casey ariel.
CASEY ARIEL'S BIO
Eradicating Barriers.
Casey Ariel Thobias is a published author, tech founder, and management consultant who advances Black women entrepreneurs. Casey spent a decade in finance with Bank of America, where she was Vice President managing a $20Bn portfolio of term and intraday credit exposures for pre-IPO, middle-market, and large corporate technology clients.
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Even before embarking on entrepreneurship, Casey was passionate about creating + holding space for Black and Brown minorities who are too often overlooked and underserved. She won the Bank of America 2019 Global Diversity & Inclusion Award, served as the Communications Chair of the Northern California Black Professional Group, was a Council Member on the Global D&I Council for the Wholesale Credit organization while at Bank of America. Within the Silicon Valley community, Casey coached Black and Latinx Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders on “Gaining and Maximizing Executive Sponsorship.”
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In the wake of the global cry for racial equity and systemic justice during the second half of 2020, Casey left Corporate America. She'd grown tired of the absence of Black women on deal teams and on the receiving end of capital distribution. In December 2020, she created Blaze Group to bring cultural familiarity to pathways of economic success for Black women. BLAZE means Building Leaders and Accepting Zero Excuses. It is an educational technology firm offering the Blaze Group app and business finance courses.
Casey is the author of Pain Unseen: The Truths That Lie Beneath My Strength, a beautifully raw memoir that aims to break the cycle of silent suffering. Her book is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook on Amazon, iTunes, and Audible.
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Casey graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina Honors College with a major in Corporate Finance. Casey resides in Huntsville, Alabama.
Press: Essence Magazine | 2024 Webby Awards Nominee | 2023 Webby Awards Honoree | Podia | 2022 Webby Awards Honoree | Pretty Women Hustle | Shoutout Atlanta | USC Magazine | Blaze Group
HIRE ME TO SPEAK
FIRESIDE CHATS
I love vulnerable conversations about navigating entrepreneurship as a Black woman, excelling with mental health challenges, and overcoming obstacles.
KEYNOTE SPEECHES
Hire me to be the keynote speaker at your next conference, summit, or company event. Attendees are sure to leave supercharged for the road ahead.
WORKSHOPS
I conduct interactive teach-ins with audiences in the areas of business funding, business planning, business automation, leadership development, etc.
ASK ME ANYTHING (AMA)
A fan favorite! Let's bring fun and engagement to any event by allowing the audience to pick my brain on the fly.
SPEAKING APPEARANCES
2024
JULY 7 • Scaling Your Business: Getting Into Accelerators, Incubators, and More, 30th ESSENCE Festival of Culture, New Orleans
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JULY 5 • Scaling Your Online Business with Artificial Intelligence, 30th ESSENCE Festival of Culture, New Orleans
JULY 3 • Growing a Webby Nominated AI Company, The Blk + Grn Show Hosted by Dr. Kristian Edwards
MAY 31 • Co-Host of Intentional Conversations Vodcast, Hosted by Dr. Nika White, Nika White Consulting
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MARCH 20 • BLAZE: Advancing Women with AI, Women's History Month Series, DC Black MBA Association
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MARCH 15 • Virtual HERStory Alumni Panel for Women's History Month, SC Honors College, University of South Carolina
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MARCH 8 • You're Up Next, Sis: Pull Up and Pitch, International Women's Day Event hosted by BLAZE x Beauty & Brains Organization x DC Black MBA Association
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FEBRUARY 26 • Breaking Barriers: Leveraging AI to Advance Black Women Entrepreneurs, Kiva US
2023
NOVEMBER 25 • Rebuilding Your Life After Devastating Trauma, Bold Fearless Confidence Podcast
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OCTOBER 26 • Growing Through Vulnerability, Permission to Pivot Podcast
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AUGUST 26 • 5th Annual Women's Symposium - Money Management Panel, DC Chapter of the National Black MBA Association
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AUGUST 24 • Secure the Bag: From Home to Retail Webinar Event, Blaze Group & Blk + Grn
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JULY 28 • Raising Capital as a Founder, Hube Know's Best Podcast
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JUNE 23 • Closing Keynote Speech, Blaze Virtual Summit | Summer 2023
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MAY 11 • The Backbone Screening & Discussion: Women Leading from Where They Are, Blaze Group & The Literacy Lab
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APRIL 29 • Georgetown Africa Business Conference 2023 - AgriTech Panel, Georgetown University
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MARCH 30 • Women of Color in Leadership Webinar, The Literacy Lab​
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MARCH 08 • International Women's Day Event: The Road Less Traveled, Blaze Group and Beauty & Brains Organization​
