# Jean Kim Smart

> Jean Kim Smart is the New York-based founder and CEO of Penelope. After a financial-services career spanning workplace benefits, product, marketing and strategy, she founded the company in 2021 to expand retirement access for small businesses like those run by her Korean immigrant parents. Penelope now develops recordkeeping infrastructure for independent retirement administrators, recordkeepers and advisors.

- **Role:** Founder & CEO at Penelope
- **Organizations:** Penelope, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, Citigroup, UBS, Chief, First Descents
- **Education:** BA, University of California, Berkeley
- **Known for:** Founded Penelope after a career in institutional financial services., Raised a $2.1 million pre-seed round led by Slauson & Co., announced March 16, 2022., Included in Rokt’s March 2025 Women’s History Month Nasdaq Tower celebration.

## Career timeline

- **—** — Started as an analyst at Goldman Sachs; subsequently worked in consulting at Deloitte.
- **1999** — Joined Charles Schwab in product marketing and sales strategy.
- **2009-2015** — Worked at TD Ameritrade in offer development and sales strategy.
- **2015-2018** — Global Head of Marketing at Citi.
- **2019-2021** — Managing Director and Head of Business Strategy at UBS.
- **2021** — Founded Penelope.
- **2022** — Penelope launched publicly in January and announced a $2.1 million pre-seed round in March.
- **2025** — Penelope shifted its focus to infrastructure for independent TPAs, recordkeepers and advisors.

## Achievements

- Founded Penelope after a career in institutional financial services.
- Raised a $2.1 million pre-seed round led by Slauson & Co., announced March 16, 2022.
- Included in Rokt’s March 2025 Women’s History Month Nasdaq Tower celebration.
- Founding member of the women’s leadership network Chief.

## Latest updates

- **2025-03** — Appeared in Rokt’s Women’s History Month Nasdaq Tower celebration.
- **2025-04** — Penelope announced advisors Marcia Wagner, Kevin Crain and Lisa Kottler.

## Links

- Website: https://penelope.co/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeankimnewyork/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jean-kim-smart
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-08