Brittan Leiser is a Financial Advisor in Cleveland, Ohio. Brittan created SavviHer after recognizing that in the male-dominated financial industry, women often felt ignored or overwhelmed when it came to having a conversation about their own personal finances. When beginning her career in personal finance, Brittan found herself in an industry dominated by men with resources and prevailing attitudes that largely overlooked women, often leaving them out of the conversation and unsure about where to turn and who to trust with their important questions. She created online resources to meet women where there are and empower them to take the first step.
A graduate of the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, Brittan is passionate about helping other young women break into the world of financial management and developing a network of financial advisors that also recognize the need to change the outdated way the industry approaches and works with women. Brittan enjoys cultivating strong relationships, solving complex problems, and feels most rewarded when she is able to help others prepare for and live their most meaningful lives. When Brittan isn’t in the office, she enjoys running, exploring new parts of the world with her husband, baking chocolate chip cookies, cheering on all Cleveland sports teams, and teaching her two-year-old son the words to the Notre Dame fight song.
How and when did you realize women need a different approach?
I created SavviHer after realizing that so many of my female clients had similar concerns and questions about their finances but didn’t quite have the tools they needed to understand this space. These women all were smart, accomplished, and successful in their own ways, but felt completely intimidated when discussing anything relating to finance. They inspired me to create SavviHer, which is designed to serve as an empowering, educational, and less overwhelming way for women to learn more about the wonderful world of personal finance. It is my hope that this content serves as the catalyst women need to feel more confident in joining the conversation so that they, too, can take ownership of their own financial health. Women have different financial needs, backgrounds, and considerations, so I felt it was important to take care of them in a way they could understand and appreciate.
What is your favorite part about your job?
I love helping my clients understand their financial options so that they can achieve their true potential. I am a big believer in people and truly enjoy building and fostering relationships. I am very passionate about helping individuals own their financial health and enjoy assisting them as they achieve their goals so that, ultimately, they can live the lives they have always imagined. Nothing is more rewarding to me than making someone live out their purpose and feel worthwhile.
Did you start SavviHer by yourself? If yes/no, tell us how.
Yes! SavviHer, in its infancy, was just a blog that I coded, created, and published. It wasn’t until I began to see some traction with the blog and the social media channels that I took on a business partner to help me reach more women.
In your own words, what do you do?
I like to say that I help two groups. I help women feel more confident financially and I help financial advisors better understand how to engage with this important investor demographic. Even more simply than that? I empower women to own their financial futures.
How do you stay motivated?
I love what I do. It’s as easy as that. I am motivated by helping an individual feel worthwhile and know their options (no matter their financial background!). Every day I wake up thankful to be able to do what I do and be a voice for women everywhere.
Where do you get your inspiration from daily?
Inspiration is easy to find if you keep your eyes open to new possibilities, ways of thought, and new perspectives. I also get inspired every single day that I get to wake up as a mom to a little person. Being able to provide for my family and provide a strong example of what it means to go after your dream is so important to me.
What are your current areas of focus?
Our current areas of focus are two-fold: First, we are launching online courses (available via our website: FinanciallySavviHer.com) to help women learn and feel more financially confident. Our two courses are Personal Finance 101 and Investing for the Everywoman. It is our hope that these affordable and accessible courses can help every woman feel more prepared and encouraged to join this conversation. Our other area of focus is on the advisors. We are launching an Advisor Membership Program in January 2020 that helps advisors best connect with, engage, and understand their female clients. We couldn’t be more excited about these efforts!
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career, what would it be?
Believe in yourself and stay the path. Let no one ever out work you.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?
Ask for help! This world is an amazing place and there are people around every corner with the knowledge to share or an experience to learn from.
Share some tips on how to save money
There are many ways to save money, but truly, the most effective way to create a sustainable and achievable lifestyle for yourself is by establishing (and sticking to) a budget! I encourage all of my clients to review their budgets monthly so as to address any spending issues they are experiencing and correct any negative behaviors in real-time. This method also is a great way to track progress towards goals and ensure that those “Savings funds” and other important goals are being funded.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
Join the discussion!