The Real Risk Is Not Starting at All

June 2, 2025¹

     When we talk about risk, most people think about loss. The fear of failure. The consequences of what could go wrong. But I’ve come to believe something else entirely: risk is not about recklessness—it’s about movement. It’s about choosing to act, even when you don’t have all the answers.

     That mindset didn’t come overnight. In fact, if you had met me as a first year at Santa Clara, you would have seen someone filled with questions, not answers. I remember being selected as one of 12 analysts in the university’s investment fund. Out of all of us, only three were women. That moment made me pause. Why weren’t more women here? Why did it feel like this space wasn’t built with us in mind?

     At first, I hesitated. Creating something from scratch sounded intimidating—why not just join existing clubs and stay comfortable? But the truth is, the bigger risk was doing nothing and leaving things exactly as they were. I didn’t want to graduate and look back, realizing the same gender gap still existed—because I hadn’t done my part to change it.

     So I started something: Women In Investment (WIN). It didn’t begin as a polished vision. It began with frustration, a phone call to my friend Caitlyn, and a lot of late-night brainstorming sessions. Together, we envisioned an inclusive community where women felt seen, heard, and empowered to pursue careers in finance and investing.

     We had big dreams—hosting an Annual dinner, inviting guest speakers, and creating real momentum. We also had no money. When we asked for $15,000 to fund our first big event, people laughed. Why would anyone show up to a women’s investment dinner? they said. But we kept asking, kept pitching, and eventually found believers—like the Ciocca Center and Chris Norris—who took a chance on us.

     By the time I was a sophomore, I stood on stage delivering my first speech to an audience of over 250 people. I was 19. Nervous, yes—but also grounded. Because the moment wasn’t about me. It was about everyone in that room and all the women who now saw investing as a space where they belonged. Three years later, that Annual Dinner is a tradition. We've impacted more than 2,000 women at Santa Clara and beyond.

     And that’s the thing about risk: what once seemed scary becomes familiar when you do it enough. Speaking publicly used to terrify me. Now, I find strength in it. Just a few months ago, I presented my startup, Creditcliq, at the NBA All Star Weekend at the Moscone Center in San Francisco—standing beside founders, executives, and VCs.  At 20, I was the youngest in the room, but I wasn’t afraid. I’d been here before.

Risk is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.

     Of course, I didn’t do any of this alone. My sister, my mom, my co-founders, mentors, and classmates—they’ve all shaped this journey. What I’ve learned is that you don’t have to have all the answers, but you do need a community that believes in you. Everyone brings a different strength to the table, and together, you build something greater than the sum of its parts.

     As I prepare to leave Santa Clara, I carry with me more than a degree. I carry an appetite for risk—a mindset that will stay with me for life. And if there’s one thing I hope students take away from my story, it’s this: you don’t need to wait until you feel ready. Just start.

     Whether you join an existing program, build your own, or simply raise your hand in a room where no one else looks like you—that is risk worth taking.

And the truth? The only real risk is not starting at all.

¹ This newsletter article was drafted with the support of OpenAI’s ChatGPT software