The Short Cut:
A quick-fire chat about working life with Selina Flavius
The Short Cut is designed to bring you a snapshot of our members’ working lives. Today, we’re speaking to Selina Flavius, Financial Advice & Planning Mentor & Founder of Black Girl Finance.
At the heart of the Nurture Network is the power of sharing experiences.
From breakthrough career moments to best-ever advice, how to deal with stress and the women that inspire them.
Tell us about your breakthrough career moment
At this moment in time, I run Black Girl Finance, which feels like a breakthrough career moment. From having the idea to setting up my own business, and then actually still being here six years later, it feels like a breakthrough.
And as someone new to business, the fact that I’ve managed to sustain a business, build it to where it is and keep it growing is not an easy feat. I’ll chalk that up to being a business breakthrough.
Also, along the journey, some highlights have been writing the Black Girl Finance book and publishing that – becoming an author.
And, going from being someone who was quite an introvert to harnessing my skills and doing public speaking, being on panels and talking to a lot of people about money has been a real career highlight, because these are things that I never thought I would do.
Moving from a more science-y background to ending up in a creative space and running a financial coaching and advice business has led to some really amazing experiences that have felt like breakthrough moments.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever had?
Some advice that I’ve learned on this journey is to balance that creative spirit with some structure and planning. Have a bit of patience so as not to get swept away in the initial excitement. When you’re in the ideation or creation phase of running a business, or you’ve got a business idea, it’s all very exciting.
I know that I had a million and one different ideas I wanted to execute all at once. And I had to take a step back and learn to execute one, two, maybe three things very, very well and then move on to the next phase.
Have you ever felt held back as a women? How did you respond?
In my previous career, there was a time when I was the only female amongst the sales team, and although I don’t feel that it completely held me back, I think that coming from my background, I didn’t necessarily know how to play the game.
I didn’t know how to navigate the space, how to make my contribution be seen. I was seen as a reliable member of the team, I always showed up on time – I was actually like a fire marshal. You know, you’re one of those people who’s always in, always present.
I thought they would appreciate me if I just got on with things, but I lacked the skills and knowledge on how to progress my career and big myself up and get myself seen.
There were a lot of things that I didn’t know I was missing, a lot of skills that I wasn’t aware that I needed. And if I’m the first one from my background to go into that corporate space, who would tell me these things? But through experience, I’ve learned to harness these skills and use them.
How do you protect your mental health in moments of pressure?
So I like to do some yoga, to help me get back into my body and get out of my head.
I just utilise what’s available to me – if the sun’s out, I’ll go for a walk.
I think it’s helpful to just recognise when you are having a bit of a moment and acknowledge it, understand it, and then also try to do something about it, because it’s happening for a reason.
The woman who empowers me the most is…
… my mum. Definitely. That work ethic definitely comes from her. You know, get up, do things, make it happen. And also Sam (Samantha Secomb), she’s now started Women’s Wealth, providing access for other women to get into the industry, it’s definitely something that empowers me.
I feel empowered when…
… I’m helping other women to feel empowered. Because I feel like I’m really doing the work that I’ve been gifted to do.
And I’m fortunate that I get to speak to a lot of incredible women who are doing really well professionally. So I feel really empowered when I’m doing the work, speaking to clients.
The woman who everyone should know about is…
… Emma Grede, who runs Good American. I really am interested in her story, because she is UK-born, from East London as well – I’ve been seeing her on some podcasts and I’m really interested in her business trajectory as well.
The world will be a better place when…
… We acknowledge that, actually, inequality does exist.
I feel like we’re in a moment in time where we are trying to roll that back and say, ‘We’ve progressed enough. We’ve done enough.’ But I think the world would be a better place if we were able to have that acknowledgement and then move forward, rather than trying to hush things up.
Do you have any hobbies to keep you busy in your spare time?
I don’t at the moment because I’m actually studying for a Financial Advice diploma. I started Black Girl Finance from a completely non-financial background. I began doing guidance and coaching, wrote the Black Girl Finance book, did all of these amazing things, and now I’m just formalising the qualifications.
I’m now doing training under Women’s Wealth, run by Samantha Secomb – I reconnected with her properly at a Nurture Network Live event! I’d met her one time before that, but at your event, we had the opportunity to talk and to become part of Women’s Wealth, where we’ll offer Regulated Financial Advice and Planning.
Where is your favorite place in the world?
A place where I felt really at peace was in Thessaloniki in Greece. It was a place where I was able to heal. I did yoga there. I did breath work. I sat by the beautiful blue sea and really healed. So I’d say it’s one of my favourite places.
Ever wondered where to find the tools and confidence to build wealth as a woman? Selina Flavius, founder of Black Girl Finance, is breaking down financial barriers and helping women take charge of their money. Her mission? To make wealth creation accessible, relatable, and achievable. Learn more about Selina and Black Girl Finance here.
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