Syama Bunten
She’s a venture investor. She manages PayPal’s Economic Opportunity Fund. And she spent her career opening doors that were never designed to be opened. Women don’t talk about money the way we should. Not honestly, not openly, and not with each other. But that’s changing. I’m Syama Bunten, founder of Wealth Catalyst. And getting rich together is where the conversation lives.

Every week, a different woman, a different path, and a conversation that will change how you think about your own financial power. This community is growing and you belong in it. Please subscribe so you never miss an episode and leave us a five-star review so more women can find their way here. Now, let’s get rich together.

Today I am joined by the prolific Lisha Bell. Lisha, you are a venture investor. You are PayPal’s Economic Opportunity Fund manager and the co-host of Sisters with Ventures. I am so excited to have you here today because you are one of those rare leaders who treats capital as a tool for liberation and not gatekeeping. Your work sits at the intersection of tech,

community, economic justice, and you have spent your career building products, investing in founders, and creating incredible pathways that did not exist before, which is so amazing. A true, true trailblazer. I’m so excited today to have you on Getting Rich Together as we unpack not just this incredible, prolific woman who you are today, but the entirety of what makes you Lisha Bell. Lisha, welcome to the show.

Lisha Bell
Thank you so much for having me. That’s a wonderful and a celebrating introduction that I hope I live up to.

Syama Bunten
No, every day. Every day you live up to it. Well, Lisha, before we jump into all the fabulousness of your day to day and how you’re changing the world, I’d love to start back at a time in your life where maybe you didn’t know you were going to change the world or maybe you did. But take me back to a young girl somewhere between the ages of 10 and 12 years old.

Where were you on this beautiful planet of ours? What was life like around you? And what was money like?

Lisha Bell
Yeah. So I’m a girl from Los Angeles. And at that time I was working at my dad’s gas station in South Central Los Angeles. So on the weekends, my job was the cashier. So I was very familiar with money. I can count money really well, like old school, nickels, pennies, dimes. And I was selling cigarettes and zigzags and condoms at a young age. So I had a very vibrant.

youthfulness in the small business and deeply rooted in community all the time.

Syama Bunten
It’s so cool. What was it like for you as a little girl to be working for your parents? And obviously, I mean, you’re getting a crash course in entrepreneurship, but also mathematics and people skills and psychology. And meanwhile, your friends are probably like off playing or they’re at the, you know, they’re watching movies and cartoons. And here you are really sort of

learning about humans at a young age. What was that like for you? How did that shape any of your studies or interests?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, mean, largely, I definitely felt that I belonged in community, building with community and being with all kinds of people. You the gas station is from like the homeless crackheads, the gangsters, the executives. I mean, you just interface with everybody and in such a beautiful way. And, you know, I knew I didn’t know then that I was like preparing my

life for the world of business, right? But I knew I was, you know, handling transactions and the importance of that and the importance of having basic needs, which gases to a basic need for most people. And what that does and how not having access to those needs really transforms communities.

Syama Bunten
Hmm, that’s so interesting. And so what were you like at school at this young age? You know, was it where you knee deep into the books and then sort of, you know, working with your parents? Like, how did you sort of navigate your interest as a young girl?

Lisha Bell
I was really a leader. remember being the student body council president and doing the Pledge of Allegiance every day. That was like my job, monitoring the hall pass for all the people trying to sneak to the bathrooms. You I took it very seriously. I was in a gifted and talented education program that sent, you know, girls like me who first, you know, parents did not have formal college education, kind of took them out the hood and sent them to the Valley with like rich people. Like that was my experience.

So I kind of always squaddled between these two very different worlds of kind of socioeconomic progress and got to see the realities of it.

Syama Bunten
And when you were little and obviously, you know, working with your parents was the conversation, did those conversations around money come home at all? You know, because obviously you got to have a firsthand view and say, is business good? Is business bad? You know, you weren’t just hearing it from them. You’re also seeing it. So what were conversations like at home around money?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, mean, so I mean, my first negotiation was with my dad on my salary, right? I was like, give me $20 and I need a cheeseburger and can, you know, like it was bad on. So I was fiercely negotiating. didn’t know I was negotiating, but that was a conversation. And at home, we would take home the pennies and I was like counting pennies and wrapping pennies and taking that to the bank. So I was very aware of like,

money as a tool, money as a needs. And I thought we were rich because we had a Cadillac. And if you had a Cadillac, that means you were rich. You know, we’re like a middle class, you know, family. So I was very aware of it, but it wasn’t until two years later in terms of entrepreneurship, we lost it all. I’m like, something’s changed. So I think kind of navigating through, think you have it all and then you have nothing and then you have to rebuild.

like gives you a lot of good perspective.

Syama Bunten
Yeah, absolutely. Were those during your high school years? How were your high school years?

