About WoMAN
A network born from a gap in the room
WoMAN was founded by women who noticed they were often the only one — or one of very few — in the room. We built the room we wanted to be in.
Photo of the founding team
Our Story
How WoMAN started
What began as informal gatherings grew into a structured network with chapters across the Midwest.
Purpose
Our Mission & Vision
Our Mission
To build an authentic peer community where women in alternative investments access the relationships, knowledge, and opportunities they need to thrive.
Our Vision
A Midwest where women hold proportional seats at the table in alternative investments — as GPs, LPs, fund managers, and board members.
Leadership
Meet the Founders
WoMAN was launched through the vision and commitment of three Midwest alternatives professionals.
Sarah Mitchell
Managing Director
Lakefront Capital Partners
Sarah has 18 years of experience in private equity across the Midwest. She co-founded WoMAN after noticing a persistent gap in senior women representation at industry events.
Dr. Priya Nair
Partner
Great Plains Ventures
Priya leads venture investing in healthcare and life sciences. She built the WoMAN peer learning curriculum and chairs the annual conference committee.
Jennifer Kowalski
Chief Investment Officer
Rust Belt Endowment
Jennifer oversees a $4B alternatives portfolio and brings an LP perspective to WoMAN's programming. She championed the deal flow working group.
Supported By
Our Founding Organizations
WoMAN was made possible through the leadership, collaboration, and support of Akram & Associates, Apex Group, and Houlihan Capital. Together, these firms are helping create opportunities for women throughout the Midwest alternatives community.
Building for the Future
Looking Ahead
As WoMAN grows, our vision is to develop a sustainable, member-supported professional community offering networking opportunities, educational programming, and collaboration across the Midwest alternatives industry.
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