Start With A Win - She Was Homeless Now She is Millionaire

Episode Date: July 24, 2024

Ever wondered what it would be like to be in a person’s mind that has a mindset of pushing beyond their limits, knowing the importance of education and perseverance, and the impact of living a life driven by purpose and continuous growth?  Today on Start With a Win, Adam Contos sits down with Grace Vandercruze, an inspiring leader with a remarkable journey from a homeless shelter to a formidable force in investment banking. Despite facing significant personal challenges, Grace has risen to prominence, mastering the art of mergers, acquisitions, and financial strategy. She shares her story of resilience, the influence of her grandmother's wisdom, and her adventurous spirit that led her to climb over 25 mountain peaks.  As a bestselling author, she shares insights into her incredible journey, emphasizing the importance of self-belief.  This episode is a must-listen to glean wisdom from a leader who has not only conquered the corporate world but also scaled some of the world's highest peaks.Grace Vandecruze is twenty years into a successful career as an investment banker, focused on the financial services industry, after having spent seven years as a financial auditor in public accounting. She is an insurance investment banking expert, advising companies and insurance regulators on mergers & acquisitions, financings, capital strategies, valuation, restructuring, private placements, due diligence and other transactions. She has developed an in-depth knowledge of all forms of corporate insurance and financial services transactions and financings in the debt and equity markets. Ms. Vandecruze has worked on numerous restructurings, debt and equity offerings (including IPOs), M&A transactions, demutualizations and regulatory projects in the global life and P&C reinsurance and insurance markets and more broadly in financial services.Ms. Vandecruze is active in the community and serves on numerous corporate boards, is a licensed sailor and has participated in several Wharton Leadership Treks which includes climbing over 25 mountain peaks on three continents.  She is the international best-selling author of “Homeless to Millionaire - 6 Keys to UPLIFT Your Financial Abundance." ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱?  ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership===========================Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 ===========================YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEOApple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT===========================Connect with Adam:===========================Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/Facebook  ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEOTwitter  ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOInstagram  ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactoryBecome a Wealth Builder at https://wwamasterclass.com

I knew that I would have to walk into places and trust myself, even if my walk would be shaky. But I have to challenge myself and do it. While I was in that homeless shelter, I did not belong there. That was not in me. However, you still have to perform on a daily basis. What's inside of Grace that keeps you going like this? Welcome to Start With A Win, where we unpack franchising, leadership, and business growth. Let's go. Coming to you from Area 15 Ventures and Start With A Win headquarters, it's Adam Kontos

with Start With A Win. On today's episode of Start With A Win, we're sitting down with Grace Vandercruise, a powerhouse in investment banking with over 20 years of experience. But that's not all. Grace has not only mastered the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions and financial strategies, but she's also a bestselling author and a seasoned adventurer who's climbed over 25 mountain peaks across three continents. If you're ready to get insight from somebody who's been making waves in the financial services sector, you won't want to miss this conversation with Grace VanderKruis. Grace, welcome to Start With a Win. Great to be here, Adam. Awesome. You have a very interesting background. I mean, I can't imagine how many different things

and places you've seen and done and part of an immigrant family. It's just such an amazing story. Take us back. Take us back to the early days. How did you get to where you are today? Well, I have to really honor my late grandmother. Her name was Hager. And because there's a proverb which says, wherever the stream flows, it never forgets its source. She is my source of inspiration. She had nine children with my granddad in a very small country in South America, Guyana. But in spite of their limited resources, they found room in their hearts to adopt five young sisters that lost their mom. So my grandmother raised 14 children. I'm second oldest of seven. My mother was also her second child. And therefore I am one of 52 grandchildren. 52. But as we speak in this

circle today, I can assure you that I was her favorite. Why was I her favorite? Because she would look at me in my eyes and say to me, Grace, you have lengthened my years and you have blessed my eyesight. Wow. I love that. I know. I know. And, you know, part of her verbiage was the fact that she learned to read and write. Wow. I love that. to me were believe beyond your limits and believe beyond your limits were words that I couldn't

appreciate growing up. However, they became more and more meaningful to me as I climb mountains and as I sit on corporate boards and I've navigated the corporate ladder on wall street and also have my own entrepreneurial business. I know what Believe Beyond Your Limits mean and how it resonates with me. That's amazing. So you grew up in New York in an immigrant family. Yes. I mean, that is not an easy task, but it is something that, I mean, is super inspiring. Tell us a little bit about growing up that way. Sure. So I was actually born in South America, came to New York when I was 14.

So in the midst of my impressionable teenage years, I had the opportunity to experience a drastically different culture. And from an early age, learn how to pivot very quickly. We lived in Bed-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and in that kind of community, it's a very difficult environment for a young woman to start life in. You know, that every day I had a chance to go focus on education and will have opportunities that are limitless. And so I was very innovated or energized, I should say, in a learning environment. And the fact that I was in school, I majored in accounting right away after I took an aptitude test. And the counselor told me I should major in accounting. Major in accounting, to me, it was easy as breathing. For every debit, there's a credit.

