Interview
Valerie Prasetyo is a serial entrepreneur,
investor, speaker and author. She is the
Founder of Independent Women Summit which
annually opens its doors to hundreds of people
helping them to gain knowledge about business,
investment, passive income and wealth as
well as mindset and success. This year IWS is
being held in a city which nowadays provides
enormous opportunities to entrepreneurs,
influencers and lives changers, Dubai. Valerie
tells Business Fit readers about the summit and
why it is so important for women.
How did the Independent
Women Summit come to life?
I have worked with lots of investors helping
them to diversify their portfolios, manage risk
and understand the nature of investments.
Unsurprisingly, most of them were men.
Women on the other hand, are quite resistant
when it comes to investing money especially in
something , which in their opinion, is risky.
Interestingly, it is generally women who are
financially dependent on their employer, the
government, their spouse, etc., especially when
it comes to maternity leave and some health
issues. So it became some sort of mission for
me to help educate women about finances
and freedom, which is how the idea of the
Independent Women Summit came into life.
What is the aim of the summit?
Valerie
Prasetyo
“My mission is to help educate women about
finances and freedom”
With the development and growth of the
platform, it has become clear that independence
has so many facets and the financial aspect is
just one small fraction. The summit aims to
go much deeper and now involves speakers
and coaches who can bring insight, tools and
knowledge to help set people free on so many
levels, including mentally and psychologically
(release limiting believes, child traumas, learn
self-love and acceptance), emotionally (stop
being dependent on somebody’s else opinion
and ‘social acceptance’), physically (self,
body, health - care) and of course spiritually
(reminding women who they really are, their
true nature and grace) and so much more.
can brilliantly build healthy and fruitful
relationships, in business and in her private life.
While she respects her man for his strengths
and qualities, it is not necessary for her to
be dependent on him. The best formula of
success in any relationships (whether it’s sport,
entrepreneurship, friendship or marriage, etc.)
is not 50%+50% (as some say ‘I am searching
for my better half’), it’s 100%+100% (when both
are fulfilled and independent).
Our grandmothers and mothers coped
holding down a secure job and raising children
and they were pretty comfortable with that.
But everything in this world moves, it changes
and progresses. The next generation will
not be able to live with the mindset of their
grandparents. I believe we must take the
best of the qualities from that generation, like
unshakable discipline, strong will, loyalty and
move up to the next level.
As children we are dependent on someone
to care for us, on someone else’s thoughts,
decisions and opinions (unfortunately, some
stay at this level), then we move to the next
stage, a kind of ‘base-level’ independence -
self-awareness, an understanding of your
skills, talents and abilities; having the ability to
make your own decisions and take action. It is
only after gaining this level of consciousness,
that we are able to grow further and are ready
to create something greater - this level is all
about collaboration, partnership and support.
Independence
has so many
facets and the
financial aspect
is just one small
fraction
Why is independence so
important for women?
Well actually, it is nothing to do with feminism.
In fact, I believe an independent woman
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