MYRA Wealth Podcast

Nadine Hack is the CEO of beCause Global Consulting, a company that provides a wide range of services from leadership development to organizational change management in an effort to create connectedness in our world. Known internationally for using a framework called Strategic Relational Engagement, Nadine was shortlisted by Ethical Corporation as Responsible CEO of the Year. Today she joins the show to share her story and how she started in philanthropy at a very young age. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2QK8Djg 

George Arison is the founder and Co-CEO of Shift, an online marketplace that is changing the car industry by transforming the experience of buying and selling a car. Previously, George co-founded Taxi Magic, the first on-demand mobile transportation booking technology. He has also dipped his toe into politics, helping his native country of Georgia transition to a democracy, and he joins the show today to share his story. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3b8Alhs   

Gina Bianchini is the founder and CEO of Mighty Networks, a firm on a mission to usher in a new era of creative businesses in community. She joins the show today to share some of her expertise in entrepreneurship, start-ups, and strategic partnerships, as well as what it means to be revenue-oriented vs. cost-focused—and why Gina breaks people into these two groups. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2IGhIW5 

Nonny de la Peña is known as One of the most influential pioneers of virtual and augmented reality, technology innovator of the year, agent of change and godmother of virtual reality. I  met through the Founders For Change and I’m really excited to dig into the world of immersive story telling with Nonny. You will get an incredible glimpse into new technology as well as the difficulties presented that she has had to overcome along the way. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2TBFmrL

Manon DeFelice is the founder and CEO of Inkwell where she bridges the gap for employers who need highly skilled but affordable talent. She is a second generation immigrant born in Boston whose mother is from the Czech Republic and father is from France. You will hear why her parents came to the US originally, her grandparents’ fascinating journey and what she has learned from their immigrant journey and the effect it has had on her career and life today. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3cekCie

Originally from the UK, Edwina Johnson recently moved to New York City and is working as the COO of Alloy, an identity and risk management service for financial institutions. Edwina has a lot of experience in the tech startup realm, and she joins the show today to share her expertise in business and financial safety. You will also hear about her interesting visa status and how she has found her place as an immigrant in the United States. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2VchnlD

Top digital thought leader, startup founder, and entrepreneur Rahim Fazal joins the show to share his truly standout path to where he is today and his insight into entrepreneurship and what it takes to succeed. The co-founder and CEO of SV Academy, a free online skill-building and mentorship program, Rahim has so much great knowledge to share. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2HmhtyD

Kyle Nakatsuji is the founder and CEO of Clearcover, a car insurance company offering better coverage for less money. After starting the company in 2016, Kyle has scaled it to a live business in four U.S. states, with a goal of branching out to 20 states by the end of the year. Today he joins the show to discuss the story behind Clearcover and how he has grown the business so quickly. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/373V57P  

EJ Oruche is a second-generation immigrant born in the Midwest. He joins the show today to share his story, including what it was like growing up a Midwest kid with Nigerian immigrant parents and how that affected the way he thinks about money. EJ also talks about his parents’ immigration challenges and his own challenges and triumphs relating to finance. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2tfYNgF 

Martin Akerman is the co-founder and CEO of Envisagenics, a firm on a mission to reduce the complexity of big biomedical data into several smaller solutions and to boost the creation of new therapies. A data scientist trained in biology and computer science, with a Ph.D. and a postdoctoral, Martin is a global citizen with ancestral roots in Israel and Argentina. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2RkYWsh 

Clarence Wooten is a serial entrepreneur who has been creating and building internet businesses for over two decades. Today he joins the show to share his journey into the tech and online startup world, as well as why it was so important that he was able to see role models that inspired him to follow that path. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3ar6HVo

Carolyn Rodz is the founder of Alice, a digital ecosystem providing universal access to business solutions, innovative technology, and educational programming. A strong advocate for entrepreneurship (including immigrant entrepreneurship), Carolyn joins the show today to discuss how she became an entrepreneur herself and how she hopes to help others do the same. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2FpTjSX 

Cindy Wu is the co-founder of Jelly, an online platform for all things science. A second-generation immigrant, she joins the show today to share her experience growing up and how she came to be the co-founder of two science-based businesses. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2Qglquk 

