Today we’d like to introduce you to Marguerite Pressley Davis.
Hi Marguerite, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have been in the finance industry for almost 20 years now. I started on Wall Street at Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs. But in the 2008 recession, the markets tanked, and I realized that I didn’t want my career to be so closely tied to the markets. It was the catalyst to say that I wanted to work directly with the CEOs and CFOs before those businesses went downhill. From there, I made several career moves to start my own business.
First, I transitioned to a career in mergers and acquisitions consulting. Then I founded a retail tech company which had a successful exit. I also worked at a $25 million venture fund as a managing director, creating investor readiness programs, and getting small businesses ready to raise capital. At that point, the light bulb went off. I need to double down to ensure that small businesses can stay in business longer. And that is how Finance Savvy CEO was born as we know it today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There’s always going to be challenges along the way, from a top-performing employee outgrowing her role and wanting to pursue other passions to the invoice that was due in 30 days being 180 days past due. But no matter the challenge, I always stay focused on my bigger picture — what’s the bigger picture that I’m trying to achieve, and how do I navigate around the challenge. My advice is to learn from the challenge in a way that loses the least amount of time and keeps me most closely in line with my win.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our aim is to improve financial literacy and business finance among entrepreneurs as a way to increase their profitability and to close the country’s gender and racial wealth gap. Ultimately, Finance Savvy CEO wants small business owners and entrepreneurs to feel empowered with their finances.
When we’re working small business owners on their profit playbook, we are actively helping them step by step. We want them to be able to stand on their own two feet when they’re talking to investors or when they’re making a decision with their team. To be a sustainable business, every business leader must be financially confident and financially competent.
Although we’re based in Atlanta, we have a global membership where business owners from across the world such as Canada, South Africa, and France. Our membership is geared toward owners at various stages in their business journey. Members have access to one-on-one coaching, virtual group sessions, workshops, a financial planning course and online content about financial literacy.
In the next five years, we see Finance Savvy CEO as a household name for small business owners and entrepreneurs. We also see the organization as the go-to resource to seek financial answers for a small businesses and a daily tool to meet new financial challenges along their journey. We hope to expand our impact internationally, making financial education for small businesses easily accessible across the globe.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
One of my biggest cheerleaders has always been my dad. It’s great because he was a successful entrepreneur who ran his small business for 40 years before he retired. Seeing him operate his business is what I believe put the entrepreneurial spirit inside of me. In fact, I can remember watching him and my mom do his accounting when I was a little kid. They would teach me along the way, and it was through those exposure points that I developed my love of finances. He always encouraged my brothers and sisters to seek ownership as that was the key to wealth building.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.financesavvyceo.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/financesavvyceo
- Other: https://www.margueritepressleydavis.com
