The Purse Podcast

Vicky Pryce is Chief Economic Adviser and a board member at the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), and one of the UK’s most respected voices on economic policy and reform. She was previously Joint Head of the UK Government Economic Service, Director General for Economics at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting. Earlier in her career, she held senior economic roles in banking, the oil sector, and was a Partner at KPMG. Vicky is a Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences and the Society of Professional Economists, and sits on several advisory boards, including the Economic Advisory Group of the British Chambers of Commerce and the central banking think tank OMFIF. She is also a Patron of Pro-Bono Economics and Working Chance. She is the author of several influential books, including "Women vs Capitalism", "Greekonomics", and "Why Women Need Quotas", and is a frequent contributor to media and public debates on the economy and gender equality. We cover the following: 00:52 UK Economy: growth and contraction 04:15 Inflation and interest rates 07:42 Unemployment and labour market pressures 12:43 Tax reform and wealth flight 18:07 Spending review and defence budget 24:37 Economic challenges and future outlook 32:45 Challenges of an aging workforce 34:46 Government's role in workforce adaptation 36:26 Corporate strategies for inclusivity 42:28 HR's role in modern workplaces 43:41 Government R&D: how women-led ventures and SMEs can access this 48:33 Trade and energy security 55:34 UK: economic threats and optimism *The interview was recorded Friday, 13 June* ***

Melissa Cheong is a Managing Partner of Blackhorn Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on catalysing and scaling industrial resource efficiency investment opportunities. In this role, she balances her time between managing the firm’s strategic goals, partnering, and working with talented and inspiring portfolio company founders, and developing the firm’s investment strategy for current and future funds. Melissa has over 20 years of industry experience, with her most recent roles focused on a range of sustainable investment opportunities. Prior to Blackhorn, Melissa was Chief Investment Officer at ZOMA Capital, the private family office of Ben and Lucy Ana Walton, and held various positions at Treehouse Investments, Imprint Capital (now Goldman Sachs-Imprint), Plainfield Asset Management and Deutsche Bank. Melissa holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Chicago and received an MBA from Columbia Business School, with a concentration in Finance and International Development. We cover the following: 00:10 Meet Melissa Cheong: A journey in venture capital 02:33 Melissa's investment philosophy and career Insights 05:40 The role of family offices in sustainable Investment 07:51 Understanding risk and building effective teams 11:26 Blackhorn Ventures: focus on resource efficiency 15:05 AI and digital infrastructure in heavy industry 17:43 Current market challenges and opportunities 26:34 Supporting portfolio companies and success stories 31:08 Gender diversity in venture capital 45:42 Engaging more women LPs in venture 52:49 Closing comments

Cary Carbonaro is an award-winning Certified Financial Planner™ professional with over 25 years of experience, and currently serves as Managing Wealth Advisor and Women and Wealth Ambassador for Ashton Thomas. She leads a multi-million dollar financial planning practice, specialising in empowering women to overcome financial challenges and increase their financial literacy. Cary is the author of the bestselling book The Money Queen’s Guide: For Women Who Want to Build Wealth and Banish Fear,  Morgan James, Oct 2015. Cary’s second book.  Women and Wealth: A Playbook To Empower Clients and Unlock Their Fortune,  published by Wiley April 29, 2025.   She serves as a CFP® Board Ambassador, representing the financial industry in the media, and has been honored six times on Investopedia’s Top 100 Financial Advisors list. In 2016, she was awarded the prestigious Investment News Women to Watch recognition. In 2024, Cary was appointed as the sole female member of the Nasdaq Advisor Council. We cover the following: 00:13 Meet Cary Carbonaro: Financial expert and author 02:13 Cary's journey into wealth management 03:48 Empowering women through financial literacy 05:20 Challenges faced by women in finance 06:39 Cary's professional setbacks and resilience 08:19 The financial industry's gender bias 13:12 Misconceptions about women and money 18:10 The rise of female breadwinners 21:03 The Great Wealth Transfer 22:55 The future of financial services for women 24:43 Core principles of female-centric financial advice 25:48 The importance of female leadership in finance 26:27 Challenges and opportunities for women in the industry 30:29 Emotional ties and financial decisions 38:50 Women investing in women entrepreneurs 42:48 Rebuilding the financial system for women ***

Anthony Fernandez stands at the forefront of the evolving cryptocurrency landscape as the Head of Business Development and Sales at ICONOMI, an FCA-registered digital asset portfolio management firm. With a rich background in asset management, foreign exchange, and cryptocurrency mining & trading, Anthony has become a leading authority in blockchain technology, including DeFi, derivatives trading, and cross-chain solutions. With over 8 years in fintech and wealth management, Anthony has transitioned into the alternative investment space, specialising in Bitcoin and various digital assets. Before his role at ICONOMI, he honed his expertise leading a Bitcoin mining team, helping both professional and retail investors to earn passive income. A sought-after speaker, Anthony illuminates financial seminars with his deep understanding of macroeconomics and the crypto ecosystem. His practical insights guide investors through the intricacies of blockchain investments and the ever-changing digital economy. 00:12 Meet Anthony Fernandez: crypto expert 02:14 Anthony's journey into the industry 04:15 Defining digital assets and ICONOMI's role 05:49 The macroeconomic climate 10:19 US administration's impact on digital assets 13:19 Business adoption and why it matters 16:26 Bitcoin as a hedge against currency debasement 19:50 Institutional approach to crypto 25:12 Women in crypto: opportunities 27:39 How a business start engaging in digital assets

Marcia Dawood is an early-stage investor who serves as the vice-chair on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee. She is a venture partner with Mindshift Capital, a member of Golden Seeds, and the chair emeritus of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), a global professional society for angel investors. She is the author of the award-winning book 'Do Good While Doing Well, Invest for Change, Reap Financial Rewards, and Increase Your Happiness'. She is also an associate producer on the award-winning documentary 'Show Her the Money'. A TEDx speaker and the host of the award-winning Angel Next Door podcast, Marcia walks the talk and holds investments in over fifty early-stage companies and funds. She is committed to expanding support for diverse companies that overcome the world’s biggest problems and accelerate positive change. She is passionate about bridging the gap from early-stage inception to building thriving, profitable companies. Previously, Marcia worked in sales, marketing, and operations for Kaplan Education for over sixteen years. She received an MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School. Marcia currently splits her time between New York City and North Carolina with her husband, Izzy, and she feels lucky to be the stepmom to three amazing sons. We cover the following: 02:21 The evolution of angel investing 02:43 Investment strategies and diversification 04:01 Equity crowdfunding and philanthropic investments 07:46 Women in investing and healthcare 10:58 Evaluating deals and overcoming bias 14:56 Impact investing 19:49 Challenges and support for startups 22:31 Valuation, portfolio construction, and dilution 29:22 Exit strategies and economic conditions 34:03 The future of angel investing and alternative models 36:32 Encouraging more women to invest 38:18 Conclusion