Our Story
It began with curiosity.
What do I want to do when I grow up? I asked myself this question when I turned 50.
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In my quest for the answer, I hired a coach (highly recommended), read numerous books, binged podcasts and connected with my network. During a meeting with an illustrious search fund investor, I learned about The Stanford Search Fund Study.
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While digging through the study, the investor side of me was excited about the financial returns (35% IRR and over 5x ROI). However as a mom of two daughters and someone who was often the “only woman in the room,” the lack of women searchers was the spark that ignited a passion: Support women to reach parity in the search industry.
The Team
By team, I mean me!
I grew up in a rural farm town in Pennsylvania, the youngest of four kids. My dad is an entrepreneur and founded his business a few years before I was born. At my mom's encouragement to “get an education,” I packed my bags and headed to the “big city” as a first generation college student.
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My eyes were opened to a new world at Wharton. I not only learned about the opportunities on Wall Street, but also met my husband (yes, we have been together that long). After graduation, I paid my dues as an investment banking analyst in New York before spending almost 15 years in private equity. This is where I honed my skills to be a value-added partner to searchers. I analyzed industries, executed proprietary deal sourcing, performed due diligence, structured and negotiated financial partnerships and worked with management teams to build thriving organizations.
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As family life took priority, I transitioned to consulting. One role I took on was functioning as the CFO of a start-up team for eight years. I supported the management team with fundraising initiatives, expansion efforts, budgeting and auditing oversight, implementation of financial reporting and cash management processes.
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Now, I am on a mission to support women searchers. I co-created the Women Searchers Community with over 300 members. I am inspired by the supportive relationships built through daily interactions, meet-ups (virtual and in person), and “coffee chats” with people in the search ecosystem. I am actively investing personal capital with plans to raise a search investment fund in the future to allow for greater impact. Stay tuned!
VALUE ADDED
Responsive, Supportive Mentor
From pre-fundraising support to post-exit celebration, I will be your mentor every step of the search journey. From brainstorming on creative outreach and deal structuring to answering “dumb questions” (by the way, there are none) and being a shoulder to cry on, you can feel comfortable reaching out to me.
Unique, Value-Added Prespective
As a female investor with many years of experience in private equity and consulting, I bring a unique perspective to your cap table. Research has demonstrated that companies with diverse perspectives perform better.
Women Searchers
Community
I truly believe “it takes a village” which is why I co-created WSC to bring the community of women searchers together to collaborate and support each other. I also provide "learning" resources to enhance your search fund expertise and facilitate peer mentor groups during the search phase.
Board/Advisor Capacity
As search has grown, it has become increasingly difficult to find strong board members. I am available to sit on boards and am working to build an advisory group of strong female board candidates.
Oh...did I forget to mention I like to have fun? From golfing with my husband, taking power yoga classes with my daughters, walking our dog Curry (yes, we are Warriors fans!) to playing tennis or hiking with friends, I thrive on being active. I also love traveling and have been so lucky to explore all seven continents.