Lisha Bell
So by high school, we had moved out of kind of South Central Los Angeles to, we call it the high desert. And so imagine moving from like a very urban environment to a very Mormon, Republican centered community. Like it was so different than like the life I came from. I was like the only black girl in cheerleading squad. I was like still in honors and

I of ⁓ my first like instances of feeling other because I had grew up in community that everybody looked like me and I would never forget it was the day the OJ Simpson verdict came out that I knew that I was felt very differently than my classmates and like the teachers was crying and I was like, I didn’t have tears. didn’t really have a strong emotion and I knew that I was different and I knew that there was, you know,

kind of something in me that was looking at it from a different perspective that others didn’t see. So that was kind of my high school years of navigating, like being other, not being in the majority and pushing through.

Syama Bunten
Did you have a sense of yourself in high school that, all right, this is what I want to study in college or that like, how, did you start to sort of figure out your young sense of identity? Who did you think of yourself to be during those high school years?

Lisha Bell
Ooh, high school identity. That’s a great question. I don’t know if that I had a strong identity. I was very naive. I was very ignorant. didn’t really know my culture that well. was not taught to me. It was not something that I learned in school. But I knew about, I was very well social economic progress. So I knew I had to go to college to like get out. Like that was my goal. Like lot of my classmates were not going to college at all.

And so I know I wanted to kind of escape and kind of build this life. And I knew I had to go to college to do that. And so fortunately, I was able to do so and leave.

Syama Bunten
So when you decided, okay, so here you are getting ready to export yourself into university. Did you know what you wanted to study? Was it like, I’m this great cheerleader athlete. I’m gonna try to continue sort of like cheerleading and sort of sports in that way. You know, was it heavy down in the academics? How did you sort of launch yourself into that university world? Where did you go to school? And how far from home did you venture?

Lisha Bell
I went 75 miles from home. So I just went back to LA. So I didn’t go that far. you know, I thought I was going to be an industrial like engineer. And I had no clue what that was. Let me tell you how ill prepared I was. Like I was like, this sounds cool. Like, and mind you, I had been looking AOL organ girl, organ trail girl. So I’m like,

was like, isn’t this technology? And like, I realized I was the wrong kind of engineer. Do you want to build freeways and bridges? I was like, no. Like, that’s not what I wanted. That’s not fun. So I went to the University of Southern California and I immediately changed my major to business computer science because I was like, ⁓ this is what the people do who like to like be involved in digital technology. ⁓

I would do some mistake walking. Like somebody had to just guide me in because I didn’t know what I was doing.

Syama Bunten
That’s really funny. But no one does tell us what these things are, right? It’s very rare that there’s someone who comes in and who’s like, all right, these are all the different nuances of all the different things. not everyone gets that opportunity to make super informed decisions, right? It’s normally by a little bit of like try. It’s like, I’d say most people walk in going, what sounds really cool and fun and interesting based on what I like?

Throughout university, did you take up any part-time work? Was it like heads down in school? How did you sort of navigate that university life?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, I mean, had to work. not working was not an option. So I always had a job in college and, you know, I still was involved. I think that’s when I determined like I was a real advocate. Like I started student groups on campus. I started political organizations. I started mentorship organizations. Deeply entrenched, right? Because it was like this, I call it, this was also year that Lauryn Hill’s album came out, The Miseducation Lauryn Hill. And I call my college years the Miseducation

at Lisha Bell because you just come in blind, not knowing nothing. like, went to like, I took this African American studies class. So you guys know I am African American and the teacher was like, you don’t know. You don’t know it. I was like, and he was right. Like I absolutely knew nothing. Like I didn’t know the black national anthem. He’s like, who, right? what? I’m like, that describes my whole college experience. Like, what? This is a program? ⁓ okay.

Right? Like, ⁓ right. So then I became really ingrained into who I was and why I acted so why I felt certain ways, you know, like I just got all this enlightenment, you know, during that process.

Syama Bunten
You know, it sounds like college did all the things it was supposed to do.

Lisha Bell
Yeah, it is.

Syama Bunten
I love that so much. you know, obviously, you know, working you’ve been working, you know, ⁓ you know, pretty much your whole life at this point, right? So like, working is like part of your, you know, part of your DNA. Had you sort of in college or was your mindset around working? it I’m going to make money?

to save it, I’m gonna use it to spend money on the things I want. Like how did you sort of at this young age, right? How did you sort of orient the money you were making and like what it was for? What did it mean to you?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, I I definitely had like a scarcity mindset because I had a childhood where I had everything and then we lost it all. And so like, I was definitely trying to put myself in the best position. I left LA and moved to San Francisco to work in tech. And like, this is where people make money. This is where I want to be. You know, like I try to put myself in that place to preserve. Like, you know, I remember I maxed out my 401k. Like I was putting like 15, 20 % since my first paycheck.

because I was just like really wanted to build. And that’s another story about wealth, I mean, that helped me out lot later, but I was just so afraid of being poor. Like, you know, that I knew like money had a purpose at a very young age. And few years later, I bought my first house. Like I was just into like building and knew that that would help kind of protect me along the way.

