The Power of the Ask

Hosted by Lisa Zeiderman, Savvy Ladies Board Chair, Managing Partner at Miller Zeiderman LLP, and Precious Williams, Savvy Ladies Board of Directors, CEO/Founder of Perfect Pitch Group

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May 2026

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About the show

Discover the art of asking the right questions to own every room, be intentional in your pursuit, and build the best version of yourself. It's time to stop waiting for permission and start asking for what you deserve. The “Power of the Ask” is your dose of no-nonsense guidance and actionable advice to master your finances, skyrocket your career, and find your inner strength. Join the Savvy Ladies Lisa Zeiderman and Precious Williams as they equip you with the questions that unlock doors, shatter glass ceilings, and unlock your full potential. No more holding back, no more second-guessing. The “Power of the Ask” is your launchpad to a life where you own your power, ask for what you want, and take charge to get it. Ready to take the ask? Hit subscribe and let's get moving!

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May 15, 2026Episode 337 min

Stop Leaving Money on the Table: What Women Need to Know About Retirement with Marcia Mantell

Marcia Mantell, founder of Mantell Retirement Consulting and former VP at Fidelity Investments, joins The Power of the Ask to talk about what it takes to own your financial future. With 30 years of experience translating complex topics like Social Security and Medicare into language everyone can use, Marcia explores why women still remain disengaged from financial decisions, and how to change that. Marcia, Lisa, and Precious cover: Defining Your Value: When Marcia launched her business, someone told her she couldn't charge her rate. She said, "Watch me." Knowing what you're worth and standing by it is non-negotiable, whether you're negotiating a salary or building a retirement strategy. How to Reframe Your Ask: The most powerful asks focus on what the other person stands to lose, a principle Marcia uses with Social Security clients who want to claim early. Why Rejection is Critical Data: Marcia has quit three jobs, been told she'd never earn more, and launched a business that just celebrated 20 years. Practicing Asking Out Loud: Before a high-stakes conversation, Marcia stands in front of a mirror and asks for what she wants. Hearing your own words builds confidence, and confidence builds momentum. Important Links:Savvy Ladies (https://www.savvyladies.org/)Precious Williams' LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/)Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisazeiderman/Marcia Mantell's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciamantell/)Important Links for Marcia:Mantell Retirement Consulting (https://www.linkedin.com/company/mantell-retirement-consulting-inc./)About Marcia Mantell:Marcia Mantell is a nationally recognized retirement expert, speaker, author, and founder of Mantell Retirement Consulting. With over 30 years of experience, she helps individuals and financial professionals understand complex topics like retirement income, Social Security, and Medicare in clear, actionable ways. A former Vice President at Fidelity Investments, Marcia is known for translating technical financial concepts into everyday language that empowers people to make confident decisions about their future. She is a frequent media contributor, podcast guest, and author of several books focused on retirement planning.

April 17, 2026Episode 231 min

The Intersection of Women's Health and Financial Wellbeing with Beth Battaglino, RN

