Getting Rich Together

Syama Bunten

By 2030, women are projected to inherit more than $30 trillion in wealth. That's power and possibility—but here's the catch: women still earn just 85 cents on the dollar, and we don't get a 15% discount when we shop. Financial literacy and confidence haven't kept up with the times. That's where Getting Rich Together comes in. I'm Syama Bunten. After my divorce, I wrote to fifty women asking to talk about money. Ninety-five percent said no. But the few who said yes changed everything. They became my wealth expanders—showing me new ways to think about money, power, and what's possible.

They were, in essence, my personal wealth catalysts -- something we can all be for each other as we unlock the wisdom inside. This podcast brings those conversations and that catalyst to you. Each week, you'll meet women across industries and backgrounds—investors, founders, leaders, and creatives—who are redefining wealth on their own terms. Their stories are here to expand your vision, unlock your wisdom, fuel your confidence, create a wealth catalyst in your own life, and remind you that wealth isn't built alone. It's built together.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    The Emotional Side of Wealth Nobody Talks About with Wendy Wecksell, Creator of the EQ of Wealth

    Join your host Syama Bunten as she talks with Wendy Wecksell. Wendy Wecksell has spent her career doing something most financial professionals won't touch — going beneath the numbers to explore the fear, guilt, love, and legacy that quietly drive every money decision we make. As the founder of Wecksell Partners and creator of the EQ of Wealth, Wendy works with ultra-high-net-worth women and families to transform their relationship with money from a source of conflict into a force for good. But Wendy's path here wasn't linear. From inheriting money she didn't know how to manage, to spending to self-soothe, to nearly moving to Paris before watching it all fall apart overnight — her story is one of radical honesty, hard-won wisdom, and the slow, powerful work of building something that truly matters. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt complicated about money — and wants to finally do something about it. Key Topics: How financial silence shapes adult money behavior Why understanding your emotional triggers around money matters as much as the numbers themselves How to recognize when you're spending to self-soothe — and what to do instead What "Wealthy Time" is and how a simple weekly practice can transform your relationship with your finances Why listeners who've inherited wealth or built it through a business face different emotional challenges — and how to navigate both How Wendy's legacy magic framework can help anyone figure out their unique contribution at the intersection of personal, professional, and potential What it looks like to move capital aligned with your values — and why doing so is one of the most powerful things wealth-holders can do   Connect with Wendy Wecksell online:  Website: https://www.wxlpartners.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-wecksell-wxl-a47a735/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendywecksell/   Find more from Syama Bunten: Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syama.co/ Join Syama's Substack: https://thewealthcatalystwithsyama.substack.com/ Website: https://wealthcatalyst.com Download Syama's Free Resources: https://wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: https://syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

    40 min
  2. 17 MAR

    How to Turn Every Career Setback Into Your Greatest Asset with India Gary-Martin, Leadership Advisor & Founder of Act Three Convening

    Join your host, Syama Bunten as she talks with India Gary-Martin, the former CTO & COO of international banking operations spanning 40 countries. India is also a trusted advisor to Fortune 100 CEOs and founders, and the visionary behind the Act Three Convening — a global gathering redefining what midlife means for women. But India's path from a Cincinnati living room learning blackjack with her stepfather to the executive floors of Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan wasn't planned — it emerged. And that emergence, she'll tell you, was the whole point. In this conversation, India shares what 25 years in global financial services, building a beauty brand from scratch, and coaching some of the world's most senior leaders has taught her — and why the most powerful career move you'll ever make might be the one you accidentally stumble into. Key Topics: How to apply an abundance mindset to wealth-building How to identify values-aligned mentors and sponsors even when they don't look like you Why listeners who feel underpaid need to understand "total compensation" — and how one boss's correction changed India's entire financial trajectory What it really feels like to bet everything on your own business — and what listeners can take away from India's near-bankruptcy experience How to rebuild wealth and professional identity after a major financial setback Why listeners in midlife are navigating more than career transitions — and what India's Act Three Convening offers as a solution What it looks like to use your wealth intentionally — paying for college debt-free, building a home for aging parents, and investing in experiences over things   Connect with India Gary-Martin online:  Website: https://www.leadershipforexecs.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/indiagarymartin/  Act Three Convening: https://www.act3convening.com   Find more from Syama Bunten:  Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syama.co/ Join Syama's Substack: https://thewealthcatalystwithsyama.substack.com/  Website: https://wealthcatalyst.com  Download Syama's Free Resources: https://wealthcatalyst.com/resources  Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalyst.com/summits  Speaking: https://syamabunten.com  Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

