#159: Investment infrastructure, women's financial power, and tech innovation with Symmie Swil

#163: (Repost) Money and love: how to make important life decisions with Abby Davisson

Abby Davisson is an award-winning Fortune 200 leader-turned-author and entrepreneur. Prior to founding the Money and Love Institute [https://www.moneyloveinstitute.com/], her social impact career included nearly a decade at global retailer Gap Inc., where she served as president of the Gap Foundation and co-founded the company’s employee resource group for working parents. Abby’s prior professional experience includes strategy-focused roles across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, as well as a stint (alongside her day job) as an alumni career advisor and coach at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Abby holds a BA from Yale University and an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University. We cover the following in our conversation: 02:37 Why focus on money and love? 08:09 A lesson learned the hard way 10:46 Why decisions feel zero sum 12:57 Clarity and the "Five Cs" 16:41 Scenario 1: choosing a mate 23:09 Scenario 2: family and career 34:54 Scenario 3: breakup or divorce 39:02 Courage and better communication 44:46 Final advice. ****

#162: Empowering women, financial planning, cash ISAs, economic shifts, and inclusive advice with Shaz Bishop

Shaz Bishop is a wealth manager at RBC Brewin Dolphin. With over 21 years of expertise in financial services, Shaz advises private clients on comprehensive wealth strategies, including tax-efficient investments, pension planning, inheritance tax mitigation, trusts, and international investments. Her holistic approach empowers individuals and families to navigate complex financial landscapes with confidence. Beyond her advisory role, Shaz is a dedicated advocate for financial literacy and women’s empowerment in wealth management. As a mother to two young daughters, she champions diversity and inclusion in the industry, striving to create a future where equitable representation is the norm. She’s passionate about educating underserved communities and breaking down barriers to financial access, ensuring the next generation inherits a more inclusive financial ecosystem. We cover the following in our conversation: 02:22 Money origins story 03:24 Cash ISA changes explained 05:04 Women and investing shift 08:05 Retirement barriers for women 10:37 Choosing the right adviser 11:45 One size policy limits 13:50 Cashflow planning tool 15:18 Risk and advice framing 17:57 Reviews and life events 18:59 Family planning and pensions 22:37 Measuring success beyond markets 24:02 Industry gaps and wealth transfer 26:54 Closing ***

#161: Why culture matters in growth, AI's market impact, and US growth investing with Kirsty Gibson

Kirsty Gibson is an Investment Manager in the US Equity Growth Team and has been a portfolio decision maker since 2016. She joined Baillie Gifford in 2012 and became a partner in 2025. Prior to joining the US Equity Growth Team, Kirsty also spent several years in the small and large-cap global equities departments. She graduated MA (Hons) in Economics in 2011 and MSc in Carbon Management in 2012, both from the University of Edinburgh. We cover the following in our conversation: 01:57 Kirsty’s path to investing 04:49 Why culture matters in growth 06:52 Foundational vs created culture 09:27 When founders return 11:47 Architecting culture on purpose 14:49 Shopify’s AI pivot 19:06 Stripe’s culture in execution 20:47 Acquiring Bridge and the opportunity in stablecoins 22:38 AI shockwaves and market panic 29:31 What winners look like by 2030 31:34 Final takeaways. See: "The cultural architects: [https://www.bailliegifford.com/en/uk/individual-investors/insights/ic-article/2025-q3-the-cultural-architects-10056861/] how great founders shape exceptional companies in changing times", written by Kirsty Gibson. ***

#160: (Repost) Navigating gender bias: insights and strategies with Dr Amy Diehl

Amy Diehl, PhD, is an award-winning information technology leader, currently serving as Chief Information Officer at Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA. She is also a gender equity researcher and author of the new book Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work. Her writing has appeared in numerous scholarly journal articles and book chapters as well as in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Ms. Magazine. She is also a sought-after speaker, consultant, and lawsuit expert witness. Her passion is universal gender equality so that society and organisations can thrive and women can succeed. We cover the following: 01:50 Defining gender bias 02:52 How gender bias affects money and power 05:15 Six barriers overview 06:11 Male privilege and constraints 07:20 Support and devaluation 08:36 Hostility (including female hostility) 13:35 Acquiescence and opting out 16:19 Business case and examples 21:00 Leadership accountability and ERGs 22:44 Measuring bias 24:44 Gender bias incident example 26:55 Don’t internalise gender bias 29:13 Build support networks 30:06 Toxic workplaces 33:15 Leaders must own change 34:03 Stories that wake up leaders 36:59 Male norms and work design 39:24 Allies taking action 40:45 LinkedIn as safe space 43:29 Kamala Harris double standards 48:21 Progress and hope. ***

#159: Investment infrastructure, women's financial power, and tech innovation with Symmie Swil

Symmie Swil is the UK General Manager of Europe’s leading investment infrastructure provider, Upvest. With nearly twenty years of banking and fintech experience, Symmie is passionate about broadening access to investing. Symmie has previously held positions as Deputy Chief Operating Officer & Chief of Staff at Investec, and Head of SME Banking at Starling.  We cover the following: 01:09 Symmie Swil: From banking to building investing infrastructure 02:41 What still holds women back from investing? 04:14 The gender wealth & gender pension gap explained. 07:41 What UpVest actually does (The ‘Stripe for investing’ behind the apps) 09:33 Fractional investing 101: Why lower minimums change everything 11:33 Trust in embedded investing: Transparency, security & regulation 12:53 UpVest’s UK expansion: The opportunity, the data, and responsible scaling 14:28 Five to ten year vision: Women designing the future of wealth tech 16:28 Final thoughts.