How do you go from writing stories about human trafficking on the US-Mexico border to building a multi-million dollar business media empire?Welcome to the Forbes Top Creator Show! This week, host Steven Bertoni decodes the business of influence with former journalist, Wall Street investor, and serial entrepreneur Codie Sanchez.In this episode, Codie opens up about her intense early days as a border journalist, winning the John F. Kennedy Award for print journalism, and the searing realization that it is nearly impossible to assert your will on the world when you are broke. She details her transition into high finance—climbing the ladder at Vanguard, Goldman Sachs, and State Street—and why she walked away from private equity after realizing she didn't want to end up like her corporate peers.Codie delivers a true masterclass on building Contrarian Thinking, a powerhouse holding company that uses social media to drive 130 million monthly views into venture capital, franchise brands, and advisory services. She breaks down her daily routine of waking up at Finally, Codie shares her core investment thesis: why "boring" physical businesses like plumbing, HVAC, car washes, and laundromats are the ultimate path to financial freedom in the age of AI, and why they will outlast traditional knowledge workers like accountants, attorneys, and graphic designers. She also reveals her biggest creator mistake—getting "murdered" by the internet over a typo, and her three commandments for finance creators: "bring your weird way better than boring," fight the "sloppification" of content, and obsess over serving just one person.#CodieSanchez #ForbesTopCreators #ContrarianThinking #CreatorEconomyCheck out the Forbes Top Creator List:https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2026/06/23/forbes-top-creators-2026/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices