Take the Stage

Marilyn Adler has spent more than three decades investing in the LMM, but the firm she ultimately built reflects lessons gathered across every stage of that career. As co-founder of Mizzen Capital, Marilyn launched her own fund in March 2020—just one week before COVID shut down the world. Rather than retreat, she and her partner relied on their track records, relationships, and persistence to rais...

Lorine Pendleton's career has never followed a conventional path. After beginning as a media and entertainment attorney representing legendary artists including Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Chaka Khan, she transitioned into venture capital with a mission to address the funding gap facing women and underrepresented founders. Today, as the Founding Partner of 125 Ventures, Lorine invests in early-...

Today on Take the Stage , and our special series Ladies Who Rock, we shine the spotlight on Noramay Cadena, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Supply Change Capital, gets candid about her journey from the San Fernando Valley to MIT, from Boeing to building a venture fund—without the traditional playbook. Her story is one of grit, reinvention, and creating access for others. Episode Highlights: [02...

Today on Take the Stage we sit down with Charles Hudson, Founder and Managing Partner of  Precursor Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on pre-seed and seed investments in the US and Canada Charles has made it his mission to find the kind of talent traditional VCs tend to overlook: first-time founders without elite credentials but with bold ideas, sharp insights, and a bias towar...

Today on Take the Stage , and our special series Ladies Who Rock, we shine the spotlight on Samara Mejia Hernandez, Founding Partner at Chingona Ventures, a Chicago-based, early-stage venture capital fund. Samara shares how she broke into venture capital, built a bold brand with Chingona Ventures , and redefined success on her own terms. From raising capital while pregnant to flipping the script o...

Today on Take the Stage, and our special series Ladies Who Rock, we shine the spotlight on Bukie Adebo Umeano, Investment Principal at Anthemis, a global VC firm that backs inclusive fintech and insurtech founders.  Bukie dives into her unconventional journey into venture capital, the lessons she’s picked up along the way, and shares no-nonsense advice for anyone looking to break into VC or carve...

Today on Take the Stage, and our special series Ladies Who Rock, we shine the spotlight on Clara de Bienassis, People & Well-being Director at Stone Soup Consulting, a global social impact consultancy rooted in empathy, diversity, and purpose-driven work.  Clara’s journey is anything but traditional—starting in investment banking and ultimately finding her calling in impact. In this episode, s...

Today on Take the Stage, and our special series Ladies Who Rock, we shine the spotlight on Maria de Palacio, Head of Finance and Operations at GAWA Capital, the largest impact fund manager in Spain that is focused on providing market-based solutions to key societal issues.  Maria shares how she transitioned into impact investing, why Europe has a unique opportunity to lead, and the power of women-...

In this episode of Take the Stage, and our special series Ladies Who Rock, we shine the spotlight on Isabelle Fuchs , Senior Associate at Eden Capital Management, a female-founded, lower middle market private equity firm focused on education, business services, and software.  Isabelle reflects on her transition from ECM to PE, discussing the challenges and key learnings along the way. She shares h...

In this episode of Take the Stage and our special series, Ladies Who Rock, we shine the spotlight on Jessica Patton, Co-founder and Managing Director at 5th Century Partners (5CP), a purpose-driven private equity firm redefining the industry through intentional culture and a commitment to diversity.  From her early days as a Howard University graduate with a knack for finance to her roles at Goldm...

In this episode of Take the Stage and our special series, Ladies Who Rock, we shine the spotlight on Stephanie Park, Director in the PE group at Apogem Capital, to unpack a career path that challenges the norm. From starting in private equity, pivoting to the fashion world, and returning to lead with a fresh perspective, Stephanie shares lessons on leadership, culture, and balancing a high-stakes...

Today on Take the Stage , and our special series, Ladies Who Rock , we’re joined by Maude Delice, an Investor Relations and Fundraising professional with a non-traditional career journey. A self-described "recovering entrepreneur," Maude leveraged her background in marketing and communications to forge a successful path into investor relations. In this episode, we explore the vital role IR plays i...

