What is the first childhood money memory that comes up for you? Mine takes me back to the village where I grew up. One holiday, my cousin who lived in the city came to visit us. As children, we were playing and somehow the conversation turned to what we had and did not have. She said something I have never forgotten: “You people never have anything. If we don’t give you something, you have nothing.” I remember the shame. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. It may have seemed like an ordinary childhood exchange, but for me, it became much more than that. Somewhere in my young mind, that conversation began shaping a story: We don't have enough. I am not good enough. I am not worthy. I don't deserve. The emotional brain can attach powerful meaning to experiences long before our reasoning and perspective-taking capacities are fully mature. In childhood, we often do not yet have the ability to step back and question what has been said to us: Is this actually true? What else might be true? So instead of questioning the statement, my emotional brain stored the experience and the meaning I gave it. But when I revisit that memory with my adult brain, I see a very different story. We did not have nothing. We had mango and guava trees, and those same cousins would come and feast on the fruit. We had cows that gave us fresh milk, which we gladly shared with them. We had food from the land: maize cobs, round nuts, groundnuts and homemade peanut butter. We had abundance. It simply did not look like the kind of abundance my childhood mind had learned to associate with money and status. My younger self did not yet have the perspective to say: “Wait. That isn't true. We have something too. In fact, we have plenty.” And this is why revisiting our childhood money memories matters. Some of our adult money behaviours are not responses to our current financial reality. They are responses to meanings created by a much younger version of ourselves. The child experiences something.

I'm so glad you're here. This community was created because I believe financial confidence is not simply about knowing more about money—it's about trusting yourself to make financial decisions that align with your values, goals, and future. Many women are highly accomplished in their careers yet still experience uncertainty, guilt, fear, or avoidance when it comes to their personal finances. You are not alone, and this is a space where we can learn, grow, and support one another without judgment. Here, you'll have access to: ✨ Live webinars ✨ Practical financial confidence tools ✨ Discussions and reflection exercises ✨ Resources inspired by Financial Confidence for Her Wellbeing ✨ A community of women committed to growing together To get us started, please introduce yourself by sharing: 1. Your name and where you're joining from. 2. What inspired you to join Financial Confidence Tribe. 3. One financial goal you would love to achieve over the next 12 months. I'll begin… I'm Dr Mavis Mazhura, a leadership psychologist, executive coach, and author of Financial Confidence for Her Wellbeing. I'm passionate about helping women transform their relationship with money by building financial self-determination, financial resilience, and financial wellbeing. I can't wait to get to know you and walk this journey together. Welcome to your tribe! 💜