Khwan Hathai Of Epiphany Financial Therapy: Here Are The Things That Happened in My Childhood That Impact How I Lead Today
An Interview With Cynthia Corsetti
Emotional Intelligence: Self-awareness and empathy are the linchpins of emotional intelligence. Early in my career, I navigated challenging client dynamics by focusing on emotional cues. This approach helped build deeper connections and paved the way for more productive relationships.
In this introspective and reflective series, we would like to explore the intricate web of experiences that form the leaders of today. Childhood, being the foundational stage of our lives, undeniably has a profound impact on our development and the leadership styles we adopt as adults. Be it a lesson learned from a parent, a childhood hobby that cultivated discipline, an early failure that fostered resilience, or even a book that opened their minds to vast possibilities; leaders often have deep-seated childhood experiences that echo in their leadership narratives today. For this interview series, we are talking to seasoned leaders across various industries who share personal anecdotes and lessons from their childhood that have sculpted their leadership philosophies today. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Khwan Hathai.
Khwan is a trailblazing Certified Financial Planner and Certified Financial Therapist, who earned her Master of Science in Financial Planning. As she combines her qualifications and extensive professional experience in the wealth management industry in revolutionary ways, she has become renowned for her innovative approach that merges the robust methodologies of money mindset shift, behavioral financial planning, and somatic breathwork healing. As the Founder & CEO of Epiphany Financial Therapy (https://epiphanyfinancialtherapy.com), Khwan has established herself as a pioneer in the field of financial therapy. With her diverse background and global vision, Khwan provides a new and unique approach to money management that redefines financial health by integrating the wisdom of body and mind with behavioral economics — a departure from traditional financial advice.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about leadership, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
Certainly! Stepping into the elite world of wealth management industry as a first-generation immigrant, a woman, and a person of color was akin to stepping into a complex web of numbers, graphs, and dollar signs. Amid the financial complexities, I uncovered a profound truth — Wealth is not solely about your financial portfolio; it’s intricately connected to your emotional and psychological relationship with money. I looked around at wealthy clients and peers who, despite their financial affluence, seemed perpetually anxious and dissatisfied. That realization sparked my aha moment. This epiphany led to the inception of Epiphany Financial Therapy, a mission-driven venture aimed at empowering high-achieving women to break through both internal and external glass ceilings. I understand that financial acumen is just the tip of the iceberg. Real transformation begins when we address deep-seated emotions and beliefs about money. My goal is not merely asset accumulation; rather, a deep focus on creating an ecosystem for “happy money.” My philosophy posits that accumulating “unhappy money” only breeds wealthy but miserable individuals. By blending the wisdom of body and mind with the principles of behavioral economics, Epiphany Financial Therapy offers a groundbreaking path to real financial health. We also aim to fill a glaring gap in the market. Existing services are generally either traditional financial advisors lacking a nuanced understanding of the psychology of money, or mental health professionals who, despite their best intentions, might lack financial expertise. We bridge this divide, offering an integrated, trailblazing approach to financial wellness that addresses both fiscal and emotional needs.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
What sets Epiphany Financial Therapy apart is our commitment to holistic financial well-being, especially designed for high-achieving women with high aspirations. Unlike traditional financial advisory services, we don’t just focus on the numbers. Our unique value proposition is rooted in our signature trifecta financial therapy framework, specifically engineered to transform overwhelm into overjoy and financial fatigue into fired up. Many successful women reach a point where, despite breaking barriers and amassing significant wealth, they find themselves perpetually discontent. The issue often goes beyond financial numbers to involve emotional and psychological dimensions that are not typically addressed in standard financial advisory services. Our unique approach integrates transformative money mindset shift, dynamic behavioral financial planning, and deep somatic breathwork healing. By aligning these elements, we aim to transform not just your financial success, but also your emotional and psychological relationship with money. In doing so, we’re not merely helping you break the glass ceilings — those imposed by the world and the ones you may have unknowingly set for yourself. We’re guiding you to transcend them altogether, steering you toward expansive new horizons. We’re not just elevating your financial status; we’re igniting a broader sense of life enrichment, enabling you to experience emotional, psychological, and financial prosperity.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Resilience, empathy, and a growth mindset are the cornerstone traits that have fueled my life and my journey in establishing Epiphany Financial Therapy. My resilience was tested and honed by the challenges I faced as a first-generation immigrant woman of color in the elite world of wealth management industry. This resilience enabled me to overcome numerous societal hurdles, including sexism and racism, and laid the foundation for my company’s growth.
