A new group of leaders to help guide our next chapter

Financial Beginnings is launching a Strategic Advisory Board: a group of leaders from across industries who will help guide our growth as a national organization.

For years, Financial Beginnings has worked alongside schools, community organizations, workforce programs, correctional facilities and financial institutions to bring practical, unbiased financial education to youth and adults. That work is built on relationships people already know and trust. Now, as we set our sights on a major expansion, we want to grow in a way that keeps those relationships at the center.

The Strategic Advisory Board is one of the ways we'll do that.

What the Strategic Advisory Board will do

Members will serve as strategic partners to our CEO, Ronecca Norvell, and our Board of Directors. They'll bring expertise, perspective and networks to the questions that matter most as we grow, including:

• National expansion: where and how Financial Beginnings grows, and how we scale while staying community-centered.
• Positioning and thought leadership: how Financial Beginnings contributes to the national conversation about financial education.
• Strategic partnerships: partnership models that create lasting value for everyone involved, including multi-year relationships.
• Advocacy: how we engage with policymakers on financial education.
• New initiatives: counsel on major pilots and new ideas before we bring them to learners.
• Leadership and connections: introductions to people and organizations who share our goals, including future board members.

In short, the Strategic Advisory Board helps us make thoughtful decisions about how to expand access to quality financial education without losing what makes our work effective.

Why now

Financial Beginnings is at an important point in its growth, and the Strategic Advisory Board is a way to bring more voices and experience into that work.

"People are looking for practical, trustworthy financial education, and Financial Beginnings has spent years earning that trust in communities. Growing nationally means making smart choices about where we go and who we partner with. The Strategic Advisory Board gives our CEO and Board access to leaders who can help us think bigger while staying true to the relationships that make this work effective."

— Holly Files, Board Chair, Financial Beginnings

Who's leading the effort

Fiachre O'Neill, former SVP and Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at PayPal, is leading the effort to build the Strategic Advisory Board. He's reaching out to leaders with national responsibility, strong networks and a shared interest in expanding access to financial education.

"The leaders we're inviting bring deep strategic experience from multiple industries including banking, technology and business services. What they share is a belief that financial education works best when it's practical, relevant and delivered through trusted relationships. I'm excited to bring these perspectives together to support Financial Beginnings as it grows."

— Fiachre O'Neill, Chair, Strategic Advisory Board, Financial Beginnings

Know a leader who should be part of this?

'We're building the Strategic Advisory Board now, and we'd love your help finding the right people. We're looking for executives and decision makers who hold national or organization-wide responsibility and can help with the above. If someone comes to mind, you can add a name to our list of candidates by submitting this form.