From Love and Faith to Leading a Trillion-Dollar Portfolio - Thasunda Brown Duckett - Global Leadership Summit 2025

What does it take to rise from humble beginnings to leading a Fortune 500 company with over $1 trillion in assets?

When Thasunda Brown Duckett, President and CEO of TIAA, shared her journey at the Global Leadership Summit, she didn't just tell a success story—she revealed a blueprint for purposeful leadership that any of us can follow.

The Foundation That Changes Everything

Duckett's story begins with a powerful truth: "My mother and father had little, but the absence of money was filled with love and faith." Her father had dreams and gave his best to set her up for success. This wasn't about financial inheritance—it was about something far more valuable.

Here's what struck me most: Even when her parents didn't have material wealth, they shared what they could—information, encouragement, and belief in her potential. As Duckett puts it, they would "give it if it could change the life of that little kid or young man."

The question for us: What are you giving to the next generation, even when you feel like you don't have enough to offer?

The Excellence Mindset That Sets Leaders Apart

Duckett's rise wasn't accidental.

She made deliberate choices that separated her from the crowd:

Show up early, stay late. But here's the key insight: "If your job expects a minimum, do not resign yourself to that minimum. Do the things that others are not willing to do."

This isn't about working longer hours just to be busy. It's about identifying the gaps others won't fill and becoming indispensable by adding value where it's needed most.

Model from the top. As a leader, Duckett emphasized that you cannot expect others to do something you're not willing to do yourself. Leadership isn't about delegation—it's about demonstration.

Think about your current role. Where are you settling for minimum when you could be creating maximum impact?

The Power of Strategic Relationships

One of Duckett's most practical insights centers on surrounding yourself with the right people. She stressed the importance of having people around you "who can help you process things and walk beside you to make decisions."

This isn't about networking for networking's sake. It's about intentionally building a circle of advisors, mentors, and trusted colleagues who can help you think through complex challenges and hold you accountable to your highest potential.

Action step: Look at your inner circle. Do you have people who challenge your thinking, support your growth, and help you process difficult decisions? If not, it's time to be more intentional about these relationships.

The 100% Rule: Your Life Portfolio Strategy

Perhaps the most immediately actionable wisdom Duckett shared was her "life portfolio" concept.

Here's the reality check we all need:

You don't have more than 100%. You have exactly 100%.

If you allocate 30% to kids, 20% to work, 15% to health, 10% to personal growth, and so on—make sure it all adds up to 100%, and be fully present in each area when you're there.

As Duckett bluntly stated: "If you say you are allocating 150% to your children, you are lying to yourself."

This framework forces us to be honest about our capacity and intentional about our choices. It's not about perfect balance—it's about conscious allocation.

Your Leadership Portfolio Assessment

Take a moment to honestly assess your current life portfolio:

• Career/Work: ___%

• Family/Relationships: ___%

• Health/Fitness: ___%

• Personal Growth: ___%

• Community/Service: ___%

• Rest/Recreation: ___%

Does it add up to 100%? Are you being present and engaged in each area according to your allocation?

The Advocacy Advantage

Throughout her journey, Duckett has been what she calls "a speaker of advocacy"—someone who uses their platform and influence to lift others up. This isn't just about being nice; it's about recognizing that true leadership multiplies opportunity for others.

When you reach a position of influence, how will you use it? Will you pull the ladder up behind you, or will you extend it to others climbing toward their potential?

From Humble Beginnings to Extraordinary Impact

Thasunda Brown Duckett's journey from a family with little money to managing over $1 trillion in assets isn't just inspiring—it's instructive. Her success came from maximizing every opportunity, refusing to accept minimum standards, building strategic relationships, and managing her life with the same intentionality she brings to business.

But perhaps most importantly, she never forgot where she came from or why she leads. Her foundation of love and faith didn't just sustain her—it shaped how she leads others.

Your Next Steps

As you reflect on Duckett's wisdom, consider these three immediate actions:

• Identify one area where you're accepting minimum when you could deliver maximum. What would it look like to go above and beyond in that space?

• Calculate your actual life portfolio percentages. Be honest about where your time and energy really go, then make intentional adjustments.

• Invest in one strategic relationship this month. Reach out to someone who could help you process decisions and grow as a leader.

Leadership isn't about having all the resources from the start. It's about maximizing what you have, investing in the right relationships, and staying true to the values that ground you—just like Thasunda Brown Duckett has shown us.

The question isn't whether you have enough to begin leading. The question is: What will you do with your 100%?

What resonated most with you from Duckett's leadership insights?

How are you currently allocating your life portfolio, and where do you need to make adjustments?