Blue Ocean Global Technology Interviews Leanna Haakons | Founder of Black Hawk Financial

Leanna Haakons has built her career in the capital markets, earning securities licensing and expertise across global finance and investments. She has lived and worked in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Europe. Today, she is a business development and marketing expert helping global asset managers, portfolio companies, and service providers grow and connect with investors and partners.

She founded Black Hawk Financial in 2014 to serve an international client base, facilitating scalable growth alongside multi-billion-dollar funds, public and private companies, family offices, and other institutional investors.

Her bestselling book, Young, Fun, and Financially Free (2018), established her as a trusted financial literacy voice, with contributions to CNBC, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, NBC, ABC, and more. Harvard-educated in journalism, Leanna is also a frequent moderator, host, and panelist at high-profile global conferences on investing, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, professional athletes, and personal finance.

Blue Ocean: Tell us about your professional journey. What inspired your career in strategic consulting and leadership development?

Leanna Haakons: I was born in Vancouver, studied in Toronto, then continued my education in France before moving to London, where I began my career in finance. Later, I returned to Vancouver to found Black Hawk Financial and write my book, before relocating to New York and Los Angeles.

My focus has always been on institutional wealth and investing, but I’m equally passionate about financial literacy and empowering retail investors. Throughout my career, I’ve combined business development strategy with storytelling and relationship building, making finance more human, accessible, and impactful.

Blue Ocean: What does a typical day look like for you?

Leanna Haakons: I start my mornings by scanning emails, markets, and news before client and media calls. I anchor my days with wellness and mindset work including 10,000 steps a day, meditation, and workouts four to five times a week.

Discipline has always shaped me. Growing up, I was a competitive ski racer, which taught me persistence, multitasking, respect for my coaches and teammates, and focus under pressure. Those lessons have carried through into entrepreneurship.

Blue Ocean: What trends in finance and investor education excite you most right now?

Leanna Haakons: I’m excited about the shift toward values-based and accessible investing, especially as trillions in wealth is now transferring from baby boomers to millennials, Gen Z, and increasingly, women.

Today, financial conversations often begin with lifestyle questions: What does freedom mean to you? Why do you want to invest? Personal motivators make investing more relevant and empowering.

I’m also encouraged by the democratization of investing through digital platforms, which accelerated during COVID. Low-fee platforms like Robinhood opened access to ETFs, stocks, and crypto, giving individuals more control over their futures.

Blue Ocean: You’ve built a reputation for transforming complexity into clarity. How do you stand out in such a crowded space?

Leanna Haakons: I always focus on the why: Why this strategy? Why this fund? Why this opportunity?

With tighter capital availability, differentiation and personalization is crucial. Too often, financial communication sounds identical, filled with jargon that alienates investors. My work is about stripping away complexity, articulating value, and delivering clarity.

Clarity builds credibility, and credibility builds trust.

Blue Ocean: How do you connect with younger generations on the importance of living “wellthy”?

Leanna Haakons: My book grew out of my own story. When I moved back to my hometown of Vancouver after college, I bought my first home while working an entry-level job by living modestly, saving aggressively, and cultivating discipline. That early win showed me the power of prudent financial choices and compounding returns.

Even as kids, my siblings and I ran a “business,” selling cookies and sodas outside a golf course. Those lessons, combined with my ski racing discipline, inspired my Wellthy content.

Ultimately, wealth isn’t just about money, it’s about freedom of choice, wellness, and self-care. Living “wellthy” emphasizes that how you treat your body and mind directly impacts your career and financial decision-making.

Blue Ocean: What lessons have you learned building Black Hawk Financial over the past 11 years?

Leanna Haakons: Resilience is everything. Entrepreneurship is a cycle of highs and lows, and success depends on how quickly you bounce back. Financial literacy in both business and personal life is also key. I recommend a three- to six-month “cash cushion” for each. Having a safety net creates peace of mind and protects clarity and grit.

Relationships and trust matter most. Since I was 19, working in the financial sector, I’ve reached out to CEOs and investors for lunch, dinner, or coffee, always insisting on paying the bill, even when I could barely afford it. I also call myself the “queen of polite persistence.” Small, consistent gestures like sharing an article, writing thank-you notes, and expressing genuine gratitude for people’s time builds trust and respect, opening doors you never thought possible.

Blue Ocean: What motivates you to give back?

Leanna Haakons: Perspective. Financial literacy changes generational trajectories, which is why the proceeds from my book support programs that create income opportunities for people in developing countries.

Personally, giving back has helped me navigate many of life’s challenges. Volunteering regularly provides perspective, gratitude, and healing. As the golden rule says: pour into others what has been poured into you.

Blue Ocean: How do you define success today, and what advice would you give your younger self?

Leanna Haakons: Success isn’t a “number.” It’s freedom and impact. The ability to live on your terms and create opportunities for others.

My advice to my younger self:

• Trust your instincts—if something feels off, walk away.
• Take risks sooner—growth happens outside your comfort zone.
• Own your worth—clarity on value prevents selling yourself short.

Blue Ocean: What unique value do you bring to organizations and audiences?

Leanna Haakons: I blend capital markets fluency with storytelling and a media platform. Contributing to CNBC, Bloomberg, and hosting global conferences amplifies client messages in unique ways.

While I believe my experience and skills are valuable, my greatest asset isn’t skill-based, it’s integrity. Knowledge can be learned; integrity cannot. Trust and honesty create relationships that endure, and that forms the foundation of everything I do.

Blue Ocean: What philosophy guides you?

Leanna Haakons: I keep two quotes on my iPhone as wallpaper for daily reminders. The first:
“Don’t use your energy to worry. Use your energy to believe, create, trust, grow, glow, manifest, and heal.”

The second, from Galatians 6:9:
“Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we don’t give up.”
They remind me that persistence and goodness yield rewards in time.

Blue Ocean: What brings you joy outside of work?

Leanna Haakons: Travel and wellness are central to my life. I fell in love with Italy, where I was knighted in 2023, and now study Italian weekly.

I also have a passion for fashion. I modeled and acted in my teens and 20s, and I stay active through pilates, hiking, biking, and long walks with my dog Mickey. Mentoring young professionals has also become deeply rewarding as I’ve transitioned from mentee to mentor.

Conclusion

Leanna Haakons is a financial expert and entrepreneur whose career blends institutional knowledge with a passion for wellness, literacy, and values. Her resilience, international experience, and integrity allow her to simplify finance while inspiring others to pursue both personal and professional growth.