This interview is with Inge Von Aulock, Chief Wealth Builder at Invested Mom.

Inge Von Aulock, Chief Wealth Builder, Invested Mom

Inge, can you tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to become an expert in personal finance, leadership, startups, entrepreneurship, and investing?

My path to becoming an expert in personal finance and investing wasn't exactly a straight line. The entrepreneurial spark hit me early - I was just 9 years old, selling homemade fudge to my schoolmates in Cape Town, South Africa. But my real financial journey began when I immigrated to Canada with just two suitcases, my then-husband, and $800 in my pocket.

My corporate career eventually led me to Tesla, where I managed billion-dollar revenue recognition and large teams (often over 100 people). Even though Tesla had 70,000 employees, it still operated like a startup - resources were tight, so you had to be incredibly creative about solving dire problems daily. I learned a lot about growing, scaling, and failing... and that speed trumps accuracy. That experience taught me that moving fast is absolutely critical.

My life took a dramatic turn when I found myself divorced, depressed, and a single mom of a 2-year-old, with a mortgage I couldn't handle and mounting debt. Despite making good money in my leadership role (eventually reaching $1 million annually), I felt trapped. The financial rewards were never enough, and I hated having a boss. Worst of all, I was going through life unconsciously: work all day, come home exhausted, scroll on my phone, and hope tomorrow would be better... but it never was.

That rock-bottom moment forced me to make a crucial decision: I was going to figure out how to break free. I spent eight years learning about investing and doing the work to go from in debt to retirement, all before age 40. I developed what I now call the Wealth Builders Framework - a system that helps people think like investors in everything they do, from stocks and real estate to business and personal development.

After experiencing the transformation in my own life, I became passionate about helping others - especially women - achieve the same freedom. That's how I founded www.investedmom.com, where I teach others how to build wealth and live what I call an "unrestricted life" - one where you control your time, resources, and financial destiny.

My expertise comes from both my successes and failures across multiple domains. I've invested in stocks, real estate, and businesses. I've grown and sold companies. I've learned how to use AI to create content efficiently through my work with Penfriend. Most importantly, I've discovered that the greatest investment is always in yourself - it pays a lifetime dividend.

Could you share a pivotal moment in your journey that solidified your passion for these areas and shaped your career path?

Looking back, the most transformative moment in my journey wasn't a celebration or achievement – it was hitting absolute rock bottom. When my marriage ended, I found myself as a depressed single mom of a two-year-old, drowning in a mortgage I couldn't handle alone, with debt piling up around me.

On paper, I was successful – leadership position, good income, solid team. But inside? I was miserable. I hated working for a boss, the financial rewards never felt enough, and I was living unconsciously: work all day, come home exhausted, scroll on my phone, hope tomorrow would be better... but it never was.

That moment of desperation became my turning point. I vividly remember sitting on my kitchen floor one night after my son was asleep, surrounded by bills, absolutely terrified about our future. Something shifted inside me – I realized no one was coming to save us. If I wanted freedom, I had to create it myself.

I made a decision that night that changed everything: I would master money instead of letting it master me. I would learn to think like an investor in everything – not just with finances, but with my time, energy, and skills. I committed to finding a different way to make money that didn't require working for someone else.

This wasn't just about investing in the traditional sense. It meant completely rewiring how I approached life. I started devouring books on investing, joining communities of like-minded people, and most importantly, taking action even when I was scared. I began questioning every financial "truth" I'd been taught and testing different strategies.

The transformation wasn't overnight – it took eight years of learning, failing, and trying again. But that desperate moment on my kitchen floor was the catalyst that ultimately led me to develop the Wealth Builders Framework and retire as a multi-millionaire before 40.

Now when I teach others about personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship, it comes from a place of having lived through the struggle. I'm passionate about showing others – especially women – that they don't need to stay trapped in jobs they hate or financial situations that drain their spirit. That rock-bottom moment turned out to be the greatest gift, because it forced me to discover a path to true freedom that I now get to share with others.

