KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
GARY PARR
SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR AT APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT
PRIVATE EQUITY KEYNOTE
Mr. Parr is Senior Managing Director of Apollo Global Management. Apollo is a large Alternative Asset Manager with total assets under management of $670 billion. He joined on the Executive Committee with the three founders in 2016 and now his role includes leading major strategic initiatives and relationships with other global financial institutions, especially in Europe and Japan.
Previously, Mr. Parr was Deputy Chairman and on the board of directors of Lazard, LLC. He provided strategic advice to financial institutions worldwide for over 30 years. During the financial crisis, he advised on the restructuring of Lehman Brothers, the sale of Bear Stearns to JPMorgan, the U.S. Treasury led restructuring of Fannie Mae and Mitsubishi UFJ’s $9 billion investment in Morgan Stanley. In prior years; the IPO of the New York Stock Exchange, the creation of Zurich Financial, and GEICO sale to Berkshire Hathaway.
Prior to joining Lazard, Mr. Parr was with Morgan Stanley in numerous capacities. He was Chairman and Head of Global Financial Institutions, and earlier was Co-Head of the Global Mergers and Acquisitions Department. Prior to Morgan Stanley, Mr. Parr was with a group from First Boston that formed Wasserstein Perella, where he rose to be Co-President.
Mr. Parr has been active in many philanthropic organizations in the Arts and Education areas. He was Chairman of the New York Philharmonic for two terms from 2009 to 2015 and now serves as Chairman Emeritus. While acting as Chairman, he initiated negotiations with the city of Shanghai and the Shanghai Conservatory to develop a residency and partnership, the first for any western orchestra in China. The partnership continues successfully.
Mr. Parr also founded and is the Chairman of the Parr Center for Ethics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Parr Center is the organization that spans the entire University and also oversees the Parr Scholars Ethics Program. Additionally, the Parr Center organizes the National High School Ethics Bowl, which last year had over 4,000 students in the US, and hosts the National Championship at UNC.
Previously:
• The Morgan Library & Museum: Trustee
• Lincoln Center: Board member and Executive Committee
• Venetian Heritage: Chairman
• Berkeley Divinity School at Yale: Board member
• Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina: Board member
Recently, Mr. Parr has become involved in Shakespeare activities. He has been assisting the Royal Shakespeare Company with several initiatives, is the Presenter of the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival and sponsors the Kravis Shakespeare Teaching Award.
Mr. Parr graduated with honors, Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma, from the University of North Carolina and received his M.B.A. from Northwestern University. He was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of North Carolina in 2013.
gary Parr (Kellogg MBA ‘80), senior managing director, apollo global management
FRANCESCA CORNELLI
DEAN AT THE KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT; DONALD P. JACOBS CHAIR OF FINANCE
MODERATOR, PRIVATE EQUITY KEYNOTE
Francesca Cornelli is the dean of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and is also a professor of finance and holds the Donald P. Jacobs Chair of Finance.
Since joining Kellogg in 2019, Dean Cornelli has crystalized the school’s mission to shape empathetic, inclusive leaders who can operate globally, unite diverse perspectives and lead through rapid change and constant disruption.
Under Cornelli’s leadership, Kellogg has amplified its focus in areas of critical importance for business and society. She has helmed the expansion of Kellogg’s programming on sustainability, including the creation of new courses, scholarships and co-curriculars. She has brought the same focus to advancing Kellogg’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and equitable outcomes through numerous initiatives.
Cornelli has also increased Kellogg’s focus on preparing today’s leaders to operate effectively at the intersection of business, science, and technology. She spearheaded the creation of Kellogg’s MBAi Program, a joint degree between Kellogg and Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering, and led the expansion of Kellogg’s private equity focus.
A global educator, Cornelli has vast international experience and has taught at some of the top schools in the world, including the London School of Economics, the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, the New Economic School in Moscow, the Wharton School, and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Immediately prior to Kellogg, Cornelli was professor of finance and deputy dean at London Business School.
Cornelli is widely respected as an accomplished scholar and a leader in business education. Her research interests include corporate governance, private equity, privatization, bankruptcy, IPOs, and innovation policy. She has been an editor of the Review of Financial Studies, one of the top three finance journals, and previously served on the board of editors of the Review of Economic Studies and as an associate editor at the Journal of Finance.
