My Story

Arriving at Harvard as a freshman was something of a dream. I was surrounded by an abundance of resources, and for the first time, felt like I was no longer poor. It was a miracle.

I immersed myself in the experience–made good friends, joined the choir, and explored my academic interests in African American social issues. (I was drawn to understanding why poverty persisted in my community, and boy did I learn a lot about systemic oppression!)

When I graduated, working in education was a natural next step. After all, education had saved me from my circumstances and helped me access an entirely different life. I wanted to help others do the same.

I worked in “college access” – helping low-income families across the country gain access to elite educational opportunities – for years. I loved the work. But loving your work doesn’t automatically translate to financial security.

By my thirties, I had another wake-up call. And this is the part I wish someone had told me when I was 18.

I was living in a tiny studio apartment, spending lots of money on my car note, student loans (from graduate school–college was free!), and credit card bills from the debt I had been accumulating over the years.

In some ways, I felt like a success. My community had celebrated my achievement of an Ivy League degree. I was doing work that I loved. And I had just taken an international trip to see Beyoncé perform in Portugal for my golden birthday!
But something wasn’t right financially. I was earning a lot less than my friends from college, and honestly feeling pretty broke at the end of each month.

That’s when I realized I was going to have to get intentional about money.

I set out on a journey to make more money, manage it better, and start investing.

In just a few years, I had eliminated my debt, doubled my salary, and joined the FIRE movement (which stands for “Financial Independence, Retire Early”) by investing in index funds.

By the time I got laid off, I was in a strong enough position that I didn’t need to immediately jump into another job.

I took advantage of my newfound free time to travel, hang out with friends around the country, and try out the digital nomad life. After enjoying several months off, I decided to accept a senior position at a mission-driven organization with a leader whom I adored.

I still work in education today. I didn’t have to change careers or make any drastic investing moves to turn things around financially. There truly is a simpler way.

I’ve now written two books sharing everything I learned:

The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom helps women of color break free from debt, challenge what we’ve been taught about money, and build generational wealth.

The Student’s Guide to Financial Freedom gives teens and young adults the roadmap I wish I’d had—how to graduate debt-free, negotiate your first salary, start investing early, and build wealth before you waste years making expensive mistakes.

Whether you’re reclaiming your financial power or getting a head start on building wealth, I’m here to show you the path forward.