The Wallet

The Ambition Penalty: Why Success Still Costs Women More

Published: 14 May 2026 at 01:00 Europe/London

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Episode notes

Women are often told the path to success is straightforward: be confident, negotiate harder, lean in, speak up.

But what happens when women do all of those things and still do not receive the same outcomes?

This week on The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) speaks with Stefanie O’Connell about ambition, work, money, and the hidden costs many women still face professionally and personally.

They discuss:

why negotiation advice alone is not enough
the backlash women can face when expressing ambition
burnout, invisible labour, and emotional load
how inequality is reinforced through systems and expectations
what financial independence and success can really look like for women today

The information shared is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.

AD | This episode is sponsored by Wealthify.

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Resources

Order The Ambition Penalty

Website: Too Ambitious

Instagram: @stefanieoconnell

LinkedIn: Stefanie O’Connell

Connect with Vestpod

Courses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/courses

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpod

Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich

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