Behind many of the most successful growth investment firms, portfolio companies, and value creation strategies are exceptional women whose talents and capabilities help drive exceptional outcomes year in and year out.
From investing and investor relations to operations, talent management, and firm leadership, these individuals play integral roles across a variety of functional areas and demonstrate how teams can come together to orchestrate and execute on oftentimes challenging and complex mandates. Their expertise, judgment, and commitment to excellence create lasting impact not only for their own firms and colleagues but also for the many executives and professionals of their portfolio companies.
Now in its sixth year, The Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing recognition honors a select group of professionals who have distinguished themselves through notable performance in their respective roles and meaningful contributions to their organizations. This year’s recipients were selected from a highly competitive pool of nominees following a comprehensive evaluation of their professional accomplishments, depth of experience, and the perspectives of those who have worked alongside them.
The individuals being recognized here represent an exceptional group, reflective of the many other women across the growth investing field who are rising stars and future leaders.
Please join us in recognizing and celebrating The Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing of 2026.
Firm: Norwest
Title: General Partner and Co-Head of Growth Equity
Sonya Brown joined Norwest in 2011 and brings more than 20 years of investment experience to her role as General Partner and Co-Head of the firm’s Growth Equity team. Based in Norwest’s Menlo Park office, Sonya focuses on growth equity and buyout investing across a wide range of sectors, with particular interest in consumer products and services, internet/e-commerce, retail, and business services.
Her current investments include Aesthetic Partners, Babylist, Divi, Face Reality, Lyra Collective, Jolyn, Madison Reed, MAËLYS, MTN OPS, and Poolwerx. Sonya is also responsible for Norwest’s investments in Kendra Scott (recapitalized by Berkshire Partners), PCA Skin (acquired by Colgate-Palmolive), The Learning Experience (acquired by Golden Gate Capital), Junk King (acquired by Neighborly), and SmartSign (acquired by Sentinel).
Before Norwest, Sonya was at Summit Partners, a private equity firm managing $20 billion, for almost a decade. Prior to Summit, she was a Founder and General Partner of iXL Ventures in 1999, where she oversaw the funding and growth of various technology and internet companies. Sonya holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
“I’m honored to be recognized by GrowthCap alongside such an inspiring group of investors and leaders. The most rewarding part of growth equity investing is working with ambitious founders and management teams as they scale their businesses, and this recognition is because of those partnerships and the incredible people I’m fortunate to work with at Norwest.” — Sonya Brown
Firm: Optum Ventures
Title: Managing Partner and Founding Team Member
Laura Veroneau is a Managing Partner and founding team member of Optum Ventures. Under Laura’s guidance and leadership, Optum Ventures has gained recognition as a leading platform in healthcare investing, now with 75+ portfolio companies and over $2 billion in assets under management.
Laura’s experience, which ranges from a healthcare startup to UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, and Transformation Capital, has enabled her to develop a deep understanding of the healthcare system with an eye on how innovation can integrate into and transform the overall industry. Laura received her undergraduate degree in economics and legal studies from Williams College and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Firm: TA Associates
Title: Managing Director
Clara Jackson is a Managing Director in TA‘s Boston office, where she helps lead investments in financial services and financial technology companies across North America. As a collaborative investor, she partners closely with founders and management teams across TA’s portfolio, leveraging the firm’s industry knowledge, experience, and global resources to help accelerate organic and inorganic growth.
Clara serves on the Board of Directors of 8am (formerly AffiniPay), AGA Benefit Solutions, Caprock, and Financial Information Technologies (“Fintech”), is a board observer of Russell Investments, and is an active investor in Kline Hill Partners and Rectangle Health, and previously served on the Board of Orion Advisor Solutions. She previously worked at TPG Growth as an Associate and began her career as an Analyst at Goldman Sachs. Clara earned a BS degree, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in economics from Vanderbilt University and an MBA degree from Harvard Business School.
“I am honored to be recognized by GrowthCap, a distinction that reflects the exceptional companies and management teams I have the privilege of supporting. Across the fintech and financial services landscape, TA focuses on helping market-leading businesses accelerate growth, strengthen their competitive positions, and build lasting value. By combining strategic insight, operational resources, and a collaborative partnership approach, we aim to support management teams as they navigate key opportunities and challenges throughout their growth journeys.” — Clara Jackson
Firm: Summit Partners
Title: Partner
Sophia Popova is a Partner on the Summit Partners Technology team, where she focuses on growth investments in leading software platforms across content, commerce, and data—sectors being influenced by AI and automation. Since joining Summit in 2017, Sophia has played a meaningful role in nine Summit investments representing nearly $2.0 billion in invested capital. Her board and investment experience includes Invicti Security, Klaviyo (NYSE: KVYO), Later, Manychat, StackAdapt, Vensure Employer Services, Sifted, and Ylopo.
Before joining Summit, Sophia held product management and business development roles at high-growth startups, including Contactive (acquired by Fuze) and Recombine (acquired by CooperSurgical). She also served as an Investment Partner at Dorm Room Fund while at Harvard Business School, advising student-founded startups. This operator-informed perspective has helped shape her collaborative approach to working with founders and management teams.
Sophia holds a BA in economics and mathematics from Yale University and an MBA, with distinction, from Harvard Business School.
“AI is rewriting the rules of online commerce and community in real time. I’m energized by the teams building the next-generation platforms—businesses where data, automation, and human connection can come together to help drive measurable growth at scale.” — Sophia Popova
Firm: Insight Partners
Title: Managing Director
Anika Agarwal joined Insight in 2014 and is a Managing Director on the investment team and the firm’s Investment Committee. She focuses on leveraged buyouts and majority recapitalizations of application and infrastructure software companies. Anika helps lead investments in both high-growth and mature software businesses and currently sits on the board or oversees Insight’s investments in Appriss Retail, Bamboo Health, Bestpass, Bonterra, Bullhorn, CivicPlus, CommerceHub, Community Brands, Ellkay, Inhabit, Inovalon, iLobby, Optimizely, PDI, and Vector Solutions.
Prior to joining Insight, Anika was a member of the investment team at Vista Equity Partners. Anika completed multiple platform and follow-on software buyouts in which her role included conducting market and operational due diligence, negotiating agreements, and arranging financing commitments. Anika was active at both the board and company level at portfolio companies, advising management teams on operating improvements and add-on acquisitions.
Previously, Anika was an investment professional at the Mayfield Fund, where she focused on investments in consumer internet companies. Earlier in her career, she worked in the Principal Investment Area at Goldman Sachs and the Technology Investment Banking Group at Lehman Brothers. Anika holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BS in computer science from Stanford University.
