Catherine Gacad is a seasoned executive dedicated to driving impactful change across various sectors, primarily in banking and technology. At Wells Fargo, she played a pivotal role during crucial moments like the bank bailout of 2008 and the Wachovia acquisition, working closely with the Board and C-suite. Her extensive experience in synthesizing data, crafting financial messaging, and fostering investor engagement has enabled her to advise over 100 startups on capitalization and go-to-market strategies, leading several to successful IPOs.

Currently, Catherine leverages her expertise to help startups and financial institutions enhance their strategic initiatives. In addition to her professional pursuits, Catherine is actively involved in her community as Board VP of the Alameda Food Bank, where she supports initiatives to address food insecurity. Her academic background includes an MBA from the University of Chicago with concentrations in entrepreneurship, strategy, and finance, and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley.