The Money Proust Questionnaire - Zeva Bellel
Women I like and admire about their relationship with MONEY
Dear readers, here is the second edition of The Money Proust Questionnaire, a place half serious half whimsical, where women I like and admire talk freely about the money continent of their lives, explored and unexplored. I hope you like it and if you do, please forward it to your loved ones to help me spread the rodeo spirit!
In case you were wondering, here is where to further discover my work:
My podcast and book “The rules of the Game” about being a woman at work.
My podcast about how to invest one’s savings “The Starter Pack” (Fra)
The Money Proust Questionnaire of Zeva Bellel
Zeva Bellel is American, and the best embodiment of what that means to the rest of the world: enthusiastic, determined, forward moving. She also happens to be the best coach out there. Years ago, she decided Paris was her land of choice and packed her life to start from scratch and build something new. A few moons later she has built a lot indeed: a family, a community (she was in charge of European markets at Yelp for years), and a business, a Substack and a successful podcast, On Becoming, in the latest season of which she explores female creativity (love it!). As a career & leadership coach, Zeva empowers women professionally and helps them find the true path to themselves. I met Zeva at a time I was a bit lost in the fog myself and am grateful she has been in my life since.
Thank you so much Zeva for sharing your money journey with us, for the generosity of your answers, and the strength that comes out of them.
What is your current state of mind regarding your finances?
I waver between calm and completely panicked, depending on how much I follow the chaos that ensued with the Trump administration's tariffs and market warfare. I find it more challenging than ever to think about revenue streams and long-term investments given the rapid-evolution of our global state of affairs.
What image comes to mind when you hear the word “money”?
I think of a giant piggy bank with dollar signs for eyes.
Was money a discussed topic in your household while growing up?
Yes! My parents separated when I was three, and they’ve always had radically different relationships with money. My mom is intentional and thoughtful with her finances. She spends and saves wisely, prioritizing quality essentials and giving generously to the people and causes she loves. My dad, on the other hand, is a good investor but also a spontaneous spender. He can’t resist a bargain, even if he doesn’t need the item. Their contrasting money styles were actually a major source of tension in their relationship.
Did you have pocket money?
When I was a pre-teen, shopping with me became so unbearable (our tastes were completely at odds) that my mom made a radical decision: she handed over the reins. She gave me a monthly allowance, which I deposited into a savings account and withdrew from as needed. I was suddenly in charge of my own wardrobe and expenses. It turned out to be one of the best life lessons. I learned to weigh my choices carefully, to save for the things that truly mattered, and to resist the pull of frivolous, impulsive buys.
Do you remember the feeling associated with your first ever purchase?
I think I probably felt free, but also responsible. When you get to choose what you spend your money on, it matures you quickly.
If your relationship with money was an animal?
If my relationship with money were an animal, it’d be a large tortoise. Slow-moving, but solid. Steady, deliberate, and not easily shaken. It might not be flashy, but it knows how to get where it’s going and it carries what it needs on its back.
If you have brothers and / or sisters, do you all have the same relationship with money?
I have a half-sister who’s 17 years younger than me. I’m really not sure what her money relationship is like to be honest.
What is the best money advice you have ever heard?
Don’t spend money you don’t have. It’s a boundary, a compass, and a practice in self-respect all at once.
What did you do with your first salary?
Knowing me, I probably deposited it into my savings account.
Do you remember the first time money allowed you to do something you dreamed of?
I remember it vividly. In 1999, I’d saved up $8,000 before moving to Paris. I had no job, no apartment, and no concrete plan—just a lifelong dream of becoming Parisian. That money wasn’t just a safety net; it was a passport to possibility. It gave me the courage to uproot my life and start over in a city I’d romanticized since childhood. Without it, I’m not sure I would’ve had the confidence to leap into the unknown.
You are an entrepreneur: do you have a conscious strategy to increase your revenues?
Yes, absolutely. I’m intentional about growing revenue in a way that aligns with my mission and fuels creative freedom. I’m deepening my one-on-one and corporate work, while expanding into more scalable and creatively stimulating offerings—like live events, digital workbooks, and group programs that foster real community and momentum. I’m also growing my Substack and podcast, On Becoming, as both visibility and revenue channels. The podcast is a powerful platform for thought leadership, cross-pollination, and future monetization through sponsorships or live formats. The goal isn’t just more income, it’s building an ecosystem where every piece supports women in their evolution, while allowing the business to grow with integrity and joy. Long-term, this also means carving out space for book projects and other creative endeavors that keep my work fresh, curious, and fully alive.
How did your revenues evolve between the beginning of your professional journey and today?
In the beginning, my revenue was modest and mostly tied to a pay-for-time model. Coaching sessions and workshops were at the core, and I was saying yes to everything to keep things afloat. Over time, as I grew more confident in my value and clearer about my mission, I began shifting toward a more diversified ecosystem. That’s meant moving beyond just trading time for money and building multiple, aligned revenue streams: from coaching packages and corporate work to digital products, group programs, my Substack, and a podcast that’s growing into its own platform. It’s been a gradual evolution, but one that’s brought more stability, creative energy, and the ability to scale impact without burning out.