Syama Bunten
Well, how did you, know, upon graduation, obviously, you know, moving up to San Francisco, knowing that you were going to do that because of the economic opportunities, how did how did all that information come to you? Was it like, all right, this is during the time of the boom, we all the jobs are here. Or was it like, you know how I mean, it sounds like it was very calculated. Right. So did you sort of look for the jobs first and then?

make your way over or was it like, I’m going to just be here now and see what happens and sort of find my way.

Lisha Bell
Yeah, so I think a things happened. So when I went to SC, I learned this term called trust fund kid. And SC has a lot of trust fund kids called the University of Spoiled Children. And I saw that their economics were so different. These were 18 year olds with Range Rovers, like $90,000 cars. They live in the Hollywood Hills. They got beach houses. I’m like, oh, we’re having, we’re living a totally different life, you know, coming from there. And then when I went to the Bay Area to get exposed to tech wealth was another huge, like,

drastic life, like the way that people were living in the Bay Area in early 2000s versus the way people live in like other areas. Like they were not living that great. Like the Bay really had it going on. And so, you know, when I got here, I’m like, where are these circles? What are these people doing? Like, how are they sustaining this? Right. So I always seen this kind of extreme well based on where I was sitting. Yeah. I was not.

Syama Bunten
What did you see in San Francisco at that time? what was your because I mean, you bring up this really interesting point of like noticing the differences both in terms of like how the money was made. Right. So like here are like young people who are like creating capital out of all these different, you know, ideas and things. There’s obviously the trust fund sort of way of looking at getting capital. What what was your sort of early

lived experiences of sort of seeing these differences when you landed in the Bay Area.

Lisha Bell
Yeah, I mean, like, just seeing my friends at Google and visiting them and getting like free food and like, like everything catered to them, like a workplace that just you bring the dogs to work, bring your cats, like it’s like, ⁓ what kind of environment do we just get to eat all this food, you know, and like, bring your friends to campus, have a party like this campus idea that you just never leave because your job is such a utopia, like that literally was the

the concept of all the people in the early stage working at all the companies that they may be tech dinosaurs now. But at the time it was like, wow, what free? And it was very liberating. Working in tech was very liberating. I came from stodgy conservative banking. You can’t say this, you can’t be this. tech is like, just be. Go, dream.

Syama Bunten
So

Lisha Bell
in a space.

Syama Bunten
I love that. So talk to me about some of your first jobs, you know, post university. Did you like, how did you sort of navigate what those first jobs would look like? And did you implement some of your same like negotiating strategies, like with your dad? Or it’s like, all right, you know, I need this and this and this. Like, what was it like? Get those first jobs.

Lisha Bell
to the internet.

Yeah, so I should tell you, I like went to the USC Career Center and like got my job. literally, it was like, oh, my professor was like, if you want to work in tech, you should work for a bank because they’re not going to go under and they’ll be in business. So like, I’m like, great, sounds good. So I applied. was like WellsFargo.com. I was like, great to bank. It’s a .com. I’m there. And I spent my first 15 years there. So I call it like my first retirement in the door of like

getting to the Bay Area, they were the first online bank. This is like when we still was right. My first project was bill pay. I’m dating myself. People were like, let me write that check for that payment and put a stamp. That’s what we were doing and just changing those behaviors. So that was my first project. And because I stayed in there so long, I just did so much within the organization.

Syama Bunten
I love that. so as you in this being sort of your first tenure, right, their first place where you spent a lot of time, obviously, like, when you do that, there’s, you know, promotions happen, you start to build your own personal wealth, like there’s a growth trajectory that I think is really difficult to find, at least with like young people today and their resumes, you know, that the profile looks really different. But as you were sort of building, building

your wealth at this early age, you alluded to, you know, stocking away a lot in your 401k. Did that happen right off the bat? And if so, like, who informed you of some of the smart decisions that you ended up making?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, so I will tell you, I was an inroads intern when I was in college and my inroads advisor is still my mentor. This is like 30 plus years ago and he’s still my mentor. His name is Brian and I love him so much. But he was like, listen, it used to be in broke. Just go ahead and put the money away and live off of as little as you can. Like, so like, you know, that was like really sound advice. That was like, thank you for that.

And I do think because I worked in a big organization for so long, I had a lot of work aunties that were pouring into me, which I think you don’t get when you just jump from, you know, I think you don’t get that. Like these people are like family to me, you know, in such a deep way who took the time out and invited me over, like just kind of build real relationships. So I had that privilege early on.

Syama Bunten
That’s amazing. aside from building your 401k early, were there other early decisions that you made that sort of helped to build the stability?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, I mean, buying my house, was 24 years old when I bought my

Syama Bunten
24?

Lisha, wow! ⁓

Lisha Bell
Yeah, in the Bay Area, so that’s already a hurdle. And I did like, no money down, I’m broke, I didn’t got nothing, you know, but I want this house. And I took some, I took a loan from my 401k, took a little loan from myself for the closing costs. And like, I moved to a very unpopular part of Oakland. I mean, it wasn’t the best part, but it was a part that I could afford to live in. And like, that really paid off, you know.

