Divas, Diamonds & Dollars: The Podcast for Women Building Wealth and Wisdom

Hosted by Leadership, Legacy & Leverage Hosted by Larisa Troche and Cecelia Benford

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269

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Divas, Diamonds & Dollars—the go-to podcast for bold, brilliant women 40 and better who are ready to build wealth, grow their leadership, and reclaim their financial confidence. Hosted by sisters and seasoned professionals Larisa Troche and Cecelia Benford, this weekly show brings real talk and real strategy to women navigating the power moves of midlife. From business ownership and income diversification to personal finance and legacy building, we share practical tools, mindset shifts, and candid conversations to help you elevate every aspect of your life. Whether you're pivoting

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August 27, 2026Episode 26925 min

269 _ The CEO Mindset: How to Lead What You’re Building

Developing a CEO mindset helps midlife women, women leaders, and women entrepreneurs move beyond simply doing more—and become the strategic leaders capable of building something bigger. In this final episode of our Empire Building for Tomorrow series, we turn the spotlight from the business you’re building to the woman who must lead it. Because eventually, working harder stops being the answer. We explore how to develop the CEO habits that help you lead at a higher level: setting effective boundaries, delegating instead of doing everything yourself, scheduling thinking time, creating monthly Vision Days, protecting your energy, and holding purposeful CEO meetings that focus on decisions and results. We also look at the remarkable leadership journey of Ursula Burns, whose path from engineering intern to CEO of Xerox demonstrates a powerful lesson in women’s leadership: your capacity often has to expand before your title does. Whether you’re pursuing midlife career growth, building a business, or creating multiple income streams, the CEO mindset requires a different question. Instead of asking, “How can I work harder?” begin asking, “Who do I need to become to lead what I’m building?” Your next level doesn’t just require a bigger vision. It requires a bigger version of you.

August 20, 2026Episode 26832 min

268_Build Once, Profit Forever: Turn Your Expertise Into Income-Producing Assets

In this episode of Divas, Diamonds & Dollars , we explore how to transform what you already know into intellectual property that can be documented, repurposed, monetized, and scaled. From SOPs, courses, templates, and checklists to books, memberships, licensing, evergreen content, and digitalproducts, you’ll learn how one core idea can become an entire library of valuable business assets. We also spotlight Madam C. J. Walker, whose business went far beyond selling hair-care products. She built a system of products, training, operating methods, distribution, and entrepreneurship that created economic opportunitiesfor thousands of Black women—an extraordinary early model of scalable enterprise. For women entrepreneurs and multipreneurs, the lesson is powerful: your next income stream may already be hiding inside work you’ve done, knowledge you’ve accumulated, or a process you use every day. If you’re focused on entrepreneurship for women, financial independence, or building a business that can grow beyond your individual time and effort, this episode will help you start thinking differently about your expertise. Your expertise can become an asset. Your asset can become an ecosystem. And your ecosystem can become part of your empire. Want to learn more? Join my online community of like-minded empire builders today.

August 13, 2026Episode 26725 min

267_AI for Women Entrepreneurs: Six Prompts to Level Up Your Empire

AI for women entrepreneurs can be more than a productivity shortcut—it can help midlife women think strategically, build multiple income streams, and make stronger CEO-level decisions. In this episode of Divas, Diamonds & Dollars , we explore six powerful AI prompts designed to help women entrepreneurs move beyond simply doing more and start building with greater focus, intention, and executive judgment. You’ll learn how to uncover valuable assets you may already possess, evaluate your businesses and projects as one portfolio, create a focused six-month growth strategy, strengthen your authority positioning and content, and design a CEO week that protects time for the work that matters most. We also celebrate Black Business Month with a Legacy Builder Spotlight on Bozoma Saint John and the career-changing power of asking better questions. Whether you're pursuing entrepreneurship, income diversification, or midlife career growth, these CEO-level AI prompts can help you organize complexity and turn years of experience, relationships, knowledge, and ideas into strategic assets. Because empire building isn't about collecting more exhausting side hustles. It's about deciding what to build, strengthen, systemize, monetize—or stop—so you can create greater financial resilience, freedom, and ownership. Remember, grab your free gift, Empire Builder Starter Kit :

