Meet Athena Gardner

 

We recently connected with Athena Gardner and have shared our conversation below.

Athena, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I felt like I was born divinely confident, but through life experiences, it was something I have to further develop and cultivate through resilience, self-discovery, and a deep belief in my ability to shape my own future.

Immigrating to the U.S. at the age of nine was one of my first big challenges. I was different—my accent, my experiences, even the way I saw the world set me apart. And like many children who stand out, I was picked on. I quickly learned that being different could make you a target, but instead of shrinking, I overachieved. I poured myself into excellence—academics, leadership, anything that allowed me to prove to myself (and to the world) that I was capable.

Ironically, the very things I was criticized for as a child—my ambition, my intensity, my refusal to shrink—are now the qualities people admire most. Some are even intimidated by my self-assuredness, but I’ve learned that confidence isn’t about making others comfortable. It’s about standing firm in who you are.

The turning point? Cultivating a winning mindset. I set big goals and, despite doubts (my own and from others), I achieved them. Every win—whether big or small—stacked upon the last, building a solid foundation of self-trust. Confidence is earned through experience. It’s the result of repeatedly proving to yourself that you can rise, even when the odds are stacked against you.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m Athena Gardner, CPA, financial strategist, and founder of WeWealth Women, a global movement empowering women to claim their financial brilliance. I help women transform their mindset around money, build wealth, and create businesses that sustain and elevate them.

My journey started in corporate finance, working with Fortune 500 companies at top firms like KPMG and EY. But I realized something—wealth isn’t just about numbers. It’s about mindset, habits, and empowerment. Too many women feel disconnected from financial power, and I knew I had the skills and the passion to change that.

That’s how WeWealth Women was born. Through workshops, coaching, and courses, I help women monetize their skills, leverage AI and technology, and create multiple income streams—without waiting for permission from anyone. One of my most exciting successes was my Idea to Income workshop, where I generated 5 figures in revenue . It proved that you don’t need a massive audience to make a massive impact.

Right now, I’m expanding WeWealth Women’s impact with new events, masterclasses, and AI-driven business coaching. I want every woman to know: your financial power is already within you—you just need the right tools to unlock it.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey:

Resilience – Life will test you. People will doubt you. And sometimes, you will doubt yourself. But resilience isn’t about never falling—it’s about always getting back up. My ability to push forward, even when things were uncertain or uncomfortable, has been one of my greatest strengths.

Financial & Business Strategy – Numbers don’t just tell a story—they create one. My background in accounting and finance gave me a powerful foundation, but what made the difference was applying that knowledge to real-world wealth-building. Learning how to turn skills into income is life-changing.

The Power of Personal Branding & Storytelling – People connect with stories, not statistics. Sharing my journey, my wins, and even my struggles allowed me to build a brand that resonates with women worldwide. If you’re early in your journey, invest in your story—become the person people turn to because they trust you and your experiences.

My advice for those starting out:

Don’t wait for confidence. Take action, and confidence will follow.
Develop skills that make you valuable, but never stop learning.
Build relationships—your network is your net worth.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Right now, my biggest challenge is scaling impact without burnout. I’m deeply passionate about helping women step into their financial power, but as my business grows, so does the demand for my time and energy.

To overcome this, I’m leaning into systems and automation—particularly AI-driven tools—to scale without sacrificing quality. I’m also building a team and learning to delegate, which is hard when you’re used to doing everything yourself.

But here’s what I know: the next level requires new strategies. Just like I teach women how to leverage technology and wealth-building principles, I’m applying those lessons to my own business. My goal is to build a sustainable empire—one that doesn’t just change my life, but transforms the lives of women everywhere.

Because wealth isn’t just about money—it’s about freedom, confidence, and creating a life you truly love.

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