The MAIAs celebrate the various ways people have found to educate others about their finances. However, just getting the message out there can be tricky.

MAIA co-founder Trudi Harris Dubon said, “Educating young people about Financial Literacy is essential, but sharing that knowledge can sometimes be challenging. Influencers on platforms like YouTube are in a perfect position to reach large younger audiences.”

One such YouTuber is the influencer Mathura Kannan and her Money Matter$ show which was runner-up in the Best Influencer Project at the 2022 MAIAs.

The Money Matter$ show airs every Sunday at 3 pm Malaysia time (GMT+8) on Facebook and YouTube. It features Mathura as the host, interviewing various speakers and experts on matters relating to personal finance, business, and entrepreneurship.

“The Money Matter$ show began in 2021 as a way for me to share some of my experiences regarding money management. I went live with the show on Facebook, discussing the topic of ‘How to Get Started’, and the channel was born,” Mathura explains.

“Since then, Money Matter$ has evolved into a weekly show where we feature speakers from various backgrounds sharing their knowledge and experience in the area of money.”

What makes Mathura’s channel so appealing to audiences are the variety of guests, her young and relatable age, and her financial knowledge. In addition, there is also her unique way of looking at finance subjects.

“There is already a lot of content out there on topics such as how to budget, track expenses, or advice on investing, so I wanted to take a different approach,” she says. “However, I noticed there is not much content addressing the stigma around the mistakes people frequently make with money.”

This approach works well in interviews and covers angles that are often not usually explored. “One of my favourite questions on the show is: ‘What is the biggest money mistake you ever made?’ It has led to so many incredible and mind-blowing answers from our guests,” Mathura says.

“The Money Matter$ show has helped a lot of individuals start having conversations about money. It bridges the gaps in experience and knowledge among people from different communities, ages, and backgrounds.”

Mathura also conducts talks and personal finance workshops to help people gain control of their money and develop the right habits. Additionally, as the show is on YouTube, it also serves as a repository of knowledge.

“Among my various projects, the Money Matter$ Talk Show plays an important role. It is a great way to reach out to individuals, via YouTube and Facebook, and serves as an archive of experiences,” Mathura says.

Looking to the future, she wants the notion of creating and providing a repository of information to continue.

“In three years, I would like Money Matter$ to be a brand known amongst teens and young adults, serving as a hub for finance-related conversations, knowledge, and experience. Accompanied by my book, workshop, and coaching, I hope to continue inspiring the younger generation to be wiser in their money management.”

MAIA co-founder Trudi Harris Dubon said, “Mathura is an enthusiastic speaker, interviewer, and educator.

 The channel helps younger people starting out on their financial journey and provides incredibly valuable advice. What’s more, as the number of videos continues to grow, it will become a growing resource of information for whoever needs it.”

For more information about Money Matter$, you can see the videos here or email us at michael@maiawards.org.