My mother always wanted me to be in the best environment that I could be in. She wanted me to go to the best schools. Every now and again she'd save up enough for us to get a nice apartment in downtown Chicago, but we were never able to sustain it.
I have a strong point of view, and that's a double-edged sword. It can be a phenomenal characteristic in terms of getting things done, but it can also mean I will be relentless in my pushing for my point of view.
The first thing I do after waking up is check my phone for news. I like to make sure the world is still here and understand what happened overnight.
A year's worth of Social Security for an individual is not considered to be below the poverty level, and yet we know that would be extraordinarily tough to live on.
Now I know there are people out there who will say that the election of Barack Obama meant that it was the end of racial discrimination for all eternity, right? But I work in the investment business, and we have a saying: The numbers do not lie.
I know that my life is a miracle and because of that, I can't think my success is because I was so great at this, that or the other. A lot of things happened and came together. A lot of people went out of their way for me.
When you grow up in America today, most schools don't teach you about money and investing. You could literally take a class in woodshop or auto in high school and not take a class on money.
The average American has 11 jobs in their lifetime, and I've only had one.
I grew up in Chicago with a single mother. I'm the youngest of six kids, and my older siblings are much older than me. When your siblings are that much older, you never get to ride in the front seat of the car, you never get the chicken breast.
I always felt very insecure financially as a child. I was desperate to understand money as a child. I was desperate to be secure. Because I always felt like the rug could be pulled from under me.
I was in the Woodrow Wilson School of international relations and public policy at Princeton. You have to apply to get in, and I did not originally get in. I lobbied really hard and called many people. I just would not take no for an answer.
When people look at all the things I do, they say it's overwhelming, but I don't feel overwhelmed. I get it done. I'm very organized, and it's all tied together.
Even though I will never be evicted again, I am haunted by those times and still work relentlessly.
When I think of my career and why I leaned in, it comes down to basic survival.
I found my own orthodontist, my own high school. I set up interviews and did college trips. Despite her incredible concern and caring, my mom didn't have the capacity for that. It was outside her experience, and she knew I was on top of it.
We cannot afford to be color-blind, we have to be color-brave.
You know, when you're the youngest kid, you kind of get the last of everything.
I grew up going to a school where there weren't a lot of black kids. And so my mother, from a very, very young age, has sensitized me to race.
I loved college, I loved Princeton.
I don't want to be a victim. I want to be a victor.
