MEET OUR FOUNDER
Grace Mugabe
Financial Literacy Educator | Money Coach | Community Advocate
Grace is a CPA, board director, and financial literacy educator who created Financially Empowered — a purpose-driven business supporting women, particularly those from underrepresented communities, to build financial confidence, increase their earning potential and take control of their financial futures.
Combining professional expertise with lived experience, Grace brings clarity, relatability, and cultural insight into conversations about money. Her work centres on making financial education accessible, inclusive, and life-changing for women who are often excluded from traditional financial systems.
HER STORY
Despite her love of numbers, Grace didn’t grow up planning to focus on financial literacy.
She began her Accounting career in the corporate world — working for industry leading multinational companies, building financial models and climbing the ladder.
But behind those carefully crafted numbers, something wasn’t adding up….
Grace, as a migrant woman herself, observed too many women, especially from migrant, CaLD backgrounds, missing out on the financial knowledge, tools, resources and support needed to thrive.
Not because they lacked the capability, but because the system wasn’t built with them in mind.
“No matter what her background is, every woman deserves the tools and support to confidently manager her money – and shape her own future.”
In 2015, Grace stepped away from the corporate world with a clear mission: to make finance less intimidating more inclusive and culturally relevant.
She believed that financial knowledge shouldn’t be reserved for the privileged few. It should be a tool for everyone — especially those who are told, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, that they don’t belong at the table.
So? She built her own table.
HER INITIATIVE
Migrant Money Matters
In 2018, Grace launched Migrant Money Matters – a culturally-responsive financial education program designed to support migrant and CALD women. Since then, the program has continued to grow with Grace partnering with governments, councils, schools, and community organisations. Migrant Money Matter is increasingly recognised as a transformative initiative equipping women with the financial knowledge and confidence to thrive.
Board Governance
She’s also brought her financial acumen and interest in governance to the boardroom and has served on several boards, including philanthropic fund 100 Women, Business Station, and Ishar Multicultural Women’s Centre, where she supported the infrastructure development and chaired the Audit & Finance Committee.
Why Grace?
She’s lived it.
She understands it.
She’s a trusted voice.
Grace is very patient with the participants and facilitates workshops with visual aids and examples that make the information clear and meaning for the participants in regards to budgeting, saving, investing, setting target and goals and funding ideas for community.Chris BreretonManager Community Services at City of Stirling
Her Influence & Recognition
Grace’s work has earned national recognition, but she’ll be the first to tell you — awards aren’t the point. The real reward is lasting impact on the lives of women and their communities.
2019
ALUMNI OF YGAP FIRST GENS PROGRAM
2017
FINALIST IN THE UN ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA AWARDS
2016
LEAP PROGRAM COACH – HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA , LOS ANGELES (UCLA)
2017
HIVE GLOBAL LEADERS PROGRAM – HELD AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY
2015
LEAP PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT – HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES (UCLA)