FIVE MINUTES WITH ...
M A K A L A G R E E N
Makala Green is an expert on all things finance . She ’ s Britain ’ s first black female Chartered Financial Planner , founder of Green Wealth Planning and runs her Instagram account
@ TheWealthCheck to help people manage their money better . She ' s also passionate about opening up the world of finance as an attractive career to people of all backgrounds .
Q . WHO WAS YOUR CHILDHOOD HERO AND WHY ?
» Beyonce ! I just loved the strength and confidence she possesses as a female . In a world dominated by men , it was refreshing to have a woman to look up to who encompassed many of the qualities I strived to embody myself . She showed me that you could be strong and feminine simultaneously ; one doesn ' t cancel out the other .
I also love her music ; there ' s not one song I don ' t enjoy listening to . My favourite one has to be Independent Woman ( Destiny ' s Child ).
Q . WHAT ' S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED ?
» Get comfortable being uncomfortable . I know it is one we have all heard before , but when you are outside your comfort zone , that ' s when you begin to grow and learn about the world around you and yourself . It ' s important to become more familiar with uneasiness because it helps you become more in tune with your instincts and know which feelings to trust and action .
Q . WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ - AND HOW LONG AGO DID YOU READ IT ?
» Unshakeable by Anthony Robbins , which I read last week . This book has practical information on how to invest your money and reach financial freedom . It ' s a great read for anyone wondering what the best thing is to do with their savings .
Q . NAME ONE PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY YOU COULDN ' T LIVE WITHOUT AND TELL US WHY ( EXCLUDING YOUR MOBILE PHONE )
» My phone is everything to me , but excluding that , I would say my AirPods ( earphones ). I love listening to music ; it helps keep me motivated . When they first came out , I wasn ' t that convinced , but honestly , it really has made life easier since having them . Over-the-head phones are fantastic for music , but they are bulky and take up a lot of room in my bag . So AirPods are a real gamechanger , in my opinion !
Q . WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP AND MENTORSHIP ?
» I have a group of women that I absolutely admire who do amazing things , and I take advice from them at every opportunity . I also look to myself for leadership and mentorship by looking back at past actions and experiences . I often ask myself , " What could I have done better ?" or " If I had another opportunity , what would I do differently ?". I think having the ability to reflect and analyse your decisions is a skill you have to practice , and it ' s valuable to do so . It ' s also important to remember that your decisions are often