Syama Bunten
That’s really and were those so were those decisions sort of informed by some of your mentors at the time? was were they like, hey, you should or did you sort of stumble upon these things on your own?

Lisha Bell
No, I think I was very lucky to have fallen into a bank to work as my first job because I was so financially illiterate and I was learning on the job. I worked in credit and I was like, you’re not supposed to revolve on your credit. They’re like, yeah, we’re making our money off the revolvers. I’m like, who’s that? They’re like the people who don’t pay off their credit card completely every month. That’s like, ⁓ I never pay off my credit. Literally I’m like, that’s me? that’s a bad behavior? ⁓ didn’t know.

like and I work with people in mortgage and so I had I built trust with people in these spaces and they’re like okay it’s time you should you know let’s get you a house you do it like so I was working with these people who were doing this as a profession and built trust and report right so I that was truly hugely beneficial for me at the time.

Syama Bunten
It’s so amazing. Okay, so you spend your first sort of tenure at Wells Fargo. Talk to me now about the next inflection points for you, right? So obviously you leave, there’s a lot of security there. I bet it takes, you know, it’s a big move from moving from security to the next thing, right? So how did you sort of make those decisions and what were some of the next inflection points, both in your career, but then also

personally as you’re now establishing yourself because 15 years later, you’re now, you know, not just a college graduate. You’re someone who’s like really building, building herself in the world.

Lisha Bell
Yeah, so I think a few things. One, I was realizing I missed out on all the equity that my friends were getting at startups and who they made more money than I did for sure. They had less stability, but they have more money. And that was like if they made it, if there was an IPO, if there was a signature event. And so it’s it’s a grass greener on the other side.

You know, after so long in organization, it’s like, feel like I’m kind of stale and I need to like go and try something new and like disrupt my comfort zone. And so I decided to go back to business school because someone said, you’re never going to be exec with just a bachelor’s degree. You know, they said, go look at all the companies and look at, look at their pedigree. And I looked at Facebook and Google. They were all Ivy league MBAs. If you look at their background, they’re not just like, maybe the founder dropped out of college, but if you look at the team, that’s

building and supporting, are really well educated people. And I was like, well, I guess I got to go back to school, which I had never planned to. And when I left school, I was like, I’m never coming back. But I was like, let me go back. And I knew at some point there’d be this ceiling. And I had to keep disrupting my earning potential. I didn’t want it to stop. And so I did make that leap and went back to business school. So that was a pretty important turn for me.

Syama Bunten
Yeah, business school is also not cheap, right? So how did you think about financing business school? Because certainly there can be a high return on investment for that, as you mentioned, but it certainly can also be like a big gutter punch when people start to realize how expensive that education can be.

Lisha Bell
Yeah, you know, I get this question a lot and I just don’t believe that, you know, invest investing in yourself is a waste of money. But also thinking about like where you’re trying to go in your earning potential. So at the time they said you should the amount of money you pay for business school is your first salary coming out. So I paid two hundred thousand dollars for this school and then I came out making two hundred thousand dollars. You like, I mean, it’s like you have to like be rational in your fears and like

you know, apply it forward. And I think I have due listed because at that point I had a house that appreciated significantly. I’m like, it seems like big money, but it’s not right. Because I am building a portfolio of wealth and like, you know, like the more I earn, you know, it’ll come back to me, right? Either I can like stop my earning potential right here and just not grow or right. I can like choose to invest this money.

Let it grow further.

Syama Bunten
I love that. You know, it’s also really highlights this like broader, more expansive thinking, you know, around like what’s possible, what can I be, what can I do? And also, I think this recognition of like, you know, the world doesn’t end with this one job, right? Or this one career path. It’s like there’s this like constant ability, I think, for us to reinvent ourselves and to keep keep learning.

adding verticals and, know, and sort of creating, I think, at a young age, a portfolio life, right, where it’s like, income streams coming from here and here and this sort of stability that’s growing, which is really also impressive as a young person, you know, to sort of be able to think about stability in that context. Okay, so

post MBA, you’re like, I’m ready to enter the startup world. I’m ready to get some equity. I’m ready to IPO. You’re ready. So what happened? So like, where do you go now that you’re like, ready and armed to like go become a billionaire in the startup world?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, so listen, I didn’t become a billionaire. Let’s just cut that out. But what did I actually do? I actually was laid off from Wells Fargo. And then I went back to Wells Fargo after business school, like to do a temporary assignment.

But you guys have to know, business school, I left the bay, I moved to New York, I traveled the world. Lisha had a good time. Okay, if you’re gonna do it, do it up. And I was like, okay, let me get grounded again. So I spent a little time, like a year to get grounded. I’m like, okay, now I’m ready to go. And I went into retail e-commerce and I finally went to a startup based in Portugal of all things. So that was really my wealth.

