Episode 14 -Financial Empowerment for Women: Build Confidence, Master Your Money Mindset & Redefine Wealth with Irina Helm
By Jessica Garrison
Earlier this year, we had Angela Iacobellis on The FEEL Podcast. We now have the wonderful opportunity to feature her business partner, Irina Helm, who describes herself as rich, authentic, chronically creative, and empathetic.
When Irina says she is rich, she doesn’t necessarily mean in the sense of money, which we tend to think of when we hear that word. She is rich in culture, rich with the experiences and feelings shared by those around her. She has lived all around the world, including the Soviet Union, Germany, and Israel, which are very male-dominated, controlled environments. She had to find a way to be herself, live out of her own expectations, and create the life she wanted for herself in a world that has already made a decision for her. For Irina, it’s about being happy with the woman she sees in the mirror, and that is honestly the most important thing. Being happy with yourself doesn’t mean thinking you’re perfect, because nobody is. But Irina knows her strengths and weaknesses, always striving to make progress. We are always growing and evolving, and we are allowed to change or to work towards our goals, however, you can still be happy with who you are and authentically, genuinely love yourself.
With her background, Irina didn’t know about the specifics of money growing up. It’s something not to be discussed or asked for, and yet we cannot live without money. Many women are not taught about finances, usually relying on a man or husband to take care of the bills. Especially for the older generation, that wasn’t just expected, but it was enforced. Now, women get lost in the world of finances only because they’ve never been introduced to it properly. Irina works to support women in living unapologetically, utilizing their finances to be able to do that. Business was another area where she had to gain knowledge on herself, feeling ashamed or guilty to ask people for the money that she was owed. She quickly realized that there is a false expectation on “The American Dream.” She says, “Retirement is not an age; it’s a lifestyle.” We have this idea in our heads that we will work until a specific age and then retire, without thinking about the future itself. It’s just a stereotype that we work, retire, and then get to do whatever we want with the rest of our lives. However, things are not always set in stone, and Irina supports women in dealing with whatever unexpected speedbumps that may come their way.
Irina provides not only practical ways to save money in this one hour episode, but she also provides confidence and reassurance. It’s heartening to see and hear about women who are working to change the narrative we have always been told. So many women do it every day without even realizing, and that is what makes the community so rich.
Ways to Engage: What are some ways you can become more educated with finances? Take a class, reach out to an advisor, or listen to some of our past episodes that feature financial experts, coaches, or advisors. Where are some ways you can save? Start small. Take back your finances and your power. Reach out to us at https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact if you need help finding resources.