Name: Lesley Scorgie
Age: 25
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Education: Bachelor of Commerce degree (marketing and finance specialization), University of Alberta
Job Title: Investor, author, speaker, director of marketing and resource development for the YWCA in Banff, Alberta. Check her out at richbythirty.com
What She Does: While most of her peers are still getting the party bug out of their systems, Lesley is a financial guru whose money-saving and investing abilities allow her to mold her career as she wishes. Rather than chasing down a six-figure salary, she chooses to work for a Canadian nonprofit agency (the YWCA) that advocates for women. She’s also the author of the best-selling Rich By Thirty: A Young Adult’s Guide to Financial Success and tours the country as a professional speaker.
How She Got Her Gig: Since childhood, Lesley’s been a saver, purchasing her first savings bond at 10 years old and securing her first job (at a public library) at 14. She soon moved on to savings bonds and started investing in stocks. Then, at 17, she received an invite to The Oprah Winfrey Show after the staff ran across a local newspaper article about Scorgie indicating that she was on track to be a millionaire by 25. “It isn’t every day you get to meet the most influential woman in America,” says Scorgie, who admits she was pretty nervous beforehand. “The most rewarding part was feeling affirmed that what I’m doing and promoting—financial literacy—is important.” Now 25, her projections have changed a bit, but she expects to hit six digits by her 30th birthday.
Winding Down: Despite her busy schedule—her speaking tours dominate her days, and with the upcoming release of her book in the United States, Lesley plans to be even busier—Lesley squeezes in time to reflect. “I enjoy those moments where I can have a coffee by myself or go for a walk,” says Lesley, who also relaxes by listening to audiobooks in the car and talking on the phone.
Reader Mail: For Lesley, motivating people of all ages to become financially literate is the best part of her job. Each week, she receives about a dozen e-mails thanking her for sharing her knowledge. “That signals that people are paying attention and that I’ve started addressing a need that perhaps hasn’t been addressed before.”
This Job’s for You if: You can communicate effectively and “walk the talk.” And, as with any career, you’ve got to have “a point of differentiation”—or a personal brand—that separates you from the pack. “It’s absolutely critical that you’re able to do something—it doesn’t matter what it is—better than the rest,” says Lesley. “It’s also critical to have the financial chops. I can only inspire people when they know I’m walking the talk, when I’m doing what I’m promoting.”
