For decades, some of the most important conversations about money, business, and power happened in rooms where women simply weren't invited. From the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies to the fairways of Augusta National Golf Club, access to information, relationships, and opportunities often came down to who was allowed in the room. In this episode, Ashley explores the hidden cost of exclusion and how it continues to shape women's financial confidence today.

Ashley unpacks the surprising research behind the financial literacy gap, the confidence gap, and why women consistently underestimate what they know about money. She examines what happens when women are left out of financial conversations, why women often answer "I don't know" even when they're right, and the encouraging data showing that women may actually be better investors than they think. This episode is a powerful reminder that confidence and competence are not the same thing.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The surprising story behind Augusta National admitting its first female members

• How exclusion from financial conversations shaped generations of women

• What research reveals about the financial literacy and confidence gap

• Why women are more likely to say "I don't know" even when they know the answer

• The evidence showing women often outperform men as long-term investors

Sources:

• For a complete list of sources, please visit thefemaleeconomy.co

Female Founder Spotlight:

Ruchi Pinniger - https://watchherprosper.com

Watch Her Prosper helps women business owners gain financial clarity through bookkeeping, financial guidance, and practical support that empowers women to understand and grow their businesses with confidence.

Connect with Ashley:

• Newsletter: thefemaleeconomy.co

• Instagram: @ashleybraswellxo

• After Organic: afterorganic.com

• Ads By Lumi: adsbylumi.com

It is 1988, and you're walking into the bank again. You have the business plan. You have the numbers. You have the experience. But you still can't get a business loan without a man's signature. In this episode, Ashley explores one of the most overlooked moments in women's economic history and how access to capital continues to shape who gets to build, scale, and succeed.

From the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 to today's venture capital landscape, Ashley traces the long fight for financial access and asks why women remain dramatically underfunded despite consistently delivering stronger returns on investment. More importantly, she explores why the future may not depend on waiting for institutions to change, but on how women choose to direct the economic power they already control.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why women couldn't get business loans without a male co-signer until 1988

• The surprising story that helped change the law

• How access to capital affects business growth and opportunity

• Why women-led companies continue to receive a fraction of venture funding

• How women can use their existing economic power to create change

Sources:

• For a complete list of sources, please visit thefemaleeconomy.co

Female Founder Spotlight:

Bridgitte Mallinson - https://www.gutpersonal.com

GutPersonal helps you feel better by supporting better digestion, energy, and overall wellness
Uncover what your body actually needs

Connect with Ashley:

• Newsletter: thefemaleeconomy.co

• Instagram: @ashleybraswellxo

• After Organic: afterorganic.com

• Ads By Lumi: adsbylumi.com

Nearly 90% of women-owned businesses generate less than $100,000 per year. The easy explanation is that women face more barriers to growth. And while those barriers are very real, this episode asks a more challenging question: how much of staying small is a genuine choice, and how much is the result of a system that never expected women to build empires in the first place?

Ashley examines the data behind women's entrepreneurship, side hustles, and business growth, challenging some of the most common assumptions about female ambition. From funding gaps and caregiving responsibilities to lifestyle businesses and growth goals, this episode explores what happens when women are given the opportunity, support, and permission to think bigger.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why most women-owned businesses stay under six figures

• What the data really says about women and side hustles

• The difference between choosing a lifestyle business and settling for limitations

• How funding, childcare, and opportunity affect growth

• Whether women truly want the empire and what happens if they do

Sources:

• For a list of complete sources, please visit thefemaleeconomy.co

Female Founder Spotlight:

Chelle Neff - https://urbanbetty.com

Urban Betty Salon and Spa in Austin, Texas
Haircare and skincare services everyone will love!

Connect with Ashley:

• Newsletter: thefemaleeconomy.co

• Instagram: @ashleybraswellxo

• After Organic: afterorganic.com

• Ads By Lumi: adsbylumi.com