“If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” This simple yet powerful statement set the tone for the November 20 webinar “Female Investors and Founders Leading the Charge: Stories of Success and Diversification.” As part of the SPS Entrepreneurs Network webinar series, this event welcomed over 70 attendees, offering key insights from leading female entrepreneurs and investors in the private equity and venture capital ecosystem.
Moderated by SPS Network Founding member Connie Koh (’23SPS, Applied Analytics), the event began with a panel discussion about the challenges and the opportunities in the investment sector, and later opened to a Q&A session. Panelists included Angela Jhanji, managing director at EQT Group and Columbia SPS Sustainable Management lecturer; Jenny Fielding, founder and managing partner of Everywhere VC; Manica Blain, founder of Top Knot Ventures; and Micki Weiner (’24SPS, Sustainability Management), founder of Petal + Ash.
Unconventional Journeys to Success
To start the conversation, panelists shared their own stories and experiences, reflecting on their unconventional career paths. “For most people, especially people from diverse backgrounds, there isn’t really a linear path,” said Jenny Fielding.
Most venture capitalists start in different sectors, often as founders and operators. The experience they gain in these roles is crucial in helping them transition into their desired field. Given the limited opportunities in such a small sector, successful investors, like these panelists, often navigate many different paths to reach their positions. Jenny’s own background in law and finance did not necessarily translate to venture capital, but she believes it gave her a more well-rounded perspective applicable to the investment ecosystem.
Challenges and Changes in the Investment World
Panelists addressed the evolving nature of the investment landscape and the challenges they have overcome and expect to face in the future. There is still a lack of diversity in all areas aspects, from the institutional side to the management and investment teams. This makes it difficult for founders, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, to secure funding from investors who don’t always see their vision for innovative products in their communities. Micki Weiner emphasized the importance of motivation and values for female founders like herself and anyone else developing a startup. Raising capital can be challenging, but being intentional about entering relationships with investors—analyzing how they align with your values and how your company can deliver on their expectations—is more important than simply securing funds.
Given these ongoing struggles, the panelists highlighted recent advancements and expressed hope for a more diverse private equity ecosystem. According to Angela Jhanji, the ILPA Diversity Framework—an initiative to foster diversity across the investment sector—is a key step toward transforming private equity. As more consumers demand accountability, thoughtful brands, rooted in diverse backgrounds and sustainable values, are rising up to meet these needs.
Advice for Aspiring Founders
The discussion also offered insider tips on how to break into the industry successfully. Panelists urged aspiring entrepreneurs and investors not to get discouraged by setbacks but to focus on building their knowledge and skills to better prepare for a career in venture capital. Their main piece of advice: make sure you truly understand your goal, and take every opportunity to work towards it. “Always take that meeting. You never know where one meeting will go,” emphasized Manica Blain.
They discussed key features investors look for in entrepreneurs. First, founders need to be able to overcome challenges so resilience is key. This is where diversity comes in. People from diverse backgrounds have become resilient in the face of adversity. Entrepreneurs also need to be action-oriented to adapt to changing circumstances, and they must have a unique product, something new that the world needs.
As the event drew to a close, attendees left with valuable knowledge and encouragement to delve into the private equity and venture capital world.
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