Wealthing Podcast

In this inspiring episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Martha Montoya, a pioneering entrepreneur with deep experience in financial services, emerging markets, and social innovation. Martha shares her journey from growing up in Colombia to building a career across the U.S., Latin America, and Europe, bridging cultural divides and economic opportunity through smart...

In this inspiring episode, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Andrea Stephany Díaz, a brilliant young entrepreneur and Co-founder of OncoSwab. Named one of Europe's top 100 young scientists, Andrea shares how a chance encounter with a cancer screening idea sparked her entrepreneurial journey—leading her to launch her first diagnostics company at just 24. Andrea discusses her background in...

In this compelling episode, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Jeremy Fortes, a dynamic entrepreneur and investor known for breaking down barriers in the startup ecosystem. Jeremy shares his journey from early startup struggles to becoming a strategic advisor and investor focused on supporting founders who are often overlooked by traditional venture capital. He discusses: His pivot from fo...

Tamearra Dyson, a powerhouse entrepreneur and trailblazing vegan chef, joins Alicia Castillo Holley to share her remarkable story of turning just $27 into Souley Vegan—a beloved plant-based soul food brand. From single motherhood to national recognition on Food Network's "Beat Bobby Flay," Tamearra walks us through the grit, passion, and purpose that fuel her mission. In this episode, Tamearra ope...

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast , Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Dr. Sunny Zhang — a tenured professor, entrepreneur, investor, and the Founder of TrueLeap Inc., a platform that transforms global workforce development through a unified knowledge transfer ecosystem. Dr. Zhang shares her remarkable journey from international student to powerhouse innovator in behavioral science, educat...

In this inspiring episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Katerina Manoff, the dynamic founder and CEO of ENGin, a nonprofit transforming lives through English language practice and cultural exchange. With over 55,000 volunteer-student matches, ENGin connects Ukrainian learners with English speakers around the world, fostering connection, confidence, and hope d...

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Tracey MacNeal, President and CEO of Materna Medical. With a rich background as a chemical engineer, Duke MBA, healthcare entrepreneur, and medtech investor, Tracey brings a wealth of insight into the intersection of innovation and women's health. Tracey shares how Materna Medical is changing the game for maternal...

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Sam Shames, co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Embr Labs, a pioneering wearable tech company. From chilly MIT labs to the frontline of menopause care and stress management, Sam shares the origin story of Embr's innovative wristband—designed to regulate body temperature and support wellness by tapping into the...

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Bruce Pittman, Chief Innovation Officer at SpaceBilt and a decades-long veteran of the aerospace industry. With a career spanning NASA, startups, and private sector consulting, Bruce shares insights from his roles at NASA Ames Research Center, Skycorp, and as co-founder of the Space Portal Office. He has helped pioneer...

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Connie Bowen, a visionary leader reshaping the future of agriculture and work. Connie is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Farmhand Ventures, an innovative organization dedicated to empowering workers and entrepreneurs in agriculture through venture funding and practical support. With a rich background that includ...

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Arna Ionescu Stoll, the CEO of Wavely Diagnostics. With a background rooted in human-centered design from IDEO and a passion for healthcare innovation, Arna shares her journey from consultant to startup leader. Her career has been shaped by a desire to not just design meaningful products but to see them through to real-...

Dr. Pam Marrone is a visionary in sustainable agriculture and a trailblazer in biotech entrepreneurship. With a Ph. D. in entomology and over 400 patents to her name, she has devoted her 30+ year career to developing environmentally friendly biological products for pest management and plant health. Pam is one of only 32 women to found and take a company public and is now leading her fourth startup...

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast , Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Ivan Montoya, a seasoned venture capitalist and operator who brings a rare blend of insight from both sides of the entrepreneurial table. Ivan is Managing Partner at NextGen Venture Partners, where he helps back early-stage startups with a network-driven approach to VC, combining capital with real-world support from h...

In this compelling episode of the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Christina Qi, a trailblazer in the world of finance whose story reads like a startup thriller. Christina is the CEO of Databento, a company redefining the modern standard for market data, and the former co-founder of Domeyard LP—a high-frequency trading (HFT) hedge fund that, at its peak, traded up to $7.1 bil...

In this episode, Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, the Founder and CEO of Aruwa Capital Management, one of the few women-owned and managed growth equity and gender lens funds in Africa. With over 15 years of experience in investment banking and private equity at global institutions like J.P. Morgan, Adesuwa is a trailblazer in the finance world. She has earned numerous accolad...

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes venture capitalist Tatijana Janko. Tatijana, originally from Eastern Europe, has built a strong reputation in the investment world, focusing on artificial intelligence, B2B fintech, and early-stage startups. Now based in Los Angeles, she brings over a decade of experience in investing, working alongside her two partners...

Miguel Arraiz is an architect-turned-artist whose work explores the intersection of art, community, and impermanence. Originally trained in traditional architecture, he pivoted his career after the 2009 real estate crisis, embracing large-scale ephemeral art installations through Valencia's famous fire festival, Las Fallas. His journey eventually led him to Burning Man, where he is now leading the...

Gayatri Sarkar is the Founder and CEO of Advaita Capital, a growth-stage venture capital firm focused on deep tech and AI. She is also the Founder of She-VC, a media and podcast platform dedicated to highlighting women and diverse investors in the venture space. Recognized as a global leader under 40 for her contributions to promoting diversity in the investment industry, Gayatri has a wealth of e...

Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Scott Robison, a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and former U.S. Army Special Forces officer, to discuss leadership, innovation, and his dedication to supporting veterans. Scott shares his journey from military service, where he spent years evaluating cutting-edge technology for the Department of Defense, to becoming a strategic investor and advisor for companies i...

Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Sarah Dusek, an entrepreneur, investor, and author dedicated to supporting women in business. Sarah is the founder of Few and Far, a venture fund focused on female-led businesses, and Enigma Ventures, which invests in women entrepreneurs across Africa. She is also the author of Thinking Bigger for Women, a book that has inspired many, including Alicia's granddaughte...