A CFO Driven by Passion, Values and Purpose
JULIE FEDER ’92 Sy Syms School of Business Chief Financial Officer, Aura Biosciences
I n the life of a corporate chief financial officer (CFO), guiding a private company through the complexities of an initial pub- lic offering (IPO) is a significant milestone because of the profound impact it can have on a company’s future. Julie Fed- er, CFO of Aura Biosciences and a proud alumna of the Sy Syms School of Business, knows that very well. A financial star with a decadeslong career, Feder has skillfully navigated both the button-down world of business consulting as well as the dynamic realm of pharma and biotech. But it was her inaugural role as CFO at the Clinton Health Access Initiative, a global nonprofit, that was especially transformative. “Working there for six years, I came to understand the tremendous influence a CFO can have on saving lives around the world,” Feder remarked, underscoring her belief that aligning one’s work with one’s person- al values is the cornerstone of a meaningful success. However, Feder’s most formidable career challenge emerged in 2021 when she steered Aura Biosciences, a private biotech compa- ny she had joined only three years prior, through its IPO. This ven- ture, a first for her, generated $87 million in equity capital, an espe- cially notable accomplishment given the global pandemic’s impact on the capital markets. Her success confirmed that she possessed the resilience and strategic expertise required in such high-stakes deal making. Reflecting on the collective effort that propelled the IPO to suc- cess, Feder cited one of her favorite maxims: “There’s no ‘I’ in team,” she said. “Our journey to the IPO was spearheaded by an exceptional group of people, internally and externally. And key to it all was the vital leadership of our CEO, Dr. Elizabet de los Pinos.” For CFOs like Feder who “love science” and are driven to make a difference, Aura is the place to be. Founded in 2011 and headquar- tered in Boston, Massachusetts, this pioneering clinical-stage bio- tech firm is developing innovative therapies to target and destroy cancer cells selectively and activate the immune system with the potential to create long-lasting, anti-tumor immunity. With potential applications ranging from rare ocular cancers to more common ones such as bladder cancer, Aura’s technology shows significant promise. Its leading drug candidate, Belzupacap Sarotalocan (Bel-sar), has completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials. Its current multiple-country Phase 3 trial will focus on the drug’s ef- fectiveness as a treatment for primary choroidal melanoma, the most prevalent type of eye cancer in adults.
How have Feder’s challenges as a CFO changed with Aura’s transition from a private to a public company? “Navigating the pub- lic markets continues to be tricky for numerous companies,” she remarked. “Fortunately, we are well funded, which allows us to ad- vance our flagship drug, Bel-sar, through various stages of clinical development. But nonetheless, in the current market environment, maintaining patience is still key.” Her patience and perseverance have helped her gain member- ship in an exclusive club: women CFOs. According to a 2022 report by the Boston Consulting Group, women CFOs in the corporate world remain relatively rare, and although their numbers are slow- ly increasing, they still face significant obstacles in reaching senior finance roles. “I know opportunities exist for women, and I have been very fortunate in my career to have them, but I think women should con- tinue to break through the glass ceiling and rise,” said Feder as she pointed to the fact that she is one-third of a partnership even more rare than women CFOs in the biotech industry: a female CEO- CFO-CMO trio. And to make her presence in the corporate world even more rare? She is a Modern Orthodox woman whose faith serves as a guiding force. “I could never have achieved so much, so quickly without the wisdom and values I have gleaned at Sy Syms School of Business,” Feder added, acknowledging the significant impact her education has on her career. In addition to heading up finance at Aura, Feder is on the Board of Overseers at her alma mater. She is also the former Co-Chair of the Board of Directors and the current Treasurer at the Maimon- ides School, a coed, Modern Orthodox Jewish day school in Brook- line, Massachusetts that was founded by Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. As an involved mother of three who has celebrated 30 years of marriage with her husband, Wayne, she recognizes the enduring example she sets for young Modern Orthodox women seeking lead- ership positions and careers in business. “My colleagues and I had the privilege of ringing the Nasdaq closing bell. It was absolutely thrilling. Then and there, I wanted to be a visible example to young women, especially to those in the Orthodox community, letting them know that ‘yes, you can do this.’ Success in the secular busi- ness world is indeed possible.”
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