Davida Lara Urges Women to Invest in Themselves and Build Financial Confidence
At this year’s Power Women Summit, women from across the entertainment industry gathered to talk candidly about the issues shaping their careers and futures. Throughout the event, one message echoed through the hallways, breakout rooms, and coffee lines: women in entertainment aren’t just ready to lead—they’re ready to lead with confidence.
Few people embody that confidence more than Davida Lara, EVP of Payroll Services at Entertainment Partners. A champion for women and a fierce advocate for payroll professionals, Lara is widely known for her signature line, “Payroll is sexy!” She serves on the board of Women in Film (WIF), champions equitable hiring and diversity behind the scenes, and has earned industry-wide recognition—including a recent PayrollOrg Citation of Merit—honoring her contributions to global payroll excellence.
The Power Women Summit exists to inspire and activate women, and Lara did exactly that. A force in every sense of the word, her bold ideas, unapologetic energy, and deep commitment to empowering women made her message land exactly where it’s needed most: in a room full of leaders ready to take ownership of their financial futures.
Why financial confidence matters, especially in entertainment
The entertainment industry is rich with opportunity, but it’s also uniquely complex when it comes to money. Income fluctuates. Contracts shift mid-project. Residuals, bonuses, and performance-based pay structures evolve year to year. And one unexpected change can reshape your entire financial picture overnight.
Lara reminded the audience that confidence starts with clarity: knowing your worth, understanding your money, and refusing to treat financial conversations as taboo. “It’s hard to make confident decisions when you don’t have clear or accessible information,” she said. “And for women in entertainment, the stakes are even higher.”
She would know. Much of Lara’s career has been devoted to building systems, communities, and educational pathways that help women understand how they’re paid—and how to protect themselves in an industry where financial literacy is essential.
Nicole Lapin moderates 'Invest in Yourself: Building Financial Confidence' at the Power Women Summit (Rob Latour for TheWrap)
Turning financial knowledge into power
Lara joined a powerhouse panel of women—Kristina Royce (Blank Rome), Rachel Gottlieb (Morgan Stanley), and Gen Z financial expert Taylor Price—for the session “Invest in Yourself: Building Financial Confidence.”
Moderated by Nicole Lapin, host of Money Rehab and founder of Money News Network, the discussion cut straight to the point: financial education is not optional. It’s protection.
The panel walked through the foundational concepts every woman should understand before life hands her a high-stakes moment:
- What is financial lingo, like EBITDA—and why does it matter to know the terminology?
- How do index funds work, and why are they a simple path to long-term wealth?
- What is compound interest, and why is it one of the most powerful forces in finance?
- How does understanding your paycheck—including FICA, withholdings, and pre-tax contributions—affect future planning?
These aren’t advanced topics reserved for CFOs. They’re basic building blocks that influence every major career and financial decision, from choosing a job to negotiating contracts to planning for retirement.
The panel also confronted topics women often avoid until it’s too late: estate planning, beneficiary designations, and prenuptial agreements. That last one sparked a moment that made the room go still: if you don’t create your own prenup, the state creates one for you—whether you like it or not.
The example served as a powerful reminder that dodging uncomfortable conversations doesn’t protect women; information does.
Rachel Gottlieb and Taylor Price speak at the Power Women Summit (Rob Latour for TheWrap)
Filling your cart: An investment analogy
Gen Z financial expert Taylor Price delivered one of the most relatable moments of the day when she reframed investing through a simple analogy: your portfolio is your grocery cart.
Just as you wouldn’t fill your cart with only bread or only fruit, you shouldn’t build a portfolio around a single investment type. A healthy cart has balance—produce, proteins, grains, staples, and a few treats. Each category serves a purpose.
Price explained that the same principles apply to money: a diversified mix creates long-term resilience. When one area dips, others help stabilize your financial life.
Heads nodded across the room. Many women have been taught that investing is technical or intimidating. Price proved that with the right language, it becomes intuitive and accessible.
When in doubt, start where you are
The panel kept coming back to one message: when it comes to investing, the single biggest advantage any woman can give herself is not luck or the perfect strategy. It’s time.