And it was crazy. It was all the things you’d think of as a crazy startup, like toxic, fun, co-workers sleeping with everybody, people having panic attacks. It was like, it was a lot. And I was like, this is what I wanted. This is what I went to school for, to really experience this life here.

I didn’t last long. That’s kind of long and short of that story. But I was glad I did because I felt like I needed to prove that to myself that I could be that chick. I went to Tel Aviv for a day. I got on a plane for 14 hours, got off, got held by security for four, then had my meeting and got back on the plane and said, I did so many crazy things I would have never done had I not had that experience.

Syama Bunten
Real quick, I want to tell you about something I built for you. May 14th, New York City, the Wealth Catalyst Summit. One day, 140 women who are serious about what they do with their money. Executives, founders, investors in the same room having the kinds of conversations that just don’t happen anywhere else. Private markets, real estate, how to get on boards, how to buy a business, how to make your capital actually reflect what you believe.

If you’ve been listening to the show, you already know that this is your room. Seats are limited and we are coming up on this event May 14th. So register today at wealthcatalyst.com. Link is in the show notes. Now back to the conversation. So you left that experience. You came, you saw, you checked it off your bucket list, worked for a crazy startup, lived the crazy life, traveled for 24 hours for a two hour meeting. Like, okay.

So like these things are getting crossed off. And then what happens, Wendy, like what is the next moment? Is it like, I’m gonna keep going down the startup path? Is it, I’m ready to be a founder? Is it, I’m ready, you know, at that time when you were working on a startup, did you start to think about investing in private companies? Like what were some of the light bulbs or pads that started to open up for you as a result of that experience?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, so I should add some backstory that I was a new mother and my baby was only like 14 months old when I did all that to add to the. So yeah, I took like six months to rest. Like as you said, I’ve been working since was 10, I was tired and I was like, what do I really want to be about? Like, how can I be intentional and be at a place that is safe? Like I knew startups were like.

Syama Bunten
my

Lisha Bell
immature for me. Like they didn’t have no HR, no policy, no regular. I was like, I can’t function like this. Like I just, you know, I’m a little more mature. Like I can’t just go with the flow when people say crazy stuff. Like I’m like, no, we need policies, employment laws exist for a reason. Like, so I needed some like more mature and I still wanted to be in tech and creative and have that, that, that little thing, right. And I had also started doing angel investing at that time.

getting more into diverse and marginalized founders, know,

Syama Bunten
What

was that like, Lisha? Like, how did you decide? Like, okay, so I always like the context, like, how old were you when you wrote your first, like, you know, private market check and likes for a startup? And how did that deal come to you? And how did you decide? Because I feel like there’s a moment that happens that’s like, before you ever write a check, and then there’s the moment you write the first check. And it’s usually once you write the first check, there’s like,

more things that open up as a result, but tell me the context of like, like pre-check and then post-check.

Lisha Bell
Yeah, so you have to know the context is I’ve been a black woman in tech for 20 years in Silicon Valley and very rarely ever worked with any other black people or women. Like that’s what the context is, that there were a group of people not exposed to this industry or had access to this industry. And I knew I wanted to change that and I knew VC wasn’t gonna do it. And I was like, I’m just gonna write my own checks. Like that was the precipice. Like nobody else is gonna do it. Let me do it.

And so I actually was at a conference. went to business school at Berkeley and Columbia. So I was at a conference at Berkeley Haas Women’s Conference talking about angel investing and venture capital. And they had this amazing woman, Tracy Gray, who’s an amazing venture capitalist. And I was like, Tracy, I really want to get into this. Like, just tell me how, tell you what to do. And she’s like, you should join a group, you know, so you can like be a little grounded in what you’re doing. And she’s like, Hey, and here’s Kelly. She’s an advisor for this org called Pipeline Angels.

So I literally, the next day I was like, sign me up. And I joined this group and we had some really good deals. We had a group of us and we wanted women who were representing diversity. You wanted women who were building something we cared about. And so like we ended up writing like three checks our first time out the gate to these amazing founders. CNote, Cat Berman who was trying to really disrupt like financial equity and expand resources through CDFIs.

We invested in Mented Cosmetics who were revolutionizing beauty for women who had color. This is pre-Fenty, so it was a different time. And then Fresh Bellies, know, baby organic baby food, right? Like we are essentially, I won’t say we’re poisoning our babies, but with the whole Campbell’s soup, you know what goes into these products that are on the shelves now. So anyways, we got to write those three checks and we were so proud of it. And I felt good, like riding the bikes, like, yeah.

