Brown Girl Empowered
Welcome to Brown Girl Empowered the self-help podcast that blends insightful guidance with real-life stories, hosted by Manpreet Dhaliwal, a Brown South Asian psychotherapist with a passion for helping you thrive. In each episode, Manpreet dives deep into powerful topics like mental health, breakups, self-love, confidence, leadership, and more, offering practical tools and heartfelt advice to empower you on your personal growth journey.
Whether she’s sharing her expertise solo or featuring inspiring guests, Manpreet’s mission is to help you break free from limiting beliefs and step into your true power. With her warm, relatable style and years of experience as a therapist and educator, Manpreet is here to guide you towards a life of authenticity, resilience, and self-compassion.
Tune in, transform your mindset, and unlock the best version of yourself with Brown Girl Empowered.
About Manpreet Dhaliwal:
Manpreet is a brown woman who holds a Master’s in Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts. With years of experience, she’s dedicated to making mental health resources accessible and relatable for all.
Manpreet Dhaliwal has worked as a therapist for many years and has served as a college instructor in British Columbia.
Instagram: ManpreetDhaliwal.88
Email: dhaliwalcounselling@gmail.com
Psychotherapy Services: www.dhaliwalcounselling.com
Book a consult:
Brown Girl Empowered
Embracing Grown Rich Women Energy! Feat Cindy Kumar
In this episode of the Brown Girl Empowered Podcast, host Manpreet Dhaliwal welcomes financial coach Cindy Kumar to discuss the importance of financial empowerment for women. They explore the connection between mindset and finances, the common mistakes women make regarding their money, and the significance of journaling for self-reflection. Cindy shares her journey from a corporate employee to an entrepreneur, emphasizing the challenges and rewards of starting a business. The conversation highlights the need for women to understand their financial goals, overcome anxiety, and embrace their potential for success.
Instagram: @manpreetdhaliwal.88
Emails, questions:
Dhaliwalcounselling@gmail.com
Services: www.dhaliwalcounselling.com
Psychology Today Profile:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/manpreet-dhaliwal-surrey-bc/332001
Hello everyone. Welcome to Brown Girl Empowered Podcast. Welcome, Cindy Kumar Welcome.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me here today.
Speaker 1:You're welcome. I'm so glad to have like a business finance coach on my podcast because it's so, it's so important for women empowerment, like there's a mental health part of it and there is also the financial empowerment of it too, right right, totally yeah, because we always think about finances and mindset as completely separate things, but they go hand in hand together yeah, so it opens so many financial empowerment opens so many opportunities. Um, you can probably speak to that like why is financial empowerment important for women?
Speaker 2:I feel like it impacts like every aspect of your life because, like people earn a lot of money but they have no idea where it's going, a lot of times men in the household handle finances yeah, and make important decisions and you're often not put into a place where you're thinking for yourself at least not for me.
Speaker 2:Even with the financial background, my dad handled all the financial stuff. Then, when I got married, my husband's handling it, but ever since I started my own business, it's like it's created opportunities for me to think about things so like that is.
Speaker 1:So that is why it's so important to have women like you out here. You know, providing your services, but not only your services doing that education on your podcast as well. So that is so important. That is why it's so important to have a woman like you, um, to provide this knowledge and this information. So I'm so happy you're on the podcast and you agreed to be here, um. I'm just wondering what is the biggest mistake or the key mistake you make you believe women make when it comes to their finances?
Speaker 2:I feel like just not even like opening their bank account or their visa statement and seeing where they're actually spending their money. Okay, it's like kind of like an anxious feeling like you know you're spending money on things, you're swiping that credit card, you're not realizing how much you're spending and then you're just living like paycheck to paycheck.
Speaker 1:Okay so where do you think that anxiety comes from? Like not wanting to check your accounts and like what's the cause of that.
Speaker 2:That's a great question. I feel like it all comes from childhood. Like how did you see, like your family talking about money, like hearing that you have to work hard to earn money, like you don't want to pay taxes, like paying taxes is like a stressful time in life.
Speaker 1:Um, just how, like those kind of conversations you heard people talking, that becomes your own narrative too okay, so it's all the mindset you carry from your childhood into adulthood and, yeah, with all the subconscious mind, oh, okay, that's so interesting. So that key mistake of not checking your accounts and carrying those messages from your childhood into adulthood and not challenging those messages you received or those beliefs you have carried on to adulthood, that's so interesting. But I also noticed like on your podcast you brought up this super interesting comparison. It was a comparison of the teenage girl mindset and I don't know if you want to talk about it today.
Speaker 2:I can talk about it.
