Elisha Finney, 2026 Women’s History Month Profile

MBA ’92, Golden Gate University
Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Varian Medical Systems
Former Trustee, Golden Gate University (2015–2018); Corporate Board Director

In honor of Women’s History Month, Golden Gate University (GGU) celebrates Elisha Finney, a financial executive whose work shows how strong leadership behind the scenes can help bring life-changing innovations to scale.

Building a Foundation for Financial Leadership

Elisha Finney’s path into finance and corporate leadership was grounded in a clear goal: to build the skills needed to support growing organizations in meaningful ways.

She earned her MBA from Golden Gate University in 1992, joining a community of professionals focused on applying what they learned directly to their work. At GGU, she developed expertise in finance, accounting, and organizational strategy, tools she would rely on throughout her career.

Like many GGU students, Elisha pursued her degree while advancing professionally. That balance of work and study helped her build both technical capability and practical judgment early on.

Leadership in Healthcare and Innovation

Elisha went on to build a distinguished career in corporate finance, most notably at Varian Medical Systems, a global leader in radiation oncology technology.

As Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, she helped guide financial strategy during a period of growth and global expansion. In a highly technical industry where women remain underrepresented in senior financial roles, her leadership supported the investments required to advance technologies used in cancer treatment.

Her role called for more than financial oversight. It required aligning resources with long-term priorities – supporting research, enabling innovation, and helping bring critical technologies to patients around the world.

Her career highlights how financial leadership, when aligned with purpose, can directly support advances in healthcare.

Leadership in Corporate and Institutional Governance

Following her executive career, Elisha has continued to contribute her expertise as a board director for several public companies, including Viatris, Mettler-Toledo, ICU Medical, NanoString Technologies, iRobot Corporation, Cutera, Altera, Thoratec, and Laserscope. In these roles, she has advised on financial oversight, audit, governance, and long-term strategy across organizations operating in healthcare, technology, and life sciences.

She has also remained closely connected to Golden Gate University. From 2015 to 2018, Elisha served on the GGU Board of Trustees, contributing both her professional experience and her perspective as an alumna to support the university’s direction.

Her board service reflects an ongoing commitment to institutions that expand opportunity for working professionals.

A Career Shaped by Impact

Elisha’s work shows how financial leadership can enable innovation at scale. By helping organizations grow responsibly and invest strategically, she has supported efforts that extend well beyond the balance sheet.

Golden Gate University was built for students who want to apply what they learn in real time. Elisha’s path – from MBA student to global financial leader and university trustee – demonstrates how that kind of education can prepare professionals to contribute in complex industries and to work that has a lasting impact on people’s lives.