Hello, I'm Vanessa.
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I’m a financial educator. A friend. A mother. And someone who loves helping my community take control of their money so they can live more freely.Â
This mission is really close to my heart. If I’d understood these skills in my early 20s, my future could have looked very different. So knowing that, I want to help others discover what’s possible when they possess the knowledge and confidence I have to make informed money decisions earlier.
Across 20+ years in finance, lending & accounting, I’ve worked with everyday people who were never taught the basics of money. From understanding their income & expenses to budgeting, assets & liabilities, and investing for their future selves, many simply haven’t had the chance to learn.
For years, I’ve wanted to make that knowledge accessible to help anyone who needs that chance. Help them feel empowered, capable and in control of their lives in a world that tries to convince you that you can't do any better. These are practical skills we should all have had the chance to learn at school- but didn't get to.
That’s why I created Self-made: to make money easier and help you build a more confident financial future. So, here we go... Your future starts with what you learn today!
 I realised I could build my own freedom.
I grew up watching my parents run their own businesses. They worked incredibly hard for modest earnings, teaching me the value of commitment, resilience and making every dollar count.
Later, in my career, I worked alongside successful entrepreneurs who built multimillion-dollar businesses. I became fascinated by how they achieved it. What did they understand about money that others didn’t?
I’d always had a knack for numbers, which led me into finance. But when it came to building my own financial freedom, I initially put more trust in my partners. I thought that by supporting them, and by helping manage their money we could grow together. Instead, I found myself held back.
The turning point came when I realised I could build a future I actually wanted... on just my own terms.
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I wanted to helpÂ
others, just like me.
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I began taking ownership of my financial decisions, combining what I’d learnt from successful entrepreneurs with my life experience, hard work and determination. That journey inspired the insightful money lessons I now want to share with you and everyone else!
My dream is to help others, especially young people and women, gain the skills and confidence to become financially independent- leaning into their own power. I want them to have more choices, recognise opportunities and feel capable of moving forward without needing to depend on someone else.
More than anyone, I know not everyone has access to people who can teach them these skills. I’ve been fortunate to learn through my work and life experience, and sharing that is my way of giving back.
Understanding money can open the door to a life you choose.
Give yourself the opportunity to learn from my experiences and start building your future today.
Becoming a millionaire sounds crazy to aim for, but small, consistent steps can make a huge difference. And it's always better to aim big and fall a bit short then to never aim at all.
With tried-and- tested money skills and the confidence to use them, you'd be surprised by what you can achieve.
Start with what you have, learn as you go, and give your future self more choices to become the self-made individual you were always meant to be.
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Want to keep up to date with how I'm growing Self-made?
Sign up to my mailing list. If you'd like to reach out to me about an enquiry, go to my contact page.
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