Meet Silvia Souto | Financial Peace Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Silvia Souto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Silvia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After 15 years working in a corporate environment and developing professionally in the project management and change management coaching and consulting fields, I realized that I was somehow still not where I wanted to be financially, in spite of doing everything I thought was “the right thing to do”. That’s when I decided to focus on taking my financial education further. I immediately applied what I was learning, got coaching along the way, and started to see results. I applied my knowledge and skills from my professional fields to my personal project of optimizing my personal finances. It worked so well that I wanted to share it with the world and help others do the same so that they might enjoy the peace, freedom and sense of choice that this optimization had given me. This is how I came up with the idea of creating my Financial Peace Coaching business: The WallFlowers Journal. It is the perfect combination of my professional skills, my own personal growth and experience, and my natural inclination towards teaching, coaching and mentoring. This career pivot has allowed me to create an impact in people’s lives in an area that I have always had a passion for, finance, and that I see such a need for among working professionals, especially women.

What I help people with now through my coaching business, The WallFlowers Journal, is something that I wish I had had at a younger age, to make the most of my earnings from the initial years of my working life. Now, thanks to my programs, my clients can benefit from a shorter learning curve to reach their financial goals, level up their finances, attain financial peace and change the trajectory of their finances forever!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have always been an avid learner and supporter of changing things for the better, in constant pursuit of growth and evolution. I have applied these principles throughout my professional (and personal) life, and they are, I would say, the main fuel that has propelled me to more and more advanced levels in the path of my career. In addition to gaining new knowledge and optimizing things for myself, I have always had a passion for passing this knowledge on to others, and letting them enjoy the benefits of my discoveries as well. Along the way I have learned that not everyone is as passionate and devoted to change, efficiency and optimization as I am, so I have learned to adapt to and flow with the specific circumstances of the people and projects that I support.

This brings me to a key foundation of my brand and business, The WallFlowers Journal: Change happens with a choice, and the reason for that choice has to come from deep within us. This choice will be our main driver to initiate and sustain any pursuit to create a change in our lives (and/or work) to make it better, more peaceful and enjoyable.

Upon the decision to pursue a change in the trajectory of their finances, my clients receive my help in understanding, selecting, planning and evaluating how they go about managing their personal finances and reaching their money goals. This is done in alignment with who they are and their life in the present, and who they want to become and how they want to live in the future. Each journey is unique, personalized and tailored to the needs, wants and priorities within the person’s personal financial picture. The mindsets, capabilities and habits that my clients gain in my programs will be with them for years to come and will give them an advantage in the “Money Game” for a lifetime. To learn more about how I go about this and what you could gain check out The WallFlowers Journal website: https://www.thewallfowersjournal.com/

So, tell me: What decision will you make today to change your financial direction to one that takes you to where you want to be in your future? – I invite you to be inspired, motivated and moved into action by the messages and imagery crafted with so much love and care for your well-being within The WallFlowers Journal Instagram account: @TheWallFlowersJournal (https://www.instagram.com/thewallflowersjournal/).

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I actually crafted such an itinerary just last year when my sister Irais visited LA with her family. From the moment they arrived until the moment they left town we made the most of our time together, even allowing some time for work throughout the week.

The following is a combination of what we planned and what we ultimately did, in an attempt to cover all the, in my opinion, ‘must-sees’ that LA has to offer:

Santa Monica Pier and surroundings (including a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway – PCH) then taking a stroll by the Venice canals, checking out the Venice Beach Skate Park and surroundings, and eating at Café 50’s on Santa Monica Blvd.

Universal Studios Hollywood including the CityWalk, which is a full-day experience.

The Greystone Mansion, The Grove and its adjunct Farmers Market for some ice cream/dessert, checking out Beverly Hills and its Rodeo Drive Steps and surrounding hotels, stores, restaurants and cafes, then driving into West Hollywood to experience its vibe, checking out the Tail O’ The Pup historic hot dog place.

Lunch at Big Boy restaurant in Burbank, a picnic and concert at the Hollywood Bowl (during its summer concert series).

The Griffith Observatory, a sight of the Hollywood Sign (include a hike if possible), followed by a drive down Mulholland Drive (day or night).

Disneyland for a full day (make sure to go into the Star Wars attractions).

Downtown LA, including Little Tokyo, the Arts District, eating at the Central Market, visiting The Last Bookstore, drive on The Sixth Street Viaduct, El Pueblo de Los Angeles historical area (the birthplace of LA), Staples Center and grabbing a bite and drink at The Yard House, and then go by Angeleno Heights with its Victorian houses and/or Koreatown, Filipinotown, Thai Town and any other neighborhood that makes you live and breathe the city’s cultural diversity.

The museums – The Getty, LACMA and its Urban Light sculpture, the Academy Museum, The Broad, the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum of LA County and its Rose Garden… (pick a couple from these to enjoy them for at least half a day each).

The Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Hollywood and Highland mall (now called Ovation Hollywood), catching a movie at the Chinese Theater, visiting the following stores – Funko Hollywood, Amoeba Music, Guitar Center on Sunset Blvd., eating at In & Out and/or Mel’s Drive-In.

To upgrade the experience I would recommend to do all the driving in a convertible in the best LA style! ; )

If it can be fit into the schedule, I would include showing them our home in LA to share a glimpse of our cozy den within this marvelous sea of places and activities that the city has to offer, as well as meeting some of the wonderful and diverse people that we get to know here, their lives and their stories, which are the primary ingredient of Los Angeles, a city full of life, dreams and possibilities!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my dad, Alfredo Souto, for always having been my cheerleader, my mentor and the one who gifted me the foundation of my financial knowledge and practice, and encouraged me to be financially savvy.

To my mom and sisters, Rosa, Irais and Nadine Souto, for believing in me, supporting me in my decision to pivot and motivating me to pursue my calling.

To my partner Markos Keyto for believing in me, supporting me and encouraging me in my career pivot, professional exploration and entrepreneurial journey which led to the birth of The WallFlowers Journal.

To my friend Ainoa Cuberos for showing me the way with her example, seeing what was possible for me, helping me recognize the value I could share with the world, and giving me the first opportunity to prove it.

To my friend Gisela Prunés for believing in my project, sharing her entrepreneurial journey in parallel with mine, providing me thoughtful feedback, being an inspiration with her bold actions, and for openly giving her expert and proprietary knowledge, material, tools and channels to support creatives in their career journeys.

To my therapist Elizabeth Rojas for all the soul-guided therapy work that prepared me for the pivot and the embracing of my new path in life.

To the #WeAllGrow Latina community and its members for allowing me to connect, learn from and contribute to Latinas like me who are elevating their lives, businesses and each other to new and unseen-before levels. Thanks to my friend Fany Arias for pointing me to this wonderful community.

To my strategic life and business coach Wendy Amara for all the coaching, inner work, support and inspiration to get into action, build my business and share my value proposition more broadly with the world.

To my friend and successful entrepreneur Gia Fey for trusting in me, in herself and in the process, and building a two-way support channel through which we both grow.

Website: https://www.thewallfowersjournal.com

Instagram: @TheWallFlowersJournal

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviasouto1

Image Credits
Photos, Images and Designs by Markos Keyto & The WallFlowers Journal.