Everyone has a story about money. And I am no exception.

When people find out what I do and what I've accomplished, they often expect that I was born into money—but that couldn't be further from the truth.

In fact, my money story with money begins with a bankruptcy…

My dad was a brilliant man and an early adopter of the 1980s personal computer wave, but, unfortunately, he wasn’t destined to be Italy’s Bill Gates.

I was just eight years old in southern Italy when his company’s bankruptcy sent our family spiraling into financial uncertainty. It was a defining moment that instilled in me the harsh realities of money and its impact on life.

In the face of my family’s struggles, I quickly learned the value of resilience and self-reliance. The experience shaped how I viewed the world and motivated me to ensure a better future for myself.

With every obstacle life threw at me, my resolve grew stronger.

Driven by the dream of financial stability, I excelled academically and earned a scholarship to study finance at one of the top 5 business universities in Europe.

But university life taught me about much more than finance; it was a crash course in personal responsibility. Juggling studies and multiple part-time jobs, I was forced to budget, save, and plan.

I wasn’t just studying finance; I lived it every day. And every cent I earned was a step towards gaining the freedom to make choices that once lived so far out of reach...

At first, I thought the corporate world would save me.

Fresh out of university, armed with bottomless ambition and a fancy degree, I moved to London to make my mark in the world of investment banking. I had arrived.

The 8-year-old girl from a small Italian town was beaming—the gleaming skyscrapers, the red double-decker buses and the rush of traffic down the wide avenues—it all felt like a scene from a Hollywood movie, with me as the hopeful protagonist.

But the corporate world was more cutthroat and less welcoming than I'd imagined.

I was a woman in a sea of suits, often the only one in the room, and it didn’t take long to sense the invisible barriers holding me back.

Then, one day, I overheard a conversation of a male colleague…

He was younger than me, in the same role, and less experienced…but his paycheck was bigger than mine. That was the moment that the invisible came into clear view—it was my wake-up call.

Suddenly, I wasn't just fighting for a spot at the table; I was fighting for my financial independence in an environment that didn’t fully welcome me.

I started to realize that excelling in my job wasn’t just about hard work; it was also about understanding the game—especially the unwritten rules that governed paychecks and promotions.

But I was very fortunate—being an investment banker paid me enough money to start planning my future. I spent little, lived far below my means, and dove deeper into the world of personal finance and investing.

As my portfolio grew, my options multiplied 🪴

As my understanding grew, my money story began to change. Suddenly, I wasn’t just saving money; I was putting it to work. Stocks, bonds, and later, real estate became not just interests but lifelines.

The thrill of making smart investment choices became my new normal, and with each successful return, my confidence grew alongside my portfolio.

But becoming a mother helped me realize that true financial independence would allow me more than just wealth—it would give me the freedom to be present in the moments that mattered most.

Investing sets me free— and it can do the same for you!

This revelation was the catalyst for my leap into the world of entrepreneurship and startups. Leaving behind the security of my corporate job, I bet on myself and grew personally, professionally, and financially.

And today, as a seasoned entrepreneur, I’ve embarked on this mission to empower women like you to take control of your own financial destiny.

At Centsational Women, we are deeply committed to simplifying financial concepts to make money management accessible to every woman, regardless of your background or starting point.

Financial freedom is more than a possibility—it's within your reach. I’m living proof of it.

Let’s embark on this journey together and rewrite the narrative of women and wealth, starting by rewriting your money story!