Latest news with #Blakely
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meghan Markle Speaks About 'Guilt' Of Having A Lot Of Money While Struggling With 'Scarcity Mindset'
Meghan Markle recently got candid about money and how women are often discouraged from discussing finances. The Duchess of Sussex noted that there is a pervasive "guilt mentality" surrounding the accumulation of wealth, particularly among women. Meghan Markle's remarks come a month after she released the first products of her lifestyle brand, As Ever, which sold out within minutes. In the season finale of her podcast "Confessions of a Female Founder," released on May 27, Meghan Markle sat down with Sara Blakely, the self-made billionaire and founder of Spanx, for a candid conversation about mindset, money, and female empowerment. Blakely urged listeners to develop deeper self-awareness, especially regarding their financial beliefs, by asking questions such as: "What is my mindset on money?" She explained: "A lot of people don't even realize they have not great narratives around success or around obtaining a lot of financial freedom and money for themselves." Responding to Blakely's insights, Meghan admitted that adopting such a mindset isn't easy. "But that is so hard to understand," she said. "Because, I genuinely believe, I would love to adopt that level of a mindset, whereas you're talking about even, for a lot of people, not being able to buy into the hope or the promise of something more for themselves in financial freedom." Meghan also reflected on how women are often discouraged from engaging in financial conversations altogether. "I think so many women, especially, we're taught to not even talk about money, and there's lots of guilt mentality surrounding having a lot," she noted. "And at the same time, there's a scarcity mindset that it's easy to attach to, of like, 'I'll never have enough.'" Blakely emphasized the importance of shifting that perspective, especially for women. "I always tell women, in particular, I say: 'Money is really fun to make, really fun to spend, and really fun to give away,'" she said. "I think money makes you more of who you already were." In another part of the episode, Meghan reflected on the often unseen challenges of balancing work and motherhood. She highlighted how easy it is for others to overlook the constant demands that come with raising young children while managing a career. "It's something that I think people often forget," Meghan said. "People forget that Lili is 3 and Archie's 5 [now 6]. So you look at the past five, six years of my life, it's with being pregnant or with a newborn or with a toddler, and then another one." When Blakely asked how the kids were doing, Meghan beamed: "They're so grown!" Earlier this year, Meghan launched her direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand, As Ever, with its first product drop in March. The lifestyle brand made an immediate impact, with the initial collection selling out within an hour. However, looking ahead, Meghan, in an interview with Fast Company, shared that she is taking a thoughtful approach, wanting to analyze feedback from the launch to shape the brand's future. "I want to really focus on the hospitality angle of As Ever," she explained, "but as we take the learnings, we can understand what the customer's needs are seasonally." She plans to unveil new products in early 2026. As Meghan looks ahead to the future of her brand, she's considering various paths, from narrowing her focus to one product category to expanding into a wider range. For now, though, the duchess feels it's best to build As Ever around a single core idea. "My heart is very deeply in my home," she told Fast Company. "Everything comes from being rooted in the love story of your home and garden, and then you can imagine different verticals coming out of that." However, Meghan left the door open for exploring fashion down the line, adding: "The category of fashion is something I will explore at a later date because I do think that's an interesting space for me."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sask. Opposition trumpets report criticizing social assistance programs
Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP says the provincial government needs to rethink its Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) program after a new report found that some users feel the service failed to meet their basic needs. "We need to fix SIS urgently," said NDP social services critic Brent Blakley at a news conference Tuesday. For the report, the Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership spoke with 35 users of the SIS or Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) programs, along with 55 community service providers who often work with people using these programs. The survey found "widespread dissatisfaction and significant gaps in meeting basic needs," according to the report. Many of the people reported that the benefits these programs provide are not adequate to support basic needs, such as rent for housing, food and utilities. Many also pointed to a concern over financial pressures placed on income support clients. The chief issue raised was a call for the province to reinstate direct payments for rent and utilities to landlords and utility companies, an issue that has been raised continuously since the change away from that system, according to the report. "The SIS program, designed to help people in crisis is now pushing them over the edge. We've heard from shelters, from housing workers, from community agencies they move away from direct payment has failed," Blakely said. In a statement, Social Services Minister Terry Jenson defended the government's changes to the SIS program. Jenson said the ministry does directly pay rent and utilities, "for Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) clients who require it." He also noted that the SIS monthly benefit has increased four years in a row, with the most recent increase if two per cent coming into effect in May as part of the most recent provincial budget. Critics have said that increase is not nearly enough to assist those living on the edge of poverty. Homelessness in Saskatoon The NDP also drew a line between support for those in poverty and the growing number of homeless people in Saskatoon. The latest point-in-time count in the city found that on a particular day in 2024, there were 1,499 people experiencing homelessness. That's nearly nearly triple the number reported in 2022. "This isn't just a number. These are people, families, seniors, youth sleeping in cars, in tents or on the street and this didn't happen overnight. It's the direct result of government choices," said NDP housing critic April ChiefCalf. ChiefCalf said the province has allowed housing costs to rapidly increase while refusing to fix vacant housing units owned by the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation. That's left thousands of units across the province damaged and empty, Chiefcalf said. A report by the provincial auditor released last year found the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation owned approximately 3,000 units in Regina. The report said that of the 534 units vacant in the province's capital, 364 were out of service and needing repair. At that same time, 404 households were waiting for social housing units. Minister Jenson said this year's provincial budget will begin to address the issue of provincial-owned housing, with $9.2 million in spending going to multi-year repair and renovation projects to 285 Saskatchewan Housing Corporation units, including 44 units at Westview Place in Saskatoon.
