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Haley, Founder at Femme Financial Coaching: Advize Career Interview
Haley's journey from a successful internship at College Works Painting, through executive recruiting and a stint at Apple, to founding Femme Financial Coaching, showcases a dynamic career path built on adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit.
The multifaceted nature of running a solo business, encompassing sales, marketing, content creation, and managing multiple revenue streams, is highlighted, alongside the importance of strong people skills and consistent networking in a competitive market.
A passion for empowering others to achieve financial freedom, coupled with the flexibility and ownership afforded by building their own business, fuels Haley's work.
Overcoming challenges like scaling a business and leveraging the experience of other entrepreneurs are key lessons learned, underscoring the importance of continuous learning and strategic investments, such as business coaching.
Entry-level opportunities in content creation, copywriting, virtual assistance, and sales are identified as pathways into the field, emphasizing the value of practical skills and networking developed during undergraduate education.
Finally, Haley's personal journey, shaped by identity and a desire for financial independence, provides a powerful inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Haley Kowalewski
Founder
Femme Financial Coaching
University of California, Santa Barbara
N/A
International Relations & Affairs
Coaching
Finance
LGBTQ
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Career Path Of A Founder At Femme Financial Coaching
Haley's career journey began with an impactful four-year internship at College Works Painting, where they progressed from intern to regional sales manager, overseeing "over a million dollars worth of sales and revenue." Following this, a career in executive recruiting at Michael Page and a year at Apple provided valuable experience before Haley transitioned to a full-time entrepreneur, running "a business teaching personal finance and investing for women."
Main Responsibilities of a Founder at Femme Financial Coaching
As a solo founder at Femme Financial Coaching, Haley handles all aspects of the business, from "sales to marketing, to customer acquisition," including content creation for organic reach on social media and managing multiple revenue streams such as courses, coaching, and digital products. This multifaceted approach highlights the entrepreneurial nature of the role and the significant workload involved in building a business from the ground up.
A Day In The Life Of A Founder At Femme Financial Coaching
Haley's day-to-day work as a small business owner varies greatly, depending on the business needs; some weeks focus on "marketing and getting [their] brand awareness," while others prioritize "one-on-one coaching" and group calls. A typical week involves content creation and admin on Mondays and Tuesdays, followed by heavier meeting days including coaching calls on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Most Important Skills for a Founder at Femme Financial Coaching
For a financial coaching founder, strong people skills and consistent networking are crucial for building a brand presence; the ability to adapt to the ever-changing online landscape, maintaining consistency despite ups and downs ("a lot of days that are up and there's a lot of days that are down"), is key to standing out in a competitive market.
Favorite Parts of Being a Founder at Femme Financial Coaching
Haley, Founder at Femme Financial Coaching, most enjoys the "full ownership of time and schedule" afforded by building her own career, allowing for flexibility like spontaneously taking a trip to Europe. This freedom is built upon a strong foundation of personal and business financial literacy, a key aspect of their expertise.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Founder At Femme Financial Coaching
Haley's biggest challenge as Founder of Femme Financial Coaching has evolved from initial branding and automation to current scaling and growth, requiring "all of this things to be moving passively" for long-term success. This is being addressed by Haley's strategic hiring of growth marketers to handle data analysis and advertising, showcasing a proactive approach to overcoming evolving entrepreneurial hurdles.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Personal Finance Industry As a Founder
Haley, Founder at Femme Financial Coaching, finds the most rewarding aspect of her industry is the shared passion for empowering individuals to achieve financial freedom, believing "money is opportunity and money is choices, and money is freedom." The accessibility of financial literacy is another source of fulfillment, enabling Haley to help clients realize "I don't have to be working for forever."
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Finance Coaching Industry According To A Founder At Femme Financial Coaching
Haley, Founder at Femme Financial Coaching, highlights passion as the key to success in the competitive financial coaching industry, stating that "people are gonna align with what they align with," emphasizing the importance of a genuine love for personal finance and helping others. This passion, she explains, is crucial for differentiating oneself in a market saturated with similar offerings, similar to navigating "so many different brands of cereal" in a grocery store.
What A Founder At Femme Financial Coaching Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Business Industry
Haley, Founder at Femme Financial Coaching, wishes they had known earlier to leverage the readily available knowledge from other successful business owners, advising to "pay attention to what other entrepreneurs are doing," rather than reinventing the wheel. Furthermore, the importance of acting quickly on ideas is highlighted, as "the next thing you know, somebody else is doing it," emphasizing the need to avoid procrastination.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Founders
Haley, Founder at Femme Financial Coaching, suggests entry-level roles like content creation, copywriting (especially integrating AI), virtual assistance ("Every business owner needs help"), and sales ("business is sales at the end of the day"). These positions provide valuable experience in online business, marketing, and communication skills, which are transferable and beneficial for future entrepreneurship or other careers.
Significant Career Lesson From a Founder at Femme Financial Coaching
Haley, a finance coach and founder of Femme Financial Coaching, learned that seeking guidance from a business coach is crucial for overcoming career plateaus, stating that "money is energy" and investing in coaching translates to valuable education and experience. This investment, despite the initial financial outlay, ultimately accelerates growth and returns a greater yield.
College Experiences That Helped a Founder at Femme Financial Coaching Succeed
Despite failing a college entrepreneurship class due to a demanding work schedule of "30, 40 hours a week" running a business, Haley's undergraduate experience prioritized networking and practical skill-building through internships, allowing her to "demand more" in her first role and negotiate compensation effectively throughout her career; this demonstrates the value of real-world experience and strategic networking in building a successful career.
How Identity Has Influenced A Founder At Femme Financial Coaching's Career
Haley's queer identity profoundly shaped their career path, prompting a proactive approach to financial independence—"secure my bag"—as a rejection of traditional expectations. This personal journey fueled the creation of Femme Financial Coaching, driven by a desire to empower women and the queer community to achieve financial success and subsequently make a positive societal impact, as "women...do better things with it sometimes than men do".
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