🎙 Episode 192: From Hidden to Heard – Tendai Rukarwa on Reclaiming Financial Confidence and Self-Worth

What happens when you're highly educated, professionally successful, yet quietly overwhelmed by money? For Tendai Rukarwa, an auditor and chartered accountant, her personal relationship with money lagged far behind her professional expertise—until she decided to confront it head on.

In this powerful episode of Let’s Talk Money and More, Lesley Thomas is joined by Tendai Rukarwa, who shares a raw and deeply relatable journey of realising that growing up doesn't automatically mean growing in financial maturity. From deferring financial responsibility to others, to learning the hard way how to budget, negotiate, and build self-trust—Tendai’s story is one of awakening, learning, and ultimately empowerment.

Together, they explore the emotional, cultural and psychological roots of money habits, the importance of financial visibility for women, and why learning to trust yourself with money is one of the greatest acts of self-leadership.

✅ Why professional success doesn’t always translate into financial confidence

✅ How upbringing, culture, and gender roles shape our money mindset

✅ The cost of avoiding financial responsibility—and how to step into your power

✅ The difference between theoretical knowledge and real-world money application

✅ Why self-trust and grace are critical to building true financial independence

✅ How to move from scarcity to abundance, even without changing your income

✅ The “penguin mindset” and how it can help you manage emotional and financial discomfort

✅ Practical steps to begin transforming your money story at any age

🔹 Memorable Quotes from Tendai:

✨ “You can grow up, gain degrees, climb the career ladder—yet still have the money mindset of an 8-year-old.”

✨ “When you allow yourself to breathe, you make space for money to flow towards you.”

✨ “You don’t need to announce your struggles to the world—but you do need to be honest with yourself.”

✨ “The world is expansive. You have a place in it—and a place in its wealth.”

✨ “Sometimes, you’re the penguin overheating in the middle. You look fine to others, but inside, you’re struggling.”

Tendai is an auditor, keynote speaker and advocate for financial education and resilience.

🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: Tendai Rukarwa

📱 Instagram: @tendairukarwa

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19zkbhDpu7/

📢 Tune in now to hear how Tendai turned her quiet money struggles into a powerful story of confidence, purpose and joy.

Connect with Lesley Thomas

Download for FREE – The 2025 Money Mindset Playbook - https://lesleyathomas.kartra.com/page/2025-money-mindset-playbook

My website www.themoneyconfidenceacademy.com/

Follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/iamlesley_thomas

Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-thomas

Book a Free 30 mins call with me - https://calendly.com/lesley-themoneyconfidenceacademy/30mins-121

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎙 Episode 191: Financial Confidence for Women in Business – Reclaiming Your Worth and Power Around Money

Do you ever feel like you're holding back when it comes to your finances? That somehow, despite running a successful business or being accomplished in your career, money still feels like a source of stress or uncertainty?

In this episode of Let’s Talk Money and More, host Lesley Thomas dives deep into the vital topic of financial confidence for women in business. This isn’t just about profit margins and spreadsheets—it’s about mindset, self-worth, and embracing your value without apology.

Lesley explores the emotional and psychological roots of financial hesitation, how upbringing and societal conditioning can impact women’s beliefs around money, and what it truly means to show up confidently and lead from a place of financial empowerment.

Whether you're a business owner, leader, or someone ready to feel more at ease with your finances, this episode offers practical tools and mindset shifts to support you in stepping fully into your worth—personally and professionally.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why financial confidence is a mindset, not just a skill set.

✅ How childhood beliefs and early money stories can still shape your business decisions today.

✅ The difference between knowing your numbers and owning your financial power.

✅ Why visibility, pricing, and self-promotion are crucial to building true confidence.

✅ Practical steps to shift out of fear and into financial clarity.

✅ How to break free from guilt, shame, or hesitation when it comes to money.

🔹 Memorable Quotes from Lesley:

✨ “You cannot be financially confident until you first acknowledge the value you bring to the table.”

✨ “We inherit our money stories long before we start writing our own chapters—it’s time to edit them consciously.”

✨ “Financial empowerment for women is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.”

💡 Empowerment Begins with Awareness

This episode is your invitation to challenge what you’ve been told about money, leadership, and self-worth—and to start making financial decisions from a place of confidence, not conditioning.

📢 Tune in now and take your first step towards financial freedom, on your terms.

Connect with Lesley Thomas

Download for FREE – The 2025 Money Mindset Playbook - https://lesleyathomas.kartra.com/page/2025-money-mindset-playbook

My website www.themoneyconfidenceacademy.com/

Follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/iamlesley_thomas

Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-thomas

Book a Free 30 mins call with me - https://calendly.com/lesley-themoneyconfidenceacademy/30mins-121

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎙 Episode 190: Building Confidence, Changing Futures – Louise Hill’s Journey with GoHenry and Financial Literacy

What does it take to empower a generation of children to become financially confident? For Louise Hill, it all started with a simple realisation: young people were moving into a digital world, but their financial education hadn’t caught up.

In this inspiring episode of Let’s Talk Money and More, Lesley Thomas sits down with Louise Hill, co-founder of GoHenry, to explore Louise’s personal money story, her early lessons in resilience and confidence, and how a kitchen-table idea grew into a pioneering movement for children's financial empowerment.

Together, they discuss the emotional side of money, the gaps in financial education, and how small, practical changes can shape powerful futures. Louise also shares what drives her continued passion for ensuring every child in the UK has access to meaningful financial literacy from a young age.

✅ How early experiences shape our confidence with money and spending

✅ Why Louise started GoHenry—and how it grew into a global brand

✅ The emotional journey behind teaching children financial independence

✅ Why financial literacy must start in primary schools—not secondary

✅ The life-changing potential of simple money habits like saving and budgeting

✅ How cross-party support could transform the UK's financial future

✅ The powerful link between financial confidence, opportunity, and wellbeing

✅ How real-life stories from families prove the long-term impact of early money education

🔹 Memorable Quotes from Louise:

✨ "Financial education is not just a life skill—it’s a life changer."

✨ "We were living in a digital world, but still giving our children cash."

✨ "Confidence with money starts with regular, simple habits—even if it’s just 20p a week."

✨ "Every child deserves to believe in the art of the possible for their future."

GoHenry helps young people build financial confidence by combining a pre-paid card with a simple app, empowering children and teens to save, spend, and manage money responsibly.

🔗 Find out more at: gohenry.com

📢 Tune in now to hear Louise’s remarkable journey—and find out how we can all play a part in creating a financially confident future for the next generation.

Connect with Lesley Thomas

Download for FREE – The 2025 Money Mindset Playbook - https://lesleyathomas.kartra.com/page/2025-money-mindset-playbook

My website www.themoneyconfidenceacademy.com/

Follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/iamlesley_thomas

Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-thomas

Book a Free 30 mins call with me - https://calendly.com/lesley-themoneyconfidenceacademy/30mins-121

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.