Her First 100k Founder, Tori Dunlap
Tori Dunlap is an internationally recognized financial and career expert, podcast host, and author. After saving $100,000 at age 25, Tori quit her corporate job in marketing and founded the education platform Her First $100K to fight financial inequality by giving women actionable resources to better their money. She has helped over three million women negotiate salaries, pay off debt, build savings, and invest.
Hi Tori! Introduce yourself. What inspired you to start Her First 100k?
I want to help women create wealth. Finance is constantly controlled by male finance bros. Her First $100K is here to change that; my mission has become fighting the patriarchy through financial education. I have a responsibility to pass this information on. Without financial education, financial freedom can never be attained. And without financial freedom and economic equality, women will always lack true equality. The very act of a woman getting her financial shit together is feminist. With a predatory financial industry that disproportionately targets marginalized groups, having a solid financial foundation is an act of protest against a corrupt society.
In a historically male-dominated society, and in our current political climate where women’s rights are attacked every day, I’m here to call out bullshit. I’m here to stop the narrative that the reason women aren’t rich is that they buy too many lattes. I’m here to stop the shame and judgment and lead the new guard of personal finance experts: those who are unabashedly feminist and provide women with resources to save and grow their money. The best way to fight the patriarchy? Getting rich. Financial education is a woman’s best form of protest. Let’s start the movement.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your own company?
On a personal level, I love to work remotely on my own hours. It gives me a lot of flexibility and lets me work from anywhere, which is lovely because I love to travel. From a general level, I love to watch my team grow, provide jobs, and lead a mission-driven company dedicated to helping women.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned since beginning your career?
Done is better than perfect. It’s possible to perfect your craft as you go, but I learned from Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) that “Perfection is just fear in high heels and a mink coat, pretending to be fancy. But it's just terror”. I just try to do my job first and perfect it over time.
What is your podcast, and what topics do you touch on?
My podcast is called Financial Feminist. I bring on guests and host solo episodes about financial topics like investing, buying a home, and saving money. I also have guests like actor and director Justin Baldoni, singer Qveen Herby, and Pentatonix member Scott Hoying. Financial Feminist, like the book, is about helping women live their best feminist lives by getting rich, advocating for themselves, and stepping into their individual power.
How do you pick yourself up after a difficult day?
I love a good barre class, chicken tikka masala with naan, and a good book. □
Article Credits
Tori’s Instagram: @herfirst100k
Tori’s Twitter: @herfirst100K
Tori’s Facebook: @herfirst100K
Tori’s Website: herfirst100k.com
Tori’s Podcast: Financial Feminist
Photo Credits: Her First $100K
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