About: Maria Thomas is Chief Executive Officer of Etsy, an online marketplace focusing on handmade items. Maria joined Etsy in May 2008 and is responsible for helping the company scale its operations and expand its presence globally. Prior to Etsy, Maria was for six and a half years Senior Vice President and General Manager of NPR Digital Media, where she built and managed NPR’s online, podcasting, and mobile operations. She was also instrumental in launching NPR Music, a music discovery destination.

Maria began managing Internet-based businesses at Amazon.com. She played a key role in the launch and management of Amazon.com’s camera and photo store, including helping to forge its partnership with Ofoto, a company engaged in the online photo services business.

From 1992-1999, Maria worked as an investment officer with the World Bank’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Her career at the IFC culminated with an appointment to the position of special assistant to the CEO.

Maria began her career on Wall Street where she spent five years in corporate and project finance with Kidder, Peabody & Company, Incorporated.

Thomas holds a M.B.A. degree from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.S. in accounting from Boston University.