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Lisa is an investor and global entrepreneur with a penchant for tech and venture finance. She’s built seven companies, raised over $225M, introduced over $8 billion of VC into emerging markets, and has served as an adviser to four incubators, three VC funds, and 100+ SMEs.
Lisa has invested (angel + VC LP) in 76 early-stage companies (internet, medical device, software) and as a venture architect and advisor has planned, launched, and fixed businesses for VVIP, royalty, sovereign wealth and P/E funds, UHNWs, and Family Offices.
Resident in the Arabian Gulf first in 1994 and again from 2005, Lisa was a founding member of the Gulf Venture Capital Association, was Managing Director at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) first as COO of sovereign wealth fund Dubai International Capital and launch CEO of the MENA region’s first pan-Arab angel Investor’s Network (ABAN) across 18 nations and next at Gulf Finance House (GFH Capital) based in Bahrain. Lisa is a subject matter expert on Asia and Mid East economic development infrastructure and Offsets strategy and serves on the IAF’s Space Entrepreneurship and Investment Committee (SEIC).
Moving into impact investing 17 years ago from Dubai Lisa founded the Middle East’s pioneering STEM and Space workforce development, training and soft-power NGO, Arab Youth Venture Foundation (AYVF). AYVF’s engagement and imprint has spanned 5.1 million youth ages 6 to 26 across 112 nationalities. Notables include an historic NASA International Space Act Agreement, NASA Innovative Partnership (developer and funding source of the international internship model used by NASA to enhance tech transfer, cultural exchange and mission team diversity); Lockheed Martin Partner for Innovation Mid East; and Boeing International grantee for STEAM teacher training (A = Aerospace, Aviation, Astronomy, Aeronautics, the acronym coined first in the UAE) to bring more space education into classrooms, exponentially.
Lisa has been an Adjunct Professor of Asian Business and International Marketing Strategy and is a graduate of University of Hawaii Manoa (BA). She holds Master’s degrees from Thunderbird School of Global Management (MBA), Marlboro College (Emerson) (MSc), and Harvard University (ALM). Lisa Chairs the Advisory Board of Boston University’s Metropolitan College Global Marketing Management graduate program.