Cornelli helped create and became a board member of AFFECT, a committee of the American Finance Association designed to promote the advancement of women academics in the field of finance. She serves on several boards, including Edizione, GSM Grosvenor Inc., Civic Consulting Alliance, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Francesca cornelli, Dean, kellogg school of management - private equity keynote Moderator
PRITI YOUSSEF CHOKSI
PARTNER AT NORWEST VENTURE PARTNERS
VENTURE CAPITAL KEYNOTE
Priti brings more than twenty years of corporate and business development experience to her role as a partner on Norwest’s consumer Internet team.
Prior to Norwest, Priti spent nine years at Facebook in executive roles in corporate development and business development, where she led M&A efforts for the company, negotiated key partnerships, and served as a strategic advisor to product leadership teams across Facebook.
Before her time at Facebook, Priti spent six years at Google in strategic partnership roles. As director of distribution partnerships, she led deals for Google applications such as Toolbar and Chrome and negotiated transformative search partnerships with companies such as Apple and Mozilla. Top-line revenue from these deals grew from $0 to $4 billion under her stewardship.
Earlier in her career, Priti earned her startup chops in strategy and management roles at two fast-growth companies, one of which was acquired by Inktomi in 2001 and the other went public in 1997.
Priti holds an MBA with honors from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in architecture and communications.
Priti Youssef Choksi (kellogg mba ‘03), Partner, Norwest venture partners
JEFFREY ESCHBACH
CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
MODERATOR, VENTURE CAPITAL KEYNOTE
JEFFREY ESCHBACH is an investor, entrepreneur, and professor with over 20 years of experience developing new businesses.
As a founder and CEO, he built and successfully exited Page Vault Inc., an award-winning tech company that transforms Internet content into evidence for legal cases. Page Vault is listed as an Inc. 5000 company and serves a majority of the Am Law 200 as customers.
Jeffrey also co-founded Chicago Early Growth Ventures, an investor network which targets early-stage deals across the country. In addition to financial returns, the group also seeks to develop the pool of active investors in the Chicago ecosystem by educating and introducing members to vetted deal opportunities. Over the past six years, the group has invested in more than 95 portfolio companies and attracted over 300 members.
Before entering the startup world, Jeffrey built a career leading tech R&D initiatives within international corporations, including Intel Japan and Motorola Research Labs. He directed novel tech ideas through the full product development life cycle, guiding proposals from concept-phase to fully deployed solutions. His leadership positions have spanned technical R&D, product management, and corporate strategy, with assignments across Asia, Latin America, and the US.
He is also a National Science Foundation Fellow and has earned 11 USPTO patents related to cloud computing for novel business applications. Jeffrey’s work has driven real-world innovations in the areas of context-aware communications, augmented reality platforms, and mission-critical wireless networks.
Within academia, Jeffrey serves as a Clinical Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship within the Kellogg School of Management, where he teaches on startup fundamentals and early-stage investing. He earned both his BS with distinction and MS in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. He later received his MBA with highest honors from the Kellogg School of Management.
jeffrey eschbach (KELLOGG MBA ‘13), clinical assistant professor, kellogg school of management - venture capital keynote moderator
venture capital: corporate ventures in the startup ecosystem
DAVID ALLRED
MANAGING DIRECTOR & SENIOR PARTNER AT BCG-X
Panel: Corporate Ventures in the Startup Ecosystem
David Allred is a Managing Director and Senior Partner with BCG – X and was the co-founder of BCG Digital Ventures (the predecessor to BCG-X), the firm’s digital and AI innovation and development business which partners with the world’s most influential corporations to invent, launch, and scale industry-changing digital products and businesses. David has extensive cross-industry experience, acting as the BCG digital leader in Tech, Media & Telecommunications (TMT), and Industrial Goods sectors and works extensively in Insurance and Health Care.
David Allred (Kellogg MBA ‘95), Managing Director & Senior partner, BCG-x
JON GUERSTER
PARTNER AT ACTIVATE CAPITAL
Panel: Corporate Ventures in the Startup Ecosystem
Jon is a partner at Activate Capital, a growth stage climate tech venture capital firm. He serves as board member for Activate’s investments in Tomorrow.io, Homee and Omnidian and as chairman of Therm Solutions, a carbon developer he co-founded in 2021. Earlier, Jon was a General Partner at CRV, following senior management roles at Hewlett Packard and JP Morgan. Jon earned his MBA at Kellogg and his Bachelor in Engineering degree from Duke University.
