Financial empowerment through stories people remember and actions they take.
Vanessa Stoykov is an international award-winning money educator, storyteller, author, and media creator who has spent more than 25 years helping people transform the way they think and talk about money. Known for her unique “edutainment” approach, Vanessa blends powerful storytelling with practical financial insight—making money feel simple, human, and even fun.
She is the author of two books: The Breakfast Club for 40-Somethings, a fiction-meets-finance novel that became a cult favourite for its relatable life lessons, and The Five Conversations About Money to Radically Change Your Life, which continues to inspire readers to rethink long-held beliefs and take action toward a stronger financial future.
Vanessa is also the creator of multiple television series, including the acclaimed Secrets of the Money Masters, which reached millions across Australia and globally. Her weekly Flourishing After 50 column for the Daily Mail delves into the real money dilemmas people face—relationships, family, retirement, property, and the emotional side of financial decision-making.
With deep experience inside the finance industry, Vanessa has a rare ability to take technical financial ideas and turn them into stories that stick. Audiences remember her because she is relatable, entertaining, and refreshingly honest—bringing humour, warmth, and clarity to conversations many people usually avoid.
Vanessa believes financial wellbeing is a critical pillar of mental health and everyday performance. Her mission is financial empowerment for all, giving people the confidence and clarity to make better decisions and have the money conversations that genuinely change lives.
She is also the founder and CEO of Evolution Media Group, a storytelling-led education company dedicated to sparking better money decisions through content, conversation, and connection.
Talking Points
Storytelling As Your Competitive Edge
In a competitive and fast-changing world, clarity, trust and relevance are essential. Leaders need to influence with impact. Salespeople must convert with credibility. Organisations must engage with meaning to stay culturally connected.Storytelling As Your Competitive Edge
Storytelling is a proven tool to achieve all three. It boosts retention by up to 75%, increases empathy, and makes messages memorable and actionable. People are 22 times more likely to remember facts when they’re part of a story. Storytelling also drives conversion, with brands and leaders seeing up to 30% improvement.
This keynote shows how to use storytelling as a strategic skill to connect, persuade and lead.
Key Takeaways:
- Why storytelling improves retention and engagement
- How to use storytelling to build trust and influence
- Practical techniques to make messages stick
- Tools to drive relevance and cultural connection
- Ways to apply storytelling across leadership, sales and internal communication
From Cost of Living to Living Well: Practical Money Conversations That Work
Rising costs, busy lives, and competing financial priorities mean money stress is never far from people’s minds. For many, it’s the single biggest source of distraction at work and at home. This session is about cutting through that pressure with conversations and actions that really work.From Cost of Living to Living Well: Practical Money Conversations That Work
International award-winning money educator Vanessa Stoykov will explore the big themes shaping financial wellbeing today and in the years ahead — from navigating the cost of living and managing debt, to making superannuation work harder, building investing confidence, and preparing for intergenerational wealth transfer and the reality of caring for aging parents.
Delivered in Vanessa’s trademark storytelling style, the session is entertaining, relatable, and designed to leave participants with both practical steps they can take right now, and the conversations they need to have to feel more in control of their money — and more confident about the future.
The Five Conversations you need to have about money before its too late
Money and financial independence and wellness is high on the list for everyone.The Five Conversations you need to have about money before its too late
But many of us don't know where to get started, or who to ask, to make sure we are making good decisions. Vanessa breaks down the five conversations we all need to have about money, and with whom, to make sure you are planning your financial future with intent, not leaving it chance.
Financial wellbeing: The missing step to improving mental health.
Did you know 3 out of 4 employees are distracted at work due to finances? That people would rather talk about mental /health issues than financial ones with their employer? Money is the final taboo when it comes to providing support and training to people. Getting the conversation into the open, and empowering people to take control of their finances can have a phenomenal impact on employee performance. In fact, 80% of people who have engaged in financial wellness training have reported improved performance.Financial wellbeing: The missing step to improving mental health.
Who this is for:
All white-collar industries
HR departments of large organisations with large workforces
Organisations who want to invest in mental health initiatives outside of the traditional training
Perhaps someone that already has mental health on the agenda
Key Takeaways:
-Actionable and easy to implement processes their people can undertake to improve their financial wellbeing straight away
- The ability to offer ongoing support via online learning tools and highly engaging content
- A mindset shift for people around being able to manage their own wellness and know when to ask for help.
Unlearn Money & Reinvent your Life
Vanessa teaches her audience her 5 Pillars of Unlearning Money theory, how each of us falls under at least one of the pillars and how we can work towards building our dream life.
Unlearn Money & Reinvent your Life
Video
Vanessa Stoykov | Money, Mindset & Financial Wellbeing | Saxton Speakers
Vanessa Stoykov | Unforgettable: Storytelling as Your Competitive Edge | Saxton Speakers
Vanessa Stoykov’s new Keynote explores how storytelling is the most powerful tool we have to cut through noise, build trust, and create meaningful connections. Whether you're leading a team, driving sales, or influencing change, stories help people see themselves in the journey, believe in the outcome, and choose to act.She makes finance feel approachable and real. The perfect mix of storytelling, humour, and practical advice, ... keep reading GPT Group
When Vanessa presents, her obvious enthusiasm to help people achieve financial literacy is engaging, entertaining and at times provocative.
It was such a great presentation—I’ve already had some conversations sparked from it.
One of the most practical and thought-provoking presentations we’ve had. Our members walked away with real strategies to improve financial wellbeing.
It was great having Vanessa as part of our panel. I think guests related to and enjoyed her thoughts about personal finance!”
Vanessa was the opening speaker at our wealth symposium and provided a powerful start to the event. Working with her was seamless.
Vanessa doesn’t just talk about money—she changes the way you think about it. Her session was practical, engaging, and full of insights we could apply immediately.
All feedback has been that you gave us inspiration and real ways to change. The best breakfast yet!
Vanessa is a natural storyteller. Strong. Relatable. Purpose driven. Our most engaging event of the year.
You inspire and lead with honesty, passion and great wit in storytelling… such a privilege to share the day with you.
Great session and really useful to hear practical ways for us all to increase our financial literacy.
