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Laura Kiernan

Founder & CEO

High Touch Investor Relations

Larchmont, NY, USA

Laura Kiernan

OakNorth Credit Intelligence

Dow Investments Plc

Laura Kiernan’s Biography

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Laura Kiernan is an advisor and strategist with over three decades of experience working with directorial boards, Fortune 500 and Russell 2000 companies to develop, lead and implement successful investor relations and corporate strategies. She is the Founder and CEO of two boutique investor relations businesses, High Touch Investor Relations and Raising Millions, an e-learning platform for business founders.

High Touch Investor Relations, founded in 2009, is a financial communications and strategic analysis firm that serves international and domestic clients. Laura and her team advise clients on strategy and company positioning at pivotal stages, including brand, valuation and other key metrics for business longevity and success.

Merging her entrepreneurial know-how with a passion for conscious capitalism, Laura formed Raising Millions in 2021, the go-to network for underrepresented early-stage founders and creators wanting to expand, fundraise and build their businesses through financial education.

Laura’s unique skillset has allowed her to expertly advise firms and boards... Laura Kiernan is an advisor and strategist with over three decades of experience working with directorial boards, Fortune 500 and Russell 2000 companies to develop, lead and implement successful investor relations and corporate strategies. She is the Founder and CEO of two boutique investor relations businesses, High Touch Investor Relations and Raising Millions, an e-learning platform for business founders.

High Touch Investor Relations, founded in 2009, is a financial communications and strategic analysis firm that serves international and domestic clients. Laura and her team advise clients on strategy and company positioning at pivotal stages, including brand, valuation and other key metrics for business longevity and success.

Merging her entrepreneurial know-how with a passion for conscious capitalism, Laura formed Raising Millions in 2021, the go-to network for underrepresented early-stage founders and creators wanting to expand, fundraise and build their businesses through financial education.

Laura’s unique skillset has allowed her to expertly advise firms and boards on how to best optimize valuations through C-suite and board advisory, financial media, targeting, communication, valuation strategy and analyses, capital raising, short surveillance and investor story development. Several of her career successes include overseeing investor relations for World Wrestling Entertainment, the acquisition of the Harry Winston Diamond Corporation by Swatch Group Ltd. and as SVP, Investor Relations at Ubiquiti responsible for improving valuation and advising the C-suite on business strategies.

Laura is invited to share her insights by guest lecturing at business-oriented educational institutions including Fordham University, Northeastern University, the University of Pretoria and the National Investor Relations Institute.

She holds a BSc in Accounting from Ithaca College and an MBA in Finance and Strategy from NYU Stern School of Business. moreless

Laura Kiernan’s Newsfeed

NIRI

The BIG I – Investor and Issuer Invitational Forum™

Laura Kiernan will be speaking as the moderator on a panel titled "Reddit, Robinhood & Regulation" as part of the 2022 The BIG I – Investor and Issuer Invitational Forum. The panel will focus on issues such as the risks that retails investors face while participating in stock-focused discussion forums and the regularatory safeguards in place on various apps.

Wall Street Journal

Connecting With Small Shareholders Remains a Challenge for Companies

Laura Kiernan of High Touch Investor Relations discusses how many companies are still struggling to engage with small investors a year after the meme stock frenzy began, and how CEOs are exploring new techniques to interact with individual investors.

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Laura Kiernan’s Background

High Touch Investor Relations

Founder & CEO

Oct 2009 - Present

Larchmont, NY, USA

High Touch Investor Relations is a boutique investor relations services agency. The company assists clients with capital raising readiness, and in improving corporate valuation and reputation through customized, full-service IR plans. Key clients include VIQ Solutions, WeCyclers, LFG Nexus, Cinedigm, New Millennium Chess, EDA, TTC Oncology, Everybody Water, Pop Viewers, Ubiquiti and Get Golden.