Beth Battaglino, RN, CEO of HealthyWomen.org, joins The Power of the Ask to illustrate how health literacy and financial security are directly connected. Beth draws on more than three decades of women's health advocacy to explain why delaying care, skipping screenings, and staying quiet in the doctor's office can carry real financial consequences. She also shares how she made the boldest ask of her career, turning a hospital's about-to-close nonprofit into one of the country's leading women's health organizations. Key takeaways from this important conversation: Health Literacy and Financial Security Go Hand in Hand: Women who understand their health and act early live longer, work longer, and face fewer financially devastating medical crises down the road. Delayed Care Has a Price Tag: Skipping preventative screenings delays diagnosis, increases treatment costs, and can derail a woman's ability to work and earn. Ask for the Second Opinion: A second opinion is not a betrayal of your provider. The smartest healthcare professionals encourage it, and the most empowered patients demand it. Know Your Numbers (All of Them): Blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and Lp(a) are non-negotiables. One simple blood test for Lp(a) can reveal a hidden heart risk most women don't know to ask about. Alignment Before the Ask: When building partnerships, Beth leads with shared values, not a wish list. That philosophy has sustained HealthyWomen for 35 years. Important Links:Savvy Ladies (https://www.savvyladies.org/)Precious Williams' LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/)Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisazeiderman/Beth Battaglino's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-battaglino-14b6165/)Important Links for Beth:Healthy Women (https://www.healthywomen.org/)About Beth Battaglino: Beth Battaglino is the president and chief executive officer of HealthyWomen, the nation’s leading independent, nonprofit health information source for women dedicated to educating women to make informed health choices. Beth brings a unique combination of sharp business expertise and women’s health insight to her leadership of the organization. She has worked in the healthcare industry for more than 25 years, helping to define and drive public education programs on a broad range of women’s health issues. Beth launched and has expanded the HealthyWomen brand. As a result of her leadership, HealthyWomen was recognized as one of the top 100 women’s health websites by Oprah magazine and by Forbes, for three consecutive years. HealthyWomen now connects to millions of women across the country through its wide program distribution and innovative use of technology. She is also a practicing nurse in maternal child health. In addition to her nursing degree, Beth holds degrees in business and public administration from Marymount University.

March 13, 2026Episode 127 min

Breaking Free from Calladita Culture: How First-Gen Women Can Reclaim Their Voice and Worth with Pam Covarrubias

Leadership coach, somatic practitioner, and Café con Pam podcast host Pam Covarrubias joins The Power of the Ask to talk about what keeps high-achieving first-generation women stuck, silent, and overworked, and what it takes to break free. Pam introduces the concept of Calladita Culture, the inherited system of silence and submission that conditions women to stay small, underpay themselves, and perform for approval rather than lead from truth. She walks through her Unmute & Reclaim Method and explains why certainty, not confidence, is the real foundation of lasting change. Pam, Lisa, and Precious explore: Certainty Before Confidence: Confidence without roots won't hold. When you know who you are and what you want without needing external approval, confidence follows naturally. How Your Body Keeps Score: If you're getting sick after every work trip or only resting when forced, your body is sending a signal. Learning to listen is the first step toward change. The Five Wounds of Calladita Culture: Silence, worth, power, and the other wounds underneath this system show up as both over- and underperformance. Awareness is where healing starts. Why Woleness-Based Leadership Starts with Self-Knowledge: The best leaders don't borrow a style. They do the inner work to understand how they lead best, then build from that place. One Somatic Step You Can Take Today: Place your hand on your chest, slow your exhale, and ask your body what you're carrying that's stopping you from asking for what you want. Important Links:Savvy Ladies (https://www.savvyladies.org/)Precious Williams' LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/)Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisazeiderman/Pam Covarrubias's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamcovarrubias/Important Links for Pam:Pam Covarrubias's Website: https://www.spreadideasmovepeople.com/About Pam Covarrubias:Pam Covarrubias is a leadership coach, podcast host, and somatic practitioner… but what she really does is help first-gen high-achievers break up with performance culture and lead from presence instead of proving. She is also the creator of the Unmute & Reclaim™ Method and Calladita Culture® frameworks built for women who are tired of biting their tongues, betraying their bodies, and burning out just to belong. Through her coaching and consulting work, she has partnered with big brands and organizations, helping teams and individuals lead from wholeness instead of burnout. Through nervous system regulation, somatic healing, and cultural deconditioning, she helps women stop hustling for their worth and start leading from wholeness. And she has spent a decade using her podcast, Café con Pam, to elevate Latine voices and people of the Global Majority, dismantling the BS conditioning that keeps us playing small. Because before there’s confidence… there’s certainty. And Pam believes, certainty lives in the body.