Speaker 1:Okay, wonderful, I thought it was so interesting, like this teenage girl mindset compared to the grown rich woman energy. Can you speak on that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so being in a financial background and it's like male dominated, just the conversations you have around money, like it's very hard to put into a perspective where women can connect and understand. So I just came up with that.
Speaker 2:I guess that kind of narrative like teenage girl like YOLOO, we're spending our money, we're going out for drinks, planning the vacation and not even having money in the bank account and then, just being scared to actually face the reality of spending that money, versus like growing up, doing the mindset work, working through those beliefs and understanding, like, once you understand your money and how much you're spending, and putting a plan in place that's going to take you so much further in life than thinking like um, thinking so short-term minded okay so let's rewind a bit what?
Speaker 1:what are the signs that you're in the teenage girl mindset? Is it? Yeah, sorry, um, I would say like you're in the teenage girl mindset, is it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, sorry, I would say like you're living paycheck to paycheck, you're scared of making any financial decisions. You're kind of just booking trips, not really saving for things, just living in the moment.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, living in the moment, not saving for anything. It's kind of like you only live once, living with that model, that message, right, right, and so it's kind of like. But at the same time, we are all on social media, right, and we're all looking at, like, what everyone's wearing, um, uh, the purses other individuals have, um, so how do you move away from that mindset? It's really hard, because everyone's comparing themselves online, right?
Speaker 2:yeah, totally. I think it's just taking a step back and understanding what are your goals. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Like, do you want to have investments, especially retirement, now too? Like you see people that are retired still working part-time jobs because they can't afford their lifestyles, or like this how much everything is costing now. It's like really planning ahead and thinking about those kind of things okay.
Speaker 1:So thinking ahead, okay. So if you are in a teenage girl mindset which some of our viewers might find themselves like, yeah, I want to buy that purse, so I got and bought the purse, right it's some individuals might be in that mindset. So how would they break out of that mindset? So you're saying, start thinking long term, start thinking about what your future should look like, whether you want to retire early. Do you have any other thoughts on that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think just taking a step back, the awareness piece is really key, and I think it's different if you work nine to five versus running a business, because you have so much to think about with your daily expenses and your business paying yourself, thinking about, like the future, if you want to invest that money further, what you want to do like in vacations For myself. Anytime I'm making a big investment, I'm thinking about how is this going to help me earn more money in my business or how is this helping me personally developing myself so I show up better and I'm constantly learning okay, so I think it goes back to your values.
Speaker 1:Is that what?
Speaker 1:you're saying and your priorities yeah, rather than comparing and getting lost in that. Um, going back to your values, going back to your priorities, right, like, like you're saying, your training, your business, might be something you really value, and a lot of women do, like I know this is a different topic, but many women do want to get into business, or they may have started a business and they may not know how to navigate that. So it's really important, you're saying, to think about what's a priority right now, like, is your business a priority right now or is, you know, falling into that teenage girl mindset which is so easy to fall in? And another question I have is in terms of managing finances. And we all, I think, as human beings, when we experience emotions like boredom or stress, we tend to go out and shop. So how do you curb that? How do you like ensure that you're managing finances, although you might be feeling stressed?
Speaker 2:I feel like it's so much easier to do that now because there's so much online shopping, that happens easily. But I think what I tell my clients is taking a pause in between, so like giving yourself a day or two to think about that purchase before you actually buy it oh, okay, sometimes like once you like, sit with it. You're just like.
Speaker 2:I don't even need that yeah, yeah, it's just in that moment that high level of stress or yeah, it's just all about what's coming, like it's an uncomfortable feeling that you you're trying to avoid and that's why you're making that purchase for that dopamine hit. But it's really just sitting with that feeling, journaling, understanding why you feel that way and why you're trying to make yourself happy within seconds by making that purchase. The same thing happens with food too with food.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if we go to, if we go to the grocery store and we are not, we're hungry, uh, we tend to get sugary, sugary stuff right. So it's kind of the same, like if we're feeling stressed and you know we go on like going to a store or something, we may tend to pick up a purchase that we might have not.
Speaker 2:Or even, like Uber, Eats DoorDash.
Speaker 1:everything's so easy now, yeah times have changed and you're saying journaling. So how would you go about journaling when it comes to your finances?
Speaker 2:Do you have a certain approach or I usually just like when I feel uncomfortable or something comes up, like I used to be an emotional eater, so like I would always reach out for food instead of like making like a purchase. But even just like something would come up like I feel stressed out about work or like I have a big expense coming up or just something personal going on too, just sitting down and just like what is this feeling trying to tell me? Why am I afraid to look at my bank account? Okay, just those kind of questions, just asking yourself, and then you just write down whatever comes out.