The group emphasized the power of compound interest—the quiet, consistent force that builds wealth in the background while you live your life—and referenced a quote widely attributed to Albert Einstein: “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it… he who doesn’t, pays it.”
It’s more than a clever line; it’s a warning.
Every year you delay investing, the math works against you. Waiting for the “right moment” or the “right salary” costs more than most women realize.
So, the panel urged the audience: don’t overthink it—just start. Open an account. Contribute a small amount. Do some research. Momentum builds from the smallest step.
Nicole Lapin also challenged the audience to normalize talking about money and to ask the questions women are taught to avoid:
- How much money do you make?
- How did you handle your divorce?
- What mistakes did you make with money?
- How did you negotiate that offer?
- What would you do differently?
“You learn from people who’ve lived it,” Lapin noted. “Their experience protects you.”
Lara urges women: “Start small, be curious, and don’t wait for a crisis”
Building on the themes of action and conversation, Lara brought the discussion back to the power of taking small, consistent steps. “Financial confidence doesn’t come from one big change,” she said. “It comes from daily habits.”
She encouraged women to begin with tasks they’re rarely taught to prioritize:
- Read your paycheck: FICA, deductions, employer contributions—every line matters. If you don’t know where your money is going, you’re not in control.
- Invest in yourself—emotionally, professionally, and financially: Women will research skincare ingredients for hours but rarely give their retirement plan the same attention. Redirect energy toward your financial life. It literally pays dividends.
- Be proactive about financial education: “Don’t learn how money works while dealing with a high-emotion, high-stakes situation.” says Lara. “Learn now and be ready.”
- Get curious about money: Ask all the questions and get advice and insight from peers, family, mentors, and experts. Curiosity is a strength, not a weakness.
Money provides options, and options provide safety. Financial confidence gives you the power to walk away from toxic work, leave unsafe relationships, and live your life on your own terms.
“Nice things are nice,” Lara said, “but financial freedom is better.”
Davida Lara, Kristina Royce and Rachel Gottlieb (Rob Latour for TheWrap)
Using financial independence as a leadership tool
When you’re financially stretched or unsure, people can sense it—and it subtly affects how comfortable you feel initiating hard conversations. Leaders who lack financial stability can be hesitant to push back, ask direct questions, or challenge unclear decisions, simply because they worry about the potential fallout.
“Women in entertainment carry so much — teams, families, communities,” Lara shared. “Having financial stability lets you lead with clarity.”
Financial independence is a strategic advantage. When you feel secure:
- You negotiate confidently: You’re more likely to push for fair pay and transparency and to decline offers that undervalue your work without second-guessing yourself.
- You speak more freely: You’re more willing to take calculated risks, voice concerns, and make decisions based on what’s right, not what you fear losing.
- You lead teams with greater authenticity: You have the mental space that you need to support others without burning yourself out.
- You can walk away when necessary: Women stay in toxic jobs for far longer when they feel financially trapped. Financial independence breaks that cycle.
Together the panel urged the room to be willing to ask questions and have hard conversations. Confidence grows from action, not perfection.
A community approach to financial empowerment—and a stronger future
While financial independence strengthens individual leadership, Lara was clear that women shouldn’t be expected to go it alone. Money shapes personal choices, but the path to financial empowerment is treating it as a collective effort.
“When women learn together, they rise together,” she said. Community creates accountability and encouragement, a core value that Lara lives by. Her impressive career—where she’s built pathways, training, and mentorship opportunities for women across payroll, production accounting, and entertainment finance—is proof of that philosophy in action.
As entertainment continues to evolve, financial confidence will only grow more essential. Through mentorship, advocacy, and industry innovation, Lara remains committed to building a more informed, equitable future for women. “Knowledge unlocks confidence,” Lara said. “And confident women change industries.”
Reflecting on the summit, Lara’s final message transcends the film industry, speaking to women everywhere: “You are worth the investment. Your time. Your energy. Your education. Your financial future. Start wherever you are, ask questions, and build the skills. And most importantly—don’t do it alone.”
