Economics of Being a Woman - beginnings
Financial Literacy for Women – Improving the Lives of Women
Libbie Agran immigrated to the US and became a citizen in 1965. She attended University of California at Los Angeles, earning her Bachelor of Arts and a Masters in Public Health Business Administration. She graduated just as the Civil Rights Movement and the Womens’ Movement were developing as major catalysts to change. Libbie had to fight gender discrimination to be hired as one of first Systems Engineers at IBM and later the first woman business manager at the University of California Statewide Extension, where she managed federal grants to local communities funded through the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO).
Libbie was raised in a family where a woman’s financial independence was valued and encouraged. As she saw women struggling for equal pay and financial independence, she noted many women studying and working at the University lacked an understanding of personal finance.
Libbie was able to obtain generous funding to survey, study and evaluate attitudes toward money and personal finance of both men and women in the US. The differences shown in the study were both dramatic and distressing. The Economics of Being a Woman was developed in the Fall of 1976 to bring women of all ages together to share their attitudes and obstacles and to set financial goals based on reality. The classes were designed to empower women and strengthen their careers, their earning power and their financial security at each stage of life. Classes focusing on The Economics of Marriage, The Economics of Widowhood, The Economics of Divorce and The Economics of Retirement were offered to focus on the financial impact of various life stages. Libbie taught over 22,000 women in the Los Angeles area and provided financial education for women for over 90 organizations including the American Dental Association, The American Medical Association, Money Magazine, American Association of University Women and many others. In 1985 she established her own firm. Libbie Agran Financial Services in Los Angeles, offering financial consulting services, financial education and wealth management. She sold her company in 2006 although she continued working with the new owners until 2012.
She is now retired in San Luis Obispo County where she is active in Philanthropy and has founded The Wine History Project to collect, archive and preserve the wine history of the county. Her latest book, San Luis Obispo Wine - A World-Class History was published in 2021.
She continually expresses gratitude to Andrea Wasko and Meaghan Gilbert for recognizing the ongoing need for financial education for women and for offering The Economics of Being a Woman to a new generation.
Andrea Wasko, Meaghan Gilbert and the Economics of Being a Woman
When Libbie retired, she started volunteering for nonprofits and utilized the Executive Coaching services of Andrea Wasko. In 2006, Libbie encouraged Andrea and Meaghan to take over the education classes and seminars and to continue financially empowering women.
Andrea C. Wasko, MBA
Andrea was born in Pennsylvania and has over 35 years of leadership, consulting and innovation experience and has held executive positions in Finance, Business Development, Operations, Marketing, Manufacturing and Sales for a variety of companies including Eli Lilly and Guidant (Boston Scientific and Abbott Labs).
Andrea is a social entrepreneur who enjoys empowering others, having fun, and giving back. She funded her undergraduate education through loans, scholarships, and working full-time while attending college full-time. She received her MBA from Golden Gate University and a BS degree from Youngstown State University. She enjoys educating others, hiking, traveling, and the three cats that rescued her.
WOMAN OF THE YEAR was awarded to Andrea for her generous contributions to the success of over 100 for-profits and non-profits. This award was recognized by the US Congress, California State Assembly, National Association of Commissions for Women, California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and the San Luis Obispo County Commission on the Status of Women.
Meaghan Gilbert
Meaghan was born in Hong Kong and spent many years in New Product Development with companies including Apple Computer, Cisco Systems and several others. At Apple, she worked with Steve Jobs and was one of the original 100 Macintosh team members.
Meaghan has over 40 years of strong leadership and new product introduction experience. Her greatest strengths are in the areas of Finance, New Product Development, Program Management, Business Development, Manufacturing and Engineering.
Meaghan worked full-time (swing and graveyard shifts) to pay for her undergraduate education. Due to her successful life planning, she was able to retire from corporate life at an early age and now provides education to people, for-profits, and nonprofits.
She enjoys mentoring others to achieve success in their personal lives as well as in business ventures. Meaghan enjoys volunteering in the community, hiking, traveling and cooking.
________________________
To date, over 35,000 people have financially empowered themselves through an Economics of Being a Woman seminar or presentation!
We now offer financial education seminars for Women, Men, Students, Youth, Seniors, Families, Businesses and Nonprofits.
The need for financial education for women today is even greater today!
