Kirsten Green: A Leader in Venture Capital and Athletics

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Posted Nov 4, 2024

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Kirsten Green is a trailblazing figure in both venture capital and athletics. She's a pioneer in the male-dominated world of venture capital.

Green is the founder and managing partner of Forerunner Ventures, a venture capital firm she started in 2012. Her firm has invested in numerous successful startups, including Outdoor Voices and Warby Parker.

As a successful athlete, Green was a standout soccer player at Stanford University. She's still involved in the sport, often coaching and mentoring young players.

Kirsten Green's Career

Kirsten Green has had a long and successful tenure in athletics administration, with a background that spans over 16 years in the industry.

She graduated from Duke University in 1996 with a degree in mathematics, where she was a four-year student manager for the men's basketball program.

Green's experience in basketball operations began at the University of Michigan and Seton Hall University, where she worked for 10 seasons as the director of men's basketball operations.

Credit: youtube.com, Kirsten Green On Getting Ahead With Gut Instinct | Success With Moira Forbes | Forbes

At Harvard University, Green spent eight years as the director of men's basketball operations, overseeing the administrative aspects of the program, which won five Ivy League championships and reached the NCAA tournament four times.

She later became a pivotal member of the external operations team, serving as the point person for special events, and overseeing the department's yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX.

Investments

Kirsten Green has a notable investment in Pie, a social app that makes it easy for friends to connect in real life. She led the Series A funding round, which raised $11.5 million.

Andy Dunn, the founder of Pie, has a strong background in entrepreneurship, having co-founded the menswear brand Bonobos and served as CEO until its acquisition by Walmart in 2017. He has backed over 120 startups, including Warby Parker and Coinbase.

Kirsten Green's investment in Pie is significant, as it's her first investment in the company, and it's also her largest investment outside of her own companies. This shows her confidence in the app's potential to bring people together.

The funding round also included participation from other notable investors, such as Origin Ventures, Renegade Partners, and Twitter co-founder Ev Williams. Williams invested $5.3 million in Pie and played a major role in the company's product development.

Senior Associate Director of Athletics

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Kirsten Green will join Brown's executive leadership team as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Chief of Staff at the end of March.

Green will provide leadership over the executive operations of the Division of Athletics and Recreation, including the execution of the Division's strategic and operational plans.

She will also support Chancellor Samuel M. Mencoff '78 and Vice President for Athletics and Recreation M. Grace Calhoun '92, Ph.D. in maintaining strong relationships with coaches, staff, and diverse constituent groups.

Green will facilitate the completion of major projects and liaise with campus leaders on university-wide priorities.

She brings a wealth of experience to the role, having spent eight years as the director of men's basketball operations at Harvard University.

Green was responsible for overseeing all administrative aspects of the program, which won five Ivy League championships and reached the NCAA tournament four times.

As Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Chief of Staff, Green will be a key member of the executive leadership team at Brown.

Kirsten Green's Personality and Philosophy

Credit: youtube.com, Kirsten Green: The Biggest Challenges Scaling Both Teams and AUM | 20VC #912

Kirsten Green is someone with uncommon emotional depth, an open mind, and endless curiosity. This emotional depth and open-mindedness have been key to her success as an investor.

She's willing to reflect on herself and her strengths and weaknesses in a way that suggests an uncommon wisdom. This self-awareness is a valuable trait for anyone, whether in business or personal life.

Kirsten is naturally impatient, which can sometimes be a hindrance in her professional and personal relationships. She likes to move forward, get things done, and find solutions to problems quickly.

However, Kirsten's impatience also drives her to be proactive and take charge of situations. This can be an asset in business, where swift decision-making and action can be crucial.

Her patience, on the other hand, is something she's actively working on developing. Kirsten is learning to slow down, listen, and consider different perspectives before making a decision.

In her personal relationships, Kirsten is trying to cultivate patience and understanding. She's recognizing that sometimes, it's better to take a step back and let things unfold naturally, rather than rushing to a resolution.

Kirsten's willingness to reflect on her own personality and behaviors is a testament to her growth and self-awareness. By acknowledging her strengths and weaknesses, she's able to work on becoming a better version of herself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Forerunner Ventures based?

Forerunner Ventures is based in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2010, it's a venture capital firm led by Kirsten.

Colleen Boyer

Lead Assigning Editor

Colleen Boyer is a seasoned Assigning Editor with a keen eye for compelling storytelling. With a background in journalism and a passion for complex ideas, she has built a reputation for overseeing high-quality content across a range of subjects. Her expertise spans the realm of finance, with a particular focus on Investment Theory.