January 16, 2026Episode 1827 min

Finding Your Money Zen with Manisha Thakor

Financial thought leader and author Manisha Thakor joins the show to share her approach to financial health and emotional wealth. With over 30 years of experience in financial services, Manisha provides a clear roadmap for dismantling the cultural pressure on women to be perfect. She discusses the core principles of her book, MoneyZen, and explores how women can reclaim their power by asking the right questions of their employers, their partners, and themselves. You’ll hear Manisha discuss: The Perfection Trap: Why the societal expectation for women to be perfect prevents them from asking for raises, and how to embrace the bravery required to advocate for your worth. Joy-Based Spending: A practical exercise to audit expenses and identify where life energy is being drained by social obligations or costs that offer no emotional return. Financial Compatibility: The necessity of discussing money values early in relationships to ensure long-term alignment and stability. The Reality of Wealth: Why assuming net worth based on outward appearances is a mistake and how to stop comparing yourself to a curated image. Important Links:Savvy Ladies (https://www.savvyladies.org/)Precious Williams' LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/)Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisazeiderman/Manisha Thakor's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/manishathakor/)Important Links for Manisha:Manisha's Books Link: (https://moneyzen.com/my-books/)Money Zen Website: (https://moneyzen.com/)About Manisha Thakor:Manisha Thakor has worked in financial services for more than thirty years, with an emphasis on women’s economic empowerment and financial well-being. A nationally recognized thought-leader in this space, Thakor has been featured in a wide range of publications, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, NPR, PBS, CNN, Real Simple, and Women’s Health. In her most recent book, Money Zen, she breaks down the personal, cultural, and societal forces that have led us to falsely believe we can never have, do, or be enough, and shows us a fresh new path toward “MoneyZen”—her joy-based approach to living a life rich in financial health and emotional wealth.

January 2, 2026Episode 1723 min

Cultivating Confidence and Global Beauty Standards with Andi Assebian, MSN, AGNP-C

Entrepreneur, nurse practitioner and Manhattan medspa founder Andi Assebian, MSN, AGNP-C, joins the podcast to share her journey from the Ivory Coast to the heart of New York City’s aesthetic medicine scene. Drawing from her extensive background in physiology and perioperative nursing, Andi discusses how she built a practice that supports anatomy-driven beauty standards. She shares the stark reality of navigating the medical field as a woman of color and the determination required to scale a business while raising a family. You’ll hear Andi discuss: The Global Mirror: How growing up in the Ivory Coast and living across France and Canada shaped her view of beauty as a tool for identity and community rather than a quest for perfection. Precision Under Pressure: Andi shares insights from her time as an operating room nurse, exploring how that high-stakes environment still dictates her meticulous approach to patient safety and treatment plans today. Anatomy-Driven Aesthetics: Why she travels the globe to learn techniques that focus on balance and harmony over simple volume, and why the best aesthetic work should remain undetectable. The Courage to Ask: How asking for support and networking allowed her to expand from a single room to a thriving Midtown Manhattan practice in just two years. Rapid Fire Favorites: From the French classic Coq au Vin to the skincare trend she wants everyone to stop immediately. Important Links:Savvy Ladies (https://www.savvyladies.org/)Precious Williams' LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/)Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisazeiderman/Important Links for Andi:Andi Assebian, MSN, AGNP-C's Site: https://dermartisan.com/About Andi Assebian, MSN, AGNP-C's:Andi is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience in medical aesthetics. She received her Bachelors in Physiology from University of Calgary, Nursing degree from Duke University, and Masters as a Nurse Practitioner from New York University. She began her career in the operating room at Yale University hospital as a Perioperative Nurse and transitioned to NYC to work with world-class plastic surgeons and aesthetic practitioners. Andi founded Derm Artisan to share her passion and vision for a MedSpa – one built on an unwavering commitment to care, excellence and empowerment. Andi has lived in France, Canada, U.S., the Ivory Coast. Her appreciation for different cultures, beauty standards, and people of all backgrounds is deeply reflected in the makeup of Derm Artisan. She is an avid learner and travels the globe to stay on top of the latest techniques and technologies. Andi currently lives in NYC with her husband and baby boy. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and is fluent in French a language that connects her to her roots and enriches the welcoming, multicultural spirit she brings into her practice each day.

