Neuro Performance Podcast by Andy Murphy
Episode #452: Margareth González – 3 Trillion is AUM Access & The Power Behind Capital, Cities & Global Trust
Date: December 17, 2025
Overview
In this pivotal episode, Andy Murphy sits down with Margareth González, the dynamic founder and CEO of Capital Variation. With a global footprint spanning London, Dubai, Spain, and New York, González has built an investment infrastructure responsible for channeling over $3 trillion in Assets Under Management (AUM). The conversation dives deep into her tumultuous upbringing in 1990s Colombia, the nexus of capital and impact, gender and cultural dynamics in finance, and González's mission to fundamentally change how capital serves society. This episode is both an inspiring personal journey and a masterclass on ethical finance, resilience, and how true power is built on trust and generational legacy.
Guest Introduction & Background
[02:00 – 11:00]
- Who Is Margareth González?
- Colombian-born, now operating globally between London, Dubai, Spain, and New York.
- Founder/CEO of Capital Variation, advising on investment in infrastructure, health care, real estate, sustainability, and technology.
- Noted as a “relationship architect” and judge on AM’s Future Cities Panel.
- Renowned for connecting high-level stakeholders—governments, family offices, policymakers.
- Visiting professor and influential advocate for women in finance.
“As the founder and CEO of Capital Variation, she advises and connects high level stakeholders on investment opportunities… She’s become one of the trusted bridges between visionary leaders and global investors.”
— Andy Murphy [06:00]
Early Life: Fuel, Trauma, and Resilience
[13:36 – 26:48]
-
Colombian Childhood Amid Violence
- Parents were entrepreneurial and self-made, but life was underscored by danger – regular threats, extortion, and risk of kidnapping.
- Lived through periods of instability and persecution from multiple armed groups (paramilitaries, FARC, etc.)
- Emigrated to the United States for safety, then Spain under political asylum.
- Story about her mother’s negotiation with armed groups to preserve their family’s safety, ultimately leading them to escape Colombia.
“We had like obviously… security guards and everything to make sure that we’re not kidnapped. But this was like kind of our day to day. And so for me it was not like something even out of this world.”
— Margareth González [16:23]“My mother was called to the mountains to meet…the chief of, you know, paramilitaries. We had, like…not even one group. You give one group—it’s like, five different groups.”
— Margareth González [19:15]- The traumatic impact of a childhood shaped by persistent instability and survival—yet also formative in developing drive.
“You need to have… nurture. Like, you need to be nurtured. You need to be taken care. Be in an environment where it’s…good. Obviously, my mom and dad…making money, surviving, paying bills…making sure you don’t get kidnapped… I sometimes I didn’t understand what was happening.”
— Margareth González [23:48]
Trauma, High Performance & Purpose
[26:48 – 32:00]
-
Impact on Business and Personal Life
- Childhood trauma manifesting in business drive and relationships.
- Discussion around therapy vs. “fixing” — desire for accelerated healing to stay functional in high-stakes environments.
- Recognition that trauma, if unaddressed, is passed through generations.
“You’re not looking for therapy, you’re looking to be fixed… The result doesn’t have to take a long time…That’s the soul’s journey.”
— Andy Murphy [30:39]
Navigating the Finance World as a Latina & Woman
[32:08 – 39:33]
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Gender and Cultural Challenges
- Facing skepticism, objectification, and disrespect, especially early in her career.
- Learning to set stricter boundaries and command respect, especially as her achievements and reputation grew.
- Stories of being dismissed/sexually harassed during negotiations, and how that evolved to a position of strength.
“Being attractive, smart and direct, efficient—it comes with pros and cons…99% of my clients and my people, my investors are predominantly men.”
— Margareth González [32:32]“As you grow as a person, as you grow as a business… I can smell right really far, far… all the women that start in their businesses… the hints. I’m writing a book, I’m doing a movie… because a lot of women, they feel identified but they don’t really talk about it.”
— Margareth González [34:39]- Using power, reputation, and credibility to now control the table.
“Now, it becomes a chess match to see if you can put the right pieces in the right place… You are the prize. You’ve got what they want.”
— Andy Murphy [38:03]“I built an infrastructure of global investments of 20,000 investors, which is translated into 3.13 USD AUM… Let’s sit down and have a conversation where you respect women in finance.”
— Margareth González [38:23]
Identity Shifting: Power, Relationships & Emotional Fuel
[39:33 – 44:37]
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Emotional Drivers and Identity
- Harnessing past hardship as emotional fuel: “It’s about legacy now.”
- The challenge and necessity of separating business persona from personal life.
- Reflection on “heart coherence”: blending powerful business presence with compassionate authenticity.
“The identity that you’ve built for business cannot be the same version of you at home…These are all different hats that we put on, roles that we play.”
— Andy Murphy [39:49] -
Trust as the Core Value
- In both business and intimate relationships, trust is supreme.
- Respecting partners’ journeys and mutual growth is more important than money or status.
“It’s trust. If you’re with someone and cannot trust them, then you shouldn’t be with them.”
— Andy Murphy [44:15]
Purpose of Capital & Rethinking Financial Impact
[45:40 – 60:36]
-
The Problem with the Current System
- Critique of how pension and institutional funds only circulate into the same (often unethical) sectors (e.g., fossil fuels, weapons).
- Advocates for mandating that a portion of institutional capital directly fund SMEs and domestic entrepreneurship for real impact.
“Money without impact is useless, right? I’ve seen these huge funds…money that goes from government entities…same funds all the time… and that money goes to like fossil fuels and like guns and stuff… there should be at least a percentage…invest in SMEs in their own country and then deploy into the young people.”
— Margareth González [00:02 & 56:08]- Her solution: Build her own infrastructure to direct and democratize capital flow.
“I’m going to steer public and private capital into the companies that will change the course of humanity for good. I love it cost me. Whatever it cost me, I will make it happen.”
— Margareth González [60:23] -
The Legacy of Leadership and Influence
- González’s responsibility to model values to clients, leverage her influence to shift them toward impact and philanthropy.
- Money as a form of energy; the importance of “clean” money and high-vibration finance.
“That’s part of your role. That knock-on effect…this creates a sphere of influence…you, by being you, the more amazing people that you’re around, the more amazing people will replicate off from you and you will replicate from them.”
— Andy Murphy [47:59]
Margareth in Her Own Words: “Who Are You?”
[51:20 – 55:06]
-
In essence: Kind, caring, positive, hopeful—separate from title or achievement.
“Kind. Yeah, I’m a kind person. I care. I’m happy, I am positive and hope.”
— Margareth González [52:32]
Capital Variation’s Vision & Invitation
[61:02 – 64:09]
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Shark Tank-style Event: On December 11th, launch of an exclusive, interactive startup pitch event, broadcast globally through Capital Variation’s new app.
-
Purpose: Democratizing access to capital, creator economics, and true impact stories.
“We’re going to build Shark Tank Capital Variation. We’re bringing five startups that are going to compete in front of a judge, which is essentially investors… We’re going to transmit this live… from the heart of Wall Street. First time ever."
— Margareth González [61:15]
Notable & Memorable Quotes
-
On childhood trauma:
“I still have trauma, right… I openly speak about this for the first time ever in a podcast because I think a lot of people struggle with it, and you cannot talk openly.”
— Margareth González [25:54] -
On finance and gender:
“You can imagine being attractive, smart and direct, efficient. It comes with pros and cons… But now it's obviously like, look, this is how it's going to work. I'm going to make you money, I'm going to make myself money. These are the rules. If not, no problem. Next.”
— Margareth González [32:32; 35:35] -
On capital with purpose:
“Money without purpose, it’s nothing. Money without the actual underlying environment that will play along in the ecosystem and help the ecosystem grow. It’s useless, right? Money without impact is useless.”
— Margareth González [56:08] -
On legacy and impact:
“I’m going to steer public and private capital into the companies that will change the course of humanity for good. I love it… Whatever it cost me, I will make it happen.”
— Margareth González [60:23] -
On hope:
“Hope.”
— Margareth González [60:43] (her final word and message to listeners)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:02 – Opening thoughts on money and impact (Margareth)
- 08:59 – Personal background and cultural journey
- 13:36 – Colombia in the 90s: Trauma, survival, and family values
- 23:38 – How childhood trauma shaped adulthood and business
- 26:33 – Intersection with AI and neuro-performance
- 32:08 – Challenges as a woman in global finance
- 39:33 – Identity and emotional drivers
- 44:15 – The role of trust in relationships and business
- 45:40 – Purpose of capital and necessary financial reforms
- 51:20 – Margareth on who she is beyond business
- 61:02 – Details on Capital Variation’s upcoming event and vision
Final Messages
- Hope and Access: González’s message is one of hope—to build a system where capital is democratized and impact is prioritized.
- Call to Action: Listeners are encouraged to connect with her through Capital Variation and participate in the upcoming groundbreaking event.
“The only way to make impact is if we give access to the people.”
— Margareth González [62:39]
Links and resources:
- Capital Variation
- Andymurphy online
- December 11th, 2025 – Capital Variation’s Shark Tank event (details/platform in episode)
For anyone interested in finance, entrepreneurship, trauma-to-triumph journeys, or authentic global leadership, this episode delivers unfiltered inspiration and rare insights into the real power behind capital.