Raising Millions

Founder & CEO

May 2021 - Present

Larchmont, NY, USA

Laura teaches a seven-week course called Raising Millions, the Financial Literacy Course for Founders. She provides founders, business owners and early-stage entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to identify and manage their finances, as well as the processes they need to follow to procure capital to expand their company.

Everybody Water

Chief Financial Officer

Oct 2021 - Present

Boston, MA, USA

Founded in 2019, Everybody Water is a female-owned business based in Boston that sells premium water while also funding clean water initiatives across the globe.

EDA Inc.

Chief Financial Officer

May 2021 - Present

Oklahoma City, OK, USA

Established in 1983, Executive Development Associates (EDA) is a global provider of secure, AI-driven, human capital software and services, including EDASurveys, a SaaS and AI platform. EDA is a pioneer in the use of executive and leadership training to assist businesses in successfully addressing market difficulties and accelerating the operation of business plans.

Ubiquiti Inc.

SVP Investor Relations

Dec 2016 - Apr 2019

New York, NY, USA

Founded in 2005, Ubiquiti Inc. is a leading computer networking firm. Their objective is to link everybody, everywhere, by building technology platforms for businesses, smart homes and Internet Service Providers.

WWE

Director of Investor Relations

Jun 2013 - Dec 2016

Stamford, CT, USA

WWE is a multi-faceted media company and international leader. The WWE corporation is made up of a group of companies that generate and distribute unique material to a global audience 52 weeks a year.

Harry Winston

Director of Investor Relations

Feb 2011 - Apr 2013

New York, NY, USA

Harry Winston, Inc. is owned by The Swatch Group, and is the foremost fine jewelry and watch retailer. Founded in 1932, the jeweler is also known for gifting the Hope Diamond, the world's finest gemstone, to the Smithsonian.

Terex Corporation

Director of Investor Relations

May 2008 - Apr 2009

Norwalk, CT, USA

Terex Corporation is a multinational manufacturer of lifting and material processing devices and services. The enterprise is dedicated to creating products that enhance people's lives all across the globe.

Revlon, Inc.

Director of Investor Relations

Jun 1997 - Apr 2002

New York, NY, USA

Laura was the Director of Investor Relations and Manager of International Treasury & Finance at Revlon Inc., a prominent fragrance, skincare, cosmetics and personal care firm based in the United States.

Philip Morris International

Various Finance & Accounting Roles

Jun 1991 - May 1997

New York, NY, USA

Philip Morris International is a renowned global cigarette and tobacco firm based in Switzerland and the United States. Laura had various roles during her time at the company, such as Auditor, Accountant and Financial Analyst.

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Laura Kiernan’s Gallery

Laura Kiernan with Preet Bharara

Laura Kiernan at the NYC Ballet

Other Business Interests

Council for Inclusive Capitalism

Steward

Jun 2021 - Present

The Council for Inclusive Capitalism is a leading international body of corporate executives who are committed to benefiting the environment, people, and communities. The group welcomes global business leaders to join them and make pledges to the kind of corporate ethical practices that will help achieve a more vibrant economy and community.

Current Board Positions

EDA Inc.

Board of Directors

May 2022 - Present

Oklahoma City, OK, USA

Established in 1983, Executive Development Associates (EDA) is a global provider of secure, AI-driven, human capital software and services, including EDASurveys, a SaaS and AI platform. EDA is a pioneer in the use of executive and leadership training to assist businesses in successfully addressing market difficulties and accelerating the operation of business plans.

Chief

Member & Speaker

May 2020 - Present

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Chief is a private network for the most successful female leaders to enhance their leadership, increase their impact, and pave the way for others.

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Previous Board Positions

Mamaroneck Schools Foundation

Board of Directors

Apr 2009 - Jun 2016

Mamaroneck, NY, USA

It is the foundation's mission to improve the quality of public education in Larchmont and Mamaroneck by enlisting community support.

Playtex Products

Vice President Investor Relations & Board Liaison

May 2002 - Oct 2007

Westport, CT, USA

Established in 1932, Playtex Products is a brand of underwear, infant items, gloves, feminine products and sunscreen manufactured in the United States.