November 21, 2025Episode 1636 min

Dancing Your Way to Financial Freedom: Becoming the CEO and Unlocking The Power of the Pivot with Tricia M. Taitt

Financial expert Tricia M. Taitt shares her journey from Wall Street and Broadway to writing the Amazon bestseller Dancing with Numbers and founding FinCore, a financial planning platform for women entrepreneurs. Discover the mindset shifts that define a CEO, why financial literacy is essential for women entrepreneurs, and the most overlooked opportunity for increasing your business profit. Tricia also reveals the two biggest asks that transformed her life, including deferring a six-figure job offer to pursue her passion for dance. You’ll hear Tricia discuss: The CEO Mindset Shift: Why she avoided the CEO title for years, and how she realized the role means building a team, not doing everything herself. From Layoff to Liberation: The pivotal moment in 2009 that led Tricia to combine her expertise (Wharton, Duke, Wall Street) with her passion for dance to create FinCore. Unlocking Profit: The single most overlooked profit opportunity Tricia sees across industries. Tough Love with Honey: How she balances compassion and accountability to help entrepreneurs face their money stories and understand the consequences of inaction. The Bold Ask: Tricia’s most uncomfortable asks, including the time she asked a major corporation to defer her employment to dance. Important Links:Savvy Ladies (https://www.savvyladies.org/)Precious Williams' LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/)Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisazeiderman/)Tricia M. Taitt's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/triciataitt/)Important Links for Tricia:FinCore Website (https://fincorestrong.com/)Dancing with Numbers (https://a.co/d/7WZIpem)About Tricia Taitt:Tricia M. Taitt is the CEO of FinCore and Author of the Amazon best-selling book, "Dancing with Numbers: Grow A Financially Healthy Business and Choreograph the Life You Want". She holds an M.B.A from The Fuqua School of Business of Duke University, and a BS in Economics with a Finance concentration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. For over 20 years, she’s been a finance professional. Half of the time was spent working on Wall Street while the other half was spent in the trenches side by side with small business owners. As a result of working with FinCore, clients have been able to take control of their numbers and feel more confident in their ability to make decisions, while increasing profits by 10% and building a cash stash to invest in growth.

November 7, 2025Episode 1530 min

Season of Savings: Managing Money During the Holidays with Your Rich BFF Vivian Tu & Marshalls

Ready to level up your money game? This episode of The Power of the Ask podcast—brought to you by Marshalls—features CEO and financial mastermind behind the Your Rich BFF brand, Vivian Tu. Vivian takes us behind the scenes of her journey from Wall Street trader to one of today’s most trusted voices in personal finance. She shares how and why she built her viral, community-centered brand, what she’s learned about empowering women through money, and why financial literacy doesn’t have to feel overwhelming — in fact, it can feel like chatting with your bestie. Just in time for the holiday season, Vivian also shares how to set clear, achievable financial goals, beginner-friendly budgeting tips, and her signature luxe-for-less shopping hacks (hint: she’s a proud Marshalls girl). If you love a good deal, smart money moves, and a little bestie-to-bestie real talk, this episode is for you. Important Links:Savvy Ladies (https://www.savvyladies.org/)Precious Williams' LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/)Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisazeiderman/)Vivian Tu's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/viviantu-yourrichbff/)Important Links for Vivian:Your Rich BFF (https://www.yourrichbff.com/)About Vivian Tu:Vivian Tu is on a mission to make the financial world less intimidating—and way more accessible—for everyone. A former Wall Street trader turned content creator, Vivian’s titles include financial expert, speaker, entrepreneur, and the voice behind the wildly popular brand, Your Rich BFF. In just three short years, she’s grown a massive community—over 8 million followers across platforms—by breaking down everything from credit scores to investing in an approachable manner and speaking to her fanbase like her peer– or as she likes to call them–her besties. You may have seen her featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and Top Creators lists, or listened to her hit podcast, Networth and Chill. It’s one of the first of its kind, blending expert insights and real talk about money—and it shot straight to the top of the business charts. Vivian’s unique ability to make finance feel friendly and fun has made her one of the most in-demand voices in the space. She’s partnered with Marshalls to to show us how we can all boost our financial literacy as a way of getting “the good stuff” in life, however we may individually define it.. And because getting “the good stuff” is a team effort, Marshalls partners with organizations like our own. With Marshalls’ support, Savvy Ladies helps equip women across the country take control of their finances with real tools that make financial empowerment possible. As a long-term partner of Marshalls, Vivian has brought her inspiring, bite-sized lessons to women across the country through The Marshalls Good Stuff Social Club and The Marshalls Good Stuff Accelerator Program. And if that’s not enough, she’s also a New York Times bestselling author—her debut book, RICH AF released in 2023 with rave reviews, and another on the way, hitting shelves in 2026.