Many aspiring entrepreneurs struggle with taking that first leap. Can you share a time you faced a major risk in your career and how you overcame your fears to make a bold decision?

The biggest risk I ever took was walking away from my job where I was making $1 million a year. Most people thought I was absolutely crazy! "You're leaving THAT salary? To do WHAT exactly?" But despite the impressive paycheck, I was constantly exhausted, missing precious time with my son, and ultimately building someone else's dream instead of my own.

The fear was real – that steady paycheck provided security, especially as a single mom. I overcame it by taking calculated steps rather than making a blind leap. First, I built a financial runway by saving aggressively. Then, I tested my investing strategies with small amounts while still employed, gradually increasing as I gained confidence. I also networked extensively to build relationships that could open doors later. Most importantly, I created a detailed exit plan with specific milestones and a "point of no return" date on my calendar that I couldn't back out of.

What I learned is that the "first leap" myth is actually what holds so many people back. You don't have to risk everything overnight. Instead, build a bridge between your current reality and where you want to go – keep one foot on solid ground while extending the other toward your dream. I invested in myself first, acquiring knowledge and skills that no one could take away from me. This approach gave me the confidence to finally walk away from that million-dollar salary, knowing I wasn't jumping into the unknown but stepping deliberately into a future I'd already started building.

Building a successful startup often requires assembling a strong team. What's your approach to finding the right people and fostering a positive and productive work environment?

When I was at Tesla managing teams of over 100 people across multiple departments, I learned that team building isn't about collecting impressive resumes – it's about assembling a puzzle where each piece has its unique shape but creates something beautiful together. My approach to building successful teams has been shaped by both my corporate experience and startup ventures.

First, I look for people who are resourceful problem-solvers. At Tesla, despite having 70,000 employees, we operated like a startup – resources were always tight, and we had to be incredibly creative solving dire problems daily. That experience taught me to value people who can think on their feet and aren't afraid to try unconventional approaches. When interviewing candidates, I ask about situations where they had to solve problems with limited resources – their answers tell me more about their potential contribution than any list of qualifications.

Values alignment is non-negotiable. Technical skills can be taught, but core values are deeply ingrained. I'm crystal clear about my values – wealth democratization, empowering non-technical creators, and building systems that create freedom. Anyone joining my team needs to genuinely connect with these values, not just nod along. One misaligned team member can derail your entire culture, so I spend significant time during interviews exploring candidates' personal values and their alignment with our mission.

I've learned that diversity of thought creates stronger teams. In my various ventures, I've intentionally brought together people with different backgrounds, experiences, and thinking styles. The magic happens in those friction points where different perspectives collide – that's where true innovation emerges. I love pairing analytical thinkers with creative visionaries and watching the sparks fly.

As for fostering a productive environment, I believe in extreme ownership coupled with extreme trust. I set clear expectations, provide the resources people need to succeed, and then get out of their way. Micromanagement kills creativity and motivation. Instead, I create systems for regular check-ins and feedback, but ultimately trust my team to deliver in their own unique way.

Your business will never outgrow your leadership. I continuously invest in my own development as a leader, knowing that my team will only grow to the extent that I do.

From your experience, what's one common financial misconception that entrepreneurs often have, and how can they overcome it to make sound financial decisions?

One of the most pervasive and damaging financial misconceptions I see entrepreneurs fall prey to is the belief that "all debt is bad" and must be eliminated before investing in growth. This old-school mindset - drilled into us by well-meaning parents and traditional financial gurus - can actually strangle your business's potential and significantly delay your path to wealth.

Let me be clear: there absolutely is "bad debt" that you should avoid or pay off quickly - high-interest credit cards, payday loans, or financing depreciating assets. But the blanket approach of avoiding all debt is like refusing to use any tools in your toolbox except a hammer - you're severely limiting what you can build.

