Since the early 1980s, there has been a rise in women in private equity. However, this hasn’t always been the case as it has always been an exclusive club for men. In fact, Bloomberg recently relayed a report that shows women, so far this year, account for only 18 percent of the private equity workforce. Plus, an even smaller 9.4 percent of female business leaders hold senior or chief level positions. Most women are found in junior-level positions in marketing or investor relations—more client-facing posts than decision-making roles. As a result, they are among the lower-paid individuals in these firms.
However, women are now becoming more visible in these male-dominated sectors. There are women in private equity who now occupy critical roles within their companies. These women are creating significant impacts on the companies they are part of.
They are influential decision-makers setting new trends, creating new innovations, and making differences in various fields. In honor of these women making a bold impact around the world, we list down today’s Top 10 Women in Private Equity.
CEO, Eurazeo
A bold move Morgon made early on with Eurazeo was taking a risk on Accor, a French global hospitality company, which ultimately highlighted the ability and impact of Eurazeo as a holding company. Markedly, Eurazeo also invested in WorldStrides, a leader in educational travel for students in the United States. With Morgon’s leadership and decades of private equity expertise, Eurazeo is expected to expand globally and become a new blue chip company.
CFO and Managing Director of Operations, Genstar Capital
Dickerson has helped in the buyout of Tekni-Plex, a healthcare and packaging products manufacturer. This buyout is the biggest deal on the company’s recent ledger. Other notable purchases under Dickerson were Institutional Shareholder Services, Power Products, and Bracket. Most recently in August, Genstar took over BBB Industries and Drillinginfo.
Co-Founder and Partner, ParkerGale Capital
Heinze is an energetic member of the Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN), which brings private equity senior women leaders together for opportunities to share ideas, empower each other, and develop deep connections with each other. She believes in differentiating yourself in your own field. She succinctly points out, “You have to find a way to stand out. Just having the check anymore? That doesn’t mean anything.”
President and COO, Watermill Group
Watermill Group’s current portfolio companies include Cooper & Turner, Tenere Inc., Quality Metalcraft Inc. and Experi-Metal Inc. As one of the influential women in private equity, Karol believes in diversity and inclusion as an important tool in growing your business. Karol notes, “You have to look around and make sure you have a diverse and balanced group of people working with you.” She adds, “[This type of] awareness is essential for growth.”
Partner, Bridges Fund Management
At Bridges Fund Management, Burgess makes investments in four broad categories: growth business, property, social businesses and outcome contracts. Some of the firm’s investments include The Hub Pharmacy, Impact Food Group, CONNEQT, Taberner House, Fusion Housing, and Manchester Treatment Foster Care.
Managing Director, HarbourVest
Notably, Bacon in 2017 has overseen about $600 million in investments. HarbourVest has investments in sectors like communications, finance, healthcare, and information technology. Some of these include Klarna, Flash Networks, Appriss, Partners Surgical, Towne Park and Wave Accounting. Bacon is also a founding member of Level20—an organization that gathers and retains women in private equity.
Founder and Managing Partner, Luminate Capital Partners
Female-led private equity firms are a rarity in San Francisco, and in the rest of the country, but Luminate stands out because of Haynes. With her leadership, Luminate has invested in companies like Conexiom, Oversight Systems Inc., StarCompliance, AMTdirect, Fintech, and Comply365. Overall, the firm invests with somewhere between $20 million to $50 million in companies that earn between $10 million and $50 million in revenue each year.
Chief Operating Officer, The Riverside Company
Co-Founding Partner and CEO, Development Partners International (DPI)
President, Ardian
Ardian is now known as Europe’s largest and leading private equity firm. Ardian invests in companies like virtual reality software company IWD, industrial engineering group Fives, and architecture firm Abvent—among many others.
Remarkably, Senequier was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 2012. Now she also serves as vice president of the supervisory board of Hermès.
A Bold Revolution for the Top 10 Women in Private Equity
Women in private equity still have a long way to go to achieve equality. They are still burdened by problems like lack of opportunities for recruitment, promotion, and decision-making. Nevertheless, these female business leaders from around the world are helping businesses—and other women—navigate the challenging world ahead. They are helping change the private equity landscape by assuming roles that were previously dominated by men. Notably, more women—even women of all colors—are now making more impactful decisions, changing perceptions, and creating significant changes in countless lives.
These women in private equity are also providing great mentorship opportunities for younger women to take on their chosen industries. Most importantly, they are female role models helping boldly and positively change the way the world sees women in business.
Sources:
Women in private equity are still underrepresented – but the sector is starting to change
Private Equity’s Most Influential Women 2018