Lisa Janvrin is a third-generation Italian and the founder of Youthful Nest, an online interior design experience that helps busy parents save time while planning rooms for their newborns. As the sole founder and only employee of her company, Lisa has been responsible for all aspects of building the business from the ground up, and today she joins the show to discuss how she manages to run a business all by herself. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2QfwBlr 

Cameron Doody is a third-generation immigrant who was raised in Texas and ended up as an entrepreneur and startup founder. Today, Cam shares the story of how his grandparents came over from Ireland and how he realized he wanted to be financially independent. From banking and medical equipment to starting his own successful company, he has had an incredible journey in business and in life. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/34FDZfj

Vanessa Alvarez is the co-founder of NEXME, a next-generation, on-demand real estate platform that is trying to eliminate the stress around the home buying and selling process. Today Vanessa joins the show to discuss how seeing her parents live paycheck to paycheck changed the way she thinks about money and made her realize that success is more about financial freedom than material items. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2ryX0T9 

Marina Bay is the co-founder and CEO of BeFast TV, a global channel about emerging technologies and the people behind them. Marina joins the show today to share her unique immigrant journey that brought her from Russia to Germany, China, Hong Kong, and ultimately, the United States, as well as what it is like living as a global citizen. She also lets us into her world of marketing, entrepreneurship, technology, and media. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/364Ss5o

Dan Reich has started and been involved in companies that have collectively raised over $100 million in venture capital and have exited for close to $1 billion in M&A. The co-founder of businesses such as TULA, a health and beauty brand, and Troops, a venture-backed technology company that is building a mobile-first, intelligent CRM, Dan joins the show to share how his upbringing led him to be a passionate, risk-taking entrepreneur. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2Op46lU 

Lizelle van Vuuren is the founder of Lizelle & Co. and the founder, CEO, and President of Women Who Startup. A serial entrepreneur, Lizelle was born and raised in South Africa, and she joins the show today to share how her upbringing affected her love for creativity and business.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2s6rdsG

Loren Brill is the CEO and founder of Sweet Loren’s, a first of its kind company that offers sweets and snacks with clean, whole-food ingredients. After growing up with entrepreneurial parents, Loren decided to become an entrepreneur herself. Today she joins the show to discuss how having a mother who encouraged her to fight for what she believed in helped her to become a strong business owner and how being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma changed her life forever. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2NINV2u 

Alexander Guastella is the founder of Quick’rCare, and has 12 years of healthcare tech and business development experience. He joins the show today to share his journey starting in health tech at a young age and finding his passion for providing simple solutions to patients, as well as how his upbringing as a second-generation Italian immigrant affected the way he handles money and goes about his career. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2oRFb0j

Nitesh Banta believes technology is a force to be reckoned with, which drove him to become the co-founder of B12, a human-assisted AI that builds your website in 60 seconds. An entrepreneur from a very young age himself, Nitesh has made it his mission to support first-time entrepreneurs. His company's goal is to dramatically reduce friction for global businesses when launching and growing their companies online. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/31YDJGM 

Francie Jain was looking for a space where people could go to make job changes and find assistance when transitioning in their career. When she found almost nothing available, she decided to create her own solution to this gaping issue: Next Chapter, a global services marketplace that connects talented coaches to people seeking career coaching and professional growth. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/31He7OK

Andrew Christodoulides is the founder of WeLivv, a retail and content website that aims to create a more intuitive online shopping experience in the home goods market. After his parents arrived in the United States with only $100 to their name, Andrew grew up as a second-generation immigrant, and he joins the show to share how his experience shaped him into who he is today. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2J1AcRk

Today's guest is the creator of an activewear company for Muslim women. A first-generation American from an Indian background, Arshiya Kherani joins the show to discuss the impact of her family and culture on how she does business and manages her money. The solutions she provides for active Muslim women, as well as her passion for sustainable and ethical business, are truly inspiring. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2VyJ8CW

Credit access is one of the many puzzling and complicated issues that people immigrating to the United States face. That's why Nicky Goulimis, cofounder and COO of Nova Credit, has made it her mission to find a solution that will help immigrants gain access to credit and enable them to rent, buy, and thrive in their new lives. In this episode, Nicky shares great insight into the world of cross-border credit and how to navigate it as smoothly as possible. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/30DK5e8

Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, today’s guest experienced the tumultuous time of the Soviet Union transitioning into a market economy. Artem Milinchuk, Chief Economist at Farm Together, joins us on the show to share his experience with a communist/socialist economy and the collapse of the Soviet Union. He opens up about how immigrating to North America changed him and his family. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2n7Vt3Y

I frequently get questions regarding visas, taxes, and money from people who have no understanding as to what their rights are in the United States. I'm asked everything from how to define whether you are a resident or a non-resident in the U.S. to how to figure out your tax status as an immigrant, so in today’s episode, I am going to answer these questions and more. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2OBIWTr 

Originally from Guyana, Adrian Deen grew up in England and ended up in the United States for college before going on to start a business. He joins the show today to share his journey through each of these countries and cultures, as well as what he has learned about money along the way. He also opens up about his passion for startups and how he went from corporate finance to building a business of his own. Listen in as he discusses the massive amount of opportunity presented when you know how to track, analyze, and implement data in your business. You'll discover why Adrian says that we have become complacent with how common failure is with startups, his take on the value of money, and how money enables him to pursue his dreams and help others. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Kd9yEP 

Anand Kulkarni was brought up by Maharashtrian parents who believed you must find a career where you will make the most money. While many children might have decided to be doctors or engineers as a result, Anand decided to become an entrepreneur. Now the founder and CEO of Crowdbotics, he was named one of Forbes’ “Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30.” In this episode, we discuss how Anand launched two successful start-ups and why his definition of success has always been to provide comfort and stability for his family. He opens up about the social impacts he would love to make one day, his thoughts on "getting rich quick," and his top tips for starting up your own company and building a successful career. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2Gg2Dts 

Saving for college educational needs is getting more and more daunting with tuition inflation going on. There are quite a few savings vehicles that can help you start setting aside money and getting the benefit of tax deductions for your children, grandchildren, or even for your own education. In this episode, you will get to tune into the webinar I hosted on this topic, where I will be explaining all of these options. There are significant benefits that come along with using some of these savings options for your beneficiary’s education fund, but there are important aspects to understand in order to make sure you’re using them properly and not missing out on the deductions available. Listen in if you are looking into ways to save for education, as this will help you discover your options, learn how they work, and understand how to get started saving. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2Gf0qhS

Roma McCaig is a second-generation immigrant from India with a passion for business management, leadership, and guiding young entrepreneurs. Vice President of Campbell's Soup Company and former Efficiency & Excellence Leader for Uber, Roma joins the show to share how she achieved success in business operations, as well as her insight on how her upbringing affected the way she handles life, work, and money. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2FZ47rO 

Susanne (Susie) Klepsch is a true global citizen. Originally from Austria, Susie lived all over the world before ending up in the United States, and she joins the show to talk about her impressive journey, both around the globe and in the startup tech world. Listen in to hear Susie open up about her experience joining the U.S. market as a European business, as well as the benefits of moving her particular business into the United States. You'll learn where she initially got the nudge to start a business of her own, the trials she had to go through to find success in the U.S. market, and how being involved in an Accelerator program became a defining part of her startup growth. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Lp5HH7 

After being born and spending most of his childhood in Vietnam, Duy Vo moved to the United States at the age of 10 with hopes of a better future. Now the founder and CEO of Productfy, a platform for building your own financial application, Duy has made that dream a reality. In this episode, he discusses how the kindness of others helped him to get his education and why he wants to live life on his own terms. Listen in to hear about the importance of doing work that challenges you and allows you to grow, how Duy discovered his love of computers, and how his drive to provide for his family kept him going when times got tough. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2XjSeru 

Ran Harveno came to the United States through corporate and immigrated as an entrepreneur. Although Ran had a lot of success in Corporate America, today he opens up about the ways he really struggled getting on his feet while living in the U.S. and describes how he and his partner ran into issues when it came to language, housing, personal finance, and more. Listen in to hear him talk about the people who came into his life to help guide him and his wife, as well as why he feels it’s so important to build a community of immigrants. You'll learn about the website Ran built to create a way for other immigrants to find community and basic assistance wherever they go, how money helps people find the security they need to live life to the fullest, and what resources he wished he'd had when he first came to the U.S. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2WCCtul 

