Welcome!
I’m so happy you’re here! Let’s get straight to it. I’m passionate about working towards a world with more balanced and equitable power structures. More specifically, (and perhaps selfishly, as I am a female in the finance industry) I want gender parity in the finance industry. I know that sounds like a lofty, buzz-wordy goal that can’t be accomplished in my lifetime. After all, the stats are pretty dismal.
- Currently, only 5.8% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women.
- Only 2.8% of U.S. venture capital (VC) funds went to female founders in 2019.
- Less than 10% of VC decision-makers are women.
- And only 18% of private equity employees are women.
Yikes! I could go on, but I think you get the point. I’ve spent a lot of time feeling helpless and frustrated by the pace of progress, but I want to turn my frustration and passion into something positive. I want to create a community for professionals who are passionate about diversity in leadership. Whether you are at the top of the corporate ladder, or the bottom, or are running your own business (or dreaming of it), I believe change can and should come from all directions. I also believe that change starts with education and sharing our experiences. So that’s what I’m going to do, share knowledge and experiences (mine and others’) with you all. And I hope that, together, we can “move the needle,” as the corporates love to say.
About Me: Casey Tierney, CFA, CPA
Professional
My undergraduate degree is from the College of Charleston, where I graduated in three years with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. I then moved on to Wake Forest University, where I graduated with a Master of Science in Accountancy and a concentration in Financial Transaction Services. I am a licensed CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and I am a CFA® charterholder (Chartered Financial Analyst).
I started my career in a rotational program at a large accounting and consulting firm, splitting my time between the Financial Due Diligence and Valuation business lines for ~1.5 years. After leaving consulting, I spent ~2.5 years in the Corporate Development (M&A) department of a Charlotte-based FinTech company. I recently joined a venture capital fund focused on disrupting the world of law. I’m excited to finally be in venture capital and look forward to learning and growing in a new industry.
Personal
I grew up in a big family (and I mean really big, nine kids!). I’m the oldest of the bunch, which is probably why I’m so responsible and a little (ok, a lot) controlling. While it can get chaotic, I love my family and they have helped to shape me into who I am today.
I’m married to my high school sweetheart; we started dating over eleven years ago. And even though everyone says this, he really is my best friend! He’s a doctor and a lieutenant in the Navy. Managing both of our careers has been difficult and I know it will get increasingly more difficult as we both progress, but I feel so grateful to have a partner (and two cats) on this journey with me.
Passions
My biggest passion is women’s empowerment, especially in the workplace. My other interests include reading about inspiring women, leading a healthy lifestyle, and hiking with my husband. And when I’m not working, working out, reading, or hiking, you can probably find me getting sucked into the latest TV dramas.