The trial balance balances. My linear mind really took to this field. And so excelling academically helped me to adjust tremendously to what would have been a very difficult transition. Wow. And so my understanding is you finished your undergrad while you're in a homeless shelter. Is that correct? How did that happen? That happened because I was commuting in my undergrad years and between my second and third year on a beautiful summer day. I went home as I normally would around four in the afternoon. As I turned the corner of my block, I saw the tremendous sirens and fire and police cars and so forth. As I walk closer, it's that sinking feeling that this chaos is all centered around our small brownstone

where my family, my mom, dad, and six siblings share, a family of nine, just up in flames. And I think in that moment, it was so traumatic that what was supposed to be an American dream for all of us became an American nightmare. In the midst of the ashes, my dad was determined that we as a family of nine would stay together. Adam, he always reminded us the saddest day of his life was when he was orphaned at the age of eight and was separated from his two siblings. So he was determined that we stay together. And the only place we can seek refuge together as a unit was a New York City homeless shelter. And walking into that shelter with a 13-gallon trash bag, which held all of our possessions that I could have salvaged after the fire with lots of room to spare in that bag. And walking into that was, I think, the most dreadful walk of my life journey. But I must say, we were grateful to still be together as a family

and to have our lives intact and to know that we are living and breathing. And this is where, at moments like those where my grandmother words became real and real to me of believing beyond your limits, because my grandmother firmly believed that you should never plan your goals based on your current life circumstances. That actually your current circumstances are so limited. It does not have the capacity to hold what's in store for you in terms of your future goals, dreams, visions. And so believing beyond your limits, I mean, I instinctively knew that while I was in that homeless shelter, I did not belong there, that it was not in me. And it was sort of the jolt I needed to really allow me to refocus and redouble my efforts in education and the passion I had with schooling because I knew that education was the bridge between that homeless shelter and where I need to be in life.

Wow. I'll tell you, that is so inspirational. And I mean, from there, you, so you graduated with your accounting degree and then you got into business. I mean, tell us about your business life, because I mean, you've taken companies public. I mean, you've worked on billions in acquisitions. I mean, you made a big impact on the financial community in major businesses. So tell us a little bit about that. Yes. What's been really fascinating was when I graduated from Pace University in accounting, my goal back then was to become a CPA.

And I did the normal audit career track. I was working for about five, four to five years when I started getting very bored with it. And I knew that there was much more that I can do to fulfill my potential. And I became very interested in finance, in the complexities of business. What's interesting with accounting is that when you go in to do an audit, everything you look at is historical. You're looking at past financials, auditing past numbers, and so forth. Working on Wall Street allows me to really be in the driver's seat of directing the future of a company, of really learning how the company can direct its growth and future strategic initiatives by raising capital,

whether it be debt or equity or any hybrid securities. And it really gives me an opportunity to work in that aspect of the company. In addition, you've got the science of the valuation and the markets, but also the art of business negotiations and relationship dynamics in negotiating transactions, which I find absolutely fascinating and invigorating. So the way I got from working at EY in accounting to working at Merrill Lynch on Wall Street

was I took two years off. I got a finance degree from the Wharton Business School, interned on Wall Street, and that became my career. The reason that I am so passionate of the work I do, because right now I advise in the merchants and acquisition of in the insurance industry, is that I tell all of my insurance clients that I am not just an advisor in this industry. I am a fierce advocate for financial wellness and financial security because had my family had a safety net, that homeless shelter could have been a brand new apartment. And because I'm so passionate about making sure that families are educated on what a financial safety net means. I am proud of the industry and what it does to really spread financial security and wealth

creation. Amazing. Truly amazing. You've done so much. And I mean, it's so impactful. Yet you found time to go climb some mountains also. I mean, tell us about that. That seems like just, I mean, where you sit around going, I think I'll go try and climb Everest or climb Mount... I didn't just wake up one morning and say, look, I'm going to climb some of the world's highest peak. I was in 2004. I came to work one morning and I had, looking through my emails, I had an email from a former professor at Wharton and the subject line grabbed my attention. It says, invitation to an expedition. And as I read it, the professor had a vision of inviting leaders from around the world globally to have an expedition with him where we would be outside of our comfort zone. Because he believes in order for leaders to really enhance their leadership abilities, they have to be outside of their comfort zone because he believes in order for leaders to really enhance their leadership abilities, they have to be outside of their comfort zone. We would be hiking and climbing

in the country of Bhutan. We would climb up to 20,000 feet in elevation, eight days up, six days down. We would climb and hike during the day. And at night, we'd have a bonfire discussion on a relevant business issue. And so as I read this invitation, you know, it was so intriguing to me. Now, just putting the perspective, 2004, 9-11 was still fresh in my mind and being on Wall Street on 9-11, I had made a commitment to myself to really live life to its fullest and take meaningful vacations. And this fell into that bucket. However, I must say, Adam, climbing a mountain didn't seem natural to me because when I was eight years old, I almost lost my leg. Literally, the amputation of my leg was already knew that I was not going to be playing sports and I always focus academically. So this was a real challenge for myself. But back as I looked at the invitation,

I knew that I had already seen the best version of me at that time. I was the first woman, first African-American to be promoted to managing director in my unit. So I knew what the best version of me looked like, but I wanted to know what the next best version of me would look like. And I knew that but I have to challenge myself and do it. And so I looked at this invitation and said, you know what? I'm going to do it. It's almost like a calling. Challenge yourself. And so I went climbing and that began my journey. Wow. Listening to you, when you look at challenges, you have people who are challenged and you have people who challenge themselves.