“At Insight Partners, we have the privilege of partnering with software leaders who are passionate about building enduring businesses and creating long-term value. As technology evolves, I’m proud to be part of a culture that not only invests in innovation but also works closely with companies to navigate change across cycles, build new capabilities, and accelerate growth.” — Anika Agarwal
Firm: Insight Partners
Title: Managing Director
Rebecca Liu-Doyle joined Insight in 2016. In her role as Managing Director, her focus areas include high-growth software, fintech, and consumer internet.
Rebecca previously spent time on Insight’s Onsite team, where she worked closely with portfolio executives on growth strategy. She started her career as a management consultant in McKinsey & Company’s New York office, advising clients in the technology, financial services, and consumer goods industries. Her work at McKinsey spanned a number of topics, including M&A, product development, and frontline transformation.
Rebecca graduated summa cum laude from Yale University with a BA in ethics, politics, and economics. She serves on the board of Greater NY and mentors for the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale.
“One of the most rewarding parts of our work at Insight Partners is getting to partner with founders and leadership teams who are building something genuinely new. We’re at the very beginning of a transformation in not only how software is built, but how it is experienced. Being in the room as this unfolds, alongside the people building it, is a remarkable place to be.” — Rebecca Liu-Doyle
Firm: Level Equity
Title: Co-Founder and Partner
Sarah Sommer is a Co-Founder and Partner at Level Equity, a software-focused lower middle market growth equity firm with over $6.5 billion in assets under management. She has been investing in growth-stage software and technology businesses since beginning her career in 2003. She has invested in over 30 businesses, currently sits on eight portfolio company boards, and recently played an integral role in Level’s $1.4 billion close of its latest growth equity funds. She is a member of Level’s equity and structured capital investment committees, the ESG committee, and chairs Level’s annual women’s lunch. Prior to co-founding Level, Sarah was a Senior Associate at Insight Partners, where she worked as a member of the investment team.
Sarah is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a Joseph Wharton Scholar. She was featured in Buyouts Insider’s Women in Private Equity feature article, where she discussed the role of mentorship in her private equity career. Sarah was born and raised near Akron, OH, and now lives in Westchester, NY. Outside of work, she is passionate about spending time with her two young daughters, cooking, golf, and fitness.
“It is an honor to be recognized this year, particularly because it comes at a moment when the software landscape is evolving faster than ever. At Level, we’ve always believed that the lower middle market is where some of the most exciting innovations happen, and our job is to find those companies early, earn their trust, and help them grow into something enduring. I’m proud of what we’ve built and energized by what’s ahead.” — Sarah Sommer
Firm: Ampersand Capital Partners
Title: Partner
Melanie Fan is a Partner at Ampersand Capital Partners, where she has been a key driver of value creation across the firm’s healthcare and life sciences portfolio since joining in 2018. Known for her strategic rigor and hands-on operating approach, Melanie partners closely with management teams to execute complex transformations and scale high-growth businesses in regulated markets. In 2024, Melanie completed the carve-out and platform investment of Gannet BioChem, a specialty chemical CDMO spun out of Nektar Therapeutics. Under her leadership, Gannet completed the add-on acquisition of Laysan Bio in January 2026, adding a strategic catalog offering to the platform. Melanie has also played central roles in building and scaling multiple Ampersand portfolio companies, including StageBio, Vantage MedTech, and Resolian, executing mergers, add-on acquisitions, leadership transitions, and international expansions. Her work has contributed to exits at Nexelis and LakePharma.
Melanie’s past and current board roles include AnaBios, Gannet BioChem, LakePharma, Resolian, StageBio, and Vantage MedTech. Prior to Ampersand, she worked at Frazier Healthcare as well as UBS Investment Bank. Melanie holds a BS in economics and statistics from Duke University and an MBA from Wharton.
“Ampersand was built on the conviction that deep sector expertise and genuine partnership unlock value that capital alone cannot. I’ve had the privilege of putting that thesis to work across some remarkable healthcare businesses, from carve-outs to platform builds to global expansions. I am deeply honored by this recognition from GrowthCap, and I hope it serves as encouragement to the next generation of women building careers at the intersection of finance and healthcare innovation.” — Melanie Fan
Firm: Left Lane Capital
Title: Partner
Laura Sillman is currently a Partner at Left Lane Capital, where her primary responsibilities include sourcing and executing transactions, managing portfolio companies, and serving on the board of several investments. At Left Lane, Laura is helping spearhead “real world,” health, and technology investments spanning retail/e-commerce, CPG, sports, tech-enabled services, healthcare, and financial services. Laura sourced and led investments including Bilt Rewards, Willie’s Remedy, Ultra, Everlab, Ollipop, LOVB, The Snow League, Serhant, AnswersNow, Evvy, as well as other seed and Series A transactions.
Laura graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 2020 with an MBA in finance and innovation. While at Wharton, Laura ran Rough Draft Ventures, General Catalyst’s student-led platform that invests in companies founded on campuses across the country (undergraduate through PhD). After graduating, Laura joined the firm full time, focusing on seed and pre-seed investments in the consumer space.
Before her time in venture capital, Laura was Director of Strategic Operations at Rumble Boxing, where she managed key growth initiatives from two studios through the sale of the business, which included launching the Training & Digital Platforms, supporting three successful fundraises totaling over $40 million, and executing partnerships for the organization. Prior to this, Laura worked as a Senior Associate and Principal Investigator for Hangar Management, a startup studio that creates companies in markets driven by federal, state, and local government. In this role, Laura’s primary responsibility was to design, execute, and manage the research efforts and business planning for seed-stage companies. Laura began her career as an Analyst at BlackRock, where she was responsible for developing investment strategies on behalf of large institutional clients.
Laura graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business in 2014 with a BBA in finance and entrepreneurship.
Firm: B Capital
Title: Partner
Karly Wentz is a Partner on B Capital’s Energy team focused on investing in growth-stage energy and resilience technologies. Before joining B Capital, she was a Vice President at Stonepeak Partners, where she primarily focused on investments in energy infrastructure.
Prior to Stonepeak, Karly was an investment banker for Morgan Stanley, focusing on M&A and capital raising in the transportation and logistics sectors. Earlier in her career, she worked in Business Development & Strategy for Ike Robotics, an autonomous trucking start-up.
Karly holds a BA in physics from Middlebury College and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. She is based in San Francisco.