Jon Guerster (Kellogg mba ‘92), Partner, Activate Capital
MICHELLE SNYDER
PARTNER AT MCKESSON VENTURES
Panel: Corporate Ventures in the Startup Ecosystem
Michelle Snyder brings over two decades of healthcare industry experience in marketing, business development, policy, and general management. Prior to joining McKesson Ventures, she was Chief Marketing Officer at Welltok as well as an early executive at Epocrates, where she worked for over a decade to build the company into one of the most recognized brands among clinicians. Her MV investments include Atropos Health, CancerIQ, Galileo, Inbound Health, Reimagine Care, and RxVantage.
Michelle Snyder (Kellogg mba ‘96), Partner, McKesson Ventures
MARK FLEMING
PARTNER AT PASSBOOK VENTURES
Moderator Panel: Corporate Ventures in the Startup Ecosystem
Mark Fleming’s experience brings unique insights into the interplay between corporate venture capital and the startup ecosystem. As a key member of Ant Financial's Global Investments Team, Mark sourced fintech investments across the Europe, South East Asia, MENA, and Latin America, gaining firsthand experience in how corporate venture capital can drive innovation and strategic growth. His time at Alibaba Group further honed his understanding of how large corporations leverage venture investments to expand their global footprint and tap into emerging technologies. At Passbook’s Venture Studio, Mark now applies this knowledge to help startups navigate the complex landscape of corporate partnerships and investments. His experience spans both sides of the corporate venture equation, having evaluated early to mid-stage investments and worked with entrepreneurs to develop value-creation strategies. With an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a background that bridges corporate innovation and traditional venture capital, Mark offers a comprehensive perspective on how corporate venture arms are reshaping the startup landscape and complementing traditional VC models.
MARK FLEMING (Kellogg mba ‘16), Partner, PASSBOOK VENTURES - moderator
private equity: Evolving Private Equity Participation Strategies & Opportunities
ELIZABETH BROWNE
MANAGING DIRECTOR AT GCM GROSVENOR
Panel: Evolving Private Equity Participation Strategies & Opportunities
Ms. Browne is co-head of the Elevate strategy as part of the Sponsor Solutions Group. In addition, she works on various strategic investing initiatives across the firm. Prior to joining GCM Grosvenor, Ms. Browne worked at RedBird Capital Partners, where she focused on investing in family and founder-led businesses, including transaction sourcing, company-building, capital raising, and co-investments. Before joining RedBird, she was a senior member of the investment team and head of business development for DNS Capital, a prominent Midwest family office, where she focused on investing in venture and private equity transactions across a range of industries and sectors. Earlier in her career, she held roles at Goldman Sachs, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Ms. Browne earned a BA in Sociology with Great Distinction from McGill University and an MBA in Finance and International Business from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She sits on the Midwest steering committee for the Women's Association of Venture & Equity (WAVE); is a member of the Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN) and The Chicago Network; and founded the Chicago Women: Lift & Lead citywide interview series, in partnership with Chicago Scholars.
Elizabeth Browne (Kellogg mba ‘13), Managing Director, Sponsor Solutions and Co-Head of Elevate, GCM Grosvenor
MIGUEL CONZALO
PARTNER AND HEAD OF INVESTMENT STRATEGY AND RISK MANAGEMENT AT ADAMS STREET PARTNERS
Panel: Evolving Private Equity Participation Strategies & Opportunities
Miguel sets investment strategy and leads the firm’s risk management function while collaborating with investors to formulate strategies that leverage Adams Street’s global investment capabilities. He works closely with investors in the management of their portfolios, including the development and ongoing monitoring of their private market programs. He is actively involved in the portfolio construction and monitoring of our various fund of funds programs and separate accounts.
Previously, Miguel was Head of the Performance Analysis Group in the Asset Allocation/Currency Group of Brinson Partners where he oversaw the design and management of Brinson’s performance attribution and analytics systems.
Miguel is a member of Adams Street’s Executive Committee, Portfolio Construction Committee, New Product Committee, and Investment Pricing Committee, and Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. He is also a member of the CFA Society of Chicago and the CFA Institute, as well as a board member of the Institute for Private Capital.