    54 min
  3. 10 MAR

    Pathway to Align Your Capital With Your Values with Wendy Ryan

    Join host Syama Bunten as she sits down with Wendy Ryan a bestselling author, board advisor, angel investor, and creator of the Learn Lead Lift Framework®—a leadership blueprint trusted by executives and founders worldwide. Syama and Wendy explore how to align your capital with your personal values.  Featured in the documentary Show Her the Money for her trailblazing work championing women founders, Wendy has spent 30+ years at the crossroads of people, power, and capital.  Her journey from an HR generalist navigating Silicon Valley's dot-com boom to writing angel checks and building a legacy in girls' leadership education is one of the most quietly powerful stories you'll hear.  In this conversation, Wendy pulls back the curtain on the childhood money moments that shaped her financial identity, what it truly means to align your capital with your values, and why she believes democratizing access to capital is the greatest investment any of us can make.   Key Topics: How early experiences with divorce, financial instability, and home loss wire your adult relationship with money Why viewing money as a secondary currency—not the goal itself—is the mindset shift that creates lasting financial freedom How to trust your gut when selling an investment and why harvesting gains at the right time beats chasing the next high Navigating inheritance with grief, gratitude, and a clear-eyed vision for what becomes possible Why writing your first angel check is less about expertise and more about learning to jump into the deep end The case for investing in women founders—and why it's one of the highest-return moves you can make financially and for the world How giving with purpose—through leadership gifts, institutions, and intentional capital—creates a legacy that outlives us all   Connect with Wendy Ryan online: Website: https://www.learnleadlift.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyryankadabra/   Find more from Syama Bunten: Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syama.co/?hl=en Join Syama's Substack: https://thewealthcatalystwithsyama.substack.com/ Website: https://wealthcatalyst.com Download Syama's Free Resources: https://wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: https://syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

    1hr 22min
  4. 3 MAR

    How to Stop Playing It Safe and Start Betting on Yourself with Shelley Kuipers, Co-Founder of The 51

    Join your host Syama Bunten as she sits down with Shelley Kuipers, a prolific investor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of The 51—a venture platform unlocking the economic potential of women across Canada.  From her unconventional upbringing as a forest ranger's daughter in Northern Alberta to becoming a tech industry pioneer in the late 80s, Shelley's journey is defined by calculated risk-taking and fierce independence.  After spending a decade treating someone else's company like her own, she learned a pivotal lesson: what would happen if she gave that same energy to herself? Since 1999, she's been exclusively a founder or co-founder, building ventures that challenge the status quo. Now, with The 51 growing from 75 women in her kitchen to 48,000 across Canada, Shelley is redefining who gets capital, who builds wealth, and what legacy truly means. Key Topics: Why working hard for someone else will always have a ceiling. How to break into industries that weren't built for you. What shifts in your relationship with money and legacy when you start thinking beyond yourself and toward future generations Why the most powerful wealth-building opportunity isn't competing for a slice of the existing pie. What it actually takes to build a movement from scratch. How to stop underestimating your own qualifications and start showing up as the capital steward you already are. Why passion projects hit differently once you have the skills, capital, and confidence to execute.   Connect with Shelley Kuipers online: Website: https://www.the51.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleykuipers/   Find more from Syama Bunten: Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syama.co/ Join Syama's Substack: https://thewealthcatalystwithsyama.substack.com/ Website: https://wealthcatalyst.com Download Syama's Free Resources: https://wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: https://syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

    44 min
  5. 24 FEB

    Healing Our Relationship With Money with Sara Vetter

    In this deeply personal and expansive conversation, Syama Bunten sits down with Sara Vetter, CEO of the Soul of Money Institute and longtime partner to author and activist Lynne Twist, to explore how our earliest experiences with money shape who we become—and how healing that relationship can unlock purpose, power, and profound impact. Sara shares her journey from growing up in a wealthy but emotionally restrained family, through Silicon Valley affluence and personal collapse, to a spiritual awakening that redefined her life's work. Together, they unpack how silence around money, identity loss, illness, divorce, and reinvention ultimately led Sara to a soul-aligned relationship with wealth—one rooted in sufficiency, service, and embodiment. This episode is a masterclass in money as a mirror, leadership through vulnerability, and what becomes possible when women reclaim both their financial agency and their aliveness. Key Topics: How growing up with wealth but never discussing money created a lifetime pattern of financial avoidance and dependence The moment lupus, meningitis, and divorce became the catalyst for discovering spiritual awakening and authentic purpose Why feeling like a fraud in the beginning of your transformation is part of becoming who you're meant to be The power of showing up for yourself when no one else understands or supports your path of reinvention How leading others through uncharted territory reveals your own hidden strength and authentic voice Why bringing embodiment, pleasure, and play into serious wealth work creates sustainable transformation Why protecting our planet is the ultimate wealth strategy—no planet, no us   Connect with Sara online: Website: https://soulofmoney.org Support the Amazon: https://pachamama.org Find more from Syama Bunten: Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syama.co/ Join Syama's Substack: https://thewealthcatalystwithsyama.substack.com/ Website: https://wealthcatalyst.com Download Syama's Free Resources: https://wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: https://syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

