Trailblazing equity trader, financial expert and media personality Lauren Simmons shared her journey of breaking barriers and building financial confidence with the Heidelberg community on Thursday, March 27. Lauren served as the keynote speaker of the second and final HYPE Day of the semester.
At 22, Lauren made history as the youngest and second African-American female equity trader at the New York Stock Exchange. Now 28, Lauren continues to inspire the next generation through her Spotify podcast, Mind Body Wealth with Lauren Simmons, and hosts Going Public on Entreprenuer.com. She is also the executive producer of her biopic with AGC Studios and Chloe Bailey.
Wall Street leap
The day Lauren graduated college, she made a bold choice, hopping on a plane to New York City with no clear path but an unwavering determination to become a self-made millionaire. She did not study finance in college, had no connections on Wall Street, and yet, by 25, she achieved her goal.
“There’s no grey area in New York City,” Lauren shares. “You either sink or you swim.”
Lauren faced plenty of obstacles on her way to Wall Street. People told her that she “lacked direction” and was “too ambitious” for wanting a six-figure salary in New York City. But she refused to let others define her limits.
Shortly after arriving, Lauren met Jason, a connection who offered her an opportunity in equity trading at the New York Stock Exchange. Despite having no background in the industry, Lauren had something even more powerful – endless willpower.
While Lauren was in New York, she accidentally dropped her phone into a subway station and could not retrieve it. Later that day, back at her grandparents’ house in New Jersey, she found herself reflecting. Was she bold enough, ambitious enough, or brave enough to leave Georgia and build a life in New York?
Her mom encouraged her to retrieve her phone with the help of the subway attendant. When she did, she was shocked to find her phone with no cracks, no dents and one critical voicemail message. It was from the New York Stock Exchange, inviting her to start the very next day.
That day, Lauren passed a 19-question exam with an 80% passing rate, making history by adding her name to the Wall of Fame alongside legendary stockbrokers like Rockefeller.
Since then, Lauren has worked with Kevin Hart, Spotify, LeBron James, HarperCollins, and Paramount – living the life of her dreams, all built on her mindset.
Redefining her path
Lauren reflects on her life journey so far by sharing, “Merit made up about 10% of the journey, 90% came from childhood and foundation.”
Her upbringing was profoundly shaped by the resilience of her twin brother, Lawrence, who lives with ectodermal dysplasia and cerebral palsy. Watching him advocate for himself inspired Lauren to do the same, carrying strength and confidence into every space she enters.
Prior to finding her way in New York, Lauren grappled with a pivotal question in college: “Who is Lauren Simmons, and how does she show up in this world?”
The journey to self-discovery was not easy. Lauren shares that therapy and meditation became her guiding forces, helping her step into her purpose with clarity and conviction.
Lauren’s story serves as a testament that success is not about where you start, but rather the courage to define your own path in life.
Money and mindset
Lauren invited the audience to close their eyes and raise their hands if they believed in the statement “We manifest what we believe at all times.”
Once students opened their eyes and looked around, she used their responses to introduce a powerful concept: our relationship with money is deeply tied to our mindset.
She categorized five attachment styles to money:
1. Anxious attachment – never feeling financially stable, regularly monitoring bank accounts, budgeting and saving to their own disadvantage.
2. Avoidant attachment – fearing financial judgment, impressive at ignoring bills, not seeking help.
3. Spiritual attachment – believing that what we give in life is what we receive.
4. Fearful attachment – the impulsive and emotional spender, seeking help, characterized by a repetitive spending cycle.
5. Healthy attachment – those who comfortably talk about money and understand that their personal finance journey will change throughout life.
Lauren encouraged all students to develop a healthy attachment style to money. She also asked them to take on a 30-day challenge – engaging in open conversations about finances, applying the knowledge they gained and actively manifesting their financial goals.
“79% of millionaires are self-made,” Lauren shares. “Fifty-eight million people in this world are self-made millionaires, with 42% based in North America.”
However, Lauren emphasizes that wealth starts with a healthy mindset and that there is a fundamental difference between being rich and being wealthy.
Lauren left Heidelberg students with one key message: “Creating the life you want has everything to do with how you are using your mind to unlock that potential.”
– by Kami Stanfield ‘25