Karen Kosiba Edwards

Professional Focus

• Experience as a C-level executive, corporate consultant and investment banker
• 20 years’ experience serving on the boards of public and private companies; strong command of corporate governance leadership and best practices; special interest in sourcing diversity & inclusion; expertise in assembling boards and structuring executive compensation
• Background in investment banking and capital markets, mergers & acquisitions, regulatory compliance, business valuation, financial institutions, fintech, venture capital, wealth management, cross-border investment, retail brokerage, insurance and real estate
• Expert advisor on growth, turnaround and risk management strategies
• Federal government regulator and consultant to domestic and foreign governments
• Industry thought leader with speaking engagements at Deloitte, CFA Society, Institutional Investor, and UPWARD
• Proficient in English, French and German

Business Expertise

• Public company board member; advisory board member and investor in early-stage tech companies
• Financial and strategic consulting; business brokerage
• Senior Vice President of business development for ultra-high net worth multi-family office
• COO of firm managing early-stage funds for angel investors; helped create successful VC fund WomenAngels.net
• Managing Director of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc.: co-founded and built investment banking group; became partner prior to firm’s own IPO
• Director of Resolutions - Oversight Board for the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC), a temporary federal agency tasked with overseeing disposal of assets from failed savings and loans (S&Ls)
• Consultant to financial institutions globally on capital markets; advised Chinese government on failed bank resolution strategies; trained investment bankers at China’s largest commercial bank; introduced US wealth management concepts to Chinese investors
• Previous experience in B2B sales, alternative energy, retail investing, underwriting commercial insurance risks

Practice Memberships

Industry Practices

• Financial Services

Cross-Sector Practices

• CEO & Board Services
• Private Equity & Venture Capital

Additional Sector Expertise

• Banking & Capital Markets
• Fintech
• Institutional Asset Management & Alternatives
• Insurance
• Public Sector
• Real Estate
• Wealth Management & Private Banking

Education & Certifications

• MBA from University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business
• BA from Carleton College, Minnesota
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Series 7, 63, 24

Affiliations & Awards

• Former Alumni Board Chairman and Trustee, Darden School of Business
• Member, Women Corporate Directors and Chairman, DC Chapter Program Committee
• Member, Women in Technology Leadership Foundry Steering Committee
• Member, National Association of Corporate Directors
• Former President, CFA Society of Washington