SYAMA BUNTEN
Making Values-Driven Money Decisions
Episode #45: March 13th, 2025
in THIS EPISODE
Does talking about money make you cringe? Syama Bunten, entrepreneur and host of the Getting Rich Together podcast shares how to get comfortable with money, then build wealth in a way that aligns with your values.
With parents who were devout Hare Krishnas, Syama was raised to prioritize community, faith, and purpose. Her mother encouraged success, but often criticized how wealth manifests.
Valuing education above all, Syama’s parents worked to keep her in San Francisco’s best schools, where her fellow students had grown up with money. Caught between worlds, Syama was torn.
She was sure on one point. She wanted to make an impact. At 12, she lobbied the White House for a year for her choir to sing there. It happened. Recognizing the ability to create opportunities gave her the confidence to relentlessly pursue and achieve her goals.
Climbing the corporate ladder was unfulfilling, and the deep unhappiness she saw in her colleagues prompted her to start a company, modeling a new approach to leadership.
Syama started leveraging her business acumen toward value-driven investments that magnify impact while making money.
Sharing her approach, she noticed most women avoided talking about money, which limited their opportunities. To empower women with open conversations, knowledge, and resources, Syama started her podcast and live events to facilitate peer-to-peer support and community.
Learn from Syama how to invest wisely to create the world you want to live in.
TESS'S TAKEAWAYS
A money mindset instilled in childhood can be changed.
Most women are uncomfortable talking about money, which limits opportunities.
The glamorization of high-risk investments often leads to poor financial choices.
Tapping into a community of financially literate women expands your opportunities.
Transparent conversations about money build financial literacy.
Peer-to-peer mentoring unlocks wisdom and resources among women.
Wealth expanders—who share their experience—are key for defining your approach.
Value-driven investment decisions magnify your impact.
ABOUT SYAMA
Founder and CEO of Scaling Retail and host of the Getting Rich Together podcast, Syama Bunten is passionate about empowering women to take control of their finances, via investments that magnify their impact in the world.
A direct investor in over 25 companies and an advisor and board member for multiple organizations, Syama facilitates conversations about money and peer-to-peer mentoring through her podcast, business community, and live events.
Anchored to her mandate of making value-driven money decisions, Syama helps women expand their financial literacy and opportunity.
She has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, and other publications, and appeared as a speaker at SXSW, American Express, and Conde Nast.
Syama’s message: Let’s rewrite the rules of money together and create a world where every woman has the knowledge, resources, and confidence to achieve financial freedom.
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