“We’re in the midst of one of the most significant energy and infrastructure buildouts in decades, as advances in AI are rapidly accelerating the pace of change. I feel incredibly fortunate to spend my time partnering with founders building the technologies that will make our energy systems more resilient, reliable, and scalable for the future. I’m grateful to work alongside an exceptional team at B Capital and honored to be recognized among so many talented women in growth investing.” — Karly Wentz
Firm: JMI Equity
Title: Partner and Chief Financial Officer
Maggie Schmitt oversees JMI‘s accounting, finance, tax, and treasury functions. She joined the firm in 2009 and has been instrumental in key areas such as fundraising, fund management, limited partner reporting, and overall firm operations.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in business from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).
Maggie’s exceptional leadership and longstanding dedication to JMI’s investment and value creation strategies have been central to the firm’s success for more than 17 years, driving meaningful impact across the JMI funds and helping to deliver strong returns to investors.
“Over more than 17 years at JMI, I’ve seen firsthand how culture shapes results—the trust, rigor, and genuine partnership our team has built show up in how we support our portfolio companies and deliver for our investors. I’m deeply proud of what this team continues to accomplish, and honored to be recognized by GrowthCap alongside so many exceptional women shaping the future of growth investing.” — Maggie Schmitt
Firm: Portage
Title: Co-Head and General Partner, Portage Capital Solutions
Devon Kirk is Co-Head and General Partner at Portage Capital Solutions, the later-stage investment strategy within Portage, a global fintech and financial services platform with over $6.4 billion in assets under management.
Devon has co-led Portage Capital Solutions since its inception in 2022, helping build the strategy from the ground up to back later-stage fintech and financial services businesses across North America and Europe. She brings deep experience across private equity, structured capital, and special situations investing, and has played a central role in shaping Portage’s approach in this space since joining the firm.
Prior to Portage, Devon spent more than a decade at CPP Investments, one of the world’s largest institutional investors. She served as Managing Director and Head of Capital Solutions and was a member of the Global Leadership Team. Earlier, she held senior roles in the Direct Private Equity team, focusing on financials and TMT, and served on the Board of Wilton Re.
Devon holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Great Distinction) from McGill University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. She is a CFA Charterholder.
“Portage was built to help fintech entrepreneurs go from local startup to global scale-up, and that founding spirit remains at the core of everything we do. Our approach to supporting portfolio companies reflects our determination to enable the leaders reshaping financial services. Being recognized alongside a group of women who have each demonstrated such excellence in their respective fields is a true privilege.” — Devon Kirk
Firm: PSG
Title: Managing Director
Lisa Lee is a Managing Director at PSG, where she is a leader on the firm’s Investor Relations team, working closely with LPs and prospective investors to support the execution of the firm’s global fundraising strategy. She brings 20+ years of experience in investor relations and business development, during which she has developed a well-rounded perspective around how both GPs and LPs evaluate market opportunities. Throughout her career, she has raised approximately $19 billion in capital from a diverse global LP base, including state and corporate pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, and family offices across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. Beyond successful fundraising initiatives, Lisa is dedicated to fostering strong and long-lasting relationships between PSG and its LPs. She serves as a strategic partner with a deep understanding of investor priorities, offering guidance and tailored insights to support informed decision-making.
Lisa contributed to PSG’s successful February 2025 close of more than $8 billion across two funds, including PSG VI, the firm’s sixth North American flagship fund, and PSG Sequel, while supporting the next phase of growth across select portfolio companies.
Lisa is also actively advancing the development of women in private equity. She is a member of the AIF Global Women Investors’ Leadership Steering Committee and Private Equity Women Investor Network’s Leadership Council (PEWIN), where she serves as the Development & Sponsorship Co-Chair, and is also a frequent speaker at industry conferences and leading business schools.
“It is an honor to be recognized by GrowthCap alongside so many accomplished women leaders in growth investing. I am proud to be part of a firm that prioritizes long-term partnerships and collaboration in creating lasting value for investors and portfolio companies alike.” — Lisa Lee
Firm: Inverness Graham Investments
Title: Partner
Aliya Khaydarova is a Partner at Inverness Graham, a Philadelphia-based, operationally focused lower middle market buyout firm that partners with founder-owned and founder-led businesses where technology is transforming traditional industry. For more than 18 years, Aliya has played a pivotal role in roughly 30 of the firm’s 100+ buyout transactions—including 10 platform investments, 7 platform exits, and more than a dozen add-on investments across its healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and tech-enabled services and software focus areas.
Across her investments, Aliya partners with founders and management teams on organic growth and transformative M&A as part of Inverness Graham’s Strategic Platform Build approach. She was on the investment teams for three of the firm’s five most successful exits to date: RacoWireless, AdvancedCath, and Danville Materials. Today, she serves as investment lead and board member at Treat Planet, VitalPath, and Innovia Medical.
Beyond her investment work, Aliya serves on the firm’s Corporate Stewardship Committee, where she fosters an inclusive culture of high performance and continuous learning. A passionate advocate for women in private equity, Aliya has been recognized as a leading woman in the industry and proudly participates in events that elevate and champion women. In the Greater Philadelphia community, she serves as a longtime board member for Community Backstop, a nonprofit that supports families in need.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by GrowthCap alongside women shaping the future of this industry. I’m proud of what we’ve built at Inverness Graham—more than twenty years in, a lower middle market buyout firm that actively enhances its operational value-add capabilities and innovative mindset to accelerate growth across our portfolio. What excites me the most is that we’re just getting started.” — Aliya Khaydarova
Firm: Sageview Capital
Title: Partner
Caitlin Vorlicek is a Partner at Sageview Capital, a growth equity firm that empowers industry-defining innovators to build enduring software and tech-enabled businesses. In her role, Caitlin is responsible for helping to lead the firm’s investment ideation, sourcing efforts, transaction activity, and post-investment value creation. Since she joined Sageview in 2021, Caitlin has been instrumental in enhancing the firm’s sourcing efforts and has been actively involved in the firm’s investments in Carewell, Elemental Machines, Specright, User Interviews, Stensul, Tive, and Uncountable.
Before joining Sageview, Caitlin led Partnerships and Corporate Development at Sifted, a logistics software company based in Kansas City, MO. Before joining Sifted, Caitlin spent three years at Summit Partners, sourcing and executing investments including Klaviyo, A Cloud Guru, Allego, and Sifted. Caitlin began her career in technology investment banking at Harris Williams & Co. Caitlin graduated cum laude from Colby College, receiving a BA in economics with Distinction.
