Carol Kretschmann

Women: Key Players in High-Growth Investment Strategies

Chris Ailman, Carol Kretschmann

Despite women comprising over 60% of U.S. PhDs, they remain critically underrepresented in venture capital and private equity, with less than 5% of fund capital flowing to female-led companies. Institutional leaders like CalSTRS are leveraging $200 billion in assets to enforce structural reforms, including "Rooney Rule" style hiring mandates and diversity-linked compensation, while investors are urged to demand representation during due diligence. Panelists conclude that overcoming deep-seated bias requires shifting from voluntary pipeline initiatives to enforced accountability through shareholder voting, diverse sourcing, and the transfer of wealth toward female consumers.