Guylaine Saint Juste is a transformational CEO and strategic catalyst with more than 30 years of executive leadership experience spanning financial services, technology, and nonprofit sectors. She currently serves as President and CEO of NABA, Inc., a national organization representing over 200,000 professionals in accounting, finance, and related fields. In this role, Saint Juste has redefined what sustainable growth looks like through a deep commitment to cultural transformation, financial performance, and strategic foresight.

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Under her leadership, NABA has undergone a remarkable evolution. Between 2021 and 2024, the organization quadrupled its revenue and achieved a six-fold increase in membership. Saint Juste spearheaded a complete shift from a federated model to a unified “One NABA” structure, aligning brand, governance, and strategy. She introduced a market-facing theory of change and a comprehensive risk framework that includes oversight of cybersecurity and AI governance—paving the way for NABA to be seen not just as a member-serving nonprofit but as a platform for professional excellence and innovation. In recognition of her leadership, she was named one of the 2024 Most Powerful Women in Accounting by the AICPA and CPA Practice Advisor.

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Saint Juste brings a refined ability to anticipate market inflection points before they occur, a skill Harvard Business School refers to as “perceptual acuity.” Her strategic decisions are informed by a disciplined understanding of when organizations must pivot to stay relevant—and she leads those pivots with integrity and purpose. Her leadership philosophy centers on values-based culture: at NABA, she introduced the “AIMS” framework—All-in commitment, Intentionality, Moral compass, and Service to something greater than oneself.

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Before joining NABA, Saint Juste had a distinguished career in banking. As Senior Vice President and Virginia Market Executive at Capital One, she transformed a startup region into the nation’s top-ranked Business Banking group. She led a $1.1 billion deposit base and a $650 million loan portfolio, achieving significant growth in both areas while driving employee engagement to 87% and improving retention from 20% to 90%. Her success in financial services established her as a qualified financial expert, equally skilled in business development, operational leadership, and consumer strategy.

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In addition to her executive leadership, Saint Juste is a seasoned governance professional with more than a decade of board experience. She has chaired the Board of Directors for CASA, advocating for vulnerable children, and served nine years on the Finance Committee of Goodwill of Greater Washington. She co-founded the George Mason Women in Business Initiative and led strategy and innovation at Year Up, a national youth workforce development nonprofit, where she doubled student enrollment and grew revenue by over 40%.

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Her board credentials are fortified by her NACD Directorship Certification and her ability to clearly distinguish between governance and management. She has led the development of committee charters, executed bylaw revisions, and established risk and oversight agendas that align directly with long-term organizational goals.

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Saint Juste holds a B.A. in International Relations from George Mason University and a graduate degree in Retail Banking Management from the University of Virginia. She is also a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and holds a Senior Certified Professional designation from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP).

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Beyond the boardroom, she is a devoted mother of four, a passionate gardener and cook, and enjoys entertaining at her home in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., where she lives with her husband of 16 years.

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Fluent in French and English, Saint Juste is a sought-after thought leader and speaker. Her insights have been featured in Forbes, Accounting Today, and Crain’s New York Business, and she has appeared on AICPA webcasts and at signature events such as The Economic Club of Washington, DC.