Episode #18: Victoria O'Tool

In this episode, hosts Deshawn Peterson and Mike Zarrelli sit down with Victoria O’Tool, a finance major and President of the FPA student chapter at the University of Alabama. Victoria shares her inspiring journey from being a self-described introvert to becoming a bold student leader and advocate for financial planning.She discusses how solo travel and public speaking pushed her outside her comfort zone and into a growth mindset. Victoria details how she revitalized her FPA chapter—growing it from 15 members to 88 paid members in under a year—through strategic marketing, digital signage, speaker events, firm visits, and a robust mentorship program.Victoria also opens up about her personal path to discovering financial planning through early conversations with her father, a military upbringing, and her relentless drive to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives. Her story illustrates the power of taking initiative, seeking mentorship, and embracing discomfort as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.