Martina Edwards may be a lot of things but quitting in the face of adversity has never been one of her attributes. In this motivational talk, Edwards will share her journey — from being raised in rural Alabama to breaking barriers on Wall Street and beyond. The audience will be inspired by her personal and professional experiences as she connects the dots on the power of bold thinking, self-confidence, serving others and living up to your own greatness. She explores activating the power within you to overcome not only challenging external obstacles but also internal fears that can become barriers to success. Audiences will walk away motivated to dig deep and push through to achieve the greatness that is in store for them.

For Martina Edwards, thinking outside of self and opening doors for others has always been at the forefront. From her early days growing up in Beatrice, Alabama, which has a population today of just under 400 people, she is familiar with wealth, access and opportunity gaps. And throughout her 20-plus year career, she’s made it her mission to be an investor in people and places. Edwards is passionate about serving others and closing the gap of economic divide. In fact, equity is central to all that she does. As an executive at ACE, she helps underserved small business owners and entrepreneurs with capital, coaching and connections. Their success, in turn, lifts their communities as a whole. “Economic parity is when you truly have freedom,” Edwards says. In this inspiring talk, Edwards will share her personal journey and the obstacles she faced, which are still in place for so many others today. She’ll discuss the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and how we can all actively participate in empowering people to create economic prosperity that transcends to others.

Martina Edwards’ professional journey has taken her to the highest of heights. But what she’s most proud of is her ability to help others. In fact, one of Edwards’ personal mantras is to “Serve Invest and Return Value (SIRV).” Knowing that equity, access and opportunity lead to social benefits that reverberate through communities creating financial upswings and collective prosperity, she offers sage advice and insights from her two decades of experience being a leader, mentor and multiplier. From her five years in New York City leading an alternative investment fellowship program promoting diversity for underrepresented talent to her executive roles in community and economic development democratizing access to capital for entrepreneurs, she underscores the value of diversity and role of mentors in her personal career journey.

When it comes to struggling through poverty, Martina Edwards has had a front-row seat. After her parents divorced when Edwards was nine, she watched her mother deal with many financial hardships — working two jobs to make ends meet and going through bankruptcy. Yet despite those hard times, Edwards says she never felt like she lacked for anything. The community was tight-knit and she experienced a wealth of love from her huge extended family. That is one of the reasons why Edwards is so passionate about helping others. In this talk, she discusses with students what it takes to be successful; why you need to find your own path; and how to go out in the world career-ready. She also discusses the importance of being financially literate: why you need to invest, have an equity mindset and give back to others. Edwards proves that hard work and smart financial moves, coupled with talent, are a recipe for success. And by taking these steps now, they can change your life. It all starts by owning your greatness and forging your path.