What is your greatest extravagance?
My trips back home to the USA twice a year to visit with friends and family.
What is your greatest material fear?
The fear of not having enough. Of losing everything overnight. Of watching all your assets turn to dust in some global hellscape scenario. I know it’s irrational (or at least exaggerated) but I still have to actively fight it. Today’s global fragility doesn’t exactly help. It’s a deeply inherited fear, a generational undercurrent that still holds sway, even when I know better. It’s less about the numbers in the bank and more about an old, internalized belief that security is fragile, conditional, and never quite guaranteed.
What is the worst financial decision you ever made?
When I was working at Yelp, I received stock options that vested over my time with the company. At one point, the stock price shot up past $100 a share. Some of my colleagues sold their shares and walked away with small fortunes. But I got greedy. I assumed the price would keep climbing. It didn’t. I held on too long and eventually sold at a much lower value. It was a tough lesson in timing, risk, and the very human tendency to want more—even when enough is already on the table.
What is the best financial decision you ever made?
Buying my apartment in Paris with my husband 15 years ago. Every month, instead of throwing money away on rent, we’re building equity and investing in something that’s truly ours. In a city like Paris, that kind of decision only becomes more valuable over time.
What is the stupidest thing you saw someone do with his or her money?
Use up all of the money in their retirement fund to support a dying business.
If you could change something in your relationship with money what would it be?
Have a more trusting relationship with it. Think about it as something that’s constant and supportive rather than a source of anxiety and pressure.
What were your professional money milestones?
My money milestones have always been about being able to support myself and see my business grow while doing work that I believe in and that nourishes me intellectually, creatively and socially.
Do you invest your money?
Yes, this was something that I learned from my mom at an early age.
You have two children. Do you educate them financially?
Yes, I do. Both of my boys have their own bank accounts where they can save for future purchases. That said, they have very different relationships to money. My oldest is a natural saver—patient, resilient, and pretty strategic. My youngest, on the other hand, is more of a spender. If he gets money from a grandma or the tooth fairy, he’s already planning his trip to the store. Recently, I signed my teenager up for a Pixpay card so he can manage his allowance digitally. It gives him more autonomy while allowing us to oversee his spending.
What is your wisest financial habit?
My wisest financial habit is staying in a regular relationship with my money. I check in often—especially when things feel tight—and I try not to bury my head in the sand. I keep an eye on spending, put money aside when I can, and pause before making big purchases.
You are married – do you have a conscientious strategy of money management with your partner?
Yes, and I feel really lucky about that. We’ve always had a healthy relationship with money. It’s never been a source of strain or stress in our marriage. Early on, we set up a joint account and each contributed equally to cover family expenses. Over the years, we’ve supported one another through the natural ebbs and flows. When one of us was earning less, the other stepped in without drama. I can’t say we have a formal financial strategy, but our values and communication around money are very aligned. And that, more than any system, is what makes it work.
A new banknote is issued. Who would you choose to have it printed on it?
“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.” If I could choose anyone to appear on a new banknote, it would be Maya Angelou—with that quote right beside her. Her presence on currency would be a powerful reminder that true wealth isn’t just about accumulation—it’s about living with purpose, dignity, and love.
What financial skill would you like to master?
Helping other women learn the basics of financial literacy because I see so many women stay in bad relationships or stuck situations because they literally can’t afford otherwise.
What is your financial strength?
Creativity. To think outside the box, pivot quickly, and stay open to new ideas. I’m not afraid to reinvent or experiment with new revenue streams. In unstable or unpredictable times, that kind of creative agility is a real asset. It keeps things moving, and it keeps me grounded in possibility rather than fear.
Are there people you admire in the way they use their money?
I admire wealthy women who use their financial power to invest in women-owned businesses, initiatives, and causes. Philanthropy is wonderful, and many give generously to charities and nonprofits, but I’m especially inspired by those who also use their capital to create long-term, systemic change. By funding ventures that uplift other women, they activate a virtuous cycle of empowerment, ownership, and opportunity. It’s a powerful model for future generations of earners and a reminder that money can be a force for deep, structural good.
If money had a face?
If money had a face, I imagine it as a warm, wise, and very stylish older woman. The kind with soft, generous eyes, a confident smile, and a lifetime of smart, soulful stories to share. She’d sit you down at her kitchen table, pour you something warm, look you straight in the heart, and remind you that money is just a means to help you become more of who you truly are. Not something to fear, or worship. That’s the energy I want money to carry in my life: grounded, generous, and guiding.
Thank you Zeva!
You liked it, you loathed it, you had more questions to ask and are not done with it? Please get in touch and let me know.
Clara