On 15th November 2025, we hosted another edition of Winpe’s PEVC Career Talk Series — this time diving into the theme “Charting Your Course: Lessons from Women Who’ve Redefined Success in PE/VC”

There were four breakout rooms, each led by three expert speakers. The rooms covered Private Equity, Early Growth, Late VC, Early-Stage VC, and Operating Roles.

Participants had the flexibility to move between breakout rooms throughout the session, allowing them to listen in on various discussions and gain a broad perspective from all the speakers.

Anchored in the theme Charting Your Course, the breakout conversations highlighted how Senior women across Private Equity, Early Growth- Late VC, Early-Stage VC, and Operating Roles carve distinct paths to success. The discussions surfaced practical advice on decision-making, leadership, value creation, and building durable careers in an evolving PE/VC landscape. The session saw 95% positive feedback from the attendees!

Catch the full recording here

Through sessions like these, Winpe continues its mission to empower women with the tools and perspective they need to enter and thrive in the ever-evolving culture of PEVC.

Key Highlights:

Operating Roles:

• Own your function — HR, Compliance, and Fundraising are strategic enablers, not back-end roles. Recognition comes from adding value, not seeking visibility.
• Understand the business deeply — knowing the investment lifecycle end-to-end builds credibility and positions you as a true partner to deal teams.
• Influence through solutions — bring alternatives, context, and judgment. Be seen as someone who helps get deals done while safeguarding the firm.
• Network with purpose — meaningful conversations, LinkedIn outreach, industry forums, and small peer groups all help build mentors and advocates.
• Create your own mentorship circle — seek seniors, peers, and cross-functional leaders; mentorship in operating roles is often informal and self-driven.
• Balance structure with judgment — say “no” when required, but always pair it with a practical, business-aligned path forward.
• Advice to women — be confident, be prepared, stay curious, invest in relationships, and build expertise that makes you indispensable.

Private Equity:

• Master the investment toolkit — sourcing, sector mapping, diligence, and financial modelling shape your credibility; excellence in these basics is what accelerates you.
• Build conviction the right way — ask sharper questions, test assumptions, and form independent perspectives. Strong investors balance intuition with evidence.
• Have a clear point of view — track sectors, write theses, and debate ideas. A differentiated POV shows partners how you think and strengthens your influence.
• Communicate for ICs — be crisp, structured, and transparent on risks. The way you present can often matter as much as what you present.
• Invest in your network — founders, bankers, operators, and other investors become long-term deal-flow enablers. Your network compounds into an edge.
• Learn the ‘art’ of investing — pattern recognition, timing, and deal instincts come from exposure, reflection, and staying curious about how businesses evolve.
• Advice to women — speak with confidence, ask tough questions, claim your space, and build relationships that recognise and amplify your strengths.

Early Growth - Late VC

• Combine analysis with intuition — Build conviction with rigorous financial modeling, but also rely on intuition, sector patterns, and founder signals. Numbers guide you; judgment closes the deal.
• Add real value — Go beyond capital: help founders with hiring, strategy, and execution gaps. Be hands-on without micromanaging. Your support builds trust and improves outcomes.
• Be patient but proactive — Navigate periods of uncertainty by giving founders space while remaining engaged. Use your network to provide timely strategic advice.
• Invest in the team, not just the idea — A founder’s vision matters, but execution ability, repeatable frameworks, and the right cap table are decisive.
• Earn internal credibility — Complete work accurately, anticipate next steps, and provide unbiased insights. Move from executor → thought partner → strategic contributor.
• Leverage mentors and networks — Observe leaders you respect. Mentorship can be formal or peer-based. It shapes judgment, leadership style, and career trajectory.
• Evolve your impact — Start with execution, then add value, influence strategy, and eventually shape the ecosystem. Become indispensable to founders, colleagues, and LPs alike.

Early-Stage VC

• Breaking in — No standard path. CFA/CA helps, but functional depth, sector expertise, and initiative matter more. Proactive outreach, research theses, or pro bono angel investing can open doors.
• Skills that matter — Building founder rapport, reading business models, spotting opportunities—financial modeling is secondary at the outset.
• Paths into VC — You can start in deals or functional roles (marketing, HR, ESG, strategy). Early-stage firms value domain knowledge and operational experience as much as deal execution.
• Decision-making — Early-stage bets = conviction in founders over models. Understanding team dynamics often predicts success better than numbers.
• Mentorship — Essential. Internal mentors guide deal execution, external mentors help strategic growth, network expansion, and career navigation.
• Continuous learning — Stay agile. Track trends, sector cycles, and emerging founders to spot opportunities.