Syama Bunten
I love that you did it with community, right? It’s like you did it with other people. It was like people to bounce ideas off of. What do you think about? Like, how do you, you know, I think that there’s something so special about doing something with a group of people who you can feel like connected to and like, you may not know the answer to something, but someone else does. And so there’s so much knowledge in.

and sharing that wisdom. think that’s so okay. So Pipeline Angels busted the door open for you. You’re like, I’m an investor now working in these, you know, private companies. And you also have a young child. So here you are sort of managing like all these things at once. What do you decide to do next? I mean, having a child is certainly, you know, also talk about now you’re entering into the real unknown, you know, it’s like you go from

You know, having a stable job to start up world, having a child is the ultimate unknown. Angel investing is also an ultimate unknown. So here you are sort of in the quantum field. What do you decide to do next and how do you start to anchor these next steps for yourself?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, so I think like this to give your audience perspective. I went to business school when I was 32, which is like considered a little bit older, but you know, I took my time in doing that. I got knocked up at 35. I was not planning to have a child, good Lord said it’s your time. And I literally had no plan for that. Right. And like I said, if you want to run the poverty, have a child. If you’re a woman, just have a baby. And that’s that will fast track you to poverty real fast. Right.

But I was older. And so I take that as a privilege that I had my house. You know, I had my 401k. Like my child, she tries to bankrupt me, but she did not bankrupt me. And, but I had to be, I had to be intentional about who I was, who I spent my time for with what company I was building with and who like all that mattered now. Like it had to be, I turned really conscious about my money, my time.

You know, I used to work for some bad employers who did bad things to marginalized communities. I was not proud of that. And so I had to like really be intentional. And so the next chapter, PayPal chapter, right? And going to like my love of payments, but eventually going beyond that and getting to do the work that I really was super passionate about.

Syama Bunten
So what was it like to sort of lay your flag or stake in the ground and say, I’m going to do the work that I’m here to do. You know, one of the things that I think is so incredible about who you are and what you stand for is that you are not only, you know, community building, but you are someone who lives life by their values, you know, your, your resources, your time, your energy. mean, that same sort of intentionality.

that you talk about at the age of 35 is something that feels like it’s only strengthened over time, right? That sort of deliberate way of creating your life. Where is sort of your, where did things sort of evolve and how did you make the decisions to start to build on your own, right? And to start to say, I’m gonna start something or I’m gonna create something. And then how did you sort of find, I guess, your work identity at the same time, you know?

being a mom, starting things. mean, it’s so many, so many areas of responsibility, but also a vision, right? And to me, it feels almost like the columns of like the building, right? Like you’re anchoring yourself with these different pillars of strength and value.

Lisha Bell
Yeah, I mean, I always, for better for worse, was building on my own. You know, I from a family who couldn’t give me a down payment for a house or college. So I mean, I was like, I got to create it myself. Like, there’s no friends and family to help. I didn’t know I was supposed to marry well in my 20s. No one told me that memo either. Right. So I already knew I had to build for myself. And then when I had my child, I was an instant single mother. So I really knew then.

that I was gonna have to do it on my own and be confident in that and build in that and still be a boss. Like I was like, I’m not quitting my job. I spent 200,000 on this MBA. We still have to use it and have to work smarter. I can’t do 24 hour trips to Tel Aviv, but I can still be impactful. I’m still brilliant. Like, I think sometimes women think we’ve lost a lot when we go through some of these serious life changes. And it’s like, no, we’ve gained a lot. I gained a lot of wisdom.

I gained a lot of patience and I gained a lot of what I was going to tolerate and not tolerate. So you talk about your work identities. And part of how I got my job was just like, you know what? This is, I’m going to take a stand in this and I’m okay to walk, you know, no job owns me. And, you know, like I haven’t been homeless yet, you know, and I don’t think I will ever starve to death. You know, I think we have eliminated those two things out of that, you know, I may not, you know, be living the…

best life, but I’m like, I will be provided and cared for on my own terms. And it’s, and it’s not worth selling out for anybody or anything. Cause that will, you know, create another kind of toxicity in your body. Like that’s being aware of your body. And you know, it’s another important thing as it now is a perimenopause woman, right? Like I’m very aware of my body talking to me all the time. Right. And like all these things require care. You know, in a way.

Syama Bunten
them. You know, I’d love to, I know you’ve held a number of different roles at PayPal. The one that I’m, I’m eager to sort of get your heart and spirit on is what it was like to sort of be at this, you know, intersection of helping and supporting emerging fund managers, you know, and sort of that, that experience, because I feel like they’re, I mean,

Personally, you you see it, we both see it, right? I mean, all these different incredible emerging fund managers who are really looking to shape the world through their access to incredible founders, through deploying capital. And you got to have this rare insight and look into how these emerging fund managers were building and developing. And certainly, I’m sure now also looking back and seeing progress and sort of seeing, you know, what has worked. I’d love to get your

your double click on this incredible insight into this world of these emerging fund managers. And certainly we definitely have both LPs and angel investors and fund managers, all the likes are listening to the show. Please help unify, give us insight into the life and what you notice there.

Lisha Bell
Yeah, I I think everybody has a role to play and I really valued my role as an angel investor. But I also know the funnel is really important. And essentially to be great, you need institutional allegation. that’s where the real money’s at, right? It’s like, yeah, I you a $5,000 check, but you need $5 million. And I have to hand you up, right? And so that’s what these emerging managers really come in.

