Female Founders & Funders

On September 25, Winston & Strawn hosted its inaugural Female Founders and Funders event at our New York office, bringing together leading female entrepreneurs and influential investors for an afternoon of dynamic discussions on innovation, leadership, and the evolving role of women in private equity.

The event opened with a fireside chat led by Winston’s Managing Partner of External Affairs, Eva Davis, alongside Marilyn Adler of Mizzen Capital, Saba Ahmad of Turning Rock Partners, Irina Krasik of Stellex Capital Management, and Alexis Rathborne of Trident. The panel engaged in a lively conversation on key trends, opportunities, and challenges impacting the private equity industry.

Following the fireside chat, Winston Partner Sara Susnjar moderated a conversation with Julissa Reynoso, a Winston Partner and former U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra. Julissa shared her perspective on navigating leadership roles in diverse markets, offering invaluable insights from her distinguished career, including from perspective from her various roles in the White House.

A highlight of the event was a keynote conversation with renowned entrepreneur and make-up artist Bobbi Brown, founder of Jones Road Beauty, moderated by Winston Partner Jennifer Kurtis. Brown provided a deep dive into her extensive career as a serial entrepreneur, sharing lessons learned and emphasizing the critical need to support female founders to drive innovation.

The event concluded with an engaging panel featuring Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell, Co-founders and Co-CEOs of FunkkOFF! and recent Shark Tank alums. Moderated by Winston Partner Lilli Scalettar, the FunkkOFF! duo offered an inside look at their entrepreneurial journey and the strategies that have fueled their success in a highly competitive startup landscape.  

The Female Founders and Funders event was a powerful platform for thought leadership and collaboration, underscoring Winston & Strawn’s continued commitment to advancing women in private equity and entrepreneurship. Winston Partner Jennifer Kurtis remarked, “Winston is proud to showcase our commitment to women in all areas of the private equity universe. We thank our esteemed panelists and guests for making this event a success and look forward to making this an annual event going forward.”