Previous Advisory Roles

Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson

Advisor

Nov 2014 - Aug 2017

New York, NY, USA

Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges through programs from coast to coast.

Philanthropy

Ashita Tomorrow

Volunteer

Laura volunteered as a summer host as part of Ashita Tomorrow for teenage Japanese foster children, including victims of the Fukushima tsunami. She hosted four girls over three summers in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

New York City Ballet

Benefit Committee

New York, NY, USA

New York City Ballet is world-renowned for showcasing a contemporary and athletic style of ballet. Laura has been on the Benefit Committee for the NYC Ballet in both 2018 and 2021.

Media

Raising Billions Podcast

Host

New York, NY, USA

The podcast, hosted by Laura, teaches individuals how to analyze and counteract short interest in their stock, as well as about High Touch Investor Relations.

Short Sellers Homing In on Greenwashing Accusations

Quoted

Oct 2021

Laura speaks on the importance of maintaining good investor relations to avoid being targeted by short sellers. She explains that companies should have long-term, low turnover shareholders.

Explaining the Cutting Edge: IROs Grapple with AI, Cryptocurrency and Other New Tech Frontiers

Quoted

2021

In this article discussing the challenges of practicing investor relations in the cyptocurrency space, Laura describes that talking about AI and blockchain is like “explaining calculus," but that many of the investors in the space are eager and cuious who want to learn more.

OTC Markets Podcast - A Conversation with High Touch Investor Relations

Investor Relations in the Small Cap Space

New York, NY, USA

Laura joins OTC Markets to discuss the function of an IR firm, what organizations should expect when hiring an IR firm, and even some ideas and advice on how to find the appropriate investor base for your business.

VIRTUAL PANEL: OTC Markets Navigating Liquidity, Quality and Success – The Long Game

Speaker

Apr 2020

New York, NY, USA

In this virtual IR conference, Laura and her fellow presenters discuss how Investor relations must be approached with a long-term mindset, especially for micro- and nano-cap stocks.

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Interviews

Laura Kiernan — The journey to working with billionaire founders

Laura Kiernan speaks on her career and meaningful moments that have defined her professional journey, from leaving Philip Morris to advocating her herself to become Head of Investor Relations at Revlon, among other topics.

How IR teams should manage short-sellers

Interview

Mar 2020

New York, NY, USA

Jeff Cossette of IR Magazine speaks with Laura Kiernan, Founder and CEO of High Touch IR, an investor relations consulting firm, on how short-selling works and how IR teams can respond.

Features

Are IROs unfollowing social media?

Feature

Nov 2015

New York, NY, USA

Not many investor relations teams have fully realized the benefits of social media as a vehicle for investor communication. Is IR's interest in social media at an all-time high?

Accreditation

FINRA

Various Licences

Mar 2019

New York, NY, USA

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) is a non-profit organization that governs member brokerage firms and exchange markets. Laura holds Series 7, 63, 82 and 99 licences.

FINRA

Securities Industry Essentials® (SIE®)

Oct 2018

New York, NY, USA

The FINRA Securities Industry Essentials® (SIE®) accreditation is catered towards aspiring securities professionals.

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Publications

The Courage To Advance: Real life resilience from the world’s most successful women in business

Author

Oct 2021

Laura is featured in Chapter 3 of The Courage To Advance. The book shares inspiring stories from women who have risen above life's challenges to become leaders in their field.

Retail IR for smaller cap companies

Co-Author

Mar 2021

New York, NY, USA

In this article for IR Update, Laura and her co-author discuss how retail investors are more important for companies with a lower market capitalization. They outline a growth strategy that can be followed.

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Memberships

Athena Alliance

Member

Oct 2020 - Present

San Francisco, CA, USA

Athena is a major provider of education and coaching services for board-ready professionals, as well as an international, digital community of top executive women in the industry.

The Female Founder Collective

Member

Feb 2020 - Present

New York, NY, USA

The Female Founder Collective is a network of women-led businesses that support women. Their mission is to enable and empower female-owned and led businesses to have a positive social and economic impact in communities.

