Here’s my no. 1 piece of career advice for young people [Video]

For Dr. Geetha Murali, the topic of education is a deeply personal one.

As the CEO of Room to Read, a leading non-profit organization with the mission to create a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, she is acutely aware that the power of education could break cycles of poverty and inequality around the world.

“We’ve done a lot of reflection on [the] skill sets that children need, which are sort of those gatekeeper, foundational skills that allow [them] to overcome other limitations in their lives, and when you look at young children… the fundamental skill set you need is being able to read,” Murali told CNBC’s “Make It.”

“Once you’re able to read, all of a sudden, the world opens up to you, and you can develop the learning pathways that can help you make good, informed choices,” she said.