Katie Bierman
Director, Financial Services Strategy & Operations, IHS Markit
Katie Bierman is a Director of Strategy & Operations at IHS Markit Financial Services. Her role is primarily to support business management in day-to-day priorities and execute against strategic programs across the division. Katie joined IHS Markit through the Ipreo acquisition in 2018, where she was an Associate Director in Financial Planning & Analysis. Prior to this, Katie worked as a Manager in KPMG’s Deal Advisory group performing Financial Due Diligence primarily for private equity clients. Katie has her MBA from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business and is a licensed CPA.
Niki Cyrus
Corporate Finance, M&A, Cisco
Niki is an M&A Strategy & Integration lead at Cisco. Prior to her current role, she served as a Chief of Staff for a sales organization in the Americas division. She made a career pivot from Media/Entertainment to Tech and held various Finance & Strategy roles at Disney and 20th Century Fox. During her time at 20th Century Fox, she focused on financials for the TV show greenlighting process, talent deal analysis, and special projects for the CFO. Previously at Disney, she spent 3 years in Corporate Finance and Strategy, where she was responsible for strategic planning, valuation, and forecasting. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and an MBA from Duke Fuqua School of Business. During her time at USC, she co-founded the University’s first business-focused leadership program for women. Even after her departure, this organization has continued to teach young women business acumen and financial literacy. Outside of work, she enjoys running, boxing, and traveling (once COVID allows again).
Shannon Reaves
Nationwide Business Development Officer - SBA Lending, North State Bank
Shannon’s experience in the financial industry spans more than two decades. During this time, Shannon has served in various roles including, commercial and mortgage lending, compliance management and executive leadership. Shannon is currently a Nationwide SBA Business Development Officer with North State Bank. Shannon is a native North Carolinian and is privileged to have had the opportunity to serve on several Boards of Directors including the Ronald McDonald House, The Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce and the North Carolina School of Banking.
Nicole Stiles
Regional Advisor Consultant, Columbia Threadneedle Investments
Nicole Stiles is a regional vice president for the independent advisor division at Columbia Threadneedle Investments. She covers financial advisors in North Carolina and South Carolina (Upstate). Ms. Stiles joined the firm in 2015. Prior to joining Columbia Threadneedle Investments, Ms. Stiles worked for Retirement Capital Advisors as a financial planning support person. Ms. Stiles earned her B.S. in Business Administration from University of Pittsburgh and currently holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 registrations.
Sandra Stowe
Owner, White Owl Financial Advisors
Sandra Stowe is the owner of White Owl Financial Advisors LLC in Cary, NC. She specializes in comprehensive financial planning and investing for individuals and small business owners. After earning her degree in Industrial Engineering / Operations Research from Columbia University, she spent the early part of her career as a consultant, working at Andersen Consulting and JP Morgan. Over the past twenty years, Sandra has built Financial Technology solutions for investment banks and wealth management and asset management institutions. Leveraging her experience as a consultant and financial technology solutions expert, Sandra prides herself on being a problem solver and invests in getting to know her clients and their goals to advise them on their financial plan. Sandra has served on the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Women's Leadership Conference Task Force for the past seven years and is the Girls on the Run Triangle Board Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair. Through her work with these organizations and women's networks throughout the Triangle, Sandra also aims to actively support women and the future generation of women to achieve financial freedom through early awareness, education and planning.
Sarah Leners
Venture Capital Senior Associate, Bull City Venture Partners
Sarah Leners is a Senior Associate at Bull City Venture Partners where she invests in early-stage startups. Prior to joining BCVP, Sarah was an investment banker at Lazard Middle Market where she specialized in M&A execution for Consumer, Food and Retail companies. Sarah began her investment banking career at Deutsche Bank where she focused on valuation, capital structure optimization, mergers and acquisitions and strategic advisory in the Real Estate, Gaming, Lodging and Leisure sectors. Sarah received her MBA with concentrations in Entrepreneurship, Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She received her AB in Economics from Dartmouth College where she was a member of the track and field team. Sarah currently serves as a North Carolina Committee Co-Chair for 100 Women in Finance.