Empathy is pivotal in my approach, allowing me to understand that money management isn’t just about numbers. It extends to the emotional and psychological realms, particularly crucial when focusing on high-achieving women who seek to break through both internal and external glass ceilings.
The growth mindset is key, encouraging an ethos of progression rather than perfection. This mindset nurtures continuous learning and adaptability, keeping our offerings innovative and responsive to the ever-changing financial landscape. It ensures that Epiphany Financial Therapy doesn’t just meet the existing needs of the market, but anticipates future demands for a service that synergizes financial planning and emotional well-being.
Collectively, these traits — resilience, empathy, and a growth mindset underpin my professional journey. They enable me to lead Epiphany Financial Therapy in a manner that transcends mere financial success, illuminating a holistic path to financial health deeply connected to emotional and psychological well-being.
Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story with us about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader? I’m curious to understand how these challenges have shaped your leadership.
Taking the leap to incorporate psychological and emotional dimensions into Epiphany Financial Therapy’s offerings was a crossroads moment for me as a leader. The conventional route of solely focusing on numerical financial planning was tempting — after all, it’s market-proven and could promise quicker growth. However, it was starkly at odds with the deeper, more impactful service I knew we could offer, particularly for our high-achieving female clientele who grapple with nuanced financial and emotional barriers. I ultimately chose the path less traveled — a groundbreaking financial framework that intricately weaves together money mindset shift, behavioral financial planning, and somatic breathwork healing. The choice was a calculated risk, one that might mean slower initial growth and adoption. Yet, my gut and industry insights told me that the world needed a more holistic approach to financial betterment. This pivotal decision has become a cornerstone in shaping my leadership style. It reminded me of the importance of remaining true to our foundational values and mission, even when faced with easier, more conventional alternatives. The experience didn’t just yield richer, more transformative outcomes for our clients; it also fortified our brand’s identity and purpose. It was a challenging decision but one that has allowed us to build a legacy that truly embodies the holistic financial wellness we advocate. It reinforced that sometimes, the road less traveled isn’t just a path — it’s a destination that aligns perfectly with what we stand for.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Let’s start with a simple definition. How do you personally define “leadership?”
For me, leadership is more than just holding a title or occupying a seat of authority; it’s a dynamic interplay of vision, courage, and transformative influence. Leadership is about cultivating an ecosystem where everyone — whether it’s my team or our clients — can fully realize their potential and contribute to a common, impactful vision. This “people-first” philosophy is the linchpin of my leadership style. At Epiphany Financial Therapy, I take this definition a step further by continuously challenging the status quo. I’m committed to pioneering change in the sphere of financial well-being by introducing groundbreaking approaches that weave together traditional financial planning, the psychology of money, and even somatic breathwork healing. This isn’t just to be different but to offer a transformative path that genuinely serves the needs of our clients, particularly high-achieving women navigating complex financial and emotional landscapes. In doing so, I’m not merely aiming to help clients break glass ceilings, but rather to dissolve them entirely. I seek to create an environment where profound, lasting change isn’t just a lofty ideal — it becomes an inevitable outcome. So, when I think of leadership, I see it as the ability to ignite a powerful shift in people’s lives, setting the stage for them to experience greater financial, emotional, and psychological well-being.
Can you recall an experience from your childhood where you felt truly empowered? How does that moment inform your leadership style today?
Even as a child, long before concepts like the Law of Attraction and manifestation gained mainstream popularity, I was innately aware of the transformative power of focus and emotional alignment. I remember standing on that debate stage at just 13 years old, holding a deep, intuitive conviction that what I focused on could become my reality. It wasn’t merely about articulating a well-crafted argument; it was about embodying the sensation of already having won, of having broken through. This early life lesson deeply informs my leadership ethos today. At Epiphany Financial Therapy, we guide high-achieving women to not only set financial goals, but also to engage emotionally and psychologically with those aspirations. It’s not just about financial planning in the traditional sense; it’s about aligning one’s inner emotional landscape with outer objectives, tapping into a form of empowerment that transcends numbers and charts. It’s a testament to the deep-seated belief that the right focus and emotional alignment can indeed turn dreams into reality.