“The opportunity to back exceptional founders is the privilege of a career—but what I’m grateful for in being included on this list is the women who mentored me through the long, uncertain stretches that growth investing demands, and the chance to pay that forward with an all-female investment team at Sageview Capital.” — Caitlin Vorlicek
Firm: Five Elms Capital
Title: Partner
Stephanie Schneider is a Partner at Five Elms Capital, a leading growth equity firm that invests in fast-growing B2B software businesses. With eleven years of experience at Five Elms, Stephanie has been instrumental in executing over 25 deals. As a member of the Investment Committee, she leverages her background in advising corporations and financial sponsors to collaborate with growing, founder-owned SaaS businesses. Her leadership provides these companies with the capital and resources needed to accelerate their growth and solidify their positions as industry leaders.
Stephanie currently sits on the Board of Directors of eight of the firm’s portfolio companies—Abode, Claravine, Continu, Reachdesk, ShippyPro, Pathify, POWWR, and Opiniion. She has played a key role in many of the firm’s successful investments and exits, including Flywheel (acquired by WP Engine), LaborChart (acquired by Procore), and Service Fusion (acquired by EverCommerce).
Before joining Five Elms, Stephanie worked as an investment banker in Citigroup’s Technology Group, where she advised corporations and financial sponsors on mergers, acquisitions, and corporate finance. She also has experience as an investment banker in Sterne Agee’s Financial Services Group. Stephanie holds a BA in journalism and advertising from Southern Methodist University.
“I am honored to be recognized among GrowthCap’s Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing. This award is a reflection of the incredible founders and teams I get to partner with every day, as well as the outstanding colleagues at Five Elms who make this work so rewarding. My goal has always been to show up as a genuine partner—to roll up my sleeves, build real relationships, and help great companies reach their full potential.” — Stephanie Schneider
Firm: Lead Edge Capital
Title: Partner, Investor Relations
Emila Damjanovic is a Partner and leads the Investor Relations team at Lead Edge, overseeing all communications, reporting, and relationships with the firm’s investors. Prior to joining Lead Edge in 2011, Emila was the Head of Investor Relations and Assistant COO at Eastern Advisors, a hedge fund backed by Tiger Management. Emila graduated from Baruch College. Emila is based in San Francisco.
“Being recognized by GrowthCap once again is especially meaningful this year following the close of our seventh fund. A fund close provides a unique opportunity to reflect on how far the firm has come and on the people who have made that progress possible. Building enduring partnerships and earning the trust of investors has been the most rewarding part of my career. I’ve always believed that great firms are built one relationship at a time, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has chosen to grow alongside Lead Edge throughout that journey. The privilege of connecting with exceptional people continues to inspire me every day. As we begin this next chapter, I’m excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to continuing to strengthen the community that has been so central to our success.” — Emila Damjanovic
Firm: Strattam Capital
Title: Partner
Hilary Fleischer is a Partner at Strattam Capital, a private equity firm that invests in founder-led, independent B2B software and technology companies that are poised to become vertical market leaders. Her areas of focus include supply chain, procurement, Office of the CFO, and industrial software. She currently serves on the boards of Action Title Research, Intellect, MHC, Netstock, and PurchasePlus, and previously served on the boards of Affinaquest (acquired by Kindsight), Blacksmith Applications (acquired by TELUS), and Contegix (acquired by Valiantys). Before joining Strattam, Hilary was an Associate at KKR and an Analyst at Lazard, where she specialized in mergers and acquisitions.
She earned her BS and BAS from the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology at the University of Pennsylvania and her MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
“Market conditions are changing quickly, and our role at Strattam is to help vertical technology companies meet that moment. We work closely with our management teams to embed AI meaningfully into their products to deliver customer outcomes. The best partnerships begin with deep alignment between founders and investors, and it is rewarding to help visionary leaders turn that focus into their next chapter of growth.” — Hilary Fleischer
Firm: B Capital
Title: Principal
Ida Girma is a Principal at B Capital, where she focuses on early- and growth-stage investments in technology and AI companies that are positively shaping the future. She works closely with several companies whose technical teams are advancing AI research and deployment and serves as a trusted, values-driven partner in the boardroom and to her colleagues.
Prior to joining B Capital, Ida was a growth equity investor at TCG and worked as an operator at Nithio, an AI startup in climate finance. Previously, she helped establish the impact investing practice at Arabella Advisors and deployed innovative technology projects, including ML-based disaster-risk analytics at the United Nations World Food Programme in Ethiopia.
Ida earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA, magna cum laude, from Columbia University. She is based in San Francisco.
“AI is entering its next phase, evolving from capability into trusted deployment across consequential domains. The founders and teams tackling this challenge as they scale this generation of companies are among the most compelling I’ve encountered in my career. Building with them every day at B Capital is a privilege. I strive to bring rigor, empathy, and a focus on positive applications of transformative technology to our work. To be recognized among investing leaders of such accomplishment, talent, and character is appreciated and energizing.” — Ida Girma
Firm: Mainsail Partners
Title: Chief Legal Officer
Erin Sedloff is Mainsail’s Chief Legal Officer. She provides support to Mainsail Management Company’s professionals on a wide range of legal matters relating to firm and portfolio company operations. Erin currently serves on the board of Centerbase.
Prior to joining Mainsail, Erin was an attorney at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, an international law firm, where she practiced in the Technology Companies Group, helping startups and high-growth technology companies successfully raise capital and build their businesses from formation through exit. Erin additionally advised high-growth companies and investment firms on M&A, corporate governance, and corporate and securities law matters. Erin started her career as a litigator focused on commercial disputes.
Erin graduated from Claremont McKenna College, where she was on the varsity water polo team, and received a JD from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), where she was Editor in Chief of the West Northwest Journal of Environmental Law.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by GrowthCap alongside so many accomplished women in growth investing. At Mainsail, we’re focused on helping bootstrapped software founders build the foundation they need to scale and become market leaders. As AI continues to transform the software landscape, we’re partnering with them to capitalize on their competitive advantages and the new opportunities AI has created. With a hands-on approach, we’re committed to helping our portfolio companies navigate these shifts and build durable businesses positioned to lead.” — Erin Sedloff
Firm: Centana Growth Partners
Title: Partner
Sarah Kim is a Partner at Centana Growth Partners and an investor focused on the intersection of insurance, financial services, healthcare, and technology. With more than two decades of experience as both an investor and operator, she has built a reputation for identifying companies that modernize complex, highly regulated industries through software and data.
