It’s an honor to welcome Zaneilia Harris, CFP® to In the Suite today. Zaneilia is a finance powerhouse. She’s author of the book, Finance ‘n Stilettos: Money Matter for the Well-Heeled Woman, a mother, a speaker, and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER CFP® at her firm, Harris & Harris Wealth Management Group, LLC based in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, outside of DC. She’s one of those people who is approachable yet wise; you feel comfortable around her but you also know you’ll learn a thing or two about money and get treated like family.
Zaneilia brings a wealth of knowledge gained from her more than 25 years of experience in the financial and accounting industry. Her expertise has been featured in prominent publications and media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, US News & World Report, Forbes, Today Money, Women’s Day, Essence, Black Enterprise, Women’s Wear Daily, and PBS. She resides in a Maryland suburb just outside of Washington, DC, with her husband and daughter.
In her professional life, she keeps people accountable by encouraging them to focus on something positive in their life. “We need to demystify money,” Zaneilia says. She believes in taking control and recognizing that money is a tool. That’s why she wrote Finance ‘n Stilettos: Money Matter for the Well-Heeled Woman. The book gives you access to Zaneilia’s insight literally at your fingertips.
For the mothers listening right now, you might be wondering how we can empower our daughters to make wise financial decisions throughout their life. Zaneilia recommends having conversations with your children about money. Talk to your kids about what you’re going to spend money on and what you’re not going to spend money on. She believes having positive reinforcement is more powerful than negative reinforcement, no matter what your age.
Zaneilia’s legacy is to help as many women as possible live their dream while living her own dream. It’s that fine balance of both, you shouldn’t have one without the other. Zaneilia reminds us of the importance of saying yes to the things that matter and that align with our legacy, but we also need to say no. It’s not only okay but encouraged to say no especially if it doesn’t align with your legacy goals.
Your wealth legacy is not just money – money is the tool. Wealth legacy comes from your behaviors, actions, and thoughts. You can teach yourself about your legacy while encouraging your children to understand it too. Money is the tool, and yes, tools are important. Use the tools you have access to and seek them out other places too.
You can see Zaneilia’s generosity and kind spirit even through the soundwaves of a podcast. We are so appreciative that she joined us In the Suite.
Listen to the episode and take the three steps below so you can live your healthiest, most empowered life.
- Nurture and take good care of yourself. Zaneilia talks about the importance of your physical and mental health. Release that toxicity rather than continue carrying it around. Figure out what that outlet is: exercise, therapy, a career shift, a new business. Don’t keep stress pent up, it may make you sick.
- Ask for what you want. Don’t assume that people know what you want or what you’re thinking. And that your first opportunity to ask begins the negotiations. Don’t go into negotiations empty-handed. Do your research. Research about the position, research about what others are being paid for that opportunity. Ask for what you think you deserve.
- Create your own legacy. Your legacy starts now. It starts with the people around you. No need to wait until you’re the President of a company. What knowledge are you imparting upon the people you encounter? Who are you connected with? Are you helping to make their life better? Ask yourself these questions!
Show Notes:
Today we’re excited to welcome Zaneilia Harris, CFP® into In The Suite. Zaneilia is President of Harris & Harris Wealth Management Group, LLC, author of the book, Finance ‘n Stilettos: Money Matter for the Well-Heeled Woman. Zaneilia brings a wealth of knowledge gained from her more than 25 years of experience in the financial and accounting industry. Her expertise has been featured in prominent publications and media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, US News & World Report, Forbes, Today Money, Women’s Day, Essence, Black Enterprise, Women’s Wear Daily, and PBS. She resides in a Maryland suburb just outside of Washington, DC, with her husband and daughter.
Zaneilia has a zest for all things finance, from inspiring her daughter to save for college and aim for greatness from empowering women to live and define the legacy they wish to leave. For mothers of daughters, Zaneilia offers her personal advice on how to start discussing money with the next generation. She’s a true inspiration for all women on how to break behaviors and create legacies to empower future generations of women and young girls In The Suite.
In this episode, we also talk about microaggressions in life and in the workplace and have an open dialogue about the lack of Black women CEOs, toxicity from microaggressions, and facing health issues due to stress.
Furthermore, Zaneilia shares her strategies on how to negotiate to get what you want. She advises women not to go into negotiations empty-handed; rather, do your research extensively. Research about the position, research about what others are being paid for that opportunity. Ultimately, she advises women to ask for what they deserve; it’s about realigning your career to meet your values. Zaneilia teaches us it’s never too late to face the path of your dreams rather than diverting further and further from it.
Join the conversation to hear about:
- Microaggressions and the lack of Black women CEOs (6:00)
- Encountering corporate trauma and emotional trauma (8:45)
- Why Zaneilia dedicated her 30s to growth and health (15:25)
- How to empower the next generation by having conversations about money (18:15)
- Why Zaneilia wrote her book, Finance ‘n Stilettos (26:50)
- Zaneilia’s advice on nailing your next negotiation (32:30)
- Ask for what you want (35:30)
- Why having a child changes the way you look at the world (38:25)
- Taking control and recognizing that money is a tool (40:30)
- What Zaneilia wants her legacy to be (43:50)
- Where you can find Zaneilia on social media (49:35)
- Zaneilia tells us what her superpower is (50:55)
Referenced Materials