They’re like the bridge between these layers of capital and they are firefighting. They are going into their thesis deep within their space, whether it’s geography or by industry. And they are finding those gems and they’re providing that capital so that they can scale and grow. And they’re so deeply invested.

These GPs are so deeply committed to what they’re doing and they’re why, because you don’t get rich being a GP. Let me tell you, 10 years at least before that fun closes, like people are doing this because they really care and they really want to build and they see something great that they want to be a part of. And so I think that is really created a lot of joy for me to see people who are challenging VC narratives and VC norms and really investing.

into people and creating new value systems.

Syama Bunten
I think that’s so it’s you bring up this great point, which is, you know, especially with emerging managers, this is like a real it’s a real long term play on their vision. And it is not an easy thing to execute. And there isn’t a lot of money in there. You know, it’s really easy when you’re raising a small fund for that money to go quickly and you have to really support yourself and you’re you’re fighting a good fight for a vision of the world that you really believe in.

And it’s not easy, you know, and I think that that is something that they all deserve a lot of credit for that, you know, because it’s like, it’s going out there every day and talking to hundreds of companies to figure out what the five are that are going to make it to the next pass, that are going to make it to the next pass.

Lisha Bell
They’re also fundraising too. They spend a lot of their time fundraising. So they’re pitching their pitchbacks just like the founders, right? To get more LPs in their books. So it’s fine.

Syama Bunten
I love that. So tell me a little bit about Sisters with Ventures. When did you launch it? What’s it been like? What’s been some of your greatest highlights with having this?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, so was my COVID project in 2020 because I was like an angel investor and there was like all these women I was meeting who were like writing checks. I was like, you’re a boss. Like, I want to know you better. I was fascinated. Like number one, because you got to have money to be an angel investor. have to be accredited. And I’m always fascinated about women’s wealth journeys. And I was like, we hear about the white guys every day. Like there are like women

powering women in this industry in meaningful ways who are writing checks, like from their own bank accounts. And like, they should be celebrated. Like we should know who they are. So that was the whole vision. Sisters with Ventures to start off with angel investors. And then of course I had to give the emerging managers love too. So then I let them come on the show and you know, it’s been just a great community. And now people are like,

You know, at I listened to the show. Like, it’s become its own little identity and a little engine that could. And I’m like, oh, that’s so sweet. You know, but it’s really just a love project.

Syama Bunten
I love them. And so as you sort of start to think about, you know, the future to what you’re building right now and like where you see things coming alive and what’s pulling at your heart, what is it that you’re sort of navigating towards today? What is it that you are most excited about for the future and where are you sort of investing?

your time and your money, you what are you sort of looking at these days as the hierarchy of importance?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, you know, I’m not immune to political pressures of the world and society. And so I’m definitely in the capital preservation, even the markets, like, you know, how do we preserve capital, protect capital, you know, so I’m honing down. That’s kind of my, my strategy is, okay, what it here’s my streams of income. Do I need more streams of income? How risky are my assets? Do I

expand on this and and finding joy. So I have like decided I want a second home because I want to be in another place that is different where I live. You know, I live in a great place, but I just want to build that for myself. And I also see that as my city. haven’t chosen this New Orleans. The more people I tell, I know it’s going to happen. you know, it is a city that has lost so much as loss as black population, losses, black economics. And I want to invest there and build and

You know, that’s where my heart is right now. I’m like, want to really put my resources in things that really matter to me and my family and do that. You know, that’s where my heart is at.

Syama Bunten
What are the conversations like at home now? Obviously the way that you’ve raised your daughter is different than the way you were raised and the conversations at home are very different. I am sure. What do they look like? How did you sort of have you had those conversations around money and value and vision?

Lisha Bell
Yeah. So it’s funny because my little podcast, we have some little merch and like I set up at church to sell little candles. just, it’s like really fun. I make her sell with me, right? As my sales woman, little sales person. So she’s been working with me for a little bit, but she had to introduce herself at church and she’s like, and this is my mom, Lisha Bell. And she’s rich. I was like, why did you say that? Like so inappropriate.

They’re like, no.

Syama Bunten
Don’t say that.

Lisha Bell
And she said, what do you mean by that? She said, well, we go to the grocery store and we get all the groceries you want. So it was kind of funny. Like her idea of Ridge was like, we go grocery shopping and get groceries. Like that was like her bar.

And like it’s so funny because like she talks I I’m sure she’s like little she’s like the money girl in her friend circle She was so she was telling one friend. She’s like, hey, how much is your mom made? I Said a lower number and she said well you need to talk to someone’s of mom because they’re out here making real money like I’m probably building a capitalistic monster like I don’t know

Don’t!