September 26, 2025Episode 1424 min

The Unapologetic Ask: Cary Carbonaro on Cracking the Code of the Male-Dominated Finance World

Award-winning CFP® Professional and Women and Wealth Authority Cary Carbonaro shares her remarkable, decades-long journey through the financial industry, shattering the glass ceiling. Carbonaro reveals the bold, decisive moves that shaped her career, including walking away from a half-million-dollar Wall Street salary after 9/11, quartering her income, and ultimately choosing to build her own multimillion-dollar financial planning practice from scratch. She talks candidly about the challenges of operating as a woman in a male-dominated industry, detailing the effects of implicit bias and the constant need for resilience. Her personal story—from a high-stakes divorce that inspired her first book to a toxic corporate sale that sparked her second—delivers a powerful message. Finally, and notably, as the first woman on the NASDAQ Advisor Council, she advocates for the power of the ask, arguing that women must stop waiting to be noticed or rewarded and instead become 100% responsible for their financial future to close the wealth gap. The Power of Self-Nomination: Carbonaro confidently “threw her hat in the ring” to become the first woman on the NASDAQ Advisor Council, proving the importance of asking for a seat at any table rather than waiting for an invitation. Career Reinvention & Independence: Hear why she quit a high-earning NYC job, quartered her salary, and built her own firm, illustrating that true wealth requires building your own platform and never settling for less. Resilience in a Male-Dominated Industry: A candid look at the implicit and unconscious bias women face in finance, stressing that resilience is the essential, non-negotiable trait needed to succeed. Lemons to Lemonade: Hear how she calls on deeply personal, difficult experiences—a multi-million-dollar divorce and a toxic corporate sale—as the motivation to write her best-selling books and share crucial lessons with the world. Important Links:Savvy LadiesPrecious Williams' LinkedInLisa Zeiderman's LinkedInCary Carbonaro's LinkedIn Important Links for Cary:Cary Carbonaro's Website Cary's Women and Wealth Book About Cary Carbonaro:Cary Carbonaro is an award-winning Certified Financial Planner™ with over 25 years of experience. She is the Managing Wealth Advisor and Women and Wealth Ambassador at Ashton Thomas, where she leads a multimillion-dollar financial planning practice focused on empowering women. Cary is the bestselling author of The Money Queen’s Guide and Women and Wealth: A Playbook to Empower Clients and Unlock Their Fortune, which offers actionable strategies for better serving women in financial services. It was a #1 new release in wealth management and #1 in business finance and economics. A respected industry voice, she’s been named as Investopedia’s Top 100 Financial Advisors list six times and is the first female member of the 2024 Nasdaq Advisor Council. She has been a CFP Board Ambassador for over a decade. Through speaking, media appearances, and advocacy, Cary champions financial literacy and female empowerment.

