On this episode of The Power of the Ask, we speak with Ivette Rivera, an inspiring Afro-Latina Nuyorican from Camden, New Jersey who transformed her life from homelessness to founding Harley, a trauma-informed fintech platform dedicated to helping women escape financial abuse and build wealth.

Ivette shares her incredible journey of resilience, faith, and the bold asks that paved her path to success, including selling a domain to rapper and entrepreneur Nas and her pivotal experience with Tesla. Learn how she diversified her investments with the guidance of Savvy Ladies, turning potential setbacks into powerful momentum. This episode explores:

• Financial Independence: Ivette’s journey highlights how asking for help and clarity is the first step in rebuilding your life, even from rock bottom.
• Female Fintech: Learn about Harley, a platform designed to meet the specific financial needs of women, offering everything from high-yield accounts and robo-investing to a “diamond squad” for women-supporting-women funding.
• Cultural Entrepreneurship: Understand how cultural entrepreneurship, like Ivette’s Loiza Foods and Bodega Flavor, can be a powerful act of healing, identity affirmation, and creating spaces for underrepresented communities.
• Digital Safety: Recognize the growing need for women to embrace cybersecurity and digital safety as a core part of their financial lifestyle, protecting themselves from online scams and financial targeting.

Important Links:

• Savvy Ladies
• Precious Williams' LinkedIn
• Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn
• Ivette Rivera's LinkedIn

Think insurance is dull? Think again! Join us as visionary CEO and turnaround expert Monica Adwani shatters myths about the insurance industry and entrepreneurship. With nearly two decades of experience, Monica shares how she built a thriving career from the ground up, empowering Latino and immigrant entrepreneurs through innovative solutions. Tune in to hear the surprising ways insurance saves lives and businesses, the truth about the entrepreneurial journey, and the vast, often overlooked opportunities within this dynamic industry.

• Insurance is Not Boring: Find out how a dynamic career in insurance has led to Monica’s greatest reward: saving lives and businesses.
• Self-Made Success: Learn how Monica built her career from “zero” to CEO, arriving in the U.S. as an immigrant with no immediate family or help.
• Industry of Opportunity: The insurance sector faces a massive workforce gap, presenting significant career opportunities for new talent.
• Cultural Inclusion & Legacy: Monica is a passionate advocate for bringing diverse, younger talent into the industry. She hopes to leave a legacy of positive impact and enabling opportunities for others.

About Monica Adwani

Monica Adwani is a visionary CEO and turn-around expert with over 18 years in the insurance and business world. As the founder of Breezy Seguros, she empowers Latino and immigrant entrepreneurs through innovative insurance solutions and business growth strategies.

Recognized with multiple honors—including the AXL100 and Top 50 Women Leaders of Massachusetts—Monica is also a passionate advocate for inclusion, a board advisor for women entrepreneurs, and the voice behind the TranscendWithM podcast. Her journey from immigrant to impact-maker continues to shape industries and inspire change.

Important Links:

• Savvy Ladies
• Precious Williams' LinkedIn
• Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn
• Monica Adwani's LinkedIn

Tune in as Lisa Zeiderman and Precious Williams welcome Zoe Bogan, founder of ZB Agency and the visionary behind the Revenue Catalyst Program, which empowers women in traditionally male-dominated industries to excel in revenue-generating roles. Drawing on her experience as a former mergers and acquisitions leader at KPMG, Zoe shares her expertise helping women cultivate the confidence to overcome traditional barriers and boldly ask for opportunity, ownership, and the compensation they deserve. Learn how to move past fear and step into your power by:

• Laying the Foundation: Explore Zoe's personal journey and the "breadcrumbs" that led to empowering women's confidence.
• Cultivating Self-Belief: Learn strategies for shifting your mindset to build deeper belief in your worth and potential.
• Speaking Up: Get practical tips for asking powerfully and with confidence, even when navigating fear in male-dominated environments.
• Embracing an Empowered Mindset: Understand the importance of transitioning from a passive "employee" stance to an active, confident "entrepreneurial" mindset.
• Demanding Your Due: Learn why confidently demanding what you inherently deserve is crucial for achieving true financial empowerment.

About Zoe Bogan

Zoe Bogan is the founder of ZB Agency and a catalyst for women stepping into revenue-generating leadership roles across accounting, law, consulting, and beyond. Through her flagship program, Revenue Catalyst, now in its third cohort, she equips women to lead with confidence, close deals, and shift how they’re seen and valued in high-stakes rooms.

She is the visionary behind the ZB Agency Conference: Women Leading in Revenue Generation and Dealmaking and the ZB Golf Series, which has introduced nearly 70 women to golf as a powerful tool for business growth.

Zoe also leads the Capital Power-Up Initiative and upcoming Capital Power Summit, helping diverse and women-owned businesses prepare for funding and connect with aligned investors.

A former Corporate Development leader at KPMG, Zoe brings deep experience in M&A, integration strategy, and culture alignment. She’s a SUNY Fredonia alum, a passionate advocate for women in business—and most likely to be found on the golf course with her dog, Angel, when not building what’s next.

Important Links:

• Savvy Ladies
• Precious Williams' LinkedIn
• Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn
• Zoe Bogan's LinkedIn
• Zoe Bogan's Website , ZB Agency