Miguel Gonzalo (Kellogg Mba ‘01), partner, Adams Street Partners
ANTHONY SHONTZ
PARTNER AT PARTNERS GROUP
Panel: Evolving Private Equity Participation Strategies & Opportunities
Anthony Shontz is Head of Partners Group's Denver office, Head of the Private Equity Partnership Investments business unit, and a member of the PG USA Investment Committee, Private Equity Direct Co-Investments, extension secondaries and direct lead growth investments in Goods and Products Investment Committee, Private Equity Partnership Investments Committee, and Global Investment Committee. He has been with Partners Group since 2007 and has 22 years of industry experience, previously working at Pacific Private Capital and Prudential Capital Group. Anthony holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Brigham Young University, Utah, USA and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Illinois, USA.
Anthony Shontz (Kellogg mba ‘07), Partner, Partners Group
SAM SCARCELLO
PARTNER AT KIRKLAND & ELLIS
Moderator, Panel: Evolving Private Equity Participation Strategies & Opportunities
Sam is a corporate partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and his practice focuses on the formation, structuring, marketing and operation of private equity funds and their management companies. Sam represents fund sponsors in connection with fundraises ranging from first-time funds to multi-billion dollar offerings, spanning across a broad range of investment strategies. He has extensive experience advising fund sponsors on a variety of operational and management issues, including firm governance, compensation, succession planning, employment and separation arrangements and regulatory compliance. Sam has also counseled fund sponsors on spin outs, co-investments, alternative investment vehicles, restructurings and fund-related aspects of M&A transactions. Sam is a graduate of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and is admitted as a member of the Illinois bar.
SAM SCARCELLO, PARTNER, KIRKLAND & ELLIS - MODERATOR
Private EQuity: Value Creation: Avenues & Methods for Delivering Differentiated Impact
Darpan Kapadia
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT LS POWER
Panel: Value Creation: Avenues & Methods for Delivering Differentiated Impact
Darpan Kapadia is the Chief Operating Officer of LS Power and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee and Investment Committee, overseeing one of the largest power generation, transmission and energy infrastructure companies in the United States. Since its inception, LS Power has raised over $60 billion to construct, acquire and operate its projects, including utility-scale solar, wind, hydro, natural gas-fired and battery energy storage assets, and over 780 miles of high voltage transmission, with 350+ miles and multiple grid infrastructure projects currently under construction or development. LS Power actively invests in and scales businesses that are accelerating the energy transition, including electric vehicle charging, demand response, microgrids, renewable fuels, and waste to energy platforms.
Prior to his appointment as COO, Mr. Kapadia was Head of Strategy for the firm. He is also a member of the investment committees of Edge Principal Advisors, Verance Capital and Marmora Capital, three affiliated companies that invest across real estate, sports, media and alternative investments. Before joining LS Power in 2004, Mr. Kapadia was a Vice President at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in its Investment Management Division. Previously, Mr. Kapadia was a Senior Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he provided strategic and financial advisory services to corporations.
Mr. Kapadia received a B.A. in Economics with Phi Beta Kappa honors from the College of William and Mary and an M.B.A. with highest distinction from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Mr. Kapadia currently serves on the Board of Directors for electric vehicle charging company EVgo Inc., renewables and battery storage platform REV Renewables LLC, independent power producer Lightning Power LLC, and global risk management advisory firm K2 Integrity Inc. He is also Vice Chairman of the William and Mary Foundation Board of Trustees and a member of the Kellogg Private Equity Advisory Council. Additionally, Mr. Kapadia serves as a member of the Board of Leaders at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.
Darpan kapadia (kellogg mba ‘00), chief operating Officer, ls power
JOHN W. LIN, M.D.
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR AT TPG CAPITAL
Panel: Value Creation: Avenues & Methods for Delivering Differentiated Impact
John W. Lin, M.D., is an Operations Director with the Healthcare team at TPG Capital, one of the most experienced healthcare investment teams in private equity.
A former surgeon, John has more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience. Prior to TPG, John was the Global Strategy Leader for GE Healthcare, where he was responsible for leading strategic initiatives at the corporate and business unit levels, including capital allocation, profitable growth, and active portfolio management.
