We recently connected with Ayana Campbell Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Ayana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Personal finance and financial literacy has long been a major interest of mine. In 2019, I was looking for something to devote my time to as a creative outlet outside of my 9-5. One day I got a random spark of inspiration and started a list of money topics I thought would be worth sharing with others. It was a combination of things I wished I’d been taught about money when I was younger, things I’d read, helpful advice I’d heard, etc. The list quickly grew to 30+ topics so I knew it wasn’t something I should just sit on. This was valuable information for people my age who might be struggling to figure things out. The next day, I decided to start a monthly email newsletter and Instagram account to share this info with others and Millennial Money Guide was born.

Since then, my business has grown to encompass coaching programs, speaking, and a whole lot of sharing educational personal finance content on social media. I absolutely love what I do and the connections I’m blessed to make on a daily basis. There’s nothing more rewarding than helping others demystify the often intimidating and misunderstood world of personal finance and make sense of their money!

Ayana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a debt-free money coach and founder of Coach Ayana | Millennial Money Guide™. Through my business, I help millennial women and couples get unstuck with their finances so they can ditch debt, save more, and win with money!

I believe in taking a holistic approach to personal finance and promoting the importance of finding balance in every aspect of your money journey. Budgeting, ditching debt, saving, and keeping your mindset in check every step of the way are all pieces of a larger puzzle. Everyone’s journey is different and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Because of this, my goal is to equip my clients with the tools and strategies they need so they are empowered to make the best money decisions for their unique situations.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When Millennial Money Guide started in 2019, my #1 goal was to share educational personal finance content with as many young adults as possible. Instagram provided me with the means to do that then and it continues to do so to this day.

When I first got started on Instagram, I was completely anonymous and never showed my face. But as time passed and the Millennial Money Guide community began to grow, I felt called to build an even more personal connection with my audience. So I decided to stop hiding and put myself out there. I stepped out of the veil of anonymity and started showing up on my IG stories almost daily. Soon after, more opportunities began coming my way, including podcast interviews, guest speaking invitations, and ultimately, the start of my 1:1 coaching business.

I absolutely love how social media has enabled me to reach such a broad audience. I’ll always be grateful for the role it has played in the growth of my business!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’d say the biggest lesson I’ve faced has just been learning to get out of my own way. When you embark on any new journey, you’re bound to experience moments of self-doubt. I think this is especially true when it comes to starting a business. However, I’m constantly reminding myself that even though I may not be widely known yet, that doesn’t mean what I have to offer won’t be effective or lead to transformation. I’ve learned to recognize that I can draw strength from my unique experiences and use them to help others. No one else can offer what I can because being me is what makes me special.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://millennialmoney.guide/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/millennialmoney.guide/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/millennialmoney.guide
• Other: Learn more about 1:1 Money Coaching: https://calendly.com/millennialmoneyguide/1-1-money-coaching-interest