September 12, 2025Episode 1342 min

The Radical Mindset Shift to End Burnout with Kelley Bonner

In a culture that glorifies the hustle, choosing to rest can feel like a revolutionary act. Licensed therapist, founder of Burn Bright Consulting, and host of Black Girl Burnout podcast, and 2025 Savvy Ladies Female FinFluencer Achievement Award Kelley Bonner shares her journey from clinical burnout to building a life centered on joy. She offers a radical perspective on ambition, arguing that much of what we call drive is actually conditioning. Listen for practical tools to dismantle the systems that drain your energy and learn how to finally give yourself permission to just be. In this episode, you’ll learn about: Redefining Burnout: Why burnout is a systemic problem, not a personal failure. Being Present: How to stop performing for others and start living in alignment with your own needs. Ambition vs. Conditioning: Why women of color often carry societal conditioning that is disguised as personal ambition. Restorative Tools: Practical, five-minute exercises you can use to regulate your nervous system and restore your sense of safety. Reclaiming Joy: Why reclaiming joy is a powerful way to honor yourself and the women who came before you. Hear ways to give yourself the grace you deserve. Listen now. Important Links:Savvy LadiesPrecious Williams' LinkedInLisa Zeiderman's LinkedInKelley Bonner's LinkedIn Important Links forBurn Bright Business Consulting About Kelley Bonner:Kelley Bonner is a transformational specialist and licensed therapist dedicated to helping women overcome burnout and reclaim their joy. As the founder of Burn Bright Consulting and host of the top-rated podcast Black Girl Burnout—which has surpassed 1 million downloads Kelley guides individuals on a journey to authenticity and empowerment. Drawing on her own experience of overcoming clinical burnout, Kelley combines her expertise in social work and criminal justice to create transformative spaces for growth. Anita Hill has described her work as “revolutionary,” and the Pentagon has called her “a benchmark in her field.”Kelley’s mission is to help women opt out of struggle and into a life filled with purpose, joy, and resilience. Through Burn Bright Consulting, she provides individuals and organizations with the tools they need to thrive.

August 29, 2025Episode 1225 min

Recognize, Interrupt, Reframe™: The Path to Prosper with Ruchi Pinniger

Are your subconscious beliefs about money holding your business back? This week, Lisa and Precious welcome Ruchi Pinniger, a venture capital investor and the founder of Watch Her Prosper®. Ruchi shares her journey from a successful Wall Street career to becoming a financial mentor for women entrepreneurs. She explains why traditional financial advice often fails without addressing the underlying money mindset. Ruchi discusses her signature RIR Method™ for recognizing, interrupting, and reframing negative self-talk to cultivate a feeling of abundance. Listen in to learn how to connect your self-worth to your net worth and build a shame-free relationship with your finances for lasting profitability and growth. What You’ll Hear: Heal Your Mindset, Grow Your Revenue: Learn why a healthy money story is the most critical asset for unlocking your financial success. From Inspiration to Action: Hear how Ruchi was inspired by her immigrant single mother’s journey and how that shaped her mission to empower other women financially. The Worthiness Equation: Learn how the price you put on your time and expertise, from project fees to your annual salary, is a mirror of your own feeling of worthiness. Find Your Magic Number: Hear the one question every entrepreneur should ask to align their business revenue with their personal financial goals to fund their ideal life. Important Links:Savvy LadiesPrecious Williams' LinkedInLisa Zeiderman's LinkedInRuchi Pinniger's LinkedIn Important Links for Ruchi: Watch Her Prosper Website About Ruchi Pinniger: Ruchi Pinniger, International Speaker, Venture Capital Investor, Founder and CEO of Watch Her Prosper®, is dedicated to providing financial mentorship, support and services that women-led service-based businesses need to succeed. Recently named one of the “Women Leading the Finance Industry,” Ruchi’s signature approach fosters shame-free empowerment, enabling clients to achieve significant results in profitability and economic growth. Ruchi leverages her years of experience on Wall Street to provide expert advice on financial leadership, tax-time readiness, and small business finances. She is dedicated to philanthropy, serving on the executive boards of Savvy Ladies and the Pajama Program. Recognized with the Entrepreneur Community Leadership Award 2024, she is committed to helping entrepreneurs thrive, and cherishes moments with her family exploring food and diverse cultures around the world.