Speaker 1:Those are very deep questions, right, like you might be like. Why do I want to make that big purchase? And it might come to um. You comparing yourself to others life in the moment. You know their highlight reels um whereas um.
Speaker 2:So that is really interesting to journal it out or even asking yourself like why am I afraid to make more money? Because you care about what people think of you, how your image is going to change, like there's so much subconscious stuff we don't realize we're scared to level up we're scared to level up.
Speaker 1:Okay, how would that look like? Why? Why would someone be scared to level up, can you? I?
Speaker 2:think just the thoughts. I've heard a lot of conversations with women and my clients all the time. Rich people are mean they earn a lot of money. People think bad of them. They're so greedy, this and that, but it's just like when you make more money you can do more good things with it.
Speaker 1:That's true, that's true, that's true. It opens up many doors.
Speaker 2:More doors, yeah.
Speaker 1:And you can contribute to your community as well.
Speaker 2:Or charities, donating, like there's so much you could do with it, but it's just like. What are people going to think of me?
Speaker 1:What are people? And that's kind of that mentality of like rich people are greedy, and then I think like, yeah, that's, that's super interesting. So we have to change our mindset. That we brought the messages we may have received when we were younger, and it all comes down to journaling. Journaling, I think, is so interesting of a process because sometimes, when we're just consciously going about our day, we might not really think deeply about something, but when we're writing it down on a piece of paper, it's like that wise mind comes into play and then all of a sudden you're having, like you know, different ideas. Yeah, so much clarity, yeah.
Speaker 2:You're talking to a therapist too.
Speaker 1:Oh, yes, yeah, yeah. So like, if you're, you know, falling in the trap of comparisons and whatnot and talking to a therapist would be great to do, and I think there's so many different avenues. Right, like um in order to um be financially empowered, um, so yeah, so it's great. I think we see a lot of um women going, wanting to go into a business like we talked about is seeing how much freedom that it will give them compared to, you know, the regular jobs being their own boss. It seems like a very attractive kind of avenue to go to. So what are some things women need to know about when they're thinking about going and starting their business?
Speaker 2:That's a great question. Just knowing it's not easy, the first year is going to be the hardest. I've had women quit in the first three months because they're not making as much money as they thought or they didn't plan for spending as much as they thought. And just because you started a business doesn't mean like people are going to be lining up the door, knocking on your door, ready to buy from you, like you have to connect with people, you have to network, you have to put yourself out there wow, yeah, so you're saying a lot of people give up when they start.
Speaker 1:So it's kind of like ensuring that you are persistent with what you're trying to create, so that, yeah, so patience, you would say, is really important.
Speaker 2:I would say patience. And also, like when you're starting up, like sit down and look at what it's really going to cost you for the first year, because a lot of times people get business loans, they're just thinking about the startup costs, but then they forget about, like the month to month costs that are going to happen If they're hiring employees. Like how are you going to pay them if no money's coming in?
Speaker 1:Like just planning for the worst case scenarios, scenarios, because even when people make business plans for the bank, it's like best case scenarios so would you say, like, start out small, like I know, a lot of businesses that became really big were started out in like people's garages and stuff. So is that what you think? Uh, individuals should start like uh, rather than?
Speaker 2:it varies by person. It just depends on, like, your risk tolerance and how, like, how long you can go for, because, like for myself, it took two years of consistency and now things are like good. So it just takes time. You have to keep putting yourself out there, connecting with people.
Speaker 1:Connecting with people is important, so connecting networking, you would say, is important as well. Yes, yeah, that's interesting. So that is one thing you're saying Women need to know be patient network, and yeah, so that is super interesting. And, yeah, in this time, is it a good idea to start your business, like in this time, in this year, in this political climate that we have.
Speaker 2:I would say so, like we have like free social media, like marketing platforms, there's like so much we can do that we can take advantage of, versus, like 10 years ago we might have not even had those.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that is so true Like there are so many different ways to reach your customer, there's so many different ways to market yourself. I mean, we're on like we're recording a podcast and like back in the day they didn't really have this, you know way of providing information and reaching to potential individuals who do want this various information that you might have. Our viewers might, our listeners might have. You know a lot of knowledge that they want to share with their community and they might want to make it into a business.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, yeah, there's so many podcasts, so many things on YouTube you can look up, like I think it's the easiest time right now to start a business. It's the easiest time right now. Wow, there's so much information out there.
