About Katie

Hey there! My name is Katie. I'm a policy and investing geek who grew up in Tennessee, and got the life-changing chance to attend the University of Virginia (Wahoowa!) as a Jefferson Scholar. I was obsessed with figuring out ways to use policy to make sure the opportunities I had growing up were accessible to everyone, no matter where they grew up. That led to an interdisciplinary degree and thesis focused on affordable housing. Despite (though I'd argue, because of) my liberal arts background, I wound up in finance after graduation. I spent five years building and leading a political risk research team, where we helped investors figure out how the government's actions would come to define economic growth -- from tax reform and COVID relief, to historic infrastructure investment and nascent tech regulation. That experience showed me how profoundly markets shape life outcomes for ordinary people, and the role government can play in making them better. I decided to find MPA/MBA programs that prioritized both my commitment to public service and belief that leaders should be able to solve problems from multiple perspectives. I took the leap and applied to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program at Stanford GSB and Princeton SPIA. Now having come out the other side of school, I can say without hesitation that my life has profoundly changed because of the educational opportunities I received -- not just because of what I learned, but especially because of the mentorship I received through these programs. I didn't start with exposure to major scholarships, finance jobs, or getting into public policy. What I did have that made all the difference: people who were invested in helping me understand how I could dream bigger, achieve goals I didn't once believe possible, and find ways to help others do the same. That's why coaching is so important to me. I am the product of the belief and support of so many mentors over the course of my life, and it's a joy to find ways to use what I know to support others in achieving their next dream. I'm excited to learn about yours!