Your PokerDivas Bonus

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.

I got this book for my Aunt who is a poker player . I was curious and opened the book with the idea of skimming it. After all, I thought, I don’t gamble and I certainly don’t play poker. As I read page after page I made a discovery. I was a “Poker Woman.” Of course I never thought of myself as one before. Just for fun I took your quiz and came out with a solid “B” and my epiphany was that the same skills that are important in love, life and business have their parallel in poker. I do not know the first thing about the game but my whole perception of poker has changed after reading this book. I might even give playing poker a try!

I had a chance to see Ellen give a keynote speech. Of all the conference presentations I’ve ever attended this was by far the most unique. I learned so many valuable lessons in negotiating and business strategy and had a blast!