Des Femmes Updates August 2023
Spotlighting a community manager, sharing our plans for Paris (you should come!), and talking about the future of my own money
Hello and welcome back to the Des Femmes newsletter! Sterling Schuyler here š
As we gear up for our IRL meetup in Paris October 1-6, 2023, Iām just remembering how amazing our time in Austin was. I finally met Leigh in person (after working together for over a year!), relaxed in the vast nature of CabinDAO cabins, and met some incredible women in the tech and crypto ecosystems such as the folks behind CRADL, Awesome People, Global Coin Research, and Blockchange Ventures.Ā
There are still a couple spots available for our IRL Paris meetup! Book now to join us for:
A week-long stay in a private residence with a fully stocked kitchen
IRL networking brunches and dinners during WVC:E Summit
Peer-led workshops (so far weāve got financial wellness and bitcoin-savvy dominatrix negotiation tactics for non-sex workers)
Master Money Mentors training from University of Maryland
Personal time exploring an iconic city
Deadline to sign up is September 15. If you have any questions, let us know in the community Slack or email leigh [at] desfemmesmagazine.com. Canāt afford to travel but still want to participate in group education? Send $100 via Venmo to @desfemmesmag with your email in the (private) description and youāll gain access to the remote Master Money Mentor classes from October 3-6, 9 am to 12 pm ET. Same deadline and email for questions if youāre keen to join remotely!Ā
Getting Serious about the Future of My Money
Many of us likely learned our financial habits from the people who raised us and/or the environment we grew up in. My parents put a strong emphasis on taking care of myself when I retired. Their parents had absolutely no retirement plan, and as a result, my parents had to take care of them when they stopped working.
So my financial planning has always considered recurring short term expenses (rent, food, Netflix, health insurance) and retirementāand not really anything in between. Other than mentioning I need to pay off my credit card, there wasnāt much education about what happened between graduating college and retiring.
As much as I talk, research, and write about building wealth, I havenāt actually taken much action myself. Like many women, I spend a lot of time researching every possible approach to an investment opportunity and its risks. So far, Iāve made a couple investments that I expect to generate a return in 2024, but that money is locked up in equity.
This year I realized that I wanted to have some investments that could be more easily liquidated and within more of my own control. And so Iāve decided on either hiring a money manager or opening a brokerage account, which is an account for money specifically used to invest in various assets like stocks and exchange traded funds (ETF).
Iām glad I put away some money in a savings account that I can easily withdraw from (especially during this precarious economic climate). On the other hand, I wish I had put that money into a brokerage account a year ago insteadāmaybe Iād have just a little bit more than I have now.
So if youāre in a similar boat, consider this a call to action for yourself. Take a moment today or this week to learn more about opening a brokerage account, or understand what bonds are. Take some time to reflect on what expenses your salary is and isnāt covering, and how investments could help you finance the things you want and need.
If youāre ready to take a meaningful step towards building wealth, consider joining the Master Money Mentors training in October. Youāll not only learn about financial goal setting and how to use financial resources, but youāll also learn how to mentor others on their own journeys as well. Plus, I would love to learn more about you in person!
Community Spotlight
I am Taesirat Yusuf, a medical student, a social media manager, and a multidisciplinary artist exploring Photography & Digital illustration. I have been a member of the Des Femmes community for over one year. I am a practicing artist of 6 years who recently discovered my love for logo designing (open to logo design gigs!). Apart from that, I have also been working as a community manager and a social media manager for the past 4 years (Iām currently open to taking freelance and full-time jobs).
I am passionate about community education and exploring new aspects of technology like Web3 and everything related to it. Although I am currently searching for a new role, I work as a social media manager & a community manager for my community, Non-fungible frenz, which I co-founded with my twin sister in 2021. I am open to connecting and making friends, and you can always send me a message on Slack or follow me on Twitter @taesirat_ and Instagram @taesirat.jpeg & @artbytaes to follow my journey and check out my art
2023 Mentorship Program
During our IRL event in Europe from October 1-6, weāll be working remotely, together, with 3 hours a day of group activities a day, while the rest is free reign for whatever you want. Let us know youād like to join by reserving your spot today!
This mentorship isnāt sponsored (yet!) and isnāt about profits either, as weāre transitioning away from the LLC to make our peer-led community events more sustainable. So every woman is paying her own way. We look forward to planning a once in a lifetime opportunity with you!
Until next time, stay curious!