Speaker 1:It's all about implementing it you're saying it's the best time to start a business. That might be so motivating and so, like you know, motivating for individuals to know that because a lot of people do have, like specialized knowledge and you know you can um move that into a business.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, yeah, do you have any? Yeah, yeah, it's all about like being creative. Like Like I've been in the accounting industry for about 12 years now. I worked in different like firms in the corporate world and then I just couldn't do it anymore. So I just started posting accounting and tax tips on my Instagram page and then that's how I got all my clients. I met like over 200 clients for the Canadian tax side and now I'm moving into like mindset and financial coaching. So just because you started in the corporate world doing something, does it mean you have to stay there? Does that apply for everything? For anyone working in like the corporate world? Or you started a business you're not really enjoying what you're doing? Like it's okay to pivot. Do what feels good to you.
Speaker 1:Okay, and how does one build that courage to? Just showing up doing your work, facing that fear and doing the work absolutely like you talked about the networking, you talked about not giving up um, and you know that and like, do you want to share a little bit more of your story, like where you started and where you're headed?
Speaker 2:Yeah, sure. So, like I mentioned, I've been in the industry for 12 years now, started my first accounting job in like 2013. And I was like just a shy girl sitting behind a computer being told what to do, like I never felt comfortable speaking up, sharing my opinion on anything and I just honestly, I hated working at the firms, but I couldn't figure out why. I thought it was okay, just a firm I was working at. So I jumped from firm to firm, worked at four different firms, got to the point where I just felt so anxious going to work my health I started having health issues and like getting through those eight hours a day and then driving home, going to the gym, like I just couldn't do it anymore and it was like a sign for my body like something needs to change. That's how you know, right when?
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I ignored it for so long In your body and your mind. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I just ignored it for so long. And then finally I was like, okay, like I need to do something. And then I started listening to Rob Dial Mindset Mentor podcast on my way to work. And then it took about six months to finally be like, okay, like I'm going to start something on my own. Finally be like okay, like I'm gonna start something on my own. And it was scary because, um, being a CPA, um employee for a firm, um I could no longer work for the firm I was working at, so I had to have a conversation with them to hire me as a contractor and so that was uncomfortable.
Speaker 2:I had to do that. I still didn't know what I was doing on my own, yeah, and then, like three months into it, they just let me go, and then I just had to do that I still didn't know what I was doing on my own, yeah, and then, like three months into it, they just let me go and then I just had to figure it out oh, wow, yeah, so that required courage on your part and it's yeah, it's interesting.
Speaker 1:You're saying, uh, you're shy, because I'm pretty shy too, yet we're both like having our podcast and kind of putting ourselves out there, right, so that's super interesting. So you let that go. And then you um, now you're, you have your own podcast, you want to talk about that yeah, so I started her wealthy mindset.
Speaker 2:It's a podcast about all things money, mindset and business. Just my journey, what I'm going through and I think other women can relate to. I'm doing 90 days straight. I'm at like day 19 now.
Speaker 1:Day 18,. Wow, yeah, that's awesome. We need women like you out there because you know it's all about. You know financial knowledge it opens so many doors. It like removes so many obstacles and allows individuals to live the life they want. Like you said, you know those vocations, building that business, having that knowledge will allow them to move towards their dreams rather than move towards. You know, look at people's highlight reels and kind of slip up and not chase what they truly on the inside want, like truly when it comes down to what their heart wants, what their mind wants, which might be you know that well retirement and their business expanding and growing and whatnot. So thank you so much.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and the highlight reels don't show what's going on behind the scenes. You don't know oh yes, you don't know someone's spending problems, how much debt they're in, so you got to keep those things in mind too.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, that is a great message to know, right, we don't know what the person might be going through, what the person's debt might be like, but we might see like a flashy purse and think, oh, this person has it all. I keep saying purses because that is like the thing that most individuals want and see and whatnot. So, yeah, you know, there's so many ways to navigate and find financial knowledge. Like you do, you assist women in their journey as well. You have your podcast and then, like you said, journaling is a great option for individuals when they're dealing with certain thoughts when it comes to their finances. And so, thank you so much, cindy. Do you have anything else you want to share? Anything we haven't covered?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I just wanted to say if anyone's open to connecting, you can follow me on instagram at it's cindy kamar. I'm always happy to chat and my podcast, her wealthy mindset yes, follow it.
Speaker 1:It is amazing. I've listened to it too and that's why, like I brought up that teenage girl mindset versus the rich girl energy what was it Grown rich woman energy. Yeah, that was an amazing comparison you did, and I think a lot of people will find your knowledge to be, you know, very impactful in their life. So, thank you for all that you do, Thank you for coming on to uh this uh podcast and um, I hope you go out there and empower more women. So, thank you and, uh, I'll stop recording.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for the opportunity.
