As Chief Strategic Development Officer and Chief Governance Officer at Blue Meridian Partners, Tia oversees all areas of engagement and governance relating to our Partners and board, as well as the strategic development of Blue Meridian's relationships with leading philanthropists to expand the funds available to invest. Tia leads Blue Meridian's Investor Relations team, and as a member of senior leadership, she also provides strategic support and guidance for the growth and development of Blue Meridian's business model. Before joining Blue Meridian, Tia spent over 20 years in the private sector ' most recently at Blackstone, where she held senior leadership roles in Blackstone's Infrastructure and Hedge Fund Solutions business units. During her 13-year tenure at Blackstone, Tia contributed to the structuring, launch, and ongoing operation of multiple businesses and strategic partnerships. Tia began her career as a corporate attorney with a focus on private equity transactions ' first, at Cleary Gottlieb and later, as Counsel at Akin Gump. Tia has served on numerous non-profit and philanthropic boards. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Black Economic Alliance, a non-partisan alliance of business leaders and supporters focused on driving economic progress for the Black Community. Previously, Tia served as Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. In 2019, Tia was recognized by Black Enterprise as one of 2019's 'Most Powerful Women in Corporate America.' Tia has received numerous awards for her leadership and philanthropic work in New York City. Tia received a BA in Foreign Affairs with a concentration in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Virginia and a JD from Columbia Law School.