Barbara L. Smith: Where Strategy Meets Soul

When Barbara L. Smith speaks, it’s with the quite conviction of a woman who’s lived what she teaches. A financial wellness coach, author, and advocate for single mothers and caregiving women, Barbara goes beyond spreadsheets and savings tips—she offers transformation. With a rare blend of empathy and expertise, she helps women unpack the emotional weight behind their financial challenges and rebuild from the inside out.

Her journey from corporate boardrooms to heart-centered coaching is rooted in her own story of survival, reinvention, and unapologetic self-permission. Today, Barbara is on a mission: to redefine wealth not just as what we earn, but as how we live, lead, and rise.

What pushed you to turn your hardest moments into something that helps other women?

I didn’t want my pain to just sit in silence; I wanted it to speak life into someone else’s breakthrough.
What pushed me was the understanding that healing becomes exponential when it’s shared. I knew that if I could transform my hardest moments into tools, stories and strategies, I could help other women see themselves not as broken, but as building something powerful. That’s the heartbeat of my work—turning survival into strategy and resilience into a catalyst for change.

When someone feels lost with money or life, where do you start with them?

Before I offer any guidance, I begin by listening with intention and without judgment. Every client completes an assessment form that helps me understand not just their financial situation, but their mindset, values, and current season of life. 
When someone feels lost, I don’t rush to “fix” them. I help them pause, reflect, and reconnect with their voice. We start by identifying what’s weighing them down and what they truly want– not what the world says they should want. I meet them where they are, not just with strategy, but with empathy.

How do money and emotions connect in everyday life?

Every financial decision we make is tied to emotion: fear, guilt, hope, pride, shame, or even love. Whether it’s overspending to feel worthy, avoiding bills out of anxiety, or undercharging because we doubt our value, our money habits often mirror our emotional landscape.

A woman might stay in a job that drains her because financial fear outweighs her desire for freedom. A mother might put everyone else’s needs first and neglect her own financial goals out of guilt. These patterns aren’t just about dollars, they’re about identity, self-worth, and survival.

That’s why my coaching goes beyond budgets and spreadsheets. I help women unpack the emotional roots of their financial behaviors so they can rewrite the story. When we heal the emotional relationship with money, we unlock the freedom to make choices from a place of clarity, not crisis.

What do you hope women feel or learn after reading your book?

I hope they learn that transformation doesn’t require perfection, privilege, or permission. It starts with one bold choice at a time. Whether they’re navigating motherhood, career pivots, or financial uncertainty, I want them to walk away with practical tools, renewed confidence, and the deep knowing that they’re worthy of more and capable of building it. Most of all, I don’t just understand their journey–I’ve walked it. Because when one woman rises with intention, she lights the path for others to rise too.

How did your climb through the corporate world shape how you lead today?

After more than two decades in corporate, I learned the mechanics of structure and strategy, but I also saw the quiet barriers women, especially women of color, face every day. It was a culture where you often needed permission to lead and where no matter how hard you worked, your value was defined for you.

That experience shaped me into a leader who no longer waits for permission. Today, I lead with liberation at the center. I’m creating spaces where women don’t have to shrink, code-switch, or second-guess their brilliance. I believe in honoring lived experience as expertise, and I coach from a place of empathy, strategy and unapologetic truth. My corporate climb gave me the blueprint, but my purpose gave me the courage to redesign it.

What do you think most people don’t see about what single moms and caregivers go through?

What most people don’t see is the relentless mental load. Single moms and caregivers are managing not just logistics and finances, but emotions, expectations, and survival all while carrying entire households and still showing up with grace in every space they enter. 

What’s overlooked is the emotional tax of always being “on” and expected to do it all without complaint. There’s a quiet strength in that, but also a deep exhaustion that rarely gets acknowledged. That’s why I do this work: to remind them that their dreams are valid, their labor is valuable, and they deserve support, not just survival.

Your approach to money is different, more caring and real. Why does that matter?

Because money isn’t just math—it’s deeply personal. It carries our fears, our hopes, and often, our unspoken stories. Traditional financial advice can feel disconnected, especially for women who’ve had to navigate survival, caregiving, or systemic barriers.

My approach is rooted in care because I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed and unseen. I don’t just focus on the numbers; I focus on the woman behind them. That matters because when someone feels safe, respected and understood, they’re more open to change. It’s what makes financial transformation sustainable, not just strategic.

What’s one mindset shift that helped you change your life?

The shift from asking for permission to giving myself permission changed everything. For years, I waited–waited to be chosen, validated, or told it was “my turn.” But the moment I stopped waiting and started owning my voice, my value and my vision, everything began to align.

I realized I didn’t need to fit into systems that weren’t built for me; I could build my own. That mindset shift from external validation to internal authority was the foundation for my glow-up, and it’s the lens through which I support women in rewriting their narratives.

What would you say to someone who wants more but doesn’t know where to begin?

Start by permitting yourself to want more, without guilt or apology. You don’t need to have it all figured out to take the first step. And you don’t need to fit into anyone else’s version of success.

My approach isn’t one-size-fits-all. I meet each woman where she is, with care and clarity. We start by exploring what’s working, what’s not, and what you truly want, not what you’ve been told to settle for. You don’t have to leap. You just have to lean in. And I’ll walk with you from there.

What kind of future do you want to help create—for women, for families, for the next generation?

I want to help build a future where women, especially single mothers and caregivers, don’t have to choose between survival and self-fulfillment. Where their lived experience is recognized as leadership and their financial power is fully realized.

For families, I envision a foundation of generational stability rooted in wellness and equity. And for the next generation, I want to normalize abundance in confidence, opportunity and choice. This isn’t just about individual success; it’s about building a movement. One that redefines what’s possible when women are supported, seen and resourced to lead on their terms.