    52 min
  6. 17 FEB

    Building Wealth With Intention (Not Flash) with Dawn Dobras

    What does it really take to build wealth through discipline, strategy, and long-term thinking—while still creating meaningful impact? In this episode, Syama Bunten sits down with third-generation entrepreneur, C-level executive, and angel investor Dawn Dobras, whose career spans fashion retail, creative industries, and board leadership. Dawn shares how early lessons in financial literacy, competitive drive, and strategic planning shaped her rise from an entry-level role in fashion retail to investing in and mentoring female and diverse founders. This conversation isn't about flashy wins. It's about building financial security early, thinking like an operator, and using wealth as a tool to empower others and create lasting change. Key Topics: Chasing the entrepreneurial spirit from a very young age Maxing out the 401k as early as possible It's never too late to start investing and learning more about it Being a conversation starter about investing among women peers Owning your expertise and fully realizing your potential Getting more savvy about the investments you make Teaching kids to be productive and to always be moving forward every day Creating a butterfly effect to help others harness their power for exponential change   Connect with Dawn online: Website: https://www.capitalf.vc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawndobras Instagram: @dawndboras   Find more from Syama Bunten: Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syama.co/ Join Syama's Substack: https://thewealthcatalystwithsyama.substack.com/ Website: https://wealthcatalyst.com Download Syama's Free Resources: https://wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: https://syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

    44 min
  7. 10 FEB

    The Long Game of Wealth: Real Estate, Risk, and Reinventing Life with Anne-Michelle Wand

    What does it really look like to build wealth—slowly, intuitively, and unapologetically on your own terms? In this episode, Syama Bunten sits down with real estate investor, developer, and global entrepreneur Anne-Michelle Wands, whose life story spans single motherhood, salon ownership, real estate mastery, and ultimately building a legacy in Panama. Anne-Michelle shares how she went from sleeping in a hallway with two young sons to owning multiple properties across the U.S., Hawaii, and Central America—by trusting herself, spotting gaps others missed, and choosing ownership again and again. This conversation isn't about overnight success. It's about resilience, intuition, and designing a life where money supports freedom—not the other way around. Key Topics: Breaking the Silence Around Women & Money Early Money Imprinting & Entrepreneurial Roots Nonlinear Paths to Wealth (Motherhood, Survival & Reinvention) From Employee to Owner: Building Businesses That Create Freedom Real Estate as a Wealth Multiplier Scaling from Local to Global Investing Lessons From Risk, Failure & Resilience Abroad Legacy Wealth & Purpose-Driven Investing Connect with Anne-Michelle Wand online: Website: https://www.passive-profit-partners.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cr8grtsuccess?originalSubdomain=pa Find more from Syama Bunten: Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syama.co/ Join Syama's Substack: https://thewealthcatalystwithsyama.substack.com/ Website: https://wealthcatalyst.com Download Syama's Free Resources: https://wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: https://syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

    46 min
  8. 3 FEB

    Why More Women Should Buy Businesses Instead of Start Them with Jeanne Wang

    What if building wealth didn't mean starting from scratch—or doing it alone? In this episode Syama sits down with investor, advisor, and mentor Jeanne Wang to explore a powerful (and still under-discussed) path to wealth: buying and operating existing businesses. Jeanne shares her journey from growing up in a small Pennsylvania farm town, to Wharton, to decades in private equity—before intentionally shifting her focus toward supporting women as owners, operators, and investors. Together, Shama and Jeanne unpack the emotional, financial, and identity-level decisions that shape women's wealth journeys, especially mid-career. This is a conversation about legacy, risk, confidence, and why women owning businesses isn't just good for returns—it's good for communities. Key Topics: Why signing bonuses and performance guarantees matter more than base salary in your first negotiation The power of choosing diverse experience and strong culture over the highest-paying job offer How to evaluate career opportunities through the lens of working with highly motivated people The critical difference between building a business from scratch and buying an established one How to build wealth through alternative assets while maintaining a risk-averse mindset The importance of financial literacy education and creating investment competitions with your family Why legacy is measured by the number of women you help into ownership, not personal accolades Connect with Jeanne Wang online: Website: https://www.villagesearchpartners.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannewang1/    Find more from Syama Bunten: Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syama.co/ Join Syama's Substack: https://thewealthcatalystwithsyama.substack.com/ Website: https://wealthcatalyst.com Download Syama's Free Resources: https://wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: https://syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

    44 min

About

By 2030, women are projected to inherit more than $30 trillion in wealth. That's power and possibility—but here's the catch: women still earn just 85 cents on the dollar, and we don't get a 15% discount when we shop. Financial literacy and confidence haven't kept up with the times. That's where Getting Rich Together comes in. I'm Syama Bunten. After my divorce, I wrote to fifty women asking to talk about money. Ninety-five percent said no. But the few who said yes changed everything. They became my wealth expanders—showing me new ways to think about money, power, and what's possible.

They were, in essence, my personal wealth catalysts -- something we can all be for each other as we unlock the wisdom inside. This podcast brings those conversations and that catalyst to you. Each week, you'll meet women across industries and backgrounds—investors, founders, leaders, and creatives—who are redefining wealth on their own terms. Their stories are here to expand your vision, unlock your wisdom, fuel your confidence, create a wealth catalyst in your own life, and remind you that wealth isn't built alone. It's built together.

You Might Also Like