Prior to joining GE, John was a Partner at McKinsey & Company, where he was a leader in the Healthcare and Higher Education practices. Recognized as an expert on growth strategy and change leadership issues, John is a frequently-invited speaker at industry association and Board meetings, and has published articles in IN VIVO, The Wall Street Journal, and other business and professional publications.
John trained in general surgery at the John Hopkins Medical Institutions and has conducted research in gastrointestinal cancer and pancreatic embryology. He holds an M.D. degree from the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, as well as Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
John Lin, operations director, tpg capital
SARA WOOLBRIGHT
PRINCIPAL, PORTFOLIO RESOURCES AT THE VISTRIA GROUP
Panel: Value Creation: Avenues & Methods for Delivering Differentiated Impact
Sara Woolbright is currently a Portfolio Resources Principal at the Vistria Group and works with several of the firm's Knowledge and Learning Services portfolio companies. Prior to joining Vistria, Ms. Woolbright was the Director of eCommerce Sales at Learning Resources. Previously, Ms. Woolbright was also an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Co. focused on Marketing & Sales strategy and Digital & Analytics capability building within the consumer and retails sectors. Additionally, Ms. Woolbright worked on the Corporate Franchise Management team at the Walt Disney Company.
Ms. Woolbright received a B.S. in Economic Consulting and Public Policy from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Sara Woolbright (Kellogg mba ‘17), Principal, portfolio resources, Vistria Group
BRAD MARTIN
PARTNER AT BAIN & COMPANY
Moderator Panel: Value Creation: Avenues & Methods for Delivering Differentiated Impact
Bradford Martin is a member of the Private Equity, Consumer Products and Performance Improvement practices at Bain.
Bradford primarily advises clients in the consumer products and private equity industries with experience in healthcare, aerospace & defense, financial services and industrial goods.
He holds expertise across a broad range of capability areas, including zero-based budgeting, commercial due diligence, post-merger integration, operating model design, sustained cost transformation and growth strategy.
Bradford joined the firm in 2008 after earning an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia.
brad martin (kellogg mba ‘08), partner, bain & company - moderator
Venture Capital: what’s next for ai?
JOE DWYER
FOUNDING PARTNER AT MANIFOLD GROUP
Panel: What’s next for AI?
Joe Dwyer is an investor, technologist, and serial entrepreneur who has built, grown, invested in, and sold high-growth technology businesses over the past thirty years. He is a founding partner at Manifold Group, which invests in and incubates disruptive new technologies and business models. He also works with leading executives and investors to assess and support investments and acquisitions involving AI and similar disruptive technologies. Since 2011, he has taught entrepreneurship and technology disruption courses at the Kellogg School of Management. Joe holds an MBA with Distinction from the Kellogg School of Management, and a law degree Cum Laude, Order of the Coif, from the Northwestern University School of Law.
JOE DWYER (kellogg jdmba ‘08), FOUNDING PARTNER, MANIFOLD GROUP
ASHISH KAKRAN
PARTNER AT THOMVEST VENTURES
Panel: What’s next for AI?
Ashish is a Principal at Thomvest Ventures, a $750M venture capital firm, where he focuses on AI, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity. His investments include Cohere ($270m Series C), Harness ($85m Series C), Isovalent (acquired by Cisco in 2024), and Opaque Systems ($22m Series A) where he is a Board Observer. He has also made Seed/Series A investments in stealth startups at the intersection of generative AI and cloud computing. He runs a deep network of software builders, sales leaders, investors (including Kellogg VCs) and CXO buyers that he tries to make available to founders. He is a contributor to TechCrunch and VentureBeat. He has been quoted in leading publications commenting on industry trends and breaking news in Yahoo! Finance, TechCrunch, Crunchbase News, Network World, and CIO.com. He was Recognized as one of the "40 Under 40 Rising Stars in VC" by VCJournal in 2024 and named among "Rising Stars in VC" by Business Insider in 2023. He serves on the Advisory Board of Carnegie Mellon University Technical Entrepreneurship where he mentors technical founders interested in starting companies. Ashish has a BS in Computer Science from IIT and has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
Ashish Kakran (kellogg mba ‘18), Principal, Thomvest Ventures
KLEIDA MARTIRO
PARTNER AT GLASSWING VENTURES
Panel: What’s next for AI?