And I feel like you're the type of person who seeks challenges to overcome instead of letting challenges overcome you. I mean, what kept you going through all of these different things? And I loved, you know, believe beyond your limits from your grandmother. I mean, that just stuck with me. And it seems like obviously that is a big that is a big rocket ship for this. However, you still have to perform on a daily basis. You do. What's inside of grace that keeps you going like this?

I think part of it is the growth mindset. It's the mindset of, yes, I'm great with what I currently do, but can I learn more? Is there more out there that I can challenge myself to do? You know, this don't rest on your laurels. I always think of that and how complacency can really seep into our lives. And we live in a world where it is easy to just say, I'm tired, I'm exhausted. I can just stand still and bills will still get paid. But the question is, at the end of the day, when I'm lying in bed and I'm recounting what I did that day, I still have to be satisfied that I pushed myself

beyond the limits, that I pushed myself to learn, that I went the extra mile for a client, that I give more in terms of the educating high school students of financial literacy. That I, you know, I think what we leave behind is the impact on other people's lives. And I believe I'll always, I will not rest easily knowing that I didn't push myself to do more. Amazing. I mean, it seems like, you know, I love the financial literacy piece. I think that is something that is massively missing in society is teaching financial literacy as well as, you know, financial opportunity, I guess. Because, you know, you look at going from a homeless shelter to millionaire, the title of your book.

Yes. And it really is inspirational. How do we, you know, you're a very worldly person. You're very well known in the business community and very well respected. What advice do you have for younger people when it comes to them saying, I can't, or I won't, or I'm afraid to, what can you tell them to help them, you know, really have that drive that you've had? Yes. I will tell them that success leave clues that, uh, one of the things that you do is in spite of your fear is to start and start with fear. Take fear along for the journey.

Just don't let that be the loudest voice you hear. And so in my book, in my very first chapter, I go over the concept that we all have our money stories. Every ethnic group, every country, every community, every family, every person have a money history. And if we were to carefully examine our money history, look at what's our first money memory. We will find lack, scarcity mindset, some type of fraud, promises made and not kept. And if we were to really understand where we are and make an assessment of our money, the way we assess our medical history, most of us are suffering from some form of financial PTSD. And the way you move forward is to first acknowledge that. To first rewrite your money script, rewrite what money means to you, how you're going to be the one that break generational curses. You'll be the one

that may be the first millionaire or billionaire or trillionaire in your family, but there are no limits in what you can do. And in the world of building wealth, think of money as an abundance resources. And shifting your mindset will allow you to not only create, but build wealth in the way you'd like to. And so what my book is, is a step-by-step guide, very much like climbing a mountain of how you can bring along tools and resources. And really, I really work on this shifting the mindset from a lack to one of abundance as you start building your wealth. Wow. Amazing. I'll tell you what, this is exciting. Please tell the audience, where can we find you online and where can we find your book? Because I encourage everybody to go get a copy of this.

This is a great way of improving yourself, improving your wealth and creating financial literacy. Sure. So my company is Grace Global Capital, graceglobalcapital.com. My book, Homeless to Millionaires, Six Pillars to Financial Abundance, can be found on Amazon and every fine bookstores. And my masterclasses on financial abundance can be found with financialabundancewithgrace.com. Awesome. Make sure you check those out. Check out

Grace online. Get a copy of her book and also check out her masterclass. Very important information here, folks. You can't start soon enough when it comes to understanding your finances, really, and your success in these ways. And Grace is an incredible instructor on this. Please make sure you check her out. Grace, I have a question I ask all the amazing guests on the show. And I'm sure you have a very personalized and an incredible way of doing this. How do you start your day with a win? I start my day with a win by meditating. I think it's important before I jump up and I go to my gyrotonic class, which is one of my favorite ways of working out, is to really be in a position of stillness. I believe in a position of stillness is where I can begin to really free my mind from the noise that's going to be bombarding me during the day, give me a sense to really sit in a space of quiet stillness and gratitude. I think every day I wake up is a gift to the universe. And I want to start my day with

at least 20 to 30 minutes of stillness before I can return that gift to the universe. I love that. Thank you so much for sharing that. Grace VanderCruise, an incredible leader, incredible woman. I mean, you've done so much and you've just begun. I mean, this is awesome to be on this podcast with you. And thank you for sharing all of this inspirational wisdom. We appreciate what you do. And thank you for being on Start With A Win. Thank you so much, Adam, for being here. It was such a pleasure to visit with you in the audience.