At Centana, Sarah has led several of the firm’s investments across insurtech and healthtech, including Tava Health, Reggora, and First Connect. She is particularly recognized for her ability to partner with founders building mission-critical platforms that streamline workflows, improve decision-making, and create durable competitive advantages within insurance and financial services markets.
What sets Sarah apart is her combination of deep sector expertise and firsthand operating experience. Prior to Centana, she served as Chief Financial and Business Officer at Archipelago Analytics and held leadership roles at The Climate Corporation, helping build data-driven insurance technology platforms during formative periods of growth. She also held senior investment positions at ICONIQ Capital and Stanford Management Company, giving her a unique perspective that spans company building, institutional investing, and long-term value creation.
Beyond her investment work, Sarah is an active advocate for advancing women in financial services and technology and has helped foster greater representation across the fintech, insurtech, and growth equity ecosystems.
“I’m honored to be included among this group of remarkable women in growth investing. Industries like insurance and healthcare are among the most complex and data-rich in the world, and they are still being reshaped by technology and AI. It’s inspiring and energizing to partner with founders who have the domain credibility, vision, and technical expertise to capitalize on that opportunity. I’m grateful to my colleagues at Centana, our portfolio teams, and the growing community of women leading this industry forward.” — Sarah Kim
Firm: Haveli Investments
Title: Managing Director
Afaf Ibraheem Warren is a Managing Director at Haveli Investments and a member of the investment team, where she leads the firm’s data and infrastructure software team. Since joining the firm in 2023, Afaf has played a pivotal role in deal sourcing, due diligence, transaction execution, portfolio management, and value creation. Her invaluable contributions helped Haveli close the largest debut flagship private equity fund raised as of March 2025 at $4.5 billion.
Afaf has distinguished herself as a trusted leader at Haveli, well regarded for her analytical rigor and strategic insight. She brings a thoughtful, data-driven perspective to complex decisions, delivering clear insights that help inform critical investment decisions, and works closely with portfolio companies to develop tailored value creation strategies that accelerate performance and support long-term success.
Prior to joining Haveli, Afaf held investment roles at Hg Capital, Siris Capital, and Vance Street Capital and began her career in Morgan Stanley’s investment banking division. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and an MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School.
“I am honored to receive this award and grateful to be part of an innovative team that strives to lead with integrity and serve as a collaborative and transparent partner to its investors and portfolio companies. It is a privilege to work alongside remarkable entrepreneurs and colleagues, and I am proud to help support our portfolio of high-potential companies as they pursue their growth ambitions.” — Afaf Ibraheem Warren
Firm: Silversmith Capital Partners
Title: Principal
Danielle Waldman is a Principal at Silversmith Capital Partners, where she partners with exceptional founders to help build category-leading software and technology-enabled businesses. Since joining the firm in 2020, Danielle has established herself as a trusted investor known for her strategic insight, deep sector expertise, and ability to form enduring partnerships with entrepreneurs.
Danielle focuses on investing in software and technology-enabled businesses, with a particular interest in AI-native and AI-enabled platforms, developer and IT tools, cybersecurity, and higher education technology. She believes the strongest companies are built by founders who deeply understand their customers’ needs and channel that insight into category-defining products. Danielle works alongside these entrepreneurs to help accelerate growth, scale operations, and build enduring market leaders. Her investment and board experience includes CollegeVine, Gearset, GiveCampus, Brightfin, Worldly, and a recently closed investment in an AI venture studio partnership.
Beyond investing, Danielle is deeply committed to mentorship and advancing opportunities for women in business and private equity. She plays an active role in developing junior talent at Silversmith and serves in leadership and advisory capacities across organizations supporting the next generation of business leaders.
Prior to Silversmith, Danielle worked at Vector Capital and Morgan Stanley. She earned a BA in history from Brown University and an MBA with Second Year Honors from Harvard Business School.
“The most rewarding part of growth investing is partnering with founders as they scale. The strongest outcomes are built on trust, shared ambition, and long-term collaboration. My role is not just to provide capital but to help founders navigate pivotal moments and unlock opportunities as they build category-defining companies.” — Danielle Waldman
Firm: Silversmith Capital Partners
Title: Principal
Shelby Miller is a Principal at Silversmith Capital Partners, where she focuses on investing in software and technology-enabled businesses across sales, marketing, customer experience, and e-commerce technology. Shelby is known for her ability to identify emerging category leaders and build genuine relationships with founders long before they seek outside capital. Combining deep sector expertise with a highly collaborative approach, she works closely with entrepreneurs to accelerate growth, evaluate strategic opportunities, and create lasting value.
Shelby has played an integral role in sourcing, evaluating, and supporting many of Silversmith’s investments. As a board member or observer, she works closely with management teams on strategic acquisitions, product expansion, go-to-market initiatives, and organizational growth. Shelby is particularly valued for her ability to combine deep sector expertise with practical execution support, helping founders identify opportunities to accelerate growth and strengthen their competitive positioning. Her investment experience includes Appfire, Clearer.io, Constructor, eOne, Microblink, Northbeam, Talon.One, Zonos, and a recent undisclosed investment.
She is also a dedicated mentor to junior investors and an advocate for advancing women in investing and technology. Prior to Silversmith, Shelby worked at Audax Group and Bain Capital Credit. She graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern University with degrees in finance and entrepreneurship.
“Nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems. Keeping a healthy perspective helps maintain humility in success and resilience in failure. Building a business is not a linear process — a single period rarely tells the full story. What matters most is how teams respond to change. Focusing on the fundamentals, serving customers, and making thoughtful decisions over time tends to compound.” — Shelby Miller
Firm: Summit Partners
Title: Principal
Irina Müller is a Principal on Summit Partners’ Technology Team in Europe. She invests in and partners with profitable, leading companies across the technology sector with an emphasis on financial technology and B2B operations technology. Since joining Summit in 2019, she has been actively involved in several of the firm’s European technology investments, including Appway (acquired by FNZ), ProGlove (acquired by Nordic Capital), Quorso, Solactive, and TradingHub (majority recapitalization by Nordic Capital).
Over the course of her tenure, Irina has developed deep experience at the intersection of fintech and enterprise software, with a particular focus on how AI and machine learning are reshaping capital markets infrastructure and regulatory compliance. This thematic conviction helps inform both her investment approach and the strategic support she provides to management teams. Irina brings a thoughtful, analytical approach to her work, building strong, collaborative relationships with the executives and management teams she works with.
