Kristina Blaschek

Chief Technology Officer of Investment Management @ William Blair

About

I am an innovative, solution-oriented executive with 20 years of financial investment experience. I currently lead Technology and oversee Development and Innovation, Assessment and Design, Data Engineering, Implementation and FinTech Strategic Partnerships as Director of Business & Technology Solutions at William Blair. I provide strategic and tactical direction and oversight on technology development, integration and acquisition, and governance while procuring pertinent data, maintaining information integrity and managing risk. I am an entrepreneurial leader who optimizes technology solutions to support clients by using a “build versus buy” mentality to effectively analyze and incorporate technologies. I enact comprehensive and cohesive strategies to increase intrinsic value to the company and deliver financial value to our customers. As a cross-functional, inter-company leader, I create and implement dynamic technology frameworks integrating budget, human capital assets, competitive analysis and ROIs to achieve profitable outcomes and maximize success. As a transparent leader, I am actively involved and passionately dedicated to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in the investment industry. I am a proud Co-founder of William Blair’s Women’s Affinity Group, Executive Mentor at the Executives’ Club of Chicago and active speaker and panelist supporting advancement and increased representation of women in finance. Select career achievements include: ✔ BUSINESS LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY: Leverage emerging technologies to help the firm serve our clients by rapidly achieving growth and scaling and/or transforming next-gen investment platforms, applications and models. ✔ TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY & EXECUTION: Lead investment technology development and innovation; set and execute strategic direction, infrastructure, and oversight measures in technology development, data procurement, integrity, and governance. ✔ STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: Plan and execute ongoing implementation of fintech partnerships; completed several proofs of concepts from start to finish with fintech startups within the last 12 months. ✔ PEOPLE & CULTURE: Promote diversity and inclusion from the top-down and bottom-up via eminence, professional outreach, recruiting, training, mentorship and executive sponsorship.

Country

United States

City

Chicago

Industry

Financial Services

Skill

Financial Modeling, Capital Markets, Investment Banking, Valuation, Equities, Corporate Finance, Investments, Private Equity, Fixed Income, Equity Research, Financial Analysis, Portfolio Management, Derivatives, Hedge Funds, Asset Management

Experience

Chief Technology Officer of Investment Management

William Blair

2017-12 - Present · 8 yrs 10 mos

Chicago, Illinois

Lead technology strategy, development and execution for the Investment Management business, overseeing software development, engineering, data and platform modernization. Position highlights: ✔ TECH STRATEGY & EXECUTION: Lead technology development and innovation for Investment Management; build and develop market-informed tech strategy, including understanding and mapping of current-state investment processes and technology assets, future-state requirements, needs and obstacles to achievement. ✔ CROSS-FUNCTIONAL LEADERSHIP | STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP: Direct cross-functional internal and external teams identifying and optimizing technology opportunities to serve clients; chief liaison with stakeholders in human resources, information technology, marketing, clients services, legal, risk, and compliance. ✔ TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION & INNOVATION: Oversee and direct the successful, secure migration of business unit data to the Cloud; leading the Firm by example, creating best practices within the organization. ✔ INVESTMENT TECH EMINENCE & LEADERSHIP: Spoke at local, national and international financial service (FS) and technology conferences as a subject matter expert on topics including: Incubating Technology, Developing Research Management & Analytics Tools, and The Future of AI within FS.

Global Research Manager, Investment Management

William Blair

2013-4 - 2017-12 · 4 yrs 9 mos

Led and managed day-to-day administration of Investment Management U.S. and Global Research teams, alongside Co-Directors of Research. Position highlights (not listed in profile summary): ✔ RESEARCH MANAGER: Led and managed global research associate program. ✔ BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Led/co-led and executed on a variety of strategy, business development and new product initiatives, including MiFID II. ✔ PARTNERSHIP/VENDOR PROCUREMENT & MANAGEMENT: Led research and commission efforts, including managing brokerage partner and vendor relationships (200+), conducting research broker votes and developing research budgets.

Senior Associate Analyst, Equity Research

William Blair

2007 - 2013-4 · 6 yrs

Charged with covering companies in the healthcare and veterinary services industries with market capitalizations ranging from $35M to $8B; analyzed and communicated impact of material events and quarterly financial results on covered companies. Position highlights: ✔ MARKET RESEARCH & ANALYSIS: Advised institutional clients, institutional salespeople and financial advisers on industry outlook and investment decisions. Initiated coverage and produced proprietary reports on companies by interviewing management teams, creating financial models and writing in-depth research reports. ✔ FINANCIAL MODELING & ANALYSIS: Placed 1st in 2008 Equity Research Stock Picking Contest; 17.8% annual return and only pick with a positive return.