Chrystel Cornelius is President and CEO of Oweesta Corporation, the nation’s longest-standing Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) intermediary. Under her leadership, Oweesta has become one of the largest Native-led financial institutions in the country, providing capital, training, technical assistance, and asset-building strategies that strengthen Tribal Nations, Native CDFIs, Native nonprofits, and Native entrepreneurs across the United States, Alaska, Hawaiʻi, and other Native communities.

An enrolled citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota, Chrystel has dedicated more than 26 years to advancing Native economic sovereignty. Throughout her career, she has championed innovative financing strategies that expand access to capital while reinforcing Tribal self-determination, economic resilience, and long-term community wealth.

Recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices in Native community finance, Chrystel has helped mobilize hundreds of millions of dollars into Native communities through strategic partnerships with philanthropy, financial institutions, impact investors, and federal agencies. She has played a significant role in strengthening the national Native CDFI movement and advancing Native-led solutions to economic development.

Chrystel is a founding board member of the Native CDFI Network (NCN) and formerly served on the boards of Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) and the Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF). She is a BALLE Fellow, Skoll Fellow, and recipient of the 27th Heinz Award for the Economy, recognizing her leadership and innovation in expanding economic opportunity.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota.