Priyanka Anantha

Relentless dreamer turning lived experience into transformative impact

I am a relentless dreamer, shaped by the conviction that true success lies not in wealth amassed but in lives transformed. I come from a household that survives on less than $900 a year, and I'm the first in my family to step into college—carving a path where none existed. My journey fuels a mission to ignite potential in others, crafting solutions that ripple beyond the horizon of my own existence. I've lived on the other side, and I know what it means to watch opportunities slip away not because of lack of talent, but because the cost of entry was too high. Now I'm here to change that—for myself and for countless others.

"The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong."

— Swami Vivekananda

Every challenge I've faced—every barrier, every closed door—has been training. The world doesn't hand you strength; it forces you to build it. Financial struggles aren't just obstacles; they're the very experiences that forge resilience, purpose, and an unshakeable determination to transform lives.

Personal Philosophy

What does being financially healthy mean to you?

To some, financial health is about accumulating wealth. To me, it is about something far more fundamental—dignity, opportunity, and freedom. It means not fearing whether I will have food on my plate or a roof over my head, and not seeing education as an unattainable privilege instead of a right. It means seeking medical care without hesitation, without bargaining with life itself over the cost of survival. It means the ability to participate in this world fully—to learn, to grow, to rise above survival, to live with purpose. But above all, it means the power to give—to extend a hand without hesitation, to support others not from excess, but from a place of security and strength. I do not reduce life's vast potential to finances, but I cannot ignore the reality I have seen firsthand: without financial security, potential remains just that—an untapped possibility, a dream deferred.

What motivates your work in financial health?

Because I have lived on the other side—like countless others who never had the chance to voice it as I do. I have seen what it means to make choices dictated not by dreams, but by necessity. And yet, I am here today—the first in my family to step into college, to carve a path where none existed. But my journey does not stop at personal success. I dream of a life where I am not just financially stable, but financially empowered—where I can give back, uplift others. I dream of starting initiatives that fund education, of creating spaces where people can speak about finances without shame, of building networks that create opportunities. I want to turn financial health into service, privilege into purpose.

Current Goal

Create financial stability for my family by securing a steady stream of income through a job before I graduate. I see this as Phase 1 of my journey—the phase where I work deeply to gain the skills, knowledge, and resources that will allow me to stand firmly on my own. To create a foundation so strong that I never have to think twice about my next step. This is so that, once I have built this foundation, I can start Phase 2 of my life—the complete devotion of my life to working for something larger than myself. Because I want to turn financial health into service, privilege into purpose.

Priyanka Anantha

What does being financially healthy mean to you?

What motivates your work in financial health?

Join the movement for financial health equity.

Join the movement for
financial health equity.