Getting Rich Together From Corporate Banking to Building a Global Platform with Cate Luzio, Founder & CEO of Luminary
Join host Syama Bunten for an inspiring conversation with Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, the global platform advancing women and underrepresented talent in the workplace. Cate shares her remarkable journey from a middle-class upbringing with an FBI agent father and teacher mother to leading multi-billion-dollar corporate banking units at JP Morgan and HSBC, before launching her own company at age 44.
In this candid conversation, Cate reveals how her Gen X "save, save, save" mentality and early lessons about hard work shaped her financial foundation. You'll hear about her pivotal "what's your number?" moment at JP Morgan that changed how she thought about compensation, her strategic decision to self-fund Luminary instead of raising venture capital, and how she navigated building a business through a global pandemic.
This episode is a masterclass in calculated risk-taking, the power of using your own capital to maintain control, and why profitable, sustainable businesses don't need to be unicorns to be successful and impactful.
Key Topics:
- How Gen X saving habits create entrepreneurial freedom - Learn why the "pay yourself first" mentality enables bigger life moves later
- The compensation conversation that changes everything - Discover how asking "what's your number?" can transform your earning potential
- Why self-funding beats venture capital for some businesses - Understand when using your own capital gives you speed and control advantages
- Building cash-positive businesses from day one - Get the blueprint for creating sustainable companies that don't rely on endless fundraising
- Navigating major life changes as financial catalysts - Explore how divorce and career pivots can clarify money priorities and goals
- The strategic advantage of being a seasoned founder - Learn why starting a business in your 40s brings networks, experience, and better judgment
- Smart acquisition strategies for growing businesses - Discover how profitable companies can grow through buying complementary businesses
- Balancing lifestyle and business reinvestment - Master the art of paying yourself appropriately while funding company growth
Connect with Cate Luzio:
Luminary: luminary.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cateluzio
Find more from Syama Bunten:
Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod
Website: syamabunten.com
Download Syama's Guide to Getting Rich: www.syamabunten.com
Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com