Danika Waddell, CFP®, is the founder of Xena Financial Planning and Xena Rising, a community-building initiative created to support women leaders in the financial planning profession. In the past year, Danika launched Xena Rising and hosted its inaugural retreat, The Gathering, bringing together women firm owners and industry leaders for intentional conversation, reflection, and connection around leadership, firm building, values, and collective impact. Her work reflects a commitment to strengthening the profession from the inside out. Xena Rising was created in response to a real need Danika saw among women in finance: more spaces for rest, honest peer support, values-driven leadership development, and candid discussion about the future of the industry. She also hosted a retreat-style gathering with Carl Richards focused on money, meaning, and the deeper human work of financial advice.