On Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 10 a.m., everything changed.

In this powerful episode of Banking on Girls, we sit down with three mothers who lived through the terrifying Palisades fires in Los Angeles—watching the flames reach their homes in real time through security cameras and dash cams left behind. As smoke filled the sky and evacuation orders came fast, for some, their neighbors stepped in to protect what they could. What followed was a test of emergency planning, emotional resilience, and financial preparedness.

We talk about:

• How it felt to watch the embers ignite their homes remotely as they raced to safety

• The critical role of having a plan to avoid panic-driven decisions during an emergency

• Why community support matters not just in the moment, but months later during long-term recovery

• The unexpected financial lessons born from loss

• And how the way we handle crisis teaches our kids—especially our daughters—what strength really looks like

This episode is a testament to friendship, preparedness, and the quiet optimism of women rebuilding from the ashes. As one mom says, “The kids are watching. Take care of yourself first.”

Resources:

www.ready.gov

https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/ready_emergency-financial-first-aid-toolkit.pdf

Today, we're thrilled to welcome back Melanie Mortimer, President of the SIFMA Foundation — the nation’s leader in youth investor and financial education. Melanie holds a Master’s in International Management and an MBA from Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, and a BA in English from Agnes Scott College in Georgia.

In this episode, we dive into the findings of a brand-new survey conducted by the SIFMA Foundation on U.S. parents' views about financial education for kids. Melanie shares eye-opening insights, including the surprising statistic that nearly three-quarters of parents would consider moving their child to a different school if it offered financial education!

We also discuss:

• The fact that women often feel less confident than men when it comes to teaching kids about investing (and how we're working to change that!)

• How the SIFMA Foundation is supporting families, schools, and communities in building financial literacy from an early age

• Practical ways parents can get involved and start teaching money concepts at home

If you're passionate about preparing the next generation — especially girls — for financial success, you won’t want to miss this conversation!

https://www.sifma.org/about/sifma-foundation/

Click here to receive the free Banking On Girls newsletter for actionable tips and inspiration on raising kids to be money-smart

In this episode of the Banking on Girls podcast, we are excited to feature Wendy Teleki, the Head of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) at the World Bank.

We-Fi plays a crucial role in supporting women entrepreneurs in over 60 developing countries by enhancing their access to finance, markets, skills, and technology.

Wendy has been recognized as one of Forbes’s “50 Over 50” women in finance for her outstanding leadership in advocating for women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. She is also the co-author of "Rebalance: How Women Lead, Parent, Partner and Thrive," where she shares her personal journey and insights on finding purpose in one's career.

In this episode, Wendy discusses the valuable support the We-Fi project provides to women entrepreneurs, addressing the challenges they face at every stage of the entrepreneurial process—from launching their businesses to accessing necessary funding.

As a bonus, she offers advice for young women beginning their educational and career journeys, emphasizing the importance of choosing a purposeful path, a journey which she herself, outlines in her book.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about empowering women in business and the steps we can take to create a more inclusive financial landscape.

Click here to receive the free Banking On Girls newsletter for actionable tips and inspiration on raising kids to be money-smart