Karen M. Elinski is the senior vice president, general counsel, and head of Govern-ment Relations at TIAA-CREF in New York. In this role, she is responsible for managing the corporate federal, state and international government relations and public policy function.

Born in Buffalo with a B.A. and J.D. both from the State University of New York there, Karen was the eldest in a large Irish Catholic family with ties to Limerick and Cork. It’s “the great Irish songs, celebrations and traditions,” she says, “that bring a lighthearted smile to my face when I realize that I am taking myself or circumstances way too seriously!”

Prior to TIAA-CREF, Karen served as vice president of Government Affairs at Prudential Financial. On the board of directors of Financial Women’s Association, Karen recently received the Annual Women’s Leadership Award from CUNY and the New York Times.