Today on Take the Stage , we sit down with Genine Fallon, Managing Director of Capital Formation and Investor Relations at Cold Bore Capital, a veteran-founded and led firm that invests in lower middle market businesses with a focus on operational value creation.  With a career journey as dynamic as it is diverse, Genine offers a wealth of knowledge on pivoting career paths, the value of adaptabil...

Today on Take the Stage, as part of our special series "Ladies Who Rock," we’re shining the spotlight on Jessie Harris . Jessie is a Vice President at TXV Partners, an Austin-based venture capital firm that focuses on the intersection of health, tech, and sports. Her career journey spans from Investment Banking at Barclays to Credit Investing at Blackstone, and now to early-stage investing in comp...

Today on  Take the Stage , we talk to Jarron Smith. Jarron is COO and Managing Director at Zeal Capital Partners , a diverse-founded and led venture capital firm that invests in enduring companies to generate above-market rate returns and impact. With a unique background that defies convention, Jarron brings a fresh perspective to the table, championing the power of diverse management teams and th...

Today on Take the Stage we are shining the spotlight on Devin Brown, a Venture Capital Associate at TechNexus Venture Collaborative. Devin shares his inspiring journey from a high school athlete with Ivy League dreams to an up-and-coming figure in the venture capital space. He discusses the pivotal moments, challenges, and strategies that shaped his career, offering valuable advice for aspiring in...

Today on Take the Stage , we are shining the spotlight on Peter Washington. Peter is Managing Director and Head of Originations for The Copia Group, a diverse-founded and led firm that provides debt and equity capital solutions to lower middle-market companies. His journey is marked by over two decades of experience as a credit investment professional at firms such as CapX Partners and the Norther...

On this special episode of Take the Stage we are shining the spotlight on Jerry Arteaga and Greg Povenski , two Special Operations Forces vets who were able to successfully forge their paths into private equity following long and decorated careers in the military. Beyond their achievements, Jerry and Greg are advocates for recognizing and integrating veteran skills within the investment sector. Th...

Today on Take the Stage and our special series Ladies Who Rock, we are shining the spotlight on Jaclyn Voor. Jaclyn is a skilled operator specializing in portfolio company value creation for private equity clients. With over 10 years of experience, Jaclyn has built a remarkable career, transforming companies and driving exponential value for her clients. From her early days in consulting at EY to...

This is Part 2 of our Take the Stage episode with Matan Feldman. Matan is founder and CEO of Wall Street Prep, a global full-service financial training firm providing self-study programs, instructor-led training and e-learning services to investment banks, financial institutions, and Fortune 1000 companies. In Part 2, Matan reflects on the transformative journey of Wall Street Prep since the 2008...

Today on Take the Stage , we are shining the spotlight on Matan Feldman. Matan is founder and CEO of Wall Street Prep, a global full-service financial training firm providing self-study programs, instructor-led training and e-learning services to investment banks, financial institutions, and Fortune 1000 companies. This is part one of a two-part episode where Matan takes us on a journey through th...

Today on Take the Stage , we are shining the spotlight on Patty Fernandez Moore. Patty is a Senior Associate at Lightspring Capital Partners, a lower middle market PE firm that targets majority equity investments across various industries. She began her career in the Valuation & Business Modeling group at EY before completing her MBA and joining JP Morgan's Investment Banking Group in Chic...

Today on Take the Stage, we are shining the spotlight on Emily Yin. Emily is an Analyst at Avante Capital Partners, the largest women-owned private credit firm in the SBIC industry. She is primarily responsible for investment due diligence but also works on other impact initiatives, including a junior women’s network and student mentorship through Avante’s diversity internship program. Emily gradu...

Today on Take the Stage , we are shining the spotlight on Rocio Heres. Rocio is the Managing Director at AltamarCAM Capital Partners where she is currently co-head of the New York office and a member of Altamar’s 10-person US investment team. She has led an extensive number of deals in the US, Latin America, and Europe, focusing on GP-led restructurings in the LMM. Originally from Northern Spain,...

Today on Take the Stage , we are shining the spotlight on Ashley Kooyenga. Ashley's career starts with the financial downturn of 2008 and takes her through a series of rapid growth promotions that culminate in her current role with a lower middle-market family equity firm. Her path is peppered with pivots, recalibrations, and even a year-long pause. From investment banker to Director of healthcare...