Syama Bunten
You’re teaching her the rules of the game here. mean, it’s really it’s one of those things that Lisha you learned so early, right through all of your like experiences. I mean, it’s it’s it’s a gift to be able to like, share and talk about that. But also like context, you know, like when like kids are little going to the grocery store and buying everything you want is rich because like you want the snacks you want and either

your parents are going to say no, or they’re going to say yes. Maybe it’s because they’re bad for you, but maybe it’s also because they’re too expensive, right? You don’t really know sort of what the rationale is, but that’s so cool that you guys have been able to like have moments of like bridging what the experience is together.

Lisha Bell
Yeah, yeah. She like broke her iPad and like she came to me crying and she gave me $6. Like that was going to replace the iPad. Right. But it’s just like, there is some responsibility. We’re deducting your pay for the next 10 years.

Syama Bunten
So cute. So talk to me about, know, obviously, we’re all living these days with longevity and how healthy we are and how we take care of ourselves. We’re all living so much longer. you know, I’m I’m looking forward to our conversation in another, you know, 40, 50 years where it’s like, hey, how did all this turn out? You know, and like, what did we what did we build? But take take me to

Take me to a young 102, Lisha, as you look back on your life, what is the narrative arc or what is the impact and legacy that you hope to leave on this planet?

Lisha Bell
Yeah.

Sorry, I lost you.

Syama Bunten
⁓ what is the impact and legacy that you hope to leave on this planet when you’re at a young age of 102?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, you know, I think a dear friend told me I build communities wherever I go. And I hope that’s the legacy that I will leave behind is that, you know, connected people, we built together, we grew together, we provided together, we created lasting legacies for our families and people we love and they’re in a better place than where we started.

Syama Bunten
Beautiful. I love that. have two final questions, Lisha. The first is, obviously, you’ve spoken a lot about different ways of investing and sort of rebalancing portfolios and thinking about money in very serious ways. I would love to ask you a non-serious question around money, which is, what is something recently that you have spent your money on?

that you have been very excited about, something fun or something fabulous or an experience. What’s something that you’ve enjoyed spending your money on recently?

Lisha Bell
So, know, it’s Black Friday as we’re reporting this. And you know what I did? I created my own Christmas list. And I’m like, let me just put some things like if money was no issue, I would buy. And like the list was so sad, like on one of the items was a food processor. Like that’s how.

Syama Bunten
Hmm?

Lisha Bell
I used to work at one of the companies that was Kohl’s. When I was at Kohl’s, I had every kitchen gadget known to man. I went to Kohl’s on Black Friday and I like, this food processor is on sale for $89. I didn’t even buy it then. I was like, let me buy my daughter some clothes. I bought my daughter some clothes and then it gave me Kohl’s Cash. If you’re a Kohl’s person, you know that is Kohl’s Cash. Then I got $25. I was like, no, today’s the day. Then I used my Kohl’s Cash and I paid $65.

for a Ninja food process and it brought me so much joy. Yay! That was it. I was really happy with the food process.

Syama Bunten
⁓

my god, I love that so much. I can’t wait for you. You have to tell me, did you use it yet? Have you used it? Was it fabulous?

And then my final question, Lisha, is, you everyone who listens to the show, we love to rally around the women on the show. We would love to know what is it that you are calling in right now? How can we support you? What do you need? What is it that we can do to evangelize what is important to you?

Lisha Bell
Yeah, it’s always a good and hard question for me. You know, I really want people to believe in a more equitable future, more equitable world. I want women to escape poverty. I want single mothers to thrive. You know, I have a lot of desires and passions. And I think the more that you show up as yourself, the more that you kick those doors open, it helps us all. You know, I spend a lot of time talking about

access to capital. If you can write a check, please do, you know, please do. Like that’s always asked. Like if there’s a founder that you believe in, support them and write them a check. That is one, that is a love language that is worthy. And you know, if you got a bigger check, be an LP, like, you know, like I do want more women, you know, it’s only 2 % of good investment. There’s less than 2 % of the right checks that are women. like,

We’ve got a long way to go at this level. Or who are making investment, who can make investment decisions. So we got a long way to go. So anyway, you want to tap in. That helps me, you know, and it helps many other people.

Syama Bunten
Amazing. Lisha, you are a wonderful human being. I am so happy to have spent this hour with you. Thank you for all that you’re doing in the world. Thank you for building the vision of the world that you are. Thank you for being here today on Getting Rich Together.

Lisha Bell
Thank you for having me.

Syama Bunten
Thank you for listening. This is the conversation we come back to every single week. Real women, real wealth, and what becomes possible when we stop being silent about money. If today’s episode moved you, don’t let it stop here. Wealth Catalyst is where women go to take it further. Our Freedom Tour salons are gathering women in 32 cities this year. Intimate evenings in homes and private spaces where women talk honestly about money, risk, and what they’re building.

And if you’re ready to go even bigger, join us at the Wealth Catalyst Summit, a full-day event in San Francisco this October. Find your city and claim your seat at wealthcatalyst.com. We’ll see you there.