My Story
Born and raised in communist East Germany, I grew up in a world where money really didn’t matter very much. The difference between the “haves” and “have nots” was minimal and not defined by money. A doctor (my mom) and a professor of psychology (my dad) didn’t earn much more than a mechanic working night shifts in a brewery (my boyfriend). My plans for my future, my chosen field of study (psychology), and my career were entirely unrelated to any thoughts about money.
Yet, my life changed dramatically when the Berlin Wall came down on November 9, 1989. I left East Berlin that very night in search not of money - but freedom. A windy path took me from Berlin to Cologne (West Germany), to France (where I studied at the European Partnership of Business Schools), and ultimately to the United States. Armed with a dual degree in business administration, I started my career in investments working for Prudential Financial. For 20 years, I learned a lot about finance and investments, earned my CFA, evaluated hundreds of public and private companies, and invested over $3 billion on behalf of Prudential Capital. I worked with CEOs, CFOs, and board members to understand their needs for capital, allowing me to structure and negotiate a large and diverse number of transactions in a broad range of industries including food and beverage, equipment leasing, construction, transportation, and professional services.
After 20 years, I left Prudential in search of meaning. I founded my own advisory firm (Mindful Advisory) and ultimately joined one of my early clients, a digital health company called Wisdom Labs. During my 8 years at Wisdom Labs, I stepped into co-leading a start-up, deepened my meditation practice, and got first-hand exposure to mindfulness and compassion training as well as the underlying science - all of which inform my work as a Financial Therapist.
I have been the sole breadwinner for my family all of my life and have navigated challenging personal and work-related transitions. My journey has taught me we can reach anything we set our hearts and minds to. I am here to support you in your life transitions and help you realize your dreams.
In my work as a Financial Therapist, I combine my extensive financial and investment expertise with my emotional awareness and ability to connect with people.