In this deeply personal conversation, Deb sits down with longtime collaborator and friend Andrea Mac, founder of Prequal, to unpack a truth that’s both obvious and routinely avoided: you can’t build a flourishing society without women having real economic agency. Andrea brings the room from tailgates to tectonic plates sharing her mother’s story of rebuilding after divorce, what she learned watching women in professional services, and why the “women’s networking” playbook often fails to produce real outcomes. Together, they name the myths, the gaps, and the uncomfortable accountability: sometimes the system blocks women and sometimes women are unintentionally trained to block themselves. If you’ve ever felt that “money conversations” are too political, too heavy, or not your lane—this episode reframes wealth as what it really is: freedom, options, and autonomy. And then it gets practical: the mindset shift, the mechanisms, and the simple containers Andrea is using to help women actually do business together. Key Takeaways Why women’s economic agency is a flourishing issue, not just a business issue The data point that stops you cold: women own ~half of businesses, but capture a tiny fraction of revenue The myth of the “spa day strategy” and what drives outcomes instead A cleaner frame for “wealth”: not money, but freedom The real reason networking disappoints: we’re not message-ready Andrea’s “Give/Get” sessions: a practical container for needs → action → accountability What to do if you don’t have the community: build it (even if it starts with two people) “Women aren’t the audience of change. They’re the mechanism of change.” - Andrea Mac Three moves to create real economic momentum in the next 30 days: Get message-ready: Know what you need (specific) and what you offer (specific). No “keep me in mind.” Join or build a Give/Get container: One need stated. One commitment made. Mutuality, not vibes. Default to women first: When you can refer, hire, buy, or introduce, start by asking: where are the qualified women (and women of color) in this decision? The 3-by-30 Takeaway Three moves to create real economic momentum in the next 30 days: Get message-ready: Know what you need (specific) and what you offer (specific). No “keep me in mind.” Join or build a Give/Get container: One need stated. One commitment made. Mutuality, not vibes. Default to women first: When you can refer, hire, buy, or introduce, start by asking: where are the qualified women (and women of color) in this decision? About Our Guest Andrea Mac is the founder of Prequal, a consultancy focused on revenue growth for professional service providers and on advancing economic empowerment for women as a serious business strategy. Andrea’s work sits at the intersection of growth, equity, and agency: helping individuals and organizations connect their talent strategies to revenue outcomes that actually create autonomy. Connect with Andrea Mac LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea4thewin/ Prequal: https://theprequal.com/ About The HX Collective The HX Collective explores the human experience through three lenses: work, relationships and self, through raw, authentic conversations rooted in human-centered design. Each episode offers gripping stories, thought-provoking discussion, and concrete tools that help you rethink your relationship with distress and strengthen your whole human experience.
