In the Media
CFO Evolution Puts Spotlight on Data, Tech Skills
Karen Kosiba Edwards
Managing Partner, United States
Member, Board of Directors, Boyden
Global Sector Leader, Real Estate
Karen Edwards has 25 years’ experience consulting with boards, CEOs and government on a range of strategic matters. She also draws on her own experience serving as a public company director, and as a C-level executive, to help clients build diverse, high-performing leadership teams and boards of directors. Her deep expertise in all areas of finance and banking is also a major asset to our clients.
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
Additional Expertise
- Banking & Capital Markets
- Fintech
- Institutional Asset Management & Alternatives
- Insurance
- Public Sector
- Real Estate
- Wealth Management & Private Banking
Areas of Expertise
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, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)
- Member, Women in Technology Leadership Foundry Steering Committee
- Former President, CFA Society of Washington
Case Studies
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Securing the Next Chief Investment Officer: Strengthening Leading Investment Strategy in a Public REIT
Having successfully recruited the outgoing CIO, Boyden was engaged to lead the search for their successor, ensuring continuity in strategy and leadership for a premier experiential REIT.
Driving Innovation: Recruiting Tech-Savvy Leadership in the Insurance Industry
This case study highlights the recruitment strategy of a tech-savvy independent director for a leading insurance provider in the trucking industry, emphasizing the alignment between expertise in technology and investment.
Cybersecurity Excellence: Strengthening Trust and Digital Resilience
A Caribbean financial and mortgage bank partnered with Boyden to recruit a strategic Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), enhancing cybersecurity governance and supporting digital transformation across the organization.
Thought Leadership
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Blog
Private Company Boards Then and Now: From Bodies of Representation to Engines of Strategic Capability
Private company boards have moved from relationship‑based oversight to capability‑driven leadership, responding to the demands of faster, more complex operating environments.
Articles & Papers
Building Tomorrow: An Exclusive Interview with President of Dudley Ventures, LLC, James D. Howard, Jr. (Part II of II)
Articles & Papers
Building Tomorrow: An Exclusive Interview with Board Director and Real Estate Operations Executive, Stephanie Duncan (Part I)
Articles & Papers
Building Tomorrow: An Exclusive Interview with Avanti Senior Living Chairman & CEO, Tim Hekker
Media
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Building Tomorrow: An Exclusive Interview with The Bergstrom Real Estate Center's William Hughes
Podcast
Why Grit Is Killing Your High Performers And What Elite Teams Do Instead | Dr. Amy Athey
Podcast
Executive Search Insights: How CPG & Retail Companies Find the Right Leaders
Podcast
Boyden CEO Chad Hesters Joins Dr. Amy Athey on the Still Evolving Podcast
Podcast
News & Events
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Event
How Boards Select New Directors - A BlueSteps Webinar featuring Boyden's Karen Kosiba Edwards
In the Media
The $400,000 Chief of Staff Is the CEO’s Secret Weapon in the AI Age
As CEOs navigate the growing complexity of the AI era, demand for chiefs of staff is surging as organizations seek trusted strategic advisors who can help leaders prioritize, execute, and solve critical business challenges.
Contact Karen Kosiba Edwards today and let's get started