Although she was born in the United States, Jodi Reynhout’s family moved to Venezuela for the majority of her childhood, returning to the U.S. when she was 16 years old. With a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts from Northwestern University and an MBA from the Wharton School, Jodi now serves as the Vice President of Administration at Esperanza, a faith-based non-profit organization whose aim is to strengthen Hispanic communities through education, economic development, and advocacy. In this episode, Jodi shares how her upbringing allowed her to have a better insight into the lives of people with financial constraints and why she has taken her career in the direction of a non-profit organization. Listen in to hear Jodi’s best and worst financial decisions, her experience growing up in Venezuela, and how she hopes to be remembered one day. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2MasBE4 

After growing up in India and spending his early years working for his family’s agricultural business, Renju Jose Kuruvila relocated to the United States for his education. But instead of going back to India after he earned a Master’s degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Renju decided to get his U.S. citizenship. Now, he serves as Senior Vice President for the multinational corporation National Oilwell Varco. In this episode, Renju shares what made him decide to remain in the United States after completing his education, as well as his experience securing his citizenship. He also opens up about his personal finance strategies and why the legacy he wants to leave has little to do with money. Listen in to hear how he defines success for himself and his advice for those who have followed or wish to follow a similar path. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2SMBZju 

George Kinder is internationally recognized as the father of the life planning movement, and he joins the show today to share his expertise and what he's learned over his 30 years of experience in the field. From key mindset shifts to what constitutes a successful life-planning session, George discusses how he helps people discover the meaning in their lives in order to drive themselves to success. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2H7rrEI

We help immigrants and their families with their finances, but we often get questions that are related to immigration, as well. We cannot provide immigration advice to them, so I’m very pleased and excited to have Xiao Wang on the show today. Xiao owns Boundless, a firm that helps families navigate the complex immigration system confidently, rapidly, and affordably. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2GYJQni

Yulan Shen grew up in China in a Korean-Chinese family, and today she shares what it was like to be split between two cultures, as well as how the different generations of cultures have changing views of money and success. Walking us through her education and career journey, Yulan explains why she initially came to the United States and why she ended up staying. Listen in to hear her explain how education freed her and how she is pursuing more freedom and purpose-filled meaning in life. You'll learn why education is so significant in her life (especially being a female), why she is so glad she spent the time and money to invest in herself, and what is most important when it comes to making sure you are being compensated fairly in the workplace. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2vkOiGo

From Australia to New Jersey, and now an owner of Frankie Eats, Rowen McDermott joins us on the show to share his career and immigration journey. Rowen opens up about the ups and downs of hustling through hospitality jobs, going back to school, and changing his career direction, as well as the various financial decisions he has made and how they helped him learn and grow over time. Listen in to learn about the different visas he used to get his foot in the door and how his various jobs paved the way for him to start his own restaurant. You'll hear how coworking, networking, and learning through experience have all shaped him and get important takeaways about emergency funds and investing. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2KJK45K

Originally from Cameroon, Aristide "Aris" Toundzi has successfully navigated financial management and wealth generation as he transitioned to life in the United States. Specializing in end-to-end digital enterprise transformation in support of business objectives, Aris has many years of experience in international consulting in multiple industries and a passion for using technology education to transform communities. In this episode, we discuss how Aris’ community in Cameroon found ways to benefit the community by investing in the individual members through teamwork and a mutually beneficial system. He shares his advice on funding, education, and goal-based financial planning, as well as valuable lessons he learned on the way to success. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2WuEdC9

Originally from Belarus and the child of an ambassador, Alex Sokolovski lived in multiple countries before eventually settling in the U.S. He joins the show today to share the key components of his personal achievements and the unique way he views true success. You'll get the chance to learn from some of his biggest money mistakes, get tips on investing, and much more. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2uFUc4y 