A dual Swiss and U.S. citizen fluent in German and English, Irina brings a distinctive cross-border perspective to European growth equity investing. She holds a BA in business administration and an MA in banking and finance from the University of St. Gallen.
“At Summit, we work to bring deep sector expertise, hands-on operational support, and a long-term mindset to each partnership. My work centers on applying that approach alongside European founders building leaders in fintech and B2B software, two markets increasingly influenced by AI and regulation.” — Irina Müller
Firm: Volition Capital
Title: Principal
Melanie Nabar is a Principal at Volition Capital. Melanie joined Volition in September 2022 as a Vice President and was promoted to Principal earlier this year.
During her time at Volition, Melanie has deployed over $150M of firm capital across several investments and serves as a board member or board observer at HALOS Body Cams, HAAS Alert, Digital Onboarding, Zenarate, and ABCS Insights.
Melanie has developed deep expertise across a wide range of industries, including GTM technology, financial technology, AI, and physical security, among others. This breadth of expertise has been instrumental in helping portfolio companies and their leadership teams form strategic partnerships, pursue new business opportunities, and drive both top- and bottom-line growth.
Before Volition Capital, Melanie was a Technology Investor at Summit Partners, an Analyst at Aeris Partners, and graduated with a BS in business management and finance from Babson College.
“Being selected as one of GrowthCap’s Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing is a tremendous honor. This recognition would not be possible without the outstanding team that Volition Capital has built, and even more so, the incredible portfolio executives I have the privilege of working with. What an impressive group to be recognized alongside!” — Melanie Nabar
Firm: Spectrum Equity
Title: Principal
Annaliesa Routh is a Principal at Spectrum Equity, where she partners with growth-stage software, AI, and data businesses. She first joined as an MBA intern in 2020, completed her MBA at Harvard Business School, and returned full-time as an investor. She was recognized as one of GrowthCap’s Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing in 2024 and 2025, and holds board seats at RapidRatings, Tenstreet, Seamless, and Quavo; her recent transaction work runs across several of the firm’s deals. A curiosity-first approach defines how she works with founders. She asks the hard questions and stays useful as companies move from product-market fit to repeatable, scalable growth.
Within Spectrum, Annaliesa is a trusted advisor to her portfolio companies and a regular source of guidance for the junior team. She plays a hands-on role in recruiting and talent development and leads content planning for the firm’s annual sales and marketing summit. Before Spectrum, she worked at Thomas H. Lee Partners across healthcare and manufacturing investments. She earned her undergraduate degree with Distinction from the University of Virginia.
“I’m grateful to the founders who let me be a small part of their success. I try to show up the way good partners do: curious, steady, and focused on making a real impact.” — Annaliesa Routh
Firm: Spectrum Equity
Title: Principal
Emily Calkins is a Principal at Spectrum Equity, where she invests in product-led, fast-growth businesses and the scrappy, ambitious teams who build them. She joined in 2021 as a Vice President and was recognized as one of GrowthCap’s Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Emily serves on the boards of both Poppins Payroll and Presence Learning, served on the board of Litmus prior to the firm’s exit, and played a central role on the investment team for Sponsor United and continues to engage with management post-investment. Inside the firm, Emily has helped build a deeper, more diverse junior bench and refined Spectrum’s approach to mentorship and career development. The culture she has helped shape pairs ambition with genuine respect; underpinning it all is the fundamental belief that “directness is kindness.” For Emily, the act of relationship-building is the central joy of the work: with portfolio company CEOs, with entrepreneurs, and with every member of the Spectrum team.
Before Spectrum, she originated and executed several investments for Mainsail Partners as both an Associate and Senior Associate and held investment banking roles at Credit Suisse. She earned her MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was Co-President of her class, delivered the commencement address, and received the Arbuckle Award for leadership. She graduated with honors from Williams College, where she studied creative writing.
“The bar for preparation and insight keeps rising—and it should given the massive leverage AI is giving all of us to get the commoditized work done well. But what AI hasn’t touched is the rarer thing: being the person a founder actually wants to call from the trenches, who they trust to shoot them straight, and who they still want to get breakfast with the next morning. That’s not a function of how fast you can run diligence. It’s a function of how much you’ve earned the right to.” — Emily Calkins
Firm: TA Associates
Title: Director
Amara Suebsaeng is a Director in TA’s Boston office, where she helps lead investments in technology-enabled services companies in North America. A collaborative investor, Amara partners closely with founders and management teams across TA’s portfolio, leveraging the firm’s industry knowledge, experience, and global resources to help accelerate organic and inorganic growth.
Amara currently serves on the Board of Directors for LeadsOnline, PurposeBuilt Brands, Stackline, Too Lost, and TouchTunes and is a board observer of Cast & Crew, OMNIA Partners, and PTMA Financial Solutions. She also previously served on the board of Backstage. Prior to joining TA as an Associate in 2010, Amara worked as an Analyst in the Investment Banking Division, Global Power & Utilities Group, at Morgan Stanley. She holds an MBA, with Distinction, from Harvard Business School, and a bachelor’s degree in economics, Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, from Princeton University. Beyond her investment work, she also serves on the Board of Advisors of the Boston Ballet, supporting initiatives to expand access to the arts.
“I believe the strongest partnerships are built on trust, shared goals, and a commitment to creating exceptional businesses. It is a privilege to work alongside talented founders and management teams every day, supporting them as they pursue growth opportunities, navigate strategic decisions, and build long-term value. This recognition from GrowthCap is especially meaningful because it reflects the collaborative relationships that make our work so rewarding.” — Amara Suebsaeng
Firm: PSG
Title: Principal
Jill Wittenborn is a Principal at PSG, where she partners with management teams on growth strategy, M&A integration, talent acquisition, AI adoption, and helping companies build the operational foundations needed to scale and execute growth opportunities.
Over nearly a decade at PSG, Jill has developed deep relationships with executives and finance leaders across the portfolio, serving as a trusted advisor as companies navigate key milestones. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Adeptia.
Prior to PSG, Jill was an investment banking associate at Barclays and a director at Wealth-X, a SaaS company, where she supported the company’s international expansion and successful exit.
Jill is committed to mentorship and advancing women in finance. She helps lead the PSG Women’s Group and is actively involved with organizations including the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
“Great businesses are built by leaders who are willing to continuously evolve. I am fortunate to work alongside management teams as they strengthen their organizations, embrace new opportunities, and position their companies for long-term success.” — Jill Wittenborn
Firm: Level Equity
Title: Principal, Structured Capital
Haley Johnson is a Principal on the Level Structured Capital team. Haley evaluates and executes investment opportunities, while supporting the management teams of portfolio companies. Prior to joining Level, she was an investor at i80 Group, where she focused on asset-backed credit investments in early- and growth-stage capital-intensive technology companies. She also previously worked in Business Development at CircleUp, on the Investment Team at Pantheon Ventures, and in the Investment Banking Division at Barclays.