As entrepreneurs, we need to fundamentally shift our thinking from "debt as burden" to "debt as leverage." In my own journey, I discovered that strategic debt can actually accelerate wealth creation when used correctly. Here's the critical distinction most miss: if you can earn a return on invested capital that exceeds your cost of borrowing, that debt becomes a powerful wealth-building tool.

Let me walk you through a concrete example. Say you have $100,000 in capital and an opportunity to invest in expanding your business operations that will generate a 20% annual return. Option A: You use only your $100,000 and generate $20,000 in returns. Option B: You use your $100,000 as a down payment on a $400,000 expansion (borrowing $300,000 at 7% interest). Your interest cost is $21,000, but your 20% return on $400,000 is $80,000 - netting you $59,000 after interest. That's nearly triple the return from using just your own capital.

This principle applies across business contexts - whether you're scaling operations, acquiring complementary businesses, or investing in technology that multiplies your output. The wealthy understand this; they don't avoid debt - they leverage it strategically to accelerate growth while maintaining control of their assets.

The root of this misconception often isn't mathematical but psychological. Many entrepreneurs carry deep-seated fears about debt from childhood experiences or past financial traumas. I encountered this myself after my divorce left me in debt and depression as a single mother. The anxiety was paralyzing, and my initial instinct was to eliminate all debt immediately. But this fear-based approach actually extended my journey to financial freedom.

Investing wisely is crucial for both personal and business growth. Can you share an investment strategy that has worked well for you or your clients and explain why it's effective?

One investment strategy that has consistently delivered results for both myself and my clients is value investing – but with a crucial twist that most financial advisors won't tell you about. While traditional value investing focuses on finding undervalued companies, my approach adds three additional layers that have made all the difference in my journey from debt to multi-millionaire.

The foundation of this strategy is only investing in what you deeply understand. Warren Buffett calls this staying within your "circle of competence," and it's been transformational for me. Rather than trying to diversify across dozens of industries or following hot stock tips, I've achieved much higher returns by focusing intensely on a small number of companies in sectors I genuinely understand.

Here's how the strategy works in practice:

First, I identify businesses that align with my existing knowledge and experience. For me, this initially included SaaS companies and consumer brands because I understood their business models, revenue streams, and growth patterns. Your "circle" might be completely different – perhaps you understand healthcare, automotive, retail, or technology. Start there.

Second, I look specifically for companies with strong "moats" – sustainable competitive advantages that protect them from competitors. These might include brand recognition (like Nike), high switching costs (like Apple's ecosystem), network effects (like social media platforms), economies of scale (like Amazon), or regulatory advantages. A company with a strong moat can withstand competitive pressures and maintain profitability over the long term.

Third – and this is where most investors go wrong – I wait patiently to buy these companies at prices below their intrinsic value. This means developing the discipline to wait for market downturns, company-specific setbacks, or general fear in the market before investing. For example, when Chipotle had their E. coli outbreak, their stock plummeted despite having a strong brand and business model. This temporary setback created an excellent buying opportunity for those who understood the business.

Fourth, I maintain the courage to be concentrated rather than diversified. Once I find these rare opportunities – great businesses with strong moats selling at discounted prices – I invest significant capital rather than spreading it thinly across dozens of average investments. This approach does require more research and conviction.

The world of finance and entrepreneurship is constantly evolving. How do you stay ahead of the curve and adapt to new trends and challenges?

I've found that staying ahead of the curve isn't about predicting the future – it's about building systems that allow you to adapt quickly when the future arrives. My approach combines rapid experimentation, strategic networking, and continuous learning.

First, I'm a huge believer in rapid validation. When I see a new trend emerging, I don't spend months analyzing it – I test it quickly with minimal investment. For example, when I notice a shifting digital marketing tactic, I can launch a test in a few hours, put some content behind it, build a few backlinks, and see what happens. Within a three-month timeframe, I can make a data-driven decision on whether to further invest or move on. This "speed over accuracy" mindset has been crucial – it's better to be approximately right and moving quickly than precisely right and perpetually late.