Lalit Kalani is the Director of Channel Partnerships & Business Development, Internet of Things at MachineQ (a Comcast company). Prior to MachineQ, Lalit served as the Co-Founder and CEO of Bandar Foods, a food tech startup that produced Indian sauces for the American palate. Under Lalit’s leadership, Bandar Foods raised $2 million in funding from angel investors, and had annual revenues of $2 million during its peak. In this episode, Lalit shares his path to success through his entrepreneurial ventures and varied professional background, as well as his experience immigrating to the United States—twice. Listen in to learn what made him decide to take the leap and start his own business, his biggest financial regret, and his advice on how to make sure your money works for you, not the other way around. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2J1HZBa 

My guest today has been involved in over 250 transactions globally, valued from $20 million to over $50 billion. After starting his career in Austria, Thomas Fekete moved to the United States, where he now serves as the Diligence Practice Lead for a private equity firm and heads the teams that conduct strategic financial, operational, and commercial diligence on new investment opportunities. In this episode, Thomas shares his professional journey, as well as what led to his decision to leave Austria and pursue a career in the States. Listen in to hear about his immigration experience, how he built his career up to where it is today, and the important financial lessons he learned along the way. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Hx2rII 

Niall O’Brien is the CEO of a privately owned distribution company, the Facey Group, which provides IT and telecommunications services in the Caribbean and Central America. A Chartered Accountant who originally trained with KPMG in general practice audit in Dublin, Ireland, Niall has worked in a variety of industries, including telecommunications and broadcasting, real estate development, and consumer products distribution. In this episode, he shares his experiences living in working in Ireland, Jamaica, and the UK before ultimately moving to the U.S. in 2010. Listen in to hear the important financial lessons he learned along the way, as well as his advice for other travelers and immigrants on navigating credit, managing debt, and investing wisely. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2XIA2US 

With over 17 years of experience in finance, Aric Yusim is the founder and CFO of the health care technology company MegesHealth. Aric has expertise in risk management, corporate valuation, startup and venture finance, fundraising, and more, and he joins the show to share what he has learned about money throughout his life and career. Listen in to hear him open up about how he got to where he is today, from his immigration journey of being born in Israel, growing up in South Africa, and ultimately moving to New York in 2004, to the key financial decisions he made along the way. You’ll get his take on investing in real estate, advice for emergency savings, and recommendations for managing your personal finances. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2tOfrAP 

Parisa Karaahmet is a partner at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, where she leads a team focused on individual, complex, and corporate immigration matters. Specializing in advising clients on the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program, E-Verify, and I-9 compliance, Parisa also works on the corporate compliance advisory group side and represents a variety of large, mid-size, and small companies. In this episode, Parisa opens up about her own immigration journey, as well as what it was like for her going through the process of getting a U.S. citizenship. Listen in to hear about her path to becoming a highly successful immigration attorney, a common issue she sees with successful immigrant families, and her advice for managing both immigration situations and personal finances. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2HcGYDR 

Today’s guest serves as an advisor to various FinTech startups in the United States and Canada. With an MBA from the Wharton School, specializing in management, marketing, and operations, along with advanced coursework in finance, Michael Chu works with companies that aspire to pursue market success while taking care of their people and the communities around them. Michael was born in Hong Kong, and he moved to Canada at the age of seven, and then to the United States at the age of 21. In this episode, he shares his best and worst financial decisions, as well as advice on investing and 401k plans. Listen in to learn what Michael says we should all keep in mind when weighing our spending decisions, the rules he follows with his own money, and more. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2DwL6uP 

Welcome to the MYRA Wealth Podcast with your host, Sahil Vakil. Every week, Sahil will bring you in-depth conversations with highly successful international and multicultural guests who share their personal finance strategies to educate you on best practices when it comes to managing your money. You'll hear from first- and second-generation immigrants and learn how they navigated some of the most important financial decisions of their lives. In this opening episode, we are joined by Matt Duke, the pricing actuary for a startup called Blackboard Insurance and the former president and CEO of Hike Transportation Technologies. Listen in to hear about Matt’s amazing journey from growing up in Trinidad and Tobago and immigrating to the United States at just seven years old to graduating with an MBA from the Wharton School and launching a ride sharing and hailing service that became Uber’s largest competitor in the Trinidad and Tobago market. You'll learn what made him decide to take the leap and start his own business, the financial rules he follows, and his best money management advice. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2TAEfY8