My Journey

From Alabama to Wall Street

The Early Years

Many have asked, “How did the little girl who grew up in a 2-bedroom mobile home in rural Alabama with livestock in the backyard make it to the Big Apple, let alone the Big Board?”

I had no precedence for the work as no one in my immediate circle talked about or discussed stocks, or even money for the most part. But what I did see growing up were a lot of hard-working people. I believe that my story illustrates that your circumstances, identity, socioeconomic status, and social capital do not determine your outcome.

Being young and watching my family experience financial hardships shaped my philosophy on money management. My upbringing was a stark contrast to my career working at the New York Stock Exchange – the premier and largest global exchange where buyers and sellers come together to trade shares of public companies.

At the age of 21, I graduated with my B.S. in finance from Tuskegee University (a historically black college and university), left my Southern roots and made my mark on Wall Street.

In 2006 I chose to leave the Exchange to pursue an MBA and two years later found myself graduating from business school in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis. Although I secured a well-paying job in investment management, 9-months later I underwent a restructure and lost my job. While thousands of others across the globe were enduring something similar… after shattering glass ceilings and becoming a historical first it was a humbling experience.

Current Work

With 20 years of Wall Street and nonprofit experience, I deliver solid results in operations, strategy, and fundraising. In my first two years, I helped ACE secure its largest seven figure individual and corporate grants, respectively.

Prior to joining Zane Venture Fund and ACE, I was Vice President, Corporate Partnerships at Points of Light in Atlanta and Senior Director of Alternative Investments for Sponsors for Educational Opportunity in New York City. I also served as Interim Executive Director and Director of Finance for a Kaplan Higher Education college in Maryland, a Private Client Manager at US Trust and a New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Equity Trader for Merrill Lynch.

I staunchly believe that representation matters and in inspiring the next generation of leaders, especially young women of color who might see themselves in me. I am a walking example of how access, hard-work and tenacity can dramatically shift the trajectory of a person’s life.

As I think about personal legacy, I know that success does not equal significance. For five years, I led an alternative investment fellowship program in NYC to ensure others gained access to the industry. Today, supporting traditionally overlooked small business owners and entrepreneurs with innovative ideas is core to my work. Going forward I will continue to share my gifts and talents in a meaningful way to help create collective prosperity, democratize access to capital and expand opportunities.