The Exchange Introducing: CNBC Changemakers and Power Players
Nov 4, 2025
Kourtney Gibson, CEO of Retirement Solutions at TIAA, once built Loop Capital and now champions retirement security for Americans. She shares how her early experiences in finance sparked a passion for the field. Kourtney discusses how her startup mindset shaped her leadership style, emphasizing relationship-building and innovation. She also raises awareness about the urgent need to address retirement inequity, especially among Gen Z, and outlines her mission to empower teams and transform TIAA's culture for better accessibility.
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Mission Guides Modern Action
- TIAA's founding mission — creating retirement security — still guides daily work across 15,000 associates.
- Kourtney Gibson frames that legacy as the company's enduring North Star for decision-making.
From Pediatrician Dreams To Finance
- Gibson planned to be a bilingual pediatrician but finance 'chose' her after an internship at Loop Capital.
- Her cousin founded Loop Capital and that entry point launched a two-decade finance career.
Growth Happens In The Journey
- Growth comes from the journey, not the destination, and hindsight reveals how relationships and process matter.
- Gibson emphasizes that people do business with those they know, like, and trust as a fundamental truth.