Yale School of Management - Alumni Leaders - Wendee Wolfson Kanarek '84

"The underlying premise of Yale SOM, the overlap of the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, has proven true in my life. Although I have always worked in private sector financial companies, I have spent much time on boards of nonprofits trying to bring the same financial rigor to bear on the management of these organizations. Furthermore, the curricular emphasis at Yale SOM on the importance of understanding and managing group behavior, has been critical to me in understanding the dynamics and trying to be effective on both the private company and nonprofit boards on which I serve."

Ms. Kanarek, is a principal at Wealthbridge Partners, a specialized consulting firm, creating family wealth education programs for financial institutions and individual families. Wealthbridge Partners helps families improve knowledge around leadership transitions, legacy planning, family communications, and financial fluency. Prior to joining Wealthbridge, Ms. Kanarek was involved in venture capital investing in early stage businesses as part of the management team of two organizations which she co-founded, Women’s Growth Capital Fund, one of the very few venture capital funds in the country which invested exclusively in women entrepreneurs, and WomenAngels.net, the country’s first professionally managed, pooled fund of active women angel investors. She has served on the board or as board advisor to several portfolio companies.

Ms. Kanarek previously worked in financial institutions, including Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co., where she managed the credit relationships with several closely or private-held domestic corporations, and Shearson/American Express and Shawmut Bank, at both of which she dealt with municipal securities offerings.

Ms. Kanarek received a BA in French Literature from Brandeis University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. In addition to her professional activities, Ms. Kanarek has been on the boards of Young Audiences of DC, the Shakespeare Theatre (DC), and most recently served on the board of trustees of Georgetown Day School, including a term as chair of the finance committee.

Blending her experiences guiding small business and her board roles with arts and education organizations, Ms. Kanarek has begun consulting to non-profit organizations. Recent engagements include assisting the board and senior management of a DC-based international development organization, with the creation of a strategic plan for the next phase of growth, and helping a DC- based national hunger organization with a plan to refine their role and more effectively execute their mission.