Karen and the Beauty of Budgeting
“Thank you for the kind introduction,” said the woman. She spoke with grace and gratitude. “I am honored to be talking to you about the needs of the women and girls in our community…”
She took natural pauses in her speech, glancing down every few stances, allowing for each statement to sit and resonate with the attendees. Not one person in the crowd seemed disconnected especially not when she opened up about her own past that brought her here today, speaking at the Washington Area Women’s Luncheon.
“We rarely had money to keep the lights on, pay the water bill or keep the roof over our head in a continued and predictable way. And affording food became optional,” she continued. “Because I did the household budget for our mother starting in the sixth grade, it is not a coincidence that I am a financial and investment planner today.”
Her name is Karen Wawrzaszek. What seems to be a coincidence is the word that describes her best is right there in her first name. As you say it aloud: Karen is caring.
Her typical mornings now are not what they used to be. A weekend may consist of going painting with her eight-year-old son and exploring the Washington D.C. area. She hopes to “raise a good human.”
Karen says she wears two hats, but in discussion reveals many more, “I think of myself as an advisor or consultant, and in finance and investments to non-profit organizations and families as well,” said Karen. “And the other hat is a community activist and philanthropist.”
As much as she cared about the cause of the luncheon, she struggled in preparing to be able to share such an emotional story in front of hundreds of people. She wanted to bust some of the myths and stigmas about mental illness and poverty by sharing personal and familial experiences with the audience. More specifically, one of the myths she aimed to break was what people assumed a woman who faced poverty to look like.
“I remember saying ‘look I need to take some time to think about this.’ Professionally I didn’t know if it was the right time to do it. How would I be viewed by my peers?” She asked in self reflection.
It was the first time she had opened up about her childhood story in a public setting. This speech gave the audience a closer look at who Karen really is, from past to present, and not just from a typical, business introduction standpoint that attendees might’ve been expecting. But she pushed through because she was close to the organization and the work they do. Karen would practice the speech over and over again at home before presenting on the big day.
“So many black women came up to me and they were crying. They were so excited, saying they were so happy to hear this story from a white woman. People hear the story from the black community all the time and there’s so much stereotyping,” said Karen.
Although it was challenging at first, she was grateful to have done it and connect with these women and share her platform.
Karen had a traumatic childhood at home in Philadelphia where she was born and spent her younger years. Her father had committed suicide, while she was still young, and her mother later became estranged, from the six children, due to mental illness. The outcome was emancipation.
“My siblings and I have a really good relationship. And we really did lean heavily on each other. It was true loyalty as dysfunctional as our family was,” she said.
Karen served as the head of her household even when her mother was present. She quickly learned to make use of resources, connect with organizations as a youth, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS) and then go on to study finance and economics.
BBBS helps children prepare for their future endeavors and gain confidence and hope in themselves. She formed a great bond with the “big sister” she was paired with. The mentor even helped her plan for college.
In sharing her experiences, she speaks highly of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, highly encourages it to youth in need of support and believes it is a life changing program.
In present day, she is the Senior Director of Financial Planning at Sullivan Bruyette Speros and Blayney and Founder of the Pomona Society; an organization that focuses on economic empowerment for women and families in Washington, DC. She mentors a lot of female entrepreneurs and diverse women in Washington D.C. who have had a tough time getting access to opportunities, primarily because of race and the geographic settings.
Thanks to Karen, the Ponoma Society has had countless success stories. One woman she mentored closely was in need of avocation and coaching to get to the next level and connect with wealthy donors.
“She’s on a national scale now. To see her go from living barely month to month… to now having a franchise with her venture program across the country and having money saved… it’s just been phenomenal,” she said.
Her foundation and story in which it originated helps motivate others to not only push through financial struggle and tough situations, but to also pursue a future in finance and entrepreneurship; using previous survival tactics in both work and philanthropic settings.
In tough times, or in settings where all eyes are on you, be calm in grace and gratitude, take a few deep breaths and begin to share your story. Luncheon not required.
