绿帽换妻

Leona Tang’s passion for finance was ignited early. At just 16 years old, she participated in a high school social studies class project where students were given $10,000 in simulated money to invest in the stock market. Leona was hooked. Eager to continue her financial journey, she persuaded her mother to open an account at Charles Schwab, where she began trading stocks on her mother’s behalf.

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Leona was initially encouraged to pursue a career in medicine. Following this path, she enrolled at UC Davis with the goal of becoming a doctor. However, she quickly realized that medicine wasn’t for her. Struggling academically, Leona decided to pivot to something she was truly passionate about—business. She transferred to Cal State Hayward (now Cal State East Bay) to study Business Administration and Accounting, drawn by the university’s quarter system, which aligned with UC Davis.

From the moment she arrived at Cal State East Bay, Leona knew she had made the right choice. “The classes were very practical,” she recalls. “I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I learned about the practical aspects of accounting. The professors were great, and I knew this is what I wanted to do.”

In 1991, Leona graduated with a degree in accounting during a time of economic uncertainty. Despite a looming recession and significant cuts to hiring at the big six accounting firms, Leona secured an on-campus interview for an internal audit position, which launched her into a successful 25-year career as an auditor and management consultant. Her career culminated in her role as Head of Internal Audit at Charles Schwab Corporation, a fitting end to her journey in finance.

Leona was the first in her family to graduate from college, and from a young age, she was determined to retire early. “I remember telling my parents when I was ten years old that I would retire before I was 50,” she says. “I saw what my parents’ friends could and couldn’t do—both physically and financially—in retirement, and I knew then that I wanted to have options when I got older.” Though she didn’t realize it at the time, Leona was an early advocate of what is now known as the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement.

True to her word, Leona reached her FIRE number at the age of 46 and left the corporate world to live out her childhood dreams. She spent her time golfing, traveling, and buying a house in Hawaii—fulfilling the vision she had set for herself years earlier.

Leona remains deeply appreciative of her time at Cal State East Bay. “I’m so grateful to the university for helping me find a job,” she says, noting the pivotal role the Career Center played in her early success. “I didn’t fully appreciate the diversity here at the time, but I learned quickly that diverse teams do better.”

Leona recently returned to campus to discuss being named a 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. “Being on campus… I am proud of how it looks. I never thought about coming here when I was in high school, but I would be so proud if my nephews decided to come here. The quality of the programs, the flexibility to work and attend classes—it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.”

Even in retirement, Leona’s passion for finance remains strong. She’s dedicated to helping others achieve financial independence, supporting Cal State East Bay’s Women in Leadership program, and providing financial advice to friends and family. In June 2022, a conversation with her friend Anna about their financial histories and philosophies revealed that both had experienced financial trauma in their early lives, which still influenced their approaches to finance and investing.

Initially, Leona joined Finanli as an advisor and potential investor, but Anna eventually persuaded her to come out of retirement and serve as the company’s Chief Operating Officer. Leona was inspired by the economic challenges people faced after the pandemic and has always been a champion of women’s empowerment.

“I have always been passionate about helping young women,” Leona reflects. “As an Asian female from immigrant parents, I feel so blessed every day.