Grace’s path was dramatically altered by an event in her early adulthood. Between her second and third year of college, she returned to her family home in New York City to find it engulfed in flames. What began as a normal day ended with her family—nine people in total—seeking refuge in a homeless shelter.
That pivotal moment didn’t just strip Grace of her home; it forced her to decide who she wanted to be. “You have to decide, am I going to rise up from this bed? Am I going to continue on the journey of my education and not have this derail me?” Grace recalls, with a firm yet reflective tone. Her grandmother’s words, “Believe beyond your limits,” echoed in her mind, becoming her mantra as she walked into a shelter holding a 13-gallon trash bag containing all that remained of her belongings.
In that moment, the lesson was clear: this was not her permanent reality. The shelter was just a bridge to her next chapter, a stepping stone to a future she had yet to build.
Inspiration from Her Grandmother
A significant part of Grace’s strength comes from her grandmother, Hagar, who raised 14 children with unwavering love and faith despite their meager resources. “Wherever the stream flows, it never forgets its source,” Grace says, quoting a proverb that defines her connection to her grandmother’s legacy.
Her grandmother’s philosophy—believe beyond your limits—wasn’t just a comforting phrase. It was the foundation upon which Grace would build her life. Growing up as one of 52 grandchildren, Grace recalls how her grandmother would hold her hand, look her in the eyes, and say, “You have lengthened my years and blessed my eyesight.” Those words planted the seeds of confidence and determination in young Grace, who would later rise to become the first African American woman to sit on the board of a major financial institution.
“Most of us are here as a product of our ancestors’ prayers and sacrifices,” Grace says. But her story goes beyond that—she has exceeded the hopes and dreams of those who came before her.
Climbing Mountains—Both Literally and Figuratively
In both life and career, Grace has climbed mountains. Literally. She has summited over 25 peaks across three continents, scaling more than 100,000 feet in altitude. But as she often shares with audiences, the hardest mountain she’s ever climbed is the 18 inches between her head and her heart.
“You have to focus on your next step,” Grace says, invoking the Swahili phrase poly poly, which means “step by step.” This mantra, often used by guides as they help climbers summit Mount Kilimanjaro, has become a guiding principle in Grace’s life. She understands that life is rarely a straight path—there are curves, avalanches, and storms that can knock you off course. But as long as you focus on your next step, you can keep moving forward.
This philosophy has also shaped her professional life. After earning her MBA from Wharton Business School, Grace worked as an investment banker, advising insurance companies on mergers and acquisitions. But she has always seen herself as more than just an advisor—she is an advocate for financial empowerment.
Financial Empowerment as a Birthright
For Grace, financial literacy and empowerment are cornerstones of a successful life. She believes wealth is a birthright and that it is essential to break the cycle of poverty and disempowerment that plagues many families and communities. As the founder of Grace Global Capital LLC, she has overseen over $25 billion in insurance transactions, but her true passion lies in teaching others how to uplift their financial lives.
Her book Homeless to Millionaire offers a roadmap for those looking to take control of their financial futures. It is structured around six keys to financial abundance, from understanding your financial history to protecting your wealth through trust, estate planning, and insurance. Each chapter is infused with affirmations designed to shift readers from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance.
Grace explains, “We all have a financial history, and many of us suffer from financial PTSD. But it’s time to shift our mindset from one of scarcity to one of empowerment. Wealth is our birthright.”
The Role of Insurance in Financial Security
For many, insurance is an afterthought, but for Grace, it is the key to bridging the gap between poverty and wealth. She believes in the power of insurance to protect families and build legacies. “Had my parents had insurance, that shelter would have been a brand-new apartment,” she says, underscoring the importance of planning for unforeseen circumstances.
In her role as a financial advisor, Grace emphasizes the value of life insurance, health insurance, and long-term care insurance as tools to safeguard wealth. Her mission is to educate and empower families to stay healthy, safe, and financially secure, breaking the cycles of poverty that often pass from one generation to the next.
Overcoming the Odds and Giving Back
As a bonus mom and wife, Grace’s life is full, but her passion for giving back remains at the forefront. Whether she’s climbing a mountain or sitting in a boardroom, she is constantly thinking about how to help others succeed. She serves on four major boards, managing trillions of dollars in assets, and yet she still finds time to mentor and uplift the next generation of leaders.
Grace’s life is a testament to the idea that no challenge is insurmountable. She has walked through fire—both literally and figuratively—and come out stronger on the other side. Her advice for anyone facing adversity? “Wake up, rise up, and focus on your next step. No matter how big or small, make your next step your best step.”
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Building a Legacy with Grace Vandecruze
Grace Vandecruze is more than her titles and accolades. She is a woman who has defied the odds, turned hardship into opportunity, and built a legacy that will inspire generations to come. Her life is a powerful reminder that with the right mindset, determination, and a willingness to take things one step at a time, anything is possible.
In the words of her beloved grandmother, “Believe beyond your limits.” For Grace, these words are not just a mantra—they are a way of life. And through her work, she is showing the world how to do the same.
More of Grace:
- Website: www.graceglobalcapital.com
- LinkedIn: @gracevandecruze
- Facebook: @gracevandecruze
- Instagram: @gracevandecruze
