Beam, an Austin nonprofit organization that funds and supports women founders, has selected Leigh Christie as its new CEO and executive director.
Christie was most recently the senior VP of global tech and innovation with the Greater Austin Area Chamber of Commerce. Before that, she was the executive director of Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas.
Beam's current director, Jess Gaffney, is stepping down after two years as the organization's leader to spend time with family in New York and explore new career paths in the for-profit sector. She said that might include venture capital or tech and startup opportunities in Austin.
"Leigh is a fantastic leader, change-maker and Beam Advisory Council member," Gaffney wrote in a letter to Beam's community. "She is a fierce advocate for women founders and the Texas community. I believe Leigh will lead this wonderful organization with determination, integrity and grace. I am really looking forward to watching Beam grow and thrive as this next chapter unfolds."
Christie said Beam and the broader Notley ecosystem have an incredibly strong group of leaders who are making a real impact across the Austin community.
"It's just something I want to get behind," she said. "I fully believe in the power of women, women founders, and I couldn't be more laser focused on building those companies – and funding them. I love the idea of growing an angel network. So from every part of Beam, it's attractive."
Beam, formerly known as Women@Austin, was founded in 2014 by Jan Ryan to support women-led businesses. It became part of Notley's social impact ecosystem in 2018, and last year it launched the Beam Angel Network to provide more funding opportunities for women founders.
So far, that effort has backed 11 women founders with more than $1 million in funding. Portfolio companies include Blender and Bowls, CERESA, JobSiteCheck, Journ, Journey Foods, Pressed Roots, Purpose Tea, Radical Girl Gang, Revealix, Stagger and Underclub.
Beam's angel fund has already attracted 46 investors and 175 applicants. And seven out of the 11 founders it has backed are women of color.
