Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
Malia Cohen

Malia Cohen

California State Controller, State of California, Finance Leaders Fellowship

Sacramento, CA

Malia M. Cohen is California’s 33rd State Controller, serving as the chief fiscal officer for the fourth-largest economy in the world. She was elected in 2022, following her roles as both chair and member of the California State Board of Equalization, the nation’s only elected tax commission responsible for administering California’s $100 billion property tax system. Prior to state office, Malia served as president of the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco. As a supervisor, she served as chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and the Audit and Oversight Committee, and president of the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System, which at the time was a $23 billion pension fund. Malia was born and raised in San Francisco where she attended public schools. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Fisk University and master’s degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University. She is a fellow of the Rodel Institute Class of 2026 and Coro Fellowship alumna. Malia is a Fellow of the ninth class of the Finance Leaders Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.