S5E12: The Fixer – Birds Up with UT San Antonio Alum & Former CST Brands CFO Clay Killinger

UT San Antonio alum Clay Killinger’s journey to executive leadership is one of resilience, grit, and unexpected opportunity. After transferring to UT San Antonio and navigating a non-traditional path to graduation, Clay went on to build an impressive career in finance, serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CST Brands and holding senior leadership roles at Valero Energy. Known as “The Fixer,” Clay became the leader organizations called when facing complex, high-stakes challenges—from Exxon Valdez oil spill insurance litigation to forensic accounting in major corporate investigations and serving as an auditor during a U.S. presidential campaign. In this episode of Birds Up, Clay reflects on the mentors who helped shape his journey, lessons from decades in public-company leadership, and how disciplined financial stewardship now supports children’s charities across Bexar County through his work with the Najim Foundation. Tune in to hear Clay’s remarkable journey from UT San Antonio classrooms to the corporate boardroom—and the leadership lessons he shares with the next generation of Roadrunners. Birds Up! ----- Harvey Najim FoundationUT San Antonio AlumniUT San Antonio Alumni EventsFiesta Arts FairVIA Expands Service Across UT San AntonioUT San Antonio Excellence AwardsThe Rowdys 2026Biride Bash ScrambleAlumni GalaUTSA Athletics Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to like, follow, and subscribe for more great content! Birds Up!