Soledad O'Brien knows something about diversity and balance.

The anchor of CNN's daily American Morning program has parents who are Irish, black and Hispanic. She has been named one of America's top 100 Irish people and she is a member of both the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

O'Brien left NBC last year for her new job with CNN. The Harvard graduate also takes a handful of speaking engagements, hoping people will be inspired by her story. She spoke Tuesday in North Platte, Neb.

Perhaps the best legacy today's young professionals can leave for people who follow them is a lesson in better achieving balance between work and family life, she said.

The 37-year-old is an example of that herself. The mother of two young daughters is pregnant with twin boys, due in August.