Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN) Names Industry Veteran Emily Mendell as Next Executive Director

Organization continues to deepen engagement and expand influence on behalf of its 1000+ members worldwide

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Private Equity Women Investor Network (“PEWIN”), the pre-eminent organization for senior-level women investment professionals in private equity, today named Emily Mendell as its next Executive Director. Ms. Mendell will be responsible for leading the organization's day-to-day operations, while also guiding its long-term strategic direction for the benefit of its members.

Ms. Mendell brings to PEWIN three decades of leadership within the venture capital and private equity ecosystems. Specifically, she possesses deep experience in advocating for general and limited partners on a global basis. She has previously served in leadership positions at two of the private equity and venture capital industries' venerable trade associations: the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and the Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA). She also served as Head of Communications for Polaris Partners. Most recently, she was Director of Marketing and Communications at CenterSquare Investment Management, a global real estate investment firm. Ms. Mendell received her Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Mendell succeeds Kirsty McGuire who served as PEWIN’s first executive director from 2021 until 2023 and remains active within the organization.

“Emily’s experience within our industry is only rivaled by her passion for our organization, its mission, and our members,” said Dana Johns, Board Chair of PEWIN. “She is a proven leader, a seasoned communicator, and an effective relationship builder. We are thrilled to have her in this role and look forward to her contributions to our collective success. This work could not be any more important, especially as women continue to make strides in terms of senior representation in private equity. We could not be more excited for Emily to help unify senior women leaders across the industry.”

As an organization, PEWIN is at the precipice of exponential growth and opportunity. Membership has grown to over 1,000 senior women leaders spanning 30+ countries across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, while advancing critical initiatives including:

• Pinklight Programs, a platform that offers resources, expertise, and support to help members launch their own firms and gain insight into the fundraising process.
• The PEWIN Foundation, which leverages the philanthropic power of women in private equity to advance gender equality and illuminate the impact of diversity across the financial services industry.
• Toigo RISE, a partnership with Toigo that helps women with five to ten years of experience in finance grow and advance in their careers through various initiatives, including meaningful engagement with PEWIN members.

“As senior women leaders, PEWIN members continue to make their mark within the VC and PE industries,” said Kelly Williams, Founding Chair of PEWIN. “We are ever expanding in numbers and influence, and we are committed to bringing the value of our network to even more stakeholders in more ways over the next decade.”

“Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of working alongside many remarkable women whose contributions to the private equity and venture capital industries have been monumental,” said Ms. Mendell. “I am thrilled for the opportunity to advance the cause, raise the profile, and increase the impact of an organization committed to empowering these leaders. We have come so far over the last decade, and there remains so much important work to do. I am looking forward to partnering with PEWIN’s founders, leaders, and members in this next phase of growth.”

About Private Equity Women Investor Network

Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN) is the pre-eminent organization for senior-level women investment professionals in private equity. PEWIN provides members opportunities to network, share ideas, make deep connections with peers, and empower each other to succeed. PEWIN’s mission is to increase the profile of women in private equity, and its members represent institutions with over $3 trillion in assets under management (AUM). All PEWIN members are in decision-making roles at their organizations and include Managing Director or Partner level professionals, Chief Investment Officers, Senior Portfolio Managers, or similar levels of responsibility. To learn more, please visit https://www.pewin.org/.