Eradicating Barriers in Finance.

Casey Ariel Thobias is an award-winning thought leader, published author, and founder dedicated to advancing equitable financial solutions and empowering communities across the African Diaspora. As a sought-after expert in financial inclusion, Casey blends over a decade of corporate finance acumen with her passion for driving systemic change.

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During her tenure at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Casey served as Vice President, managing a $20 billion portfolio of credit exposures for pre-IPO, middle-market, and large corporate technology clients. Her leadership earned her the 2019 Global Diversity & Inclusion Award, a testament to her commitment to fostering equity within corporate spaces. Beyond the boardroom, Casey amplified the voices of Black and Latinx professionals as a coach for Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders and a dynamic speaker for Fortune 50 companies, focusing on topics like "Gaining and Maximizing Executive Sponsorship."

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In 2020, Casey transitioned from Corporate America to entrepreneurship, driven by the glaring absence of Black women on deal teams and Black-owned businesses receiving equitable access to capital. She founded Blaze Group, an educational technology firm rooted in her mission to decolonize economic pathways and shift power to underserved communities. Blaze Group equips Black entrepreneurs with tools to build sustainable, scalable businesses while partnering with fintechs to design inclusive financial solutions.

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Casey’s insights on equitable finance, reparative capital, and global strategy have been featured in Essence Magazine, the Kiva & OpenAI Initiative, and as a nominee and honoree for multiple Webby Awards. She has spoken at leading conferences, including the ESSENCE Festival, where her panels on artificial intelligence and business scaling captivated diverse audiences.

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In addition to her professional work, Casey is the author of Pain Unseen: The Truths That Lie Beneath My Strength, a deeply personal memoir that inspires resilience and vulnerability. The book is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook on Amazon, iTunes, and Audible.

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A graduate of the University of South Carolina Honors College with a degree in Corporate Finance, Casey's journey also includes serving as the Chief Credit Officer of Hello Tractor in Nairobi, Kenya, and advising entrepreneurs as a member of the Kiva US Advisory Board. She now resides in Huntsville, Alabama, where she continues to build bridges between financial institutions and marginalized communities.​

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Press: Kiva & OpenAI | Essence Magazine | 2024 Webby Awards Nominee | 2023 Webby Awards Honoree | Podia | 2022 Webby Awards Honoree | Pretty Women Hustle |  Shoutout Atlanta | USC Magazine | Blaze Group