Haley holds a BA in mathematics from Dartmouth College. She grew up in New Jersey and currently resides in New York City. Outside of work, she serves on the Advisory Board of Achilles International.
“Being included in this group of remarkable women is deeply humbling. At Level, we’ve built a structured capital offering that I’m proud of, and I’m incredibly grateful to the tenacious and talented founders and management teams who have trusted us to be their partner at critical moments in their growth journeys.” — Haley Johnson
Firm: Spectrum Equity
Title: Principal, Market Research & Investment Operations
Emily Fox is a Principal at Spectrum Equity, where she leads market research and investment operations. She joined the firm in 2023 and was promoted to Principal in 2026, and in a relatively short tenure has become one of Spectrum’s most cross-functional contributors. Her work spans buy-side and sell-side diligence, sourcing optimization, vendor management, and AI enablement.
Emily runs market research, competitive analysis, and voice-of-customer work for new investments and portfolio companies, and leads the analytics behind Spectrum’s sourcing operations. This year, she launched Spectrum’s flagship program dedicated to AI projects. She is also a frequent presence at portfolio company summits, where her research translates directly into value for management teams.
Before Spectrum, Emily was a Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group, focused on commercial diligence and growth strategy for technology investments within the firm’s private equity practice. She spent several years at EY-Parthenon in a similar capacity before that. She received her MBA with Distinction from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, where she was named an Edward Tuck Scholar, and holds a BA in economics with honors from Williams College.
“In my biased opinion, I have the best job in growth equity. I get to work across the deal lifecycle. I get to work on how AI is impacting our industry. And I’m surrounded by a team at Spectrum that is a special combination of brilliant and humble. It’s hard to imagine a more rewarding place or a more exciting time to be doing this work.” — Emily Fox
Firm: Level Equity
Title: Head of NLO Go To Market
Amy Kramer is the Head of the Go-To-Market function for NextLevel Operations, Level’s in-house value creation team. She runs point on go-to-market strategy, leading diligence for new investments and advising Level portfolio companies on scaling customer acquisition and growth. Amy also leads the Level GTM Leadership Group, hosting expert webinars and roundtables on go-to-market hot topics and facilitating networking opportunities for revenue leaders across the portfolio. In addition to supporting the portfolio, Amy is focused on building and enhancing LevelEdge, Level Equity’s proprietary sourcing engine.
Amy came to Level from Trustpilot, where she served as Vice President of Sales for North America and led the Global Revenue Operations team. Over her six years at Trustpilot, she focused on sales strategy and process, driving more than fivefold revenue growth. Prior to Trustpilot, Amy held several leadership roles in Customer Success and Revenue Operations at Yodle and held sales and digital marketing positions at Yahoo. Amy holds a BA from the University of Maryland and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons.
“I’m honored to be recognized by GrowthCap alongside such an accomplished group of leaders. At Level, we believe the best outcomes are built through genuine partnership and long-term collaboration. It’s a privilege to support, learn from, and work alongside the software companies and entrepreneurs defining the next era of innovation.” — Amy Kramer
Firm: JMI Equity
Title: Vice President
Dina Berdichevsky joined JMI in 2019 and focuses on sourcing and evaluating new investment opportunities. She is currently a director of EdSights and Unanet and works closely with Bloomerang, Employee Navigator, Exiger, gaiia, GiveCampus, Huntress, and Incident IQ.
Prior to JMI, Dina was an investment banking analyst at DC Advisory. She holds a BS in economics and statistics from Carnegie Mellon University.
“Being recognized alongside so many talented leaders in growth equity is energizing. But the real reward is the day-to-day work—digging into the next generation of software and AI-driven companies, supporting our portfolio companies as they scale, and learning from the exceptional operators and entrepreneurs we partner with at JMI.” — Dina Berdichevsky
Firm: Charlesbank Capital Partners, Flagship Private Equity
Title: Vice President
Nicole King is a Vice President at Charlesbank Capital Partners, focusing on technology and technology infrastructure investments. She joined the firm in 2021, bringing experience from Goldman Sachs’ Private Equity Group.
Nicole has been a central contributor to sourcing and evaluating new opportunities across the technology and technology infrastructure sector, while playing a hands-on role in driving growth and operational improvement at Charlesbank portfolio companies. She has been integral to the investment in Bridgepointe Technologies through underwriting, execution, and a four-year hold delivering exceptional results. Nicole played a meaningful role in each phase of Bridgepointe’s value creation, working closely with management on strategic priorities and helping to advance the M&A program central to the company’s growth. She is a cultural cornerstone of the Flagship team, known for her tireless commitment to mentorship, recruiting, and junior talent development.
Nicole holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.
“I’m truly honored by this recognition—it’s a reflection of the incredible team at Charlesbank and the outstanding management teams in our portfolio. The opportunity to partner closely with them to help drive growth and deliver meaningful value is what makes this work so rewarding.” — Nicole King
Firm: Charlesbank Capital Partners, Flagship Private Equity
Title: Vice President
Stephanie Lee is a Vice President on Charlesbank Capital Partners’ Business & Consumer Services investment team. In this role, she specializes in sourcing, executing, and scaling investments across professional and tech-enabled services. She brings deep pattern recognition to partnering with founders of people-based businesses, often as their first provider of institutional capital, to transform their businesses and inflect growth.
Stephanie spearheaded Charlesbank’s multi-year thematic origination effort in the CPA sector, culminating in the firm’s investment in Aprio, one of the fastest-growing accounting and advisory firms in the United States, where she currently serves on the board. She has also played a key role in Charlesbank’s investments in the private equity services ecosystem, including Accordion Partners, a premier Office of the CFO consulting firm, and Petra Funds Group, a leading fund administration platform. Across these portfolio companies, she partners closely with management teams to drive organic growth, M&A, and AI-enablement strategies.
Prior to joining Charlesbank in 2020, Stephanie was an Engagement Manager in McKinsey & Company’s Strategy & Corporate Finance practice. She graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
“The founders and management teams we partner with bring an exceptional level of dedication to building and scaling high-quality, enduring businesses. It has been a privilege to learn from their dynamism and play a small role in supporting their endeavors. I am honored by this recognition, and grateful to my Charlesbank colleagues for their investment in my professional development.” — Stephanie Lee
Firm: PSG
Title: Vice President
Ashley Markow Majewski is a Vice President at PSG, where she sources and evaluates new platform investment and add-on acquisition opportunities for growth-stage companies in B2B software.
Ashley leverages her experience to play a leading role in PSG’s sourcing efforts across sectors including Transportation, Industrials, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Supply Chain (TIMES), Field Services Technology, HR / Human Capital Management, and eCommerce / Commerce Enablement.
Ashley takes a thoughtful approach to sourcing and places a particular emphasis on sourcing mission-critical, often AI-native, companies that have the potential to be true disruptors in complex and impactful sectors. At PSG, Ashley has sourced 24 closed transactions across both platform investments and add-on acquisitions, while also supporting 17 portfolio companies through M&A sourcing initiatives and market intelligence efforts.
Within PSG, Ashley is actively involved in the firm’s intern development program and mentors junior team members. Outside of PSG, she serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives for Synergist Network, a nonprofit supporting women in the early stages of their investing careers. She is also a mentor through the College of Charleston’s Student Investment Program, where she works directly with at least one student each year who is an aspiring investor.
“It is incredibly rewarding to support dedicated management teams who are building innovative businesses. To be recognized for this work as a leader in the space is an honor, and I am thrilled to be a part of such a strong list of women in growth investing.” — Ashley Markow Majewski
Firm: PSG
Title: Vice President
Ellie McCabe is a Vice President at PSG, where she focuses on growth equity investment opportunities across software and technology-enabled businesses. At PSG, she brings a combination of rigorous transaction execution, hands-on value creation, and leadership within the firm’s talent development initiatives.
Ellie has played a key role in several notable transactions during her time at PSG, where she helps develop PSG’s investment theses to drive the investment process. She also works closely with portfolio company leaders on strategic priorities including executive talent development, M&A strategy, and product innovation.
Ellie is an active leader in PSG’s talent development and mentorship initiatives. She fosters mentorship and inclusion across the deal team, helping organize quarterly women’s events focused on professional development and internal connectivity. As a former MBA intern herself, she leads the firm’s MBA internship program, which targets diverse mid-level talent and plays a central role in recruiting and mentoring future investors. At the undergraduate level, she serves as a mentor in PSG’s undergraduate internship initiative.
“Since joining PSG just two years ago, it has been a pleasure to invest in some of the most innovative companies in the software landscape. This recognition is a testament to PSG’s work helping talented management teams realize their strategic goals. I am proud to be a part of this list of women who have made their mark on the growth equity industry.” — Ellie McCabe
Firm: Spectrum Equity
Title: Vice President
Anna Yu is a Vice President at Spectrum Equity, where she invests across consumer internet and B2B software. Since joining the firm in 2023, she has worked closely with several of the firm’s portfolio companies. Anna brings a high-energy, curiosity-driven approach to investing, with a particular interest in understanding how evolving customer needs and technology adoption create opportunities for transformative businesses.
Most recently, Anna is a core member of the investment team behind Spectrum’s 2026 investment in splose, an AI-enabled practice management platform used by more than 20,000 Allied Health clinicians across Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, and now holds an observer seat. She also sourced and played a central role in originating and executing Spectrum’s investment in an unannounced consumer gaming business in 2023, an experience that sparked a growing appreciation for founders creating products that earn an enduring place in the lives of their users.
“Founders have an uncanny ability to combine deep customer empathy with an unwavering willingness to challenge convention. Earning the right to be a trusted thought partner requires curiosity, preparation, and a genuine commitment to understanding their business and helping them succeed.” — Anna Yu
Firm: Left Lane Capital
Title: Senior Vice President
Erica Amatori is Senior Vice President of Platform at Left Lane Capital, where over the past five years she has led platform strategy across portfolio support, communications, events, corporate development, and network. Her work spans the firm’s 100+ portfolio companies across the globe, partnering closely with founders to accelerate growth at the early- and growth-stage. Erica has built Left Lane’s platform function from the ground up, including the Fast Growth Summit Series, the firm’s advisor network, and the portfolio community infrastructure.
Erica excels at building durable founder relationships, executing complex multi-stakeholder programs, and translating strategy into sharp, well-positioned communications. Prior to joining Left Lane in 2021, she was at Alpaca VC, where she transitioned into venture in 2020 after building growth functions on the operating side at consumer and fintech startups. Erica holds a BA in psychology and marketing with a concentration in business analytics from the College of William & Mary. She has served a multi-year term on the Board of the Global VC Platform Network, a 2,000+ member community of platform professionals across venture and private equity.
“The founders we back at Left Lane are reshaping the categories they operate in, not chasing them. We look for companies that become part of how people and businesses actually live and work — products customers come back to, businesses that compound. It’s a privilege to partner with these teams, and to do it alongside the Left Lane team that shows up for them every day.” — Erica Amatori
Firm: Volition Capital
Title: Vice President
Emily Pawlak is a Vice President at Volition Capital. Since joining the firm in 2020, Emily has quickly risen through the ranks, starting as an Analyst and being promoted to Vice President earlier this year. During her time at Volition, Emily has sourced, led, or played a significant role in the evaluation and execution of investments across the internet, transactional, and consumer sectors, including Aditude, BusRight, Doing Things, Keynes, Linkby, and Screenverse.
Earlier this year, Emily led Volition Capital’s $40M investment in Keynes, a leading performance advertising platform for CTV. Leveraging her deep adtech expertise, she drove the diligence process and helped position Volition as the partner of choice for the founder-led, high-growth business.
Before Volition Capital, Emily was an Investment Banking Analyst at Cowen and Company. Emily has a BA in mathematics from Bowdoin College.
“I am honored to be selected as one of GrowthCap’s Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing. It’s a privilege to partner with exceptional founders as they build enduring and category-defining businesses, and I am grateful to do so alongside my team at Volition Capital.” — Emily Pawlak
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Copyright: The Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing of 2026 publication is copyrighted material, produced and published by GrowthCap, LLC. For information pertaining to content permissions, please refer to GrowthCap’s award usage regulations.
Disclaimer: The data provided in this publication is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, endorsement, nor recommendation. GrowthCap believes the information in this publication to be accurate but does not verify its accuracy independently and does not warrant or guarantee that it is accurate or complete. GrowthCap has no obligation to provide any updates or changes to the information. No investment decisions should be made using this information.
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