Statistically speaking, females tend to take less risk than males. This aversion to risk is not an innate quality. Instead, this caution develops due to the expectations society places on children at a young age. Given this situation, going against gender expectations becomes an individual endeavor. Gabriela Ariza decided to go against the grain, and her efforts brought her to achieve the financial freedom she enjoys today.
As a woman of color in the predominantly male industries of cyber-security and business, she continues to break through the limitations society has placed upon her. She inspires women, particularly millennial women, by serving as an example of what they can achieve if they put their mind to it.
Many people are intimidated by investing and the risk it entails, and therefore most opt-out of the opportunity altogether. On the other hand, Gabriela Ariza went into the world of investments and wisely put her money into real estate, business, and stocks. The most recent one was her investment in Collabo, a digital branding agency.
Gabriela was able to purchase and own a home for herself using smart solutions. She renovated the house she bought so she could create two separate units. She lives in one unit, while someone rents the other part. That way, she could have the renter cover 80% of the mortgage.
Millennials typically get dealt with an economically disadvantageous hand, with high student loan debt, expensive housing, and low wages. Still, with endless investment opportunities, everyone can get on the road to financial freedom.
Aside from investments, she also maintains a full-time job as a millennial cyber-security professional situated in the Chicagoland area. With a Master’s degree in Information Systems from DePaul University, Gabriela Ariza identifies cyber-security threats to the US governments and other local governments across the country. CompTIA is one of the largest tech certification companies in the United States, and she works with them as an advocate in the cyber-security community as well.
Running Start is a program that allowed her to skip high school classes and go straight to community college classes at 16 years old. Her first two years in the program counted as dual-credit, and she graduated two years earlier with a degree in interactive media studies.
Financial success did not come easy for Gabriela Ariza. It was her perseverance and determination that brought her to where she is now. She worked 60 hours per week at three jobs while pursuing her Master’s degree in Information Systems. Ultimately, she accumulated a student loan of more than $51,000 for her undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Today, she earns over six figures and is well on her way to paying off her student debt while growing her money in multiple investments. She realizes the struggle of having not enough money and provides tips and guidance on financials and technology.
Financial freedom is something that all people aspire to achieve. Learn more about investing and how it is done by visiting Gabriela Ariza’s website and follow her on Instagram to keep updated on her latest projects.
