Wealthing Podcast

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley talks with Cristina Stoyanov, a venture capitalist and scientist specializing in cell and gene therapy. Christina recounts her non-linear journey to the top of the biotech world, beginning with her move from Panama to the US in 1995. Originally intended as a short stay to study English, her path led to a PhD from Cornell and a deep immersi...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Laura Moreno Lucas, former Managing Director at NASDAQ turned venture investor, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of inclusive capital. Laura shares her journey from her upbringing in Guadalajara to the heights of the financial sector, detailing the non-linear path that led her to launch two distinct funds: L'ATTIT...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Avanthi Shah, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, technology architect, and founder of NextVerse Ventures, for a wide-ranging conversation on emerging tech and the evolution of self. Avanthi shares her professional trajectory, starting with her early experiences in programming during the 1990s and her transition into the high...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Paul Essery, a mountaineer, entrepreneur, and podcast host, for a compelling discussion on the intersection of adventure and business strategy. Paul shares how his background in elite mountaineering provided a foundational framework for his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the critical roles of risk assessment, decision-ma...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Fabiano Cid, Chief Solutions Officer of Powerling, for a wide-ranging conversation on resilience, career evolution, and the global language services industry. Fabiano shares his unique trajectory, moving from early interests in acting and diplomacy to the founding of a successful localization firm. He reflects on his pers...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Chuck Gershman, CEO and co-founder of Owl Autonomous Imaging, for a deep dive into the leadership philosophies that drive successful startups. Chuck shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, focusing on the critical importance of "time to decision" and the necessity of pivoting in the face of challenges. Drawing from t...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Marinella Pinate, CEO of Zumma, for a conversation on the intersection of fintech innovation and operational discipline. Marinella shares the strategic journey of Zumma, detailing the company's evolution from its beginnings as an AI financial advisor app to its current focus on automating administrative financial processes. Sh...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Pooja Sharma Goyal, a former corporate executive turned social sector leader, for a conversation on the mechanics of scaling impact in India's evolving economy. Pooja details her transition from an engineering background to entrepreneurship, and eventually to her current work with The Udaiti Foundation. She shares her insights on...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Mila Shabalina, an investor specializing in longevity and biotechnology, for a discussion on the personal and professional drivers behind healthcare innovation. Mila shares her unconventional trajectory from history and journalism to investing in the biotech sector. She discusses how her mother's battle with a rare neurodegene...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Preetha Ram, a scientist, educator, and venture capitalist at Pier 70 Ventures, for a deep dive into the evolution of global healthcare and the power of intentional career transitions. Preetha shares the story of her "quantum leap" from her roles as a scientist and Dean at Emory College to becoming a Silicon Valley investor....

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Ruban Kanapathippillai, a seasoned computer engineer and entrepreneur, for an expansive look at the journey from startup founder to billion-dollar value creator. Ruban shares his inspiring trajectory from his roots in Sri Lanka to founding high-growth tech companies in the United States. He offers a grounded perspective on the...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Jan, the organizer of EcoSummit in Berlin, for a compelling conversation on the evolution of climate tech and the enduring importance of human connection in the investment world. Jan shares his 15-year journey of building the Eco Summit into a premier destination for sustainability-focused startups and investors. He reflects o...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Preeti Adhikary, the founder of Momo Ventures, for an engaging discussion on the power of inclusive investing and the journey of building a mission-driven venture fund. Preeti shares the highlights of her diverse career path and the inspiration behind Momo Ventures, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the fund's first year o...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Leesa Soulodre for a wide-ranging conversation on global entrepreneurship, venture capital, and the long game of building value with intention.  Leesa shares her entrepreneurial journey and her current work across Luxembourg's innovation ecosystem, including her involvement with the Luxembourg Innovation Agency and the Luxembo...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Diana Kleps, whose journey from the Dominican Republic to building a multi-industry career in the United States reflects a deep commitment to work ethic, service, and human connection. Diana shares how her early experiences shaped her belief in giving back, and how roles across banking and psychology taught her that emotional...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Benjamin Holmes and Nathan Castro, co-founders of Nanochon, a company bringing a new approach to cartilage repair into the world. Their journey from academic research labs to biomedical innovation reveals how curiosity and persistence can reshape the future of regenerative medicine. Ben and Nathan trace their path from early e...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Lisa Nelson—financial professional, advisor, and immigrant leader—whose journey from Serbia to New York City reveals how resilience and authenticity can shape a powerful career in finance and beyond. Lisa traces her path from Merrill Lynch to the fast-paced world of inter-dealer brokerage, sharing how each step honed her adapt...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Luke Hohmann—entrepreneur, technologist, game developer, and writer—whose unconventional journey from Buffalo to Silicon Valley reveals how creativity and community can shape a more equitable future. Luke traces his path across startups, self-built ventures, and the world of game design, sharing how each chapter of his career...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast , Alicia Castillo Holley, PhD, MBA, MSci, sits down with Nigist Goytom , founder of Ha:Hu:: , a pioneering company transforming the way cultural and linguistic knowledge is preserved and shared. Nigist traces her remarkable journey from to social entrepreneurship—beginning with her mission to create Amharic learning materials for her son and evolving into a scala...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley speaks to guest Michel Thomas about his remarkable journey from publishing to media, charting the evolution of his company from print storytelling to television and the launch of the Eco Channel—the first green TV channel in the United States. Michel reflects on the vision behind pioneering environmentally focused media and the missio...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Natasha Tsakos, a visionary artist bridging the worlds of theater and space exploration, to uncover how creativity can truly transcend gravity itself. Natasha shares her remarkable journey from the stage to the stratosphere, revealing the inspirations behind Paraboles—a groundbreaking multimedia performance in microgravity tha...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Payel Farasat, former asset manager and current impact investor, to discuss the intersection of finance, dignity, and sustainability. Payel shares her journey from traditional asset management to her work with FINCA International, where she champions the concept of "Return on Dignity"—an approach that measures success not just...

This week on the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley speaks with Naava Mashiah, CEO of ME LINKS and Geneva-based impact investing specialist, about how private capital can help unlock Africa's potential. A former Israeli diplomat, Naava now works with family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals to channel investment into emerging markets through innovative, sustainable financial...

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley speaks with filmmaker and advocate Catherine Gray about her journey from television advertising to advocating for underrepresented populations in entrepreneurship. Catherine shares how projects like I Can't Marry You and She Angels have elevated LGBTQ rights and women's empowerment, and how storytelling can shape culture and dri...

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Marko Gargenta, founder of Plus Plus, a learning platform used by leading tech companies like Salesforce and Netflix. Marko shares his journey from teaching tech to building tools that scale institutional knowledge and empower professional growth. Alicia and Marko explore the importance of aligning work with personal pu...