Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Too often, conversations about money happen too late....after major financial decisions are already made. Research shows most people have formed their attitudes about money by age 8. Yet parents are more likely to talk about most other topics beyond money.
This session explores the wealth gap, and why early, open conversations about personal finance at home are one of the most powerful tools for economic mobility.
Key Takeaways:
How the wealth gap compounds across generations — and how early financial education can interrupt it
Practical strategies for talking about money with kids and teens
How families can build financial confidence together using everyday tools and transparent budgeting
Featuring:
Christy Johnson '01
Christy Johnson is an entrepreneur, board member and educator. She is currently building her fourth start-up, Artemis Connection, and coaches entrepreneurs at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Washington where she teaches entrepreneurship and business policy and strategy. She has seven years of experience working in corporate strategy, including 3 ½ years at McKinsey & Co. Before this, Christy was an award-winning economics and mathematics teacher. In 2005, Junior Achievement recognized Christy as its National Teacher of the Year.
Christy believes economics, personal finance and wealth is personal and important. She has cared deeply about personal finance education given her experience growing up in a rural and economically depressed part of Washington state. The need for economics and personal finance education hit home when she was in 6th grade and her entrepreneur father ran into some struggles as an entrepreneur. During her 20+ years as a board member for the Washington Council on Economics and financial education she has advocated for all students to have access to personal finance education.
Christy holds an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business with a certificate in public management. She led the personal side of leadership club, was involved with the center for social innovation and co-led the student admissions committee. She also has a master’s in education from Stanford’s School of Education. Her undergraduate degree is in Economics from Western Washington University.
Brought to you by:
The Foundation for WWU & Alumni
Too often, conversations about money happen too late....after major financial decisions are already made. Research shows most people have formed their attitudes about money by age 8. Yet parents are more likely to talk about most other topics beyond money.
This session explores the wealth gap, and why early, open conversations about personal finance at home are one of the most powerful tools for economic mobility.
Key Takeaways:
How the wealth gap compounds across generations — and how early financial education can interrupt it
Practical strategies for talking about money with kids and teens
How families can build financial confidence together using everyday tools and transparent budgeting
Featuring:
Christy Johnson '01
Christy Johnson is an entrepreneur, board member and educator. She is currently building her fourth start-up, Artemis Connection, and coaches entrepreneurs at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Washington where she teaches entrepreneurship and business policy and strategy. She has seven years of experience working in corporate strategy, including 3 ½ years at McKinsey & Co. Before this, Christy was an award-winning economics and mathematics teacher. In 2005, Junior Achievement recognized Christy as its National Teacher of the Year.
Christy believes economics, personal finance and wealth is personal and important. She has cared deeply about personal finance education given her experience growing up in a rural and economically depressed part of Washington state. The need for economics and personal finance education hit home when she was in 6th grade and her entrepreneur father ran into some struggles as an entrepreneur. During her 20+ years as a board member for the Washington Council on Economics and financial education she has advocated for all students to have access to personal finance education.
Christy holds an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business with a certificate in public management. She led the personal side of leadership club, was involved with the center for social innovation and co-led the student admissions committee. She also has a master’s in education from Stanford’s School of Education. Her undergraduate degree is in Economics from Western Washington University.
Brought to you by:
The Foundation for WWU & Alumni