Kleida Martiro is a Partner at Glasswing Ventures with deep domain expertise in data science, entrepreneurship, and product management. At Glasswing, Kleida led the firm’s investments and serves on the Board of Directors of Retrocausal and Kusari. Her governance experience also includes Observer roles on the Boards of Inrupt, Black Kite, Labviva, Allure Security, Lambent, and ChaosSearch.
As the former Head of Data Science at SocialFlow (acquired by Piano), she led the machine learning efforts for the software platform, including its AI powered proprietary content classifier for automating editorial content categorization. Prior to SocialFlow, Kleida served on the Strategy and Analysis team at Digitas, part of Publicis Groupe, where she contributed to strategic initiatives for Bank of America. Kleida oversaw the utilization of new technology tools to enhance performance, including advanced analytics and the creation and implementation of digital content across social channels.
Kleida graduated cum laude from Mount Holyoke College with a BA in Economics, Mathematics, and Spanish and holds an MBA with honors from the Kellogg School of Management. She has been listed among Business Insider’s “41 Most Important VCs in Boston”, honored as a 2023 Rising Star by The Venture Capital Journal, and is a Boston Business Journal “40 Under 40” honoree. Currently, Kleida serves on the Steering Committee of the Boston Chapter of All Raise, committed to amplifying the success of women in the tech and venture ecosystems.
Kleida Martiro (kellogg mba ‘19), Partner, Glasswing Ventures
LIZ PAISNER
ASSOCIATE AT COOLEY
Moderator Panel: What’s next for AI?
Liz is an associate in Cooley’s technology transactions group, where she assists and advises clients in a wide range of industries and at all stages of their life cycles with their commercial, technology and IP strategy and transactions. She has experience drafting commercial, intellectual property and technology license agreements and advising on various commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property licensing, technology development agreements and strategic investments. Liz’s industry experience includes financial services and fintech, blockchain and cryptocurrency, retail and consumer products, celebrity and sports licensing, hardware, software, and artificial intelligence.
LIZ PAISNER, ASSOCIATE, cooley - moderator
Private Capital's Role in Pushing Defense Sector Innovation
DARREN FARBER
MANAGING PARTNER AT ALBION RIVER
Panel: The Critical Yet Sisyphean Struggle: Private Capital's Role in Pushing Defense Innovation
Darren Farber is a Managing Partner of Albion River LLC (“Albion”) a private
direct investment firm focused on acquiring companies that produce highly
technical Defense Products & Services. Prior to Albion, Mr. Farber was a cofounder of NAWAH LLC, a Pritzker Organization company specializing in Middle East third party logistics. NAWAH was sold to Hutchinson Ports, a division of Hutchinson Whampoa Limited.
Prior to NAWAH, Mr. Farber served as a special advisor to the Deputy Under
Secretary of Defense - Business Transformation and Director – Task Force for
Business and Stability Operations at the U.S. Department of Defense. In this
capacity, Mr. Farber led efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan to redefine contracting
doctrine with the goal of decreasing Host Nation unemployment. These efforts
were recounted in “War Front to Store Front: Americans Rebuilding Trust and
Hope in Nations Under Fire” - Brinkley A., Paul: Wiley & Sons, 2014.
Mr. Farber is the Chairman of Magpul Industries and Maytag Aircraft Corporation,
and a board member of MDA Inc (TSX: MDA). He was previously a board member of Sparton (formerly NYSE: SPA) and American Pacific (formerly NASDAQ: APFC). Mr. Farber started his career at Northern Telecom as an operations engineer and held senior product and operations roles at Celestica (NYSE: CLS).
DARREN FARBER, MANAGING PARTNER, ALBION RIVER
GUY FILIPPELLI
MANAGING PARTNER AT SQUADRA VENTURES
Panel: The Critical Yet Sisyphean Struggle: Private Capital's Role in Pushing Defense Innovation
Guy Filippelli is the Managing Partner of Squadra Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that makes concentrated, lead investments into early-stage companies in the National Security and Cybersecurity markets. He was previously founder and CEO of RedOwl Analytics and Berico Technologies.
He began his career as a US Army intelligence officer, serving in Korea, Italy, Germany, and Afghanistan, and at NSA where he served as a Special Assistant to the Director, and led a highly successful project in Baghdad. In 2007, Guy received the National Intelligence Medallion, the nation’s highest award for civilian personnel, for his efforts to bring real-time targeting capabilities to our tactical forces.
