking: Kristin introduces her background in municipal cash management and treasury consulting.
02:40 – Mutual Friendship: Alice and Kristin discuss their meeting at the Risk Management Association.
03:13 – The $5M Milestone: The thrill of bringing in a massive client deposit account.
04:31 – Owning the Accomplishment: Alice mentors Kristin on not undermining her own professional success.
06:01 – Support vs. Sabotage: Kristin's advice on surrounding yourself with supportive colleagues and removing negative influences.
07:40 – "Just Say One Thing": A powerful tip for overcoming meeting intimidation and contributing value.
08:35 – Uplifting Community: The importance of organizations that provide a "group hug" for women in business.
10:01 – Grit and Perseverance: Why keeping one foot in front of the other is the key to longevity.
11:15 – Success is Relative: Recognizing that today's "mini successes" lead to tomorrow's big milestones.
12:20 – The Marathon Mindset: Rejecting instant gratification in favor of long-term career management.
14:55 – Work-Life Balance Pivot: Kristin shares why she prioritized health after realizing she was pulled in too many directions.
15:35 – Oxygen Mask First: Learning to prioritize yourself so you can continue to be there for your family.
17:15 – Slow Down to Speed Up: A final word on the effectiveness of moving forward with a concrete plan.

How do you go from feeling like an outsider to leading multi-million dollar financial deals? Join Alice Tang as she speaks with Jessica Porter, partner at BPG Wealth Management and co-founder of The 401k Girls. Jessica reveals the internal struggle of entering a new industry from a blue-collar background and how she overcame the "perfectionist trap" to secure a $5 million retirement plan. Learn why Jessica believes your personal struggles can actually be your greatest professional benefit and how to build the confidence to "stack" successes one step at a time.

In this episode, you'll learn:
The Benefit of "Not Knowing": How a non-industry background allows you to explain complex topics in understandable layman's terms.

Bite-Sized Education: The effectiveness of using small, digestible snippets of information to drive real financial change (like increasing a 401k by 1%).

The Running Analogy: Why hitting a major financial goal is like finishing your first mile—it proves what your "body" is capable of and makes the next milestone easier.

Recovering Perfectionism: Why striving for 90% readiness is a more effective strategy for success than waiting for 100%.

Key Moments
01:44 – BPG Partner: Jessica introduces her 11.5-year career as a financial advisor and partner.
01:57 – The 401k Girls: Launching a social media platform to make retirement planning digestible.
02:54 – The 8-Year Learning Curve: Reflecting on the time needed to gain confidence in a new industry.
03:55 – The $5M Surprise: SECURING her first major plan through a virtual interview and a referral.
05:35 – The Fire Hose Phase: Spending the first five years focused purely on licensing and designations.
06:50 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Navigating the internal feeling of "who am I to tell people what to do?".
07:55 – Blue Collar Roots: How not growing up with investment accounts became a benefit for explaining finance to clients.
10:45 – Unique Duo: Why two women consulting on 401k plans is a unique advantage in the current market.
12:20 – Confidence Stacking: Using the success of a major deal to build long-term professional momentum.
13:35 – 90% is Enough: Tactical advice for the next generation on moving forward before they feel "ready".
15:15 – Generational Wealth: Jessica's personal mission to be the first in her family to create a financial legacy for her stepdaughter.
17:15 – The Accidental Start: The story of the unexpected phone call from Alice Tang that changed Jessica's life.
18:50 – The Power of Asking: How networking and asking for hiring help led Alice to hire Jessica from 700 resumes.

Is your money working for your values, or is it just sitting in a bank? Join Alice Tang as she speaks with Marla Sofer, a 25-year financial services veteran and founder of Knowmee. Marla reveals why "money is power" and how women can leverage their financial resources to become catalysts for global change. She shares her transition from big-name firms like JP Morgan and BlackRock to launching a startup at age 46, driven by a deep belief that wealth should serve a purpose. Learn how to find your voice through your money and why the most important life decisions are never just about the numbers.

In this episode, you'll learn:
Money as a Catalyst: Why financial resources are a privileged seat of opportunity to back the issues you care about.

Holistic Discovery: The importance of a delightful fact-finding process that centers client values over industry jargon.

The "Hustle" Path: How Marla worked her way up to leadership roles at top firms like JP Morgan and BlackRock through part-time MBA studies and hard work.

Memory Creation: Why money is most useful when it empowers you to create the most important memories and experiences for your family and beyond.

Key Moments
00:00 – Money as Power: Marla defines wealth as the primary tool for creating impact beyond one's immediate circle.
01:15 – 25-Year Journey: An introduction to Marla's deep experience in financial services and operations.
01:56 – Jumping into FinTech: Motivated by wanting to find better financial solutions for clients a decade ago.
02:40 – Knowmee's Mission: Using financial psychology to help people articulate what they want their money to do.
03:36 – The $1M Milestone: Marla reflects on how hard work and "elbows" led to her first seven-figure net worth.
05:35 – Holistic Discovery: Why the financial industry struggles to make the "fact-finding" process engaging for clients.
06:25 – Stickiness vs. Numbers: Why centering a client's life goals creates more business trust than just talking about returns.
08:12 – Tool for Impact: Even paying for a child's education is giving money a specific purpose in the world.
09:49 – Men and Power: A reflection on why men have traditionally embraced money as power more than women have.
11:50 – Starting at 46: Why it's harder to start a company with more experience because "you know your worth".
13:12 – Changing the Future: Marla's technology goal to give every person more say over how each dollar changes the world.
15:21 – Podcasting Goals: Marla explains the purpose of her new show, Knowing Me, Knowing You.
16:43 – Gratitude: A focus on health, family, and the hard but chosen path of an entrepreneur.