Our Team

As Founder and Managing Partner of The Cowley Group, Shelby Cowley brings over a decade of experience guiding insurance and financial services leaders through successful transactions. Having completed more than 200 deals, she’s known for delivering best-in-class outcomes grounded in expertise, integrity, and a client-first approach.

 

Shelby’s background spans both advisory and buy-side leadership, with senior roles at MidCap Advisors and Acrisure. This dual perspective gives her deep insight into what drives value, what buyers prioritize, and how owners can align with the right long-term partners.

 

At The Cowley Group, Shelby focuses exclusively on the insurance and financial services industry.

 

She holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance and an MBA in Financial Analysis from Indiana University. Originally from the Midwest, Shelby now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona and serves clients nationwide.

As a Vice President at The Cowley Group, Emma Peters supports insurance and financial services business owners in executing sell-side M&A transactions. She brings a strong analytical foundation and hands-on deal experience to each engagement, helping clients navigate complexity and drive value throughout the transaction process and beyond. 

 

Prior to joining The Cowley Group, Emma spent over five years at Acrisure, where she worked on buy-side acquisitions within the insurance industry. Her experience evaluating transactions and understanding the financial and strategic considerations of acquirers provides valuable perspective throughout the deal process.

 

Emma holds a Master’s degree in Finance and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Indiana University. She is based in Chicago.

As Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Monisola (“Moni”) Pawlowski combines private equity, investment banking, and organizational leadership expertise to shape The Cowley Group’s strategy and execution. She’s recognized for blending analytical rigor with people-first leadership — ensuring lasting impact for clients and teams alike.

 

Prior to joining TCG, Moni spent nearly a decade at McKinsey & Company, leading North American talent strategy and advising global leadership on high-impact organizational initiatives. Earlier, she built a strong foundation in private equity at StepStone Group and corporate M&A at Citigroup.

 

Moni is a graduate of Dartmouth College, where she earned her degree with Honors. She is based in Denver, Colorado, and serves clients nationwide.

As an Associate at The Cowley Group, Gabriella Walker supports insurance and financial services business owners through the complexities of sell-side M&A. Known for her steady, client-first approach, she ensures every engagement runs seamlessly — from preparation to close.

 

Gabriella’s experience spans both sell-side and buy-side transactions, including advisory and quality-of-earnings analysis within the financial services sector. Her perspective allows her to anticipate stakeholder priorities and deliver insights that maximize value.

 

She earned her B.S. in Finance from Florida State University and is based in New York City.