The Age
6 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Who wants to be a billionaire? Meghan talks money
The Duchess of Sussex has claimed she was taught to feel guilty about having money. In the latest episode of her podcast, Meghan, 43, said women are 'taught to not even talk about money, and there's lots of guilt mentality surrounding having a lot'. She added that 'at the same time, there's a scarcity mindset' where people believe they will 'never have enough'. Speaking with Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, she said many female business owners were 'not able to buy into the hope or the promise of something more for themselves and financial freedom'. It comes after a well-placed source told Britain's Daily Telegraph the Duchess is convinced her new business ventures will make her 'a billionaire'. On the 'girl talk' podcast, Confessions Of A Female Founder, listeners are advised on how to turn 'small ideas into billion-dollar businesses', such as Blakely's success with her shapewear brand. Speaking to the duchess, the self-made billionaire asked: 'What's your mindset on money, what's your mindset on success?' Blakely added: 'A lot of people have not realised they have not got great narratives around success or around obtaining a lot of financial freedom and money for themselves.' Meghan suggested that she 'would love to adopt' her friend's mindset of not feeling guilt at making money or being successful.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Who wants to be a billionaire? Meghan talks money
The Duchess of Sussex has claimed she was taught to feel guilty about having money. In the latest episode of her podcast, Meghan, 43, said women are 'taught to not even talk about money, and there's lots of guilt mentality surrounding having a lot'. She added that 'at the same time, there's a scarcity mindset' where people believe they will 'never have enough'. Speaking with Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, she said many female business owners were 'not able to buy into the hope or the promise of something more for themselves and financial freedom'. It comes after a well-placed source told Britain's Daily Telegraph the Duchess is convinced her new business ventures will make her 'a billionaire'. On the 'girl talk' podcast, Confessions Of A Female Founder, listeners are advised on how to turn 'small ideas into billion-dollar businesses', such as Blakely's success with her shapewear brand. Speaking to the duchess, the self-made billionaire asked: 'What's your mindset on money, what's your mindset on success?' Blakely added: 'A lot of people have not realised they have not got great narratives around success or around obtaining a lot of financial freedom and money for themselves.' Meghan suggested that she 'would love to adopt' her friend's mindset of not feeling guilt at making money or being successful.
Sky News AU
7 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Meghan Markle reveals she was taught to feel 'guilty' about being wealthy in latest podcast episode
Meghan Markle has claimed she was taught to feel shame for having money in the latest episode of her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder. In the episode, which dropped on Tuesday, the Duchess of Sussex sat down with close friend and Spanx founder Sara Blakely, who shared how she turned a modest USD$5,000 investment into a billion-dollar brand. "It was successful, I was profitable from my first month in business at Spanx," Blakely said. "It was wild. But I was also really bootstrapped and not every business is set up that way- sometimes you have to put in way more money to get your product off the ground." Blakely encouraged listeners to examine their mindset around money and success, noting that many people hold limiting beliefs. "A lot of people have not realised they have not got great narratives around success or around obtaining a lot of financial freedom and money for themselves," she said. Meghan appeared struck by the insight, responding: "But that is so hard to understand, because I genuinely believe I would love to be able to adopt that level of a mindset. "I think so many women especially, we're taught to not even talk about money, and there's lots of guilt mentality surrounding having a lot." The 43-year-old former royal added, "At the same time, there's a scarcity mindset" where people believe they will "never have enough". Blakely, who recently launched a new footwear brand called Sneex, shared her personal philosophy on wealth: "I always tell women in particular, money is really fun to make, really fun to spend and really fun to give away. "And I think money just makes you more of who you already were… Like, if you're a jerk, and you get a bunch of money, you become a bigger jerk." Meghan instantly replied: "Yep." The podcast, aimed at inspiring budding entrepreneurs, comes amid reports that Meghan "thinks she's going to be a billionaire," with The Telegraph citing a well-placed source who says she's hired a team of top-tier executives to get her there. Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan and Prince Harry are believed to have amassed a combined fortune of around USD$60 million, thanks to lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify, book royalties, speaking engagements, and investments. They also continue to receive some income from Harry's inheritance from his late mother, Princess Diana. Despite this, Meghan's ambition shows no signs of slowing. Speaking to Fast Company on Tuesday, she revealed her lifestyle brand As Ever (formerly American Orchard Riveria) sold out its first collection in just 45 minutes. "Meghan says that even though the team spent a year preparing the line and forecasting demand, all the products on the site sold out in 45 minutes," journalist Elizabeth Segran wrote. "Now, they're trying to plan As Ever's next phase." According to the outlet, Meghan plans to take stock of what worked before rolling out more products. "I want to really focus on the hospitality angle of As Ever, but as we take the learnings, we can understand what the customer's needs are seasonally," the former Suits actress said. She also hinted that fashion could be her next frontier. "The category of fashion is something I will explore at a later date. I do think that's an interesting space for me," she said. Interestingly, in addition to her podcast and lifestyle brand, Meghan recently launched an online shopping platform allowing fans to purchase high-end items she endorses, earning commission on select pieces.
