Editor's Note: Watch Suze Orman on AC360° tonight at 10pm ET.

Suze Orman
Special to AC360°

Look, there’s no denying that Wall Street is quite the boy’s club. But that doesn’t mean you can’t carve out an amazing career; it just means that women might need to fall back on their great intelligence rather than their golf game or frat connections.

You want to talk about not fitting in? I was 29 years old with a resume that simply read “waitress” when I interviewed for a job in a broker-training program. The guy who interviewed me openly shared with me his belief that women should be barefoot and pregnant. That was 1980! But I managed to get the position, and well, you sort of know the rest.

If I was able to find my way, so too can you.

I actually think it may be easier for women after the financial crisis. It’s clear the days of easy-money are long gone. Individuals and businesses are more attuned to making every penny work hard for them and are going to insist that anyone with a stake in their financial lives deliver the goods. That means more emphasis on talent, and less emphasis on chumminess.

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Program Note: Tune in tonight to watch Suze Orman discuss women in the workplace. AC360° at 10 p.m. ET.

Suze Orman
The Shriver Report
The Center for American Progress

We need to move money front and center in this conversation. Not later. Right now.

I am excited that “A Woman’s Nation Changes Everything” is bringing such formidable intellectual power to bear on the vitally important topic of how women’s evolving role in every facet of society can be better served by corporate and legislative policy. But all of our best efforts will be for naught if we don’t focus on the real catalyst for change—altering the dysfunctional relationship many women have with money, especially women who are struggling to survive in abusive relationships but also including those many women who are now coming to terms with the “power of the purse” as the new breadwinners in American society.

It starts with basic financial literacy. In the recent Prudential study “Financial Experience & Behaviors Among Women,” less than 25 percent of the women surveyed said they are “very well prepared” to make financial decisions.1 Women are grappling with everyday spending, savings, and investment decisions, often after earning the lioness’ share of the family income, yet they feel overwhelmed and underqualified to put that hard-earned money to work. How can we expect women who cannot understand or manage their own family finances to climb the ladder at a Fortune 500 company?

Until women accept the need to make themselves a priority, they will continue to struggle to find their way in the new world order. Women need to feel great about using their hard-earned money to fund a Roth IRA rather than using the money to buy more things their already cared-for kids don’t really need. Women need to say no when asked to co-sign a loan because they know it may jeopardize their own credit score and financial security. To allay very real bag-lady fears,2 women must see the value of paying down their mortgage to ensure a secure retirement rather than sending that money to a grown child with a full-time job and ample income to help pay down student loan debt.

The money disconnect is just as pervasive for stay-at-home mothers. Please let’s not lose sight of this vitally important subset of our female population. I am talking about stay-at-home moms who come to me for advice on how to ask their partner for money since he is the one earning the money. I tell them: You don’t ask. You share. A woman needs to understand her equal value to her family. She needs to respect herself. She needs to not put herself on sale.

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Program Note: To watch the full interview tune in Friday, May 1, at 11 p.m. ET for the Time 100/Anderson Cooper 360° Special

Susan Chun
AC360° Producer

When I heard I was producing this segment with Suzy Welch, business journalist, interviewing Suze Orman, personal finance expert, I knew two things right off the bat. First I knew I would be meeting two smart, powerful women with strong personalities. And because of this, I knew second that I would be witnessing a fascinating conversation. I wasn’t wrong. We did the interview at the New York Stock Exchange, overlooking the trading floor.

We managed to squeeze four cameras, a multitude of lights, two director's chairs, and a small army of CNN staffers on to the 2nd floor balcony right above the floor. The setting was appropriate for both women since both had come out with books in the past year giving advice to people during these tough economic times. Suze Orman had also rung the opening bell at the NYSE a few weeks ago. That day, her manager and partner was quick to point out, was one of the rare days the market closed up.

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Anderson talks to Suze Orman about her thoughts on the current state of the economy and what we can do about it.

Program Note: Suze Orman's on AC360° to discuss how to keep your money safe.

Suze will be back on AC360° on Wednesday night to answer your economic questions? Do you have questions about the continued economic trouble and how President Obama's economic plan will change the market; affect your stocks, mutual funds, 401(k)… your job?

Suze's book, " Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan," is currently number one on the New York Times bestseller list and she answers these questions, and many more!

Submit your financial questions here for Suze Orman and watch AC360° to get them answered.

Program Note: Suze Orman's on AC360° to discuss how to keep your money safe.

Have questions about how the continued economic trouble and Obama's economic plan will change the market; affect your stocks, mutual funds, 401(k)… your job?

Suze's book, " Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan," is currently number one on the New York Times bestseller list and she answers these questions, and many more!

Submit your financial questions here for Suze Orman and watch AC360° to get them answered.

Program Note: Suze Orman will be on AC360° tonight at 10pm ET to discuss how to keep your money safe.

Have questions about how the continued economic trouble and Obama's economic plan will change the market; affect your stocks, mutual funds, 401(k)… your job?

Submit your financial questions here for Suze Orman and watch AC360° tonight 10p ET to get them answered.

Program Note: Suze Orman will be on AC360° tonight at 10pm ET to discuss how to keep your money safe.

Have questions about how the continued economic trouble will change the market; affect your stocks, mutual funds, 401(k)... your job?

Submit your financial questions here for Suze Orman and watch AC360° tonight 10p ET to get them answered.

Editor’s note: Tonight on AC360° Suze Orman returned to discuss the tumbling financial markets and answered your questions. Here is what she had to say:

Anderson Cooper: A lot of questions, a lot submitted on the AC360° blog. There is down right fear, panic. Is that counterproductive?

Suze Orman: It is not counterproductive, it’s real. It’s how people feel and the markets are made up of how people feel. They buy or they sell based on their emotions, Anderson. It’s how it has always been. When Ali does this thing with the drugs, I was talking to you before we went on air, this is what is happening. People feel they need medication because they are panicking.

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