Cynthia Finley

Dr. Cynthia Finley is a nationally recognized leader in workforce and economic development with more than 20 years of experience aligning education and training systems with employer demand. Her work focuses on building inclusive, data-driven workforce strategies that connect people to high-quality careers.

She currently serves as Director of the Biopharmaceutical Intermediary, working with the Alliance for Building Better Medicine, where she is working to expand career pathways and strengthening workforce pipelines across Virginia’s life sciences sector. She previously served as Vice President of Workforce & Strategic Innovation at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, leading national initiatives to expand equitable talent pipelines and strengthen workforce systems across the clean energy economy. She has also held leadership roles within Virginia’s Community College System and the Virginia Department of Education, overseeing workforce programs, credentialing initiatives, and adult education strategies.

Dr. Finley is a frequent national speaker and published author, and she serves on multiple advisory boards focused on advancing workforce innovation.