I also deliberately cultivate relationships with people operating at different levels and in different industries. My network includes both established wealth builders and hungry newcomers, technical experts and creative visionaries. These connections function as my personal trend radar, exposing me to developments I might otherwise miss. When three separate people in my network mention the same emerging opportunity, that's my signal to pay attention.

Continuous learning is non-negotiable in my world. I dedicate time every week to reading outside my comfort zone, taking courses in adjacent fields, and exploring ideas that initially seem irrelevant to my business. Some of my biggest breakthroughs have come from connecting concepts across disciplines – applying real estate principles to digital assets, or software development methodologies to personal finance. This cross-pollination of ideas gives me a unique perspective that purely industry-focused professionals often miss.

Finally, I've learned that adaptation requires psychological flexibility. I hold strong opinions loosely, meaning I form clear views but remain willing to change them when new evidence emerges.

What's the most valuable piece of advice you've received from a mentor or learned through experience that has significantly impacted your approach to leadership and business?

The most valuable piece of advice that completely transformed my approach to leadership and business is deceptively simple but profoundly powerful: "Perfect is the enemy of good. Move fast and iterate."

I remember sitting in a high-stakes meeting where we were discussing the rollout of a new delivery operations system. The team had been perfecting the plan for weeks, running scenarios, and addressing every possible contingency. When we presented what we thought was a bulletproof strategy, the response wasn't the praise we expected. Instead, the question was: "Why isn't this implemented already?"

This moment crystallized a fundamental truth that has guided my approach ever since: velocity trumps perfection. In a rapidly changing business environment, a good solution implemented quickly is infinitely more valuable than a perfect solution that never launches. The team that moves fast, gathers real-world feedback, and iterates will outperform the team that plans endlessly every single time.

Embracing this principle was uncomfortable at first. As a naturally detail-oriented person who prided herself on thoroughness, I had to rewire my thinking. But once I adopted this philosophy, it unlocked extraordinary results in every venture I pursued afterward. When building Penfriend, instead of spending months perfecting our AI content tool, we launched a simplified version rapidly, gathered user feedback, and improved it iteratively. This approach not only saved us from building features nobody wanted but allowed us to discover opportunities we never would have seen from behind a planning desk.

This doesn't mean being reckless or sloppy – it means finding the minimum viable solution that creates value, implementing it quickly, measuring results, and improving based on actual data rather than assumptions. In leadership, this translates to empowering your team to take calculated risks, celebrating speed of execution alongside quality, and creating a culture where learning from small failures is valued more than avoiding failure altogether.

If you could give one actionable tip to aspiring entrepreneurs or those looking to improve their personal finances, what would it be and why?

If I could give just one actionable tip to aspiring entrepreneurs or anyone looking to improve their finances, it would be this: Start investing today, with whatever amount you have, even if it's just $10. Don't wait until you have "enough" money or until you feel completely ready.

Here's why this is so powerful: Compound interest has been called the eighth wonder of the world for good reason. When you invest $100 today and it grows by 10%, you have $110. Next year, you're earning returns on $110, not just your original $100. This snowball effect works the same way with your skills and knowledge. The person who invests 15 minutes daily learning about business or finance for a year will exponentially outpace someone who waits until they "have time" to take a comprehensive course.

The practical step is simple: Set up an automatic transfer of even a small amount into an investment account today - not next month, not when you get a raise, not when you've read five more books about investing. Then do the same with your time: block 15 minutes daily for learning something that will increase your earning potential. The magic isn't in the amount but in breaking the psychological barrier of inaction. I've seen this single habit transform lives repeatedly because it shifts you from consumer to investor mindset in both your finances and your personal development. Remember, the person ahead of you isn't smarter; they just started sooner.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

A great piece of advice I once received was: "Ask for what you want, or take what you get." And I live by this. If you don't advocate for yourself first, no one will.