Rachel Ness

About Rachel Ness

I help complex organizations turn strategy into execution.With more than 17 years in the Federal Reserve System, I have led enterprise initiatives that bring structure, alignment, and clarity to complex priorities. My work sits at the intersection of strategy, governance, data, and execution, where I partner with senior leaders to translate broad objectives into actionable plans, decision-ready insights, and measurable outcomes.I specialize in structuring ambiguous problems, aligning stakeholders across highly matrixed environments, and building the governance, reporting, and processes that enable leaders to make informed decisions and deliver results.Highlights of my work include:• Leading enterprise initiatives that align resource planning, financial management, and performance measurement with strategic priorities• Designing executive reporting and analytics that support both long-term strategy and time-sensitive leadership decisions• Driving process improvements and change initiatives that strengthen governance while simplifying how work gets done• Serving as a trusted advisor to leadership by translating complex data, risks, and tradeoffs into clear, actionable recommendationsI am known for my ability to connect the dots across teams, bring structure to complexity, and help organizations move from ambiguity to alignment and execution.

Experience

1. Lead Project Manager

   Federal Reserve Board

   Sep 2025 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Lead enterprise-scale initiatives focused on resource strategy, financial management, and performance insight across the Federal Reserve System. Partner with senior leaders to structure complex priorities, strengthen governance, and enable data-driven decision-making in a highly matrixed environment.Key contributions• Lead cross-organizational initiatives that guide resource planning and financial strategy across multiple business lines.• Direct executive-level performance reporting and analytics, translating complex operational data into decision-ready insights that inform both long-term strategy and time-sensitive priorities.• Structure ambiguous, cross-functional initiatives by establishing governance frameworks, stakeholder roles, delivery timelines, and reporting mechanisms that enable alignment and effective execution.• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership by synthesizing data, risks, and tradeoffs into clear, actionable recommendations.

Education

• Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

  Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), MBA

  2017 — 2019

• University of Jamestown

  Bachelor of Arts, Accounting, Business Administration, Management Information Systems

  2004 — 2009