Penny Lee is the President and CEO of the Financial Technology Association (FTA), a Washington, DC-based trade association representing fintech industry leaders. FTA educates, informs, and engages with Washington, advocating for modernized policies and regulations that spur innovation and drive inclusion. As the voice of the fintech industry, FTA serves as an ecosystem and community for leaders shaping the future of finance.
Before joining FTA, Lee led the public affairs practice group at Invariant, a leading Washington, D.C., government relations and strategic communications firm. She previously served as Chief Strategy Officer of 1776, a prominent technology incubator and accelerator servicing over 1,200 startups in its network.
Lee co-founded and chaired K Street Capital, a Washington, DC-based angel investment firm with over $65 million in assets under management. Her experience also includes serving as Senior Advisor to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Executive Director of the Democratic Governors Association, and Communications Director for Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.
Roles in social impact complement her professional expertise. Lee currently serves on the advisory board of the Center for American Entrepreneurship and on the board of the National Links Trust, which works to preserve the accessibility and affordability of municipal golf courses. Penny graduated from Baylor University with degrees in political science and journalism.