How Innovation and Automation Transformed Treasury at a Leading University
From The Treasury Career Corner by Mike Richards
April 28, 2026 · 37 min · Episode 429
About this episode
Karen Kearney discusses transforming treasury functions through innovation and automation at Stanford University.
How do you transform a treasury function from manual processes into an AI-powered, automation-driven strategic partner? In this episode, we’re joined by Karen Kearney , Treasurer at Stanford University . She leads treasury across one of the world’s most complex and innovative institutions, overseeing areas including capital markets, cash management, and financial strategy within a large, mission-driven environment. On the episode Karen Kearney , Treasurer at Stanford University shares her unconventional journey into treasury, from starting in audit to exploring a career in the culinary world before returning to finance and ultimately leading treasury at Stanford. The conversation dives into how treasury can evolve into a strategic function through innovation, automation, and collaboration. Karen explains how her team implemented predictive cash forecasting, automated complex processes, and developed in-house solutions that outperform market offerings. She also discusses the unique challenges of operating in a nonprofit, consensus-driven environment, the importance of institutional understanding, and how AI will shape the future of treasury. What We Cover in This Episode…
People in this episode
Host: Mike Richards
Guest: Karen Kearney
Topics covered
- innovation
- automation
- treasury management
- nonprofit finance
- strategic finance
- cash forecasting
Keywords
- treasury
- automation
- AI
- cash management
- financial strategy
- nonprofit
- capital markets
- predictive forecasting
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Stanford University
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