PokerDivas Founder Ellen Leikind on CNBC’s On The Money

When you look at me now you see a confident woman. This was not always the case. I had the drive and desire to win but did not know how to get there. Understanding poker taught me perspective and stifled my doubts about “being good enough” to earn my seat at the table. Not only can I negotiate a win, I can negotiate the next ask. Skills expected of any expert trader. But what really made me successful in my career was my ability to recognize opportunities and take them before I felt qualified – advancing upward from roles in finance to trading and then to portfolio management – all under 15 years at Two Sigma Investments. If I waited until I felt qualified, I would have waited a very long time. Poker taught me to take opportunities when they presented themselves. Don’t wait for the ask, make the ask. Be bold.