Mellody Hobson

And ultimately, she's like, no, my name is Linda Frankel and I'm Diane Sawyer's sister. Do you think you can go meet with her in New York? So I go to meet with Diane in New York. And she says, you know, I thought this story was pretty amazing. And I've never seen anyone like you on television talk about money. And I think you could be great. Wow.

And ultimately, she's like, no, my name is Linda Frankel and I'm Diane Sawyer's sister. Do you think you can go meet with her in New York? So I go to meet with Diane in New York. And she says, you know, I thought this story was pretty amazing. And I've never seen anyone like you on television talk about money. And I think you could be great. Wow.

And so she asked me, she says, you know, I think you should be on television talking about money. I said, well, I have a job in Chicago. And she's like, if I make it work on my end, will you make it work on your end? I said, you mean do both? She said, do both. We do this one show. We had these young people come in and I was young myself, but they were young.

And so she asked me, she says, you know, I think you should be on television talking about money. I said, well, I have a job in Chicago. And she's like, if I make it work on my end, will you make it work on your end? I said, you mean do both? She said, do both. We do this one show. We had these young people come in and I was young myself, but they were young.

So I said, yeah. And she's like, you know what happens when she comes out on her show and she's in the middle of the aisle? Everyone wants to hug her. Everyone. She said they want to hug her. And she said, you want to be someone that someone wants to hug. That's not what I saw. Whoa. Feedback. How'd you take that? I was like, wow. Wow.

So I said, yeah. And she's like, you know what happens when she comes out on her show and she's in the middle of the aisle? Everyone wants to hug her. Everyone. She said they want to hug her. And she said, you want to be someone that someone wants to hug. That's not what I saw. Whoa. Feedback. How'd you take that? I was like, wow. Wow.

It felt the truth? Yeah. She's like, that's not what I saw. She's like, you could be honest with someone, but you don't have to hurt their feelings.

It felt the truth? Yeah. She's like, that's not what I saw. She's like, you could be honest with someone, but you don't have to hurt their feelings.

And I remember I never, I mean, I tell you the story like it was yesterday. I never forgot that. It's a great piece of advice.

And I remember I never, I mean, I tell you the story like it was yesterday. I never forgot that. It's a great piece of advice.

Okay, this is funny and this is true. I started off in the industry. I'm 22 years old. I don't know anything. I haven't grown up in the home where the stock market is discussed. I didn't major in finance. I majored in international relations and public policy, but I took a lot of math. I thought about being a math major for a little while.

Okay, this is funny and this is true. I started off in the industry. I'm 22 years old. I don't know anything. I haven't grown up in the home where the stock market is discussed. I didn't major in finance. I majored in international relations and public policy, but I took a lot of math. I thought about being a math major for a little while.

But that, when you get to theoretical math in college, you're not even dealing with numbers. And so I go to work at Ariel. I don't know anything. And one of the first,

But that, when you get to theoretical math in college, you're not even dealing with numbers. And so I go to work at Ariel. I don't know anything. And one of the first,

So then the next person, your melody. And then it's another person, your melody. And I'm like, what is going on? And then I started to realize I'm the only one. I'm the only one. So I was like, wait a minute. What if I use this in my favor?

So then the next person, your melody. And then it's another person, your melody. And I'm like, what is going on? And then I started to realize I'm the only one. I'm the only one. So I was like, wait a minute. What if I use this in my favor?

Not pointing a finger.

Not pointing a finger.

I'm like that. If you can stand out. then have something to say. You better have something to say. Especially in those terms. So then I started to think a lot about, okay, so if you can be a Beyonce or a Cher in terms of a one name individual in an industry. You got to have the skill to back it up. Right. So you have to have something. So no inanities.

I'm like that. If you can stand out. then have something to say. You better have something to say. Especially in those terms. So then I started to think a lot about, okay, so if you can be a Beyonce or a Cher in terms of a one name individual in an industry. You got to have the skill to back it up. Right. So you have to have something. So no inanities.