Codie Sanchez

Sanchez was raised by a special education teacher and a self-made blue-collar builder, who emphasized the importance of education, risk-taking, and business ownership. She is married.

Sanchez graduated early from Arizona State University with a degree in journalism. Following graduation, she traveled to Juarez, Mexico, to report on human rights abuses and local conditions, a project that earned her the Robert F. Kennedy Award for print journalism. Her experiences in Juarez convinced her that financial resources and economic education were essential for individuals seeking to change their circumstances.

In 2008, Sanchez transitioned from media into finance, accepting her first industry role at Vanguard immediately before the global financial crisis. She subsequently advanced through corporate positions at major financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, State Street, and First Trust. Alongside her corporate roles, she began purchasing and investing in diverse commercial operations, ranging from laundromats to cannabis ventures.

In 2020, Sanchez established Contrarian Thinking, a finance and media enterprise designed to teach small business acquisition, mergers and acquisitions, and cash-flow management. Through affiliated ventures such as Main Street Hold Co. and Contrarian Thinking Capital, she and her partners directly acquire and back traditional service companies, including window-washing operations and laundromats, which she characterizes as overlooked yet resilient assets.

Sanchez expanded her platform by publishing newsletters, writing a New York Times bestselling book, and hosting The BigDeal Podcast with Codie Sanchez. She also built an audience across platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, sharing investing advice and operational frameworks.