Were there any role models in your early years who left a lasting impression on you? How has their influence manifested in your approach to leadership?
My mother’s story is a tapestry of grit, audacity, and an undying quest for growth. In a society like Thailand, where women often found their dreams sidelined, my mother defied the odds to pursue a PhD later in life. Her resilience wasn’t just exceptional — it was revolutionary. This has imprinted a powerful ethos in me, one that fuels the mission of my company every single day. Inspired by her fearless pursuit of more, we don’t just offer financial guidance at Epiphany Financial Therapy. We offer empowerment. We serve as catalysts for high-achieving women, pushing them not merely to break but to obliterate internal and societal barriers. We go beyond the ledger, delving into a more profound journey that transforms not just portfolios but perspectives. In essence, it’s about redefining what success means. It’s not just about a balanced sheet; it’s about a balanced life, rich in purpose, freedom, and achievement. My mother’s courageous journey reverberates as a daily reminder that limitations are often just mental constructs. With the audacity to reach for the sky, the potential for transformation is boundless. It’s not just about leading a financially sound life; it’s about crafting a life narrative so compelling, it defies societal norms and personal limitations. That’s the spirit we strive to ignite in every client we work with at Epiphany Financial Therapy.
Many of us had a favorite book or story as a child. Is there a narrative that you were drawn to, and do you see its themes reflecting in your leadership journey?
The book “The Alchemist” not only shaped my leadership ethos, but also guided my personal journey from Thailand to America. Just like Santiago’s travels took him to places he never expected, in pursuit of a treasure that was ultimately internal, my journey led me across continents. The treasure I found was not just a successful career or a fulfilling role as the founder of Epiphany Financial Therapy; it was the profound understanding that each of us has an inner treasure that can transform our external realities. By applying the lessons from this seminal work, I’ve been able to guide our high-achieving female clients in their unique quests for financial health. They, too, find their treasure, not only in financial security but also in understanding that the power to change their financial destinies lies within them. In essence, my transcontinental journey, inspired by the lessons from “The Alchemist,” serves as a metaphorical compass for our clients, encouraging them to undertake their own quests for internal and external prosperity.
Many leaders find that their greatest strengths arise from overcoming adversity. Can you share an experience from your early life that was difficult at the time, but you find still lingers in your thoughts and informs your actions today?
Navigating life in America wasn’t part of my original plan. I moved here alone, thinking it would be a temporary adventure, but life had different plans. Faced with the unexpected permanence of my situation, I had to rebuild a whole new life in a foreign land from the ground up. This experience of unpredictability and the monumental task of establishing roots in an unfamiliar world have deeply influenced my leadership style. I’ve come to appreciate the ability to pivot and adapt as life throws its curveballs. Those early days of rebuilding taught me the value of resilience and the courage to face the unknown, traits that I continuously draw upon in my work at Epiphany Financial Therapy. We often cannot control life’s twists and turns, but we can control how we respond, and that makes all the difference.
Looking back at your childhood, are there particular ‘first-time’ experiences — like your first triumph, your initial setback, or your inaugural leadership responsibility — that you believe were pivotal in molding your leadership ethos?”
The pivotal ‘first-time’ experience that indelibly shaped my approach to leadership was my audacious decision to run for middle school president in an all-male lineup. I didn’t win, but that loss imparted lessons more valuable than victory. It instilled in me an early understanding of the biases we navigate — sometimes unwittingly — from a young age, particularly around gender and leadership roles. More than anything, it imbued me with a resilient spirit, affirming that success isn’t about never failing but about rising each time we fall. Not winning the election was a harsh but necessary instructor in resilience and the complexities of influence and power. These teachings continue to inform my leadership ethos today, reminding me that courage and true leadership often lie in the steps we’re hesitant to take.
From your personal experiences and reflections, what are the ‘5 Pillars of Effective Leadership’ you believe in?
My leadership journey has been guided by five pillars that I consider indispensable for effective leadership:
- Emotional Intelligence: Self-awareness and empathy are the linchpins of emotional intelligence. Early in my career, I navigated challenging client dynamics by focusing on emotional cues. This approach helped build deeper connections and paved the way for more productive relationships.
- Empowerment: My belief is that leadership is not about control, but enabling others to realize their potential. At Epiphany Financial Therapy, we adopted a culture where each team member felt empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. This led to innovative solutions that set us apart in the market.
- Integrity: This is a non-negotiable quality for me. I once faced a situation where a lucrative contract conflicted with my ethical stance. The difficult decision to turn it down became a defining moment that underscored my commitment to integrity.
- Strategic Vision: Leadership requires the foresight to steer the team toward long-term goals. When I founded Epiphany Financial Therapy, the vision was not just to offer financial advice but to transform the entire paradigm of financial well-being. This vision has been the compass for our strategic decisions.
- Adaptability: In an ever-changing financial landscape, being rigid can be a downfall. During the initial stages of my career, I learned that traditional financial planning was not enough to meet the complex needs of our clients. This realization led me to create Epiphany’s signature trifecta financial therapy framework to empower our clients towards transformative and lasting financial health.
Each of these pillars has shaped my leadership style and informed my business decisions, offering a balanced approach to meeting challenges head-on while nurturing a positive, impactful environment.
In your role as a leader, what thoughts or concerns keep you awake at night? How do these reflections guide your decisions and leadership?
The thoughts that keep me awake at night are often centered around the urgency to change the prevailing paradigm of financial success. I’m acutely aware that if we don’t shift how we approach financial well-being now, future generations will inherit a flawed system that perpetuates stress, inequality, and an unhealthy relationship with money. These contemplations weigh heavily on my decision-making and leadership style. They fuel the urgency with which we innovate at Epiphany Financial Therapy. They remind me that our mission isn’t just about serving our current clients; it’s about laying the foundation for a new financial culture, one that prioritizes emotional well-being and offers a more holistic measure of success. This sense of urgency is a driving force behind our focus on expanding our services and educational offerings. It informs the partnerships we seek, as well as the products we develop, ensuring they are all aligned with the ultimate goal of creating a transformative ripple effect that can benefit society at large. In short, these concerns serve as a continuous reality check, reaffirming the critical need to break away from convention. They guide me in leading a team that’s not just building a business, but is also contributing to a cultural shift. This shift, I believe, is essential to ensure the financial and emotional health of generations to come.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
If I could ignite a movement today, it would focus on shifting the conversation around burnout among high-achieving women. The prevalent paradigm suggests that burnout is about workload or job status; my movement would counter this by emphasizing that it’s often more about emotional alchemy. Burnout for ambitious women is rarely just about too much to do. Instead, it often stems from unprocessed emotions and limiting beliefs. The aim of this movement would be to help women transmute these deep-seated emotions and beliefs into a more positive and constructive energy. Through coaching, books, workshops, digital courses, retreats, and perhaps even an app, we’d provide tools that facilitate emotional alchemy — transforming stress into vitality, fear into courage, and self-doubt into self-assurance. We’re not just talking about coping mechanisms or temporary relief but true transformation. By helping women become emotional alchemists, we empower them not just to avoid burnout but to lead a more peaceful, powerful, prosperous life on their own terms.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
For those who are keen to follow my work in more depth, I invite you to explore the following avenues:
- Website: Visit www.epiphanyfinancialtherapy.com for an extensive array of resources, updates, and information about our signature trifecta financial therapy framework, specifically designed to revolutionize your relationship with money.
- Upcoming books: Keep an eye out for my two forthcoming books centered on financial therapy. Release dates and pre-order information will be available on the website.
- LinkedIn: For real-time updates and professional insights, I encourage you to connect with both me and Epiphany Financial Therapy on LinkedIn.
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. It’s been an honor to delve into the roots of your leadership journey, and we are grateful for the wisdom you’ve shared.
About the Interviewer: Cynthia Corsetti is an esteemed executive coach with over two decades in corporate leadership and 11 years in executive coaching. Author of the upcoming book, “Dark Drivers,” she guides high-performing professionals and Fortune 500 firms to recognize and manage underlying influences affecting their leadership. Beyond individual coaching, Cynthia offers a 6-month executive transition program and partners with organizations to nurture the next wave of leadership excellence.
Khwan Hathai Of Epiphany Financial Therapy: Here Are The Things That Happened in My Childhood That… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.