Scott Ukrop
Women control more than 60% of all personal wealth in the United States and account for over 50% of all US public equities yet fewer than 10% of investors at angel, venture and private equity funds are women. Gender inequity has long been a challenge in private investing with minimal growth in the number of female investors over the past 50 years.
Led by Director of Investments, Laura Markley, and Director of Platform, Liz Doerr, NRV recently hosted "The Women in Private Investing" luncheon at The Steward School Bryan Innovation Lab in Richmond. The event celebrated women in private investing as well as the how’s and why’s angel, venture and private equity in the Commonwealth can be a smart, viable vehicle for wealth management and growth.
Attended by over 80 women, the group included high net worth investors, executives at Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, registered investment advisors, and other financial professionals.
Laura Markley welcomed the group with an overview of private investing – where it’s been, where it’s going, and why it’s important.
Liz Doerr then facilitated the first panel: Perspectives in Private Investing with representatives from across Virginia’s Capital Stack:
- Linda Warren: Venture Capital Investor & Former Vice President/Controller, Altria Group, Inc.
- Elizabeth Cabell Jennings: Independent Consultant, CFA, & Former Director of High Net Worth & Regional Institutional at Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley
- Karen Horn Welch: CFA & Director of Investments at Spider Management
Alison Sewell Bridges, Financial Adviser, Merrill Lynch & Founder/Owner, Shine Blowdry Bar led the discussion for the second panel on The 15% Club – Conversation Between Female Entrepreneurs which included:
- Rebecca Hough: Founder & CEO, Evatran
- Katherine Wintsch: Founder & CEO, The Mom Complex
Attendees deemed the event a success, and NRV would like to extend special thanks to our panelists and co-sponsors, The Steward School, Hirschler Fleisher and BDO with food and other items provided by female-led companies such as Lumi, Everyday Gourmet and Daily Jars.
If interested in participating or attending future events, please contact NRV.