While the character in the story may have had a couple of lucky breaks, it seems to have some pretty practical advice in the article, and is certainly a whole lot better than most mainstream junk!
I've followed a similar path - Engineer that started work in 2003 on $45k, currently on a bit over $200, but really a manager these days. I didn't have a half million dollar inheritance, but I well from buying into my workplace, and riding it through to acquisition by a listed company. That had a similar magnitude impact (about half a million).
However, the main things - avoid consumer debt, have housemates, avoid lifestyle inflation, choose study as an investment decision all ring pretty true. I wish her all the best (although possibly with some more stocks in there than she has)...