August 6, 2026Episode 26631 min

266_Think Like a CEO: Create the Systems That Build Wealth and Freedom

For midlife women entrepreneurs, building a CEO Dashboard can transform overwhelm into strategic growth by creating the systems needed to lead with clarity, build wealth, and grow a sustainable multipreneur business. If you're tired ofjuggling ideas, projects, and endless to-do lists, this episode will help you build the operating system your business deserves. This week on Divas, Diamonds & Dollars , we're kicking off our Empire Building series by exploring how successful women leaders stop relying on memory and start relying on intentional systems. Inspired by the disciplined leadership of Mellody Hobson, you'll discover why a CEO Dashboard is more than a productivity tool—it's your second brain for making smarter decisions, tracking meaningful progress, organizing multiple income streams, and creating assets that continue working long after you've created them. Whether you're focused on entrepreneurship for women, midlife career growth, or expanding your business into books, speaking, consulting, or digital products, you'll learn practical strategies to organize your projects, create an asset library, and build an ecosystem designed for long-term success. Your business should support your vision—not consume your energy. Build the systems today that create financial independence for women tomorrow, so you can spendless time managing chaos and more time leading your empire with confidence.

July 31, 2026Episode 26530 min

265_ Income Diversification Trends Every Midlife Woman Should Know in 2026

Income diversification trends are reshaping the future for midlife women , women leaders, and women entrepreneurs—and this episode shows you how to build multiple income streams supported by smart systems instead of constant hustle. In this episode of Divas, Diamonds & Dollars , Larisa Troche and Cecelia Benford explore why 2026 is becoming the year of the income portfolio and why successful professionals are shifting from relying on a single-source paycheck to creating resilient, diversified sources of income. You'll discover how AI, the creator economy, and community-driven business models are opening new opportunities for women to monetize their expertise while creating more flexibility, purpose, and long-term security. We'll discuss why income diversification is becoming essential for women navigating career transitions, economic uncertainty, and changing workplace trends. You'll also learn the difference between simply adding another side hustle and building repeatable systems that generate lasting value through consulting, digital products, memberships, speaking, investments, and intellectual property. If you're pursuing midlife career growth , financial independence for women , or entrepreneurship for women , this conversation will help you think more strategically about your future. Your greatest advantage isn't having the most income streams—it's creating the systems that allow thosestreams to grow, scale, and support the life you're building.

July 25, 2026Episode 26426 min

264_Stop Planning, Start Building: The Final Steps to Launching Your Business

Launching a knowledge-based business is one of the smartest paths to entrepreneurship for women, helping midlife women transform great ideas into consistent incomethrough focused action and strategic planning. You've done the brainstorming. You've outlined your business plan. You've developed your strategy. Now it's time to stop preparing and start building. In this final episode of our business launch series, Larisa walks you through the practical steps that move your vision from paper to reality. You'll learn how to create a sustainable business schedule, use focused work blocks to maximizelimited time, and prioritize the activities that actually generate growth. Whether you're balancing a full-time career while building your dream or you're ready to fully embrace entrepreneurship for women, this episode offers a realistic roadmap for taking action. You'll also discover why analytics matter more than perfection, how AI and keyword research can strengthen your marketing, and why investing in time-saving systems may be one of the smartest decisions you'll make. These practical strategies support midlife career growth , strengthen financialindependence for women , and help build a business designed for long-term success. If you're serious about becoming one of the growing number of women entrepreneurs creating multiple income streams, this episode will help you replace overthinking with consistent execution. Because successful businessesaren't built by waiting for the perfect moment—they're built one focused, intentional action at a time.

July 16, 2026Episode 26327 min

Ep 263_Income Diversification Step 2: Build the Business Behind the Business

Income diversification for midlife women isn't just about having a great business idea—it's about building the systems that turn that idea into a profitable, sustainable business. In Step 2 of the Grim-to-Great Challenge, we're helping women entrepreneurs, career professionals, and late bloomers bridge the gap between vision and execution. If you've identified your business idea, now it's time to create the framework that brings it to life. In this episode, you'll learn how to build the foundation of your business by creating practical operating procedures, developing service packages, positioning your expertise, and establishing the routines that keep your business moving forward. We'll also explore how AI can simplify documentation, why standard operating procedures matter from day one, and how thoughtful marketing systems can help you attract clients consistently instead of constantly starting over. Whether you're moonlighting while keeping your full-time career or preparing for entrepreneurship full time, this conversation will help you create a business that works with intention—not chaos. Income diversification becomes far more achievable when your business is supported by repeatable processes instead of relying on motivation alone. If your goal is greater financial independence for women, stronger women entrepreneurs, and long-term lifestyle freedom, this episode provides the practical roadmap to help you make it happen. If you want to keep the conversation going, join my free onlin e community for more training and resources.

July 10, 2026Episode 26226 min

Ep262_Income Diversification Starts Here: Pencil Out Your Best Business Idea

Income diversification for midlife women starts with choosing the right business idea—and building it around your skills, experience, strengths, and real-life priorities. In Step 1 of the Grim-to-Great Challenge, we’re helping women entrepreneurs and career professionals move from vague business ideas to a practical plan for creating their primary “bread and butter” business income stream. Where should you begin? Start with what you already know. We walk through three strategic questions designed to uncover your earned authority, identify what makes your approach different, and clarify the transformation you can provide for others. You’ll examine the intersection of your skills, knowledge, abilities, passions, and interests—and learn why your lived experience may be one of your most valuable business assets. Then we move from reflection to action. You’ll learn how to narrow your ideas, conduct a practical SWOT analysis, outline a simple business plan, create a 30-60-90-day implementation plan, develop a marketing calendar, and schedule focused time to do the work. Income diversification doesn’t begin with chasing every opportunity. It begins with building one strong foundation. If you’re ready to turn your experience into income, strengthen your financial future, and create greater lifestyle independence, this episode will help you pencil out your next move. If you like what you're hearing with this month's challenge, join my free online community, Make It, Mind It, Multiply It and start your transformation today!

July 4, 2026Episode 26124 min

261_The Multipreneur’s Roadmap: 4 Steps to Build Multiple Income Streams

Multipreneurship can help midlife women build income diversification, strengthen financial independence, and create more control over their careers, businesses, and future. In this episode of Divas, Diamonds & Dollars, we’re kicking off the Grim-to-Great Challenge with a practical framework for turning your knowledge, skills, and experience into multiple income streams. Whether you call yourself a multi-hyphenate, side hustler, serial entrepreneur, or aspiring portfolio business owner, the challenge is often the same: how do you put all the pieces together without creating chaos? You’ll learn the four-part framework for building your multipreneurship strategy: Plan, Plot, Pace, and Power Up . We explore how to identify income opportunities based on what you already know, build a business while maintaining your 9-to-5, launch in realistic phases, and create systems that support sustainable growth. This episode also examines why income diversification matters for women approaching retirement, career transitions, or entrepreneurship. Building multiple revenuestreams isn’t only about earning more money—it’s about creating lifestyle independence and more choices for your future. If you’re ready to approach entrepreneurship for women with greater strategy, structure, and intention, this episode will help you identify where to begin and prepare for the deeper Multipreneur Masterclass episodes ahead.

June 26, 2026Episode 26035 min

260-Congratulations, You're a Homeowner! Now Here's What Happens Next

New homeowner tips can help midlife women avoid costly surprises, protect their investment, and confidently navigate the first year of homeownership. Yay—you've closed on your new home! The papers are signed, the keys are in your hand, and you're officially a homeowner. But what happens after closing? In this episode of Divas, Diamonds & Dollars , we share ten important things everynew homeowner should know, from supplemental property taxes and escrow adjustments to homeowner exemptions, insurance coverage, and even why your mortgage may be sold shortly after closing. You'll learn practical new homeowner tips to help you understand changing monthly payments, build equity faster, improve your credit score, avoid common financial pitfalls, and prepare for the unexpected costs that often catch buyers off guard. We also discuss condo special assessments, homeowner's insurance gaps, and smart strategies for paying down your mortgage early. Whether you're celebrating your first home purchase or adding another property to your portfolio, these insights will help you protect your investment and build long-term wealth with confidence. If you're passionate about financial independence for women , personal development for women , wealth building, and making informed financial decisions, this episode offers practical guidance to help you thrive long after the moving boxes are unpacked. Keywords & Tags: New Homeowner Tips, Homeownership, Women Over 40, Financial Independence for Women, Personal Development for Women, Wealth Building, Real Estate, Home Buying, Money Mindset, Financial Freedom, Midlife Pivot, Business Ownership, Personal Finance, Property Ownership