Carly Perera

As Director of AI Strategy, Carly leads the Financial Health Network’s efforts to apply AI in ways that advance financial health and expand economic opportunity. Working at the intersection of product innovation and financial impact, she focuses on emerging technologies that support stronger financial decision-making and resilience.

In her role, Carly works closely with internal teams and partner organizations to guide and shape AI strategy across product, design, and services. Her work centers on how AI-supported financial advice and personalization can enable more inclusive tools, particularly for communities who have been historically excluded from the financial mainstream.

Previously, Carly led strategy and product development of a machine learning-powered brokerage app at Charles Schwab, allowing consumers to directly invest in their values. Before her transition to fintech, Carly served as the Director of Lending at Pacific Community Ventures, where she launched the organization’s first loan fund to expand capital for small businesses.

Carly holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Development and Economics from the University of California, Davis and a Master of Business Administration from Mills College at Northeastern University. She is the winner of the TedAI Hackathon, where she developed Harbor AI, a voice agent for domestic violence survivors, and is also a member of Women Defining AI. Outside of work, she mentors fintech founders and experiments with AI tools.