He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, and received his B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University, where he studied as a Marshall Scholar. He is Chairman of the Commit Foundation, a non-profit focused on veteran transition, and also serves on the boards of the National Cryptologic Foundation and the University of Maryland’s BioPark.
He is a proud husband and father, is passionate about making an impact in Baltimore and beyond, and enjoys making time for cooking, Italian genealogy, and golf.
Guy Filippelli, Managing partner, Squadra Ventures
BRIAN MACCARTHY
MANAGING PARTNER AT BOOZ ALLEN VENTURES
Panel: The Critical Yet Sisyphean Struggle: Private Capital's Role in Pushing Defense Innovation
Brian MacCarthy is the tech exploration lead for Booz Allen Ventures, Booz Allen's corporate venture capital fund. In addition to building The Helix, Booz Allen's Center for Innovation, he leads tech scouting teams in San Francisco, Austin, and Washington, DC, focused on finding and vetting non-traditional venture-backed startups and helping those companies gain adoption in the federal government.
Brian is also managing partner for our $100 million Venture Capital Fund, which invests in dual-use startups across artificial intelligence (AI), cyber, defense tech, and deep tech. Brian’s mission-driven leadership bridges the gap between the venture-backed startup and commercial ecosystem and the nation’s most pressing defense and national security challenges.
Brian has 20 years of experience in commercial and government consulting, including in healthcare, e-commerce, defense, and national security. Before leading Booz Allen Ventures, Brian launched our tech scouting practice. Under his leadership, it has become an instrumental approach to solving Department of Defense mission challenges while providing critical research and recommendations to inform Booz Allen’s broader strategic priorities.
Brian also built Booz Allen’s hackathon strategy, including organizing and leading the world’s largest DOD hackathon, the U.S. Navy’s HACKtheMACHINE digital experience. In 2017, HACKtheMACHINE won the Secretary of the Navy Award for Innovation Catalyst.
Before joining Booz Allen, Brian led sales organizations in New York and Washington, DC, focused on software, hardware, and telecom implementations.
A vocal advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Brian has served on Booz Allen’s DEI Executive Council since its inception and is executive sponsor of our Global Disabilities Business Resource Group. For more than 35 years, Brian has worked to help patients afflicted by cystic fibrosis, raising funds for a cure, and serving as a national spokesperson for the disease.
Brian earned his B.A. in communications and journalism from James Madison University.
Brian maccarthy, Managing partner, booz allen ventures
GENERAL (RETIRED) JIM MCCONVILLE
OPERATING PARTNER AT AE INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS
Panel: The Critical Yet Sisyphean Struggle: Private Capital's Role in Pushing Defense Innovation
General (RET) Jim McConville was the 40th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, leading an organization of 1.2 million personnel, an annual budget of 185 billion dollars and operations in over 140 countries around the globe. Jim led combat organizations from the platoon to the division level and was the longest serving commander of the famed 101st Airborne Division (AASLT).
Jim is an Operating Partner for AE Industrial Partners, a National Security and Aerospace Private Equity firm, and a Board Director for three of their portfolio companies. He is a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center at Harvard University and a member of the Georgia Tech Research Institute External Advisory Council.
A native of Quincy, Massachusetts, Jim earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech and was a 2002 National Security Fellow at Harvard University.
He is a 2024 Distinguished Graduate of the United States Military Academy and a 2024 member of the Army Aviation Hall of Fame.
He is married and has three children and a son-in-law who all currently serve in the U.S. Army.
GenERAL (retired) Jim McConville, Operating partner, AE Industrial Partners
THOMAS MCDONOUGH
MANAGING PARTNER AT TJM CAPITAL PARTNERS
Moderator Panel: The Critical Yet Sisyphean Struggle: Private Capital's Role in Pushing Defense Innovation
· Adjunct Professor of Law at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law since 2017, with a focus on Private Equity
· Serves as Managing Partner of TJM Capital Partners, which he Founded in 2008
· Currently serves as Chairman of each of TJM’s 14 portfolio companies
· Previously served as President of CES Companies and Chief Executive Officer of AWTP
· Founded the M&A Group at BMO Capital Markets in Chicago; Associate in the M&A group at First Boston
· Earned his B.A. in History, and JD/MBA from Northwestern University