Join me as I welcome my fabulous friend, long time client and absolute legend, Melissa Browne. Mel is a renowned financial educator, to discuss her journey from a challenging upbringing in Western Sydney to becoming a successful businesswoman and author. In this episode, Mel shares insights from her new book, 'Dare to Be Wealthy,' highlights her passion for empowering women in financial literacy, and addresses the impact of patriarchy on women's financial confidence. Mel and Tina also delve into practical advice on investing, overcoming limiting beliefs, and the importance of setting personal boundaries for long-term success. This episode is packed with actionable tips and inspiring stories aimed at helping women achieve financial independence and build a wealthier future. Don't miss Mel's candid and motivating conversation that could change the way you think about your financial future.

Get Mel's awesome resources: https://www.melissabrowne.com.au/herempirebuilder

Get the book, Dare To Be Wealthy: https://amzn.to/3NTkvA8

Where to find Tina:

Join us inside Her Empire Builder: https://www.herempirebuilder.com/join

Her Empire Builder: https://www.herempirebuilder.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tina_tower/?hl=en

Key moments:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Today's Guest

01:22 Mel Brown's Background and Achievements

03:44 Discussing Mel's New Book: Dare to Be Wealthy

04:26 Impact of Patriarchy on Women's Finances

05:09 Gender Differences in Investment Behavior

10:59 Mel's Personal Financial Journey

15:30 Challenges and Strategies for Women in Finance

23:20 The Importance of Language in Finance

26:58 Dealing with Negative Comments and Trolls

29:59 Rallying Positivity in the Face of Negativity

30:58 Balancing Public Persona and Personal Boundaries

34:36 The Drive to Keep Building and Giving Back

38:29 Empowering Women to Start Investing at Any Age

45:42 Navigating Debt and Investment Strategies

50:37 Secrets to a Successful Financial Education Business

56:07 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

About Melissa Browne:

Mel is an award-winning, ex-accountant, ex-financial advisor and now financial educator who is licensed to give general advice. She founded her own successful accounting and financial planning firm before selling to an ASX listed company just before Covid. Over the past 13 years, Mel has also written 5 books about business

and money including the global bestseller, Unf*ck Your Finances, and her latest book (released Feb 2026), Dare to be Wealthy.

So, she has the theory. But Mel also has the life experience. She grew up in the Western Suburbs of Sydney in a violent, often inconsistent household and came back from less than nothing in her early thirties, after giving all of her money to charity (a move she instantly regretted). Despite these starts, set-backs and mistakes – she is now a multi-millionaire gaining financial independence from the strategies she put in place for herself. Mel genuinely believes, as a result of her own story and working with tens of thousands of women and families, that understanding how to build wealth shouldn't be abdicated or just for the select few who can afford it – but is something that everyone can achieve.

Mel is regularly asked to comment on money and finances making regular TV and radio appearances including Triple J's The Hack, the Today Show, Weekend Sunrise, Weekend Today, Sky Business and The Daily Edition. She has also been featured in or written articles for a variety of places including CEO Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Who, Vogue, Yahoo Finance and had a fortnightly column in the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne's Age for 7 years.