Breaking Barriers: How Women Are Leading with Capital Efficiency and Impact with Julie Castro Abrams

It's time to embrace your power and influence, no longer worried about societal expectations.

Julie Castro Abrams is an expert in board governance, investing, and is an experienced CEO, movement builder, and leader. As the CEO of How Women Lead, a network of over 24,000 women, she is dedicated to breaking ceilings for women both individually and collectively. She is the Managing Partner of How Women Invest, the country’s largest venture fund focused exclusively on women founders, and is passionate about helping women rise to positions of power.

Julie shares the concept of the middle essence—when women in their 40s need to have an impact, be happy, and do meaningful work. Women own 52% of the wealth and have the financial power to drive significant change. However, there is a disparity between wealth control and decision-making, and most financial decisions are still made by men.

It is time to break cultural barriers, and women should advocate for each other, reinforce women's voices, make introductions to expand networks, and be unapologetically visible through podcasts, books, and their communities. Entrepreneurship is key for women to take control and create more inclusive systems because women-led businesses often have a pro-social focus, addressing issues like climate change, good working conditions, and local community support.

The challenge of investment women are facing can be fixed with the help of women-run venture funds that are growing and funding solutions for women's businesses. All this information and encouragement can be found in this episode and also in women's circles. So, finding a community that aligns with your values and needs—whether for business or social purposes—will be very helpful.

Ladies, embrace every stage of your life, speak up, and pursue your dreams unapologetically.

Show notes:
⚡ Julie quit her job as a CEO: she felt the urge to impact the world by activating women to make systemic changes. 03:32
💰 Women own 52% of the wealth today, which is why women need to come together. 07:41
👠 Women should do the opposite of what the culture says: be fierce advocates for one another. 08:58
💸 Women need to see where they are putting their money: 98.6% of all assets are still managed by men. 13:02
🌺 When you have a woman CEO and founder, the result for the workers is family and medical leave, equal pay, and better working conditions. 16:20
🔥 The data shows that women return 34% more for their investors than men, and they have lower revenue per dollar of funding. 21:11
🤑 The wealthiest people in the US invest in venture firms and private equity, and this is an alternative way to grow wealth. 23:39
🎯 It's all about stepping into your power: the happiness that comes from having an impact. 27:05
💻 On Julie's website, you can sign up for a free leadership journey and get a self-assessment tool. 29:43

Links:

Connect: linkedin.com/in/julie-castro-abrams 

Website: howwomenlead.com
-Connect with Adrienne: www.sheleadsmedia.com

-Listen to podcasts for women by women on the She Leads Podcast Network: www.sheleadspodcasts.com 

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