Breaking the Silence: How Irina Sebastiao is Transforming Lives Through Financial Empowerment and Healing
Financial abuse remains one of the most insidious yet overlooked forms of domestic violence, trapping countless women in cycles of dependency and fear. For Irina Sebastiao, founder of Women in Money and Ready to Stand Academy, addressing this invisible crisis has become both her mission and her calling.
Through her dual approach of education and rescue, Irina has created a comprehensive ecosystem of support that meets women wherever they are in their financial journey. Women in Money focuses on prevention and empowerment, helping women build wealth and confidence from the ground up. Meanwhile, Ready to Stand Academy provides specialized, trauma-informed support for survivors of financial abuse, offering everything from emergency assistance to long-term healing resources.
What sets Irina's work apart is her understanding that true financial empowerment requires more than just knowledge—it demands community, compassion, and the courage to break cycles of silence. Her approach recognizes that for many women, the path to financial independence is also a path to healing, self-worth, and reclaiming their voice.
In this conversation, Irina shares her insights on recognizing financial abuse, the transformative power of financial education, and the profound moments when women move from "I don't know how to start" to "I did it." Her story illuminates not just the challenges women face, but the extraordinary resilience and strength they possess when given the right support and tools to thrive.
1. Financial abuse is often an invisible form of control that many people don't recognise or understand. Can you walk us through some of the warning signs women should watch for, and how financial abuse typically manifests in relationships? What would you say to a woman who might be reading this and recognising these patterns in her own life?
Absolutely, financial abuse is incredibly insidious because it often masquerades as care or concern. It doesn’t leave bruises, but it leaves deep scars. Some of the most common warning signs include a partner controlling all the money, restricting access to bank accounts, demanding receipts for every purchase, or sabotaging employment opportunities. Sometimes it is hidden behind statements like 'I’ll handle the finances,' but what follows is often a slow erosion of independence.To any woman reading this and recognising these patterns: You are not alone, and it is not your fault. Financial abuse thrives in silence and shame, and the most courageous first step is simply acknowledging what is happening. There is help, and there is a path forward. At Ready to Stand Academy, we have built a community of support where women can safely explore their options, heal, and rebuild.
2. You have created both a business (Women in Money) and a charity (Ready to Stand Academy) to address different aspects of women's financial empowerment. How do these two organisations work together, and what made you realise that a traditional business model alone wouldn't be enough to serve all the women who need this support?
Women in Money and Ready to Stand Academy are two sides of the same mission: financial freedom for all women, especially those who have been silenced by abuse or left behind by traditional systems.Women in Money focuses on prevention and empowerment we educate, coach, and equip women to take charge of their finances and build generational wealth. But through that work, I kept meeting women who were not just starting from zero they were starting from deeply traumatic experiences, often with nothing at all. That is where Ready to Stand Academy was born. It provides wraparound support for survivors of financial abuse, including access to therapy, legal guidance, basic needs, and trauma informed financial education.The business alone could not serve everyone. Empowerment is important, but when someone is in crisis, they need more than advice they need compassion, safety, and a bridge to healing. That is why both arms of the work matter. One uplifts, the other rescues. Together, they create a full circle of support.
3. You mention that transformative moment when a woman goes from 'I don't know how to start' to 'I did it.' Can you share a specific example of this transformation that particularly moved you? What are the key steps or breakthrough moments you typically see in a woman's journey from financial struggle to strength?
There are so many stories that stay with me, but one that stands out is a woman who came to Ready to Stand Academy after fleeing an abusive relationship with just the clothes on her back and a small child in tow. She had no income, no savings, and believed she had no future.We started with the basics helping her understand her rights, setting up a bank account, accessing emergency support. But what changed everything was when she enrolled in one of our financial confidence workshops. For the first time, she was not just surviving she was planning. She set goals, learnt how to manage her money, and started a small cleaning business with our support. Today, she is fully self employed, pays her own rent, and volunteers with us to help other survivors.The breakthrough often begins when a woman realises she can trust herself again. From there, we focus on practical steps budgeting, debt repair, career skills but the emotional journey is just as important. It is about rebuilding self worth, finding community, and knowing you are not alone.Those are the moments that keep me going. When someone who once whispered 'I don’t know how' finally says, with pride, 'I did it.'
Are you a woman leader with an inspiring journey to tell? Founded by Women is on a mission to elevate and amplify the voices of women making an impact.
If you're breaking barriers, driving change, or paving the way for others, we’d love to feature your story. Get in touch with us today!
👉 hi@foundedbywomen.org
