We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Diamond Booker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Diamond below.

Hi Diamond, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

My brand, “Invest Like a Diamond,” is a representation and creation of my life story. It was founded with the mission to serve a community that often faces stereotypes, injustice, and biases. Growing up, I realized that women, particularly Black women, are frequently placed in boxes regarding what we can achieve. We often see tech giants and billionaire entrepreneurs as men. Coming from a small town in Cleveland, OH, I felt that we were especially limited in what we could learn, do, and achieve. Many people around me believed that certain things, such as financial literacy and entrepreneurship, were only for the privileged or other races. I always told myself, “If anyone can do it, then so can I.”

I created “Invest Like a Diamond” with the intention of inspiring women, especially Black women, to understand that they can do literally anything. I don’t want it to focus solely on finance; rather, I aim to cultivate a mindset of perseverance, grit, and aspiration, while also encouraging values such as authenticity, integrity, and humility.

I teach and coach women in finance because it is the foundation of our lives. We need financial knowledge to move forward with our goals, whether that means starting our own businesses, living independently, or pursuing careers in the entertainment industry. It is important for us to be proactive and prioritize our own financial empowerment.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Diamond Booker, and I was born in Cleveland, OH. When I was 18, I moved to Los Angeles for college. I attended FIDM for beauty marketing and product development, which helped cultivate my passion for entrepreneurship and marketing. Since moving to LA, I’ve had many wake-up calls. I worked multiple jobs to support myself and my dreams. I knew nothing about finance or how to manage my income, but I was forced to learn if I wanted to keep moving forward.

I began to notice the differences between various neighborhoods in LA and the disparities separating minorities from other races. I realized that many minorities held different mindsets, such as believing that money is the root of evil, and I noticed that areas with high rates of bad credit often lacked financial education. This made me aware that we are often placed in boxes due to a lack of education around finances, mindsets, mentors, and our environments.

I wanted to break free from this mindset, so I began reading books that intimidated me, such as those on venture capital, investing, and stocks. I took action, and I soon realized how easy and straightforward these concepts could be. I felt as though we had been brainwashed into believing that finance and entrepreneurship were difficult and meant for a select group of people.

Through my own trial and error, I became passionate about shifting mindsets around money and success in general. I started coaching my friends on budgeting and sharing my knowledge online. I want my peers to know that I aspire to be a pioneer of authenticity in both career and life. As we get older, we often diminish our personalities and lose our creativity to fit into a box. I want to inspire minority women to understand that yes, you can be smart while also being creative, financially independent, and still have fun being yourself. And also know that you do not have to be trapped by what society defines you as…

For example, I emphasize the impact of mentors in the Black community. It’s important to find the right representation that inspires you and encourages you to think outside the box. My favorite, of course, is Rihanna. Knowing that there is a Black woman who is both a creative (musician) and an entrepreneur (BILLIONAIRE!) is beyond inspiring. Without that inspiration, I would feel that success would be impossible.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After I graduated from college at FIDM, I began to launch my business, The Ethereal Muse, which focused on body care products. What I didn’t realize was that launching a business requires a lot of money, especially for advertising and production. I didn’t know how to manage my finances or have enough cash flow each month to sustain growth, so I couldn’t develop it in the way I desired. Growing a business while cutting corners is never a good idea.

I decided that I needed to pause and understand money first. My struggles with working multiple jobs motivated me to read many finance books to help me manage my finances. I had to pivot from starting a business to learning financial literacy, which ultimately led me to launch my current coaching business, increase my monthly cash flow and savings, and transform my money mindset!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was the concept of instant gratification. Growing up in the age of fast technology (I started at 9 years old), I felt that everything needed to happen quickly, especially with the rise of social media like Instagram, where we began to compare ourselves to others on completely different paths and journeys. I learned that not everything comes instantly or even within 3-5 years. It takes time, which can involve changing your mindset, growing and maturing, finding the right opportunities, being in the right era, and so much more. But if you are consistent, diligent, and passionate, you will succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/investlikeadiamond
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diamondtheemuse/ , Instagram.com/investlikeadiamond