Why Talking About Money Isn’t Rude: Carla Howard Helps Women Get Paid

Talking about money is still considered awkward, especially for women, and Carla Howard is done pretending it shouldn’t be. In this episode of the Own Your Awkward Podcast, Andy Vargo sits down with strategic change consultant, speaker, and dream enabler Carla Howard to explore why financial transparency matters, how invisible income ceilings hold people back, and what it really means to stay in motion toward abundance. This conversation challenges outdated money beliefs and invites listeners to own their value, their voice, and their earning potential.

Owning an Awkward That Actually Changes Lives

When Carla Howard talks about her “awkward,” it’s not what most people expect. Her friends and family often describe her as assertive, direct, and someone who takes charge quickly. Carla doesn’t shy away from that description, but she believes her real awkward trait runs deeper.

Her true awkward is her passion for talking openly with women about money. How much they make. What they charge. What they want to earn next. And how they plan to build wealth long term.

In a culture that still labels money conversations as rude or inappropriate, Carla’s willingness to go there makes people uncomfortable. It also makes change possible.

Why Money Conversations Feel So Uncomfortable

One of the biggest challenges Carla points out is how deeply money secrecy is baked into corporate culture. Many organizations actively discourage employees from discussing salaries, framing it as professionalism or privacy.

In reality, this silence protects inequity.

When people do not know what others are earning, they have no benchmark for negotiation or growth. Women, in particular, are often left undervaluing their contributions simply because they lack access to transparent information.

Carla believes open money conversations are a form of advocacy. Transparency helps people understand their market value, ask better questions, and advocate for fair compensation.

A Family Foundation Built on Transparency

Carla’s comfort with money conversations did not come out of nowhere. She grew up in a household where finances were discussed openly and practically. Budgets, investments, and retirement accounts were normal dinner table topics.

A pivotal moment came when she discovered that union salaries were publicly available in a book. Seeing income information laid out so plainly reinforced her belief that money should not be mysterious or hidden.

That early exposure shaped her philosophy that financial literacy and transparency are tools for empowerment, not sources of shame.

From Corporate Stability to Entrepreneurial Freedom

Like many entrepreneurs, Carla’s leap into business ownership was not entirely voluntary. A layoff pushed her out of a stable corporate role and into entrepreneurship.

At first, fear took the wheel. She worried about inconsistent income, financial security, and whether she could truly replace her corporate salary.

What surprised her was how quickly she ran into an invisible ceiling. For the first few years, her income would rise to exactly what she made in corporate, then stop. No matter how hard she worked, she could not seem to break past it.

That was the moment she realized the ceiling was not external. It was internal.

Once Carla reframed her thinking and recognized that entrepreneurship has no fixed earning limits, everything changed. Without corporate caps, bonuses, or job levels, she could pull multiple income levers and grow beyond anything she had earned before.

Celebrating Wealth Without Apology

One of the most powerful moments in the conversation comes when Carla speaks unapologetically about getting rich.

For her, wealth is not about ego or excess. It is about impact, freedom, and choice. More income allows business owners to invest in their teams, expand their reach, and serve at a higher level.

Carla encourages women entrepreneurs and speakers to stop shrinking their goals to feel acceptable. Wanting to make more money does not make someone greedy. It makes them honest.

Through her Rise Sister membership and Get Paid From The Stage program, Carla creates spaces where women can talk openly about pricing, revenue, and financial goals without judgment.

Staying in Motion Toward Abundance

A recurring theme in this episode is the idea of motion. Carla defines motion as consistent, intentional action, even when the steps feel small.

She warns against what she calls “waiting activities.” Researching endlessly. Getting another certification. Planning without executing. These actions feel productive, but often keep people stuck.

Motion means doing the things that actually move the needle. Making the call. Sending the pitch. Raising the price. Having the uncomfortable conversation.

Carla also shares a mindset practice that supports this forward movement, a simple belief she repeats often, money loves me. It is not about magical thinking. It is about cultivating a healthy, open relationship with earning and opportunity.

Why Owning Your Awkward Matters

Carla Howard’s story is a reminder that awkward traits are often misidentified strengths. Her willingness to talk about money challenges social norms, but it also creates real change.

When people own what makes them different, especially the parts that feel uncomfortable, they create permission for others to do the same.

This episode is an invitation to question inherited beliefs about money, success, and worth. It asks listeners to examine where they might be waiting instead of moving, shrinking instead of owning, and staying silent instead of speaking up.

Sometimes the most powerful growth starts with a conversation we were taught not to have.