May 06, 2024

I Convinced Miss NJ To Run a Half Marathon!

50 minutes

As many of you may or may not know, I am competing for Miss NJ USA this June! While connecting at an event with other contestants, I met Derby Chukwudi, and after chatting I encouraged her to reach out the Jersey City Marathon directors to run her first half marathon. In this episode we discuss…

Episode Outline
00:00
Introduction and Background

09:55
Curiosity, Resilience, and Success

29:52
The Race Experience: Pacing and Challenges

43:56
Life Lessons: Embracing Opportunities and Giving Life a Chance

About Derby
Derby Ozioma Chukwudi is the current Miss New Jersey USA and a 1st generation Nigerian-American born in Dallas, TX, raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and now resides in Hoboken, New Jersey. She is on a mission to inspire the next generation of leaders by leveraging her multi-talented background, encompassing communication, strategy, pageantry, financial education, and community development. Derby is excited to reach several communities across New Jersey and spread awareness about financial education. She is passionate about advocating for financial literacy among young people to prepare them for a future of financial freedom and choices.

Broadly, she believes everyone should dream and dream BIG - she is excited to continue empowering people and reminding them that their dreams are valid.
She is a member of the Global Investment Strategy Team at JPMorgan Private Bank in Midtown, New York. Prior to this role, she worked at the New Jersey Private Bank alongside a team responsible for advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and foundations on various wealth management matters, including asset allocation and investment portfolio construction, lending, and wealth transfer planning. Derby joined J.P. Morgan in 2018 as a Summer Analyst and returned full-time in 2019 after graduating with her undergraduate degrees. Derby graduated cum laude from Berea College with a BSc. Degree in Business Administration and B.A. degree in Economics.
She has always been passionate about finance, business, entrepreneurship, and community development and was able to take on opportunities at Berea College, Wells Fargo, MedLab Media Group, Starting Bloc Fellowship, Colorwave Venture Capital Fellowship, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and VC University.

Derby advocates for the purposeful use of her social media and leverages her Instagram page to share inspirational reels to empower her viewers. She has also been featured on several podcasts, including The Obani Show podcast, the Millenial podcast, and the Financially Naked podcast. Outside of work, she is an award-winning Toastmasters public speaker passionate about creating awareness for financial education. She invests her time in volunteering within her community, mentoring young adults, and empowering people, reminding them that their dreams are valid. In 2022, Derby was
named a Women of Inspiration Award Finalist - the Women of Inspiration Award recognizes the achievement of women who lead, inspire, and motivate. In 2018, she was selected as one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Scholars

Connect with Derby