Making Dollars And Sense
Making the most of your talents and opportunities - working hard and building on your achievements - is all part of the American formula for success.
But for many, personal success goes only halfway toward a greater and more satisfying goal: going home again, to set others on the road to their own versions of the American dream.
"I think my definition of success is being able to attain a point in life where you can successfully inspire and motivate others," says Carla Harris, who is taking her message of success to a place she knows well.
"At St. Charles, which is a wonderful school," she says, "I wanted an opportunity to impact the students at an earlier level than high school."
"How many of you know what a stock is?" Harris asks students.
"When you own a stock, you make money on how the stock trades," she explains.
Whenever she has a chance, this 38-year-old investment banker goes home to give back.
"It's important that kids know that someone believes in them," she says.
For many students at one Harlem school, Harris is a role model.
"I was an honor role student through grade school; I graduated summa cum laude from high school," she says, "and magna cum laude from Harvard."
Shortly after graduation, the Ivy Leaguer landed on Wall Street. "I have now been an investment banker for 13 years," Harris says.
"It's exciting; it's dynamic," she says. "You're working on big deals in any given week."
Now a managing director, Harris has never forgotten how she got to the top.
"I did not get to where I am alone, and there were many people who helped me along the way," she says. "And my greatest thank-you to all the people that helped me is to give back."
The savvy businesswoman decided to use another asset to get the best return. "I love singing," she says. "And I said OK, I must have something here," Harris notes. "And wouldn't it be a wonderful idea to be able to use this side of what God gave me to help other people?"
This fall Harris released a CD of Christmas carols. All profits will go toward scholarships at her high school and to St. Charles school.
"I wanted to be a part of making that opportunity available to some other young Carla Harris who was on the way," she says.
Harris knows that investing in the future will result in more American dreams.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. But for many, personal success goes only halfway toward a greater and more satisfying goal: going home again, to set others on the road to their own versions of the American dream.
"I think my definition of success is being able to attain a point in life where you can successfully inspire and motivate others," says Carla Harris, who is taking her message of success to a place she knows well.
"At St. Charles, which is a wonderful school," she says, "I wanted an opportunity to impact the students at an earlier level than high school."
"How many of you know what a stock is?" Harris asks students.
"When you own a stock, you make money on how the stock trades," she explains.
Whenever she has a chance, this 38-year-old investment banker goes home to give back.
"It's important that kids know that someone believes in them," she says.
For many students at one Harlem school, Harris is a role model.
"I was an honor role student through grade school; I graduated summa cum laude from high school," she says, "and magna cum laude from Harvard."
Shortly after graduation, the Ivy Leaguer landed on Wall Street. "I have now been an investment banker for 13 years," Harris says.
"It's exciting; it's dynamic," she says. "You're working on big deals in any given week."
Now a managing director, Harris has never forgotten how she got to the top.
"I did not get to where I am alone, and there were many people who helped me along the way," she says. "And my greatest thank-you to all the people that helped me is to give back."
The savvy businesswoman decided to use another asset to get the best return. "I love singing," she says. "And I said OK, I must have something here," Harris notes. "And wouldn't it be a wonderful idea to be able to use this side of what God gave me to help other people?"
This fall Harris released a CD of Christmas carols. All profits will go toward scholarships at her high school and to St. Charles school.
"I wanted to be a part of making that opportunity available to some other young Carla Harris who was on the way," she says.
Harris knows that investing in the future will result in more American dreams.