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MARCH 02 • A Room of One's Own: Featured Authors Panel Discussion, KOFISI, Nairobi, Kenya
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FEBRUARY 18 • Black Honors Caucus Panel, University of South Carolina Honors College, Columbia, South Carolina
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FEBRUARY 10 • The Backbone Documentary Film, Featured Film Character, University of South Carolina
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JANUARY 4 • Blazing Trails for a Global Network, Amplify Ambition Podcast, Hosted by Kristen Edwards
2022
NOVEMBER 29 • Shades & Layers Podcast: BLAZE, Hosted by Kutloano Skosana Ricci
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OCTOBER 26 • Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging – From Commitments to Action, Wellbeing at Work Summit, South Africa
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OCTOBER 18 • Comma Convos Podcast featuring Casey Richardson, Hosted by Dricka Carter
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JUNE 19 • Closing Keynote Speech, Blaze Virtual Summit | Summer 2022
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JUNE 09 • How Black Women Can Blaze Their Own Path to Freedom, Other the Podcast, Hosted by Raphie Wagner
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APRIL 2 • Radio Interview, Love Da Beat Radio, London, England
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APRIL 1 • In Position to Win with Web 3.0, Table Talk with Tottie Podcast, Hosted by Natasha Weston
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MARCH 18 • International Women's Day Event: Women Making Power Moves, Amazon, Inc.
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FEBRUARY 25 • Sister Circle Forum 2022 | Lunch & Learn, University of Kentucky
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FEBRUARY 17 • Black History Month Series: Black Coaches, Anasa Law Firm
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FEBRUARY 2 • Creator's Corner: Routable with Podia's Most Successful Community Creators, Podia Labs, Inc.​
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JANUARY 24 • Stepping into Entrepreneurship Early (Young Teens Discussion), God's Butterfly Effect Nonprofit
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JANUARY 06 • YNG BLK HR Podcast, Hosted by Honest HR Consulting
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2021
DECEMBER 30 • Innovative Ways to Automate Your Business, SIS Table Talk, Sisters Inspire Sisters
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DECEMBER 19 • Misconceptions of Domestic Violence, ABevy + The Choose TRUE Project
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DECEMBER 05 • Closing Keynote Speech, Blaze Virtual Summit | Winter 2021
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OCTOBER 12 • Special Podcast Show Guest, Anamolous Black Woman
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JUNE 22 • Loans & Grants 101 Workshop, Everybody E.A.T.S. Nonprofit
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MAY 6 • Panelist: Beyond Banking – FinTech and AgTech, Tuck School of Business (Dartmouth College)
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APRIL 22 • Feature in AHA! Magazine, published by the University of South Carolina Honors College
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MARCH 26 • PAYG Product w/ Hello Tractor, Wharton Fintech: Africa Trek, Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania)
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MARCH 18 • HERStory Alumni Panel, University of South Carolina Honors College
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FEBRUARY 22-28 • BlackCEO Iconic Conference Keynote + Workshop Facilitator, National Virtual Conference
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FEBRUARY 16 • “Black Women in Business: Blazing Trails” Panel Discussion Moderator, Virtual Event
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JANUARY 29 • Levels of Self-Love by K. Marie, Virtual Broadcast
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JANUARY 10 • Mental Health & Movement Virtual Event, Brooklyn
2020
JULY 14 • “Black Women Speak: Marginalization within the Margins” Moderator, San Francisco
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JUNE 19 • NorCal & SoCal Juneteenth Celebration Moderator + Singer, Virtual
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MARCH 25 • Bank of America Book Club Debrief, San Francisco
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MARCH 15 • Diva Discussions Book Club Debrief, San Pablo
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FEBRUARY 25 • Brwn Girl Talk Spotlight, Charleston
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FEBRUARY 16 • Book Launch Event, Oakland
2019
DECEMBER 9 • Bank of America Global Diversity & Inclusion Award Winner, Charlotte Headquarters
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OCTOBER 3 • Bank of America Global Credit Executive Summit, Featured Life Event Panelist, Charlotte
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AUGUST 23 • Our Collective ERG Summit Workshop: Gaining & Maximizing Sponsorship Relationships, San Francisco
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JUNE 19 • Bay Area Juneteenth Celebration Organizer w/ Bank of America, Twitter & Airbnb, San Francisco