SheEO

Activator

Jun 2019 - Present

Toronto, CA

SheEO is an incredibly generous network made up of thousands of women and non-binary people sharing their expertise, networks and connections. The visionary Canadian model is available in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

WomenExecs on Boards

Member

Jan 2019 - Present

New York, NY, USA

Participants in Harvard Business School's Women on Boards program are invited to join the exclusive WEoB network after completing the program. Members generously share their contacts and resources to assist one another in obtaining C-suite and board positions.

NIRI: The Association for Investor Relations

Advocacy Ambassador

Jan 2018 - Present

New York, NY, USA

NIRI is the world's largest professional investor relations association. It is known as a professional association of corporate officers and investor relations consultants who are in charge of communicating with corporate management, shareholders, securities analysts and other financial community constituents.

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Awards & Endorsements

Institutional Investor's All-America Management Team Awards

Best Overall Investor Relations Midcap

New York, NY, USA

As voted by the global buy-side, Laura placed in the Top 3 for Best Overall IR in Technology, Media and Telecom in 2019 and 2020 in the Mid-Small Cap category.

IR Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Nominated

2018

New York, NY, USA

Laura was recognized for her exceptional career in investor relations. IR Magazine’s award is presented to the top IROs in the United States.

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Specialist Courses

Columbia Business School

2022

New York, NY, USA

Laura will be enrolled in the Venture Capital Private Equity Program, which provides participants with a dynamic education into this ever-evolving investment area. The immersive program covers a wide range of subject areas, such as valuation frameworks, structure term sheets and portfolio management, as well as the development of skills in networking and sales.

NYU Stern School of Business

2020

New York, NY, USA

Laura completed a Growth and Leadership course relating to small company operations and entrepreneurship in collaboration with the NYC SBS, the NYU Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Citigroup.

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Academic Appointments

Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) - University of Pretoria

Guest Lecturer

Oct 2019 - Present

Pretoria, ZA

The Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria was founded in 2000. GIBS aims to be a great business school, a place that has a significant impact on the life, career and working life of the individual, be it a postgraduate student or an executive in a company.

Gabelli School of Business - Fordham University

Guest Lecturer

Mar 2019 - Present

New York, NY, USA

The Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University educates tomorrow's business leaders, delivering rigorous, up-to-date education in the field. The school prepares students for careers at the highest echelons of business, where they will apply their passion and sense of purpose to generate not only profit but also societal advantages.

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Speaking Engagements

The 2021 IRO ‘Digital Agenda’: Trends and Practical Advice for IR and Corporate Websites

Speaker

Mar 2021

New York Mills, MN, USA

Laura presents insights to an investor relations audience on research conducted to understand what people should be adding to their digital priority list in 2021.

Community Engagement

Catholic Charities USA

Catechist

Sep 2008 - Jun 2020

Larchmont, NY, USA

Catholic Charities' aim is to help individuals in need to campaign for social justice, and to encourage the entire church and all people of good will to do the same.

MasterVoices

Volunteer

Mar 2018 - Jan 2019

New York, NY, USA

MasterVoices brings great stories to life using the most powerful instrument in the world: the human voice.

Mentoring

Ithaca College

Volunteer Educator

Oct 2017 - Present

Ithaca, NY, USA

Ithaca College, founded in 1892 as a music conservatory, attracts motivated students looking to change their lives – and the future. Students, faculty and staff work together to effect positive change in their communities and around the world.

Junior Achievement USA

Volunteer Educator

May 2002 - May 2005

New York, NY, USA

Junior Achievement enables young people to take charge of their economic success. The course helps young people connect with relevant learning and realize the necessity of continuing in school through an innovative partnership between the corporate sector, educators and volunteers.

Laura Kiernan’s Education

NYU Stern School of Business

MBA | Finance & Strategy/Marketing

1995 - 2000

Ithaca College

BS | Accounting

1988 - 1991