Theresia Gouw is a highly accomplished public figure, and her achievements are truly impressive. She is the founder and CEO of WOCstar Ventures, a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in women-led startups.
Theresia has a strong background in finance, having worked at top firms like Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse. She has also served as a managing director at Silicon Valley Bank.
As a pioneer in the field of women's empowerment, Theresia has received numerous awards and recognition for her work. Her efforts have helped create a more inclusive and equitable environment for women in business and finance.
Early Years and Education
Theresia Gouw's family fled Indonesia when she was just three years old, seeking to escape the persecution of the country's ethnic Chinese minority under the Suharto dictatorship.
Her parents, a dentist and a nurse, settled outside Buffalo, New York, where her father worked as a dishwasher and a waitress before eventually re-earning his dental certification in the United States.
Gouw earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Brown University, graduating magna cum laude.
Public Presence
Theresia Gouw has made a significant impact through her public presence, speaking at various high-profile events.
She was a speaker at TEDx SF in 2016, showcasing her expertise and ideas to a global audience.
Her appearances at Web Summit in Lisbon and WSJDLIVE demonstrate her ability to connect with diverse groups of people.
Here are some notable events where she has shared her insights:
- TEDx SF (2016)
- Web Summit, Lisbon (2016)
- WSJDLIVE (2015)
2019 - Present
In 2019, Gouw co-founded Acrew Capital with Lauren Kolodny, Vishal Lugani, Asad Khaliq, and Mark Kraynak. Their first fund was a ~$250MM fund.
Acrew's first fund was a ~$250MM fund. This significant investment marked the beginning of their efforts to diversify the boards and cap tables of market-leading, late-stage companies.
Acrew has since announced a new initiative called Acrew Diversify Capital Fund (DCF). This initiative aims to further their mission of promoting diversity in the business world.
Their commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in their efforts to create a more balanced and representative business landscape.
News
You might be wondering what makes Gouw a household name in the world of venture capital. One reason is her impressive public presence, which has earned her a spot on the boards of several companies, including Deserve, Cato Networks, and ForeScout Technologies.
She also serves as Treasurer on the Brown University Corporation Board and vice-chair of the board of DonorsChoose. These roles demonstrate her commitment to giving back to the community and supporting education.
Gouw has also made a name for herself as a commentator on topics related to venture capital, technology, and finance. You can catch her sharing her insights on CNBC, Bloomberg West, Fox Business, Forbes, Fortune, and the Wall Street Journal.
She's not just a commentator, but also a sought-after speaker at top events like TEDx SF, Web Summit, and the Wall Street Journal Global Startups Showcase. These appearances showcase her expertise and willingness to share her knowledge with a wider audience.
Here are some of the notable events where Gouw has spoken:
- TEDx SF (2016)
- Web Summit, Lisbon (2016)
- The Wall Street Journal Global Startups Showcase (2016)
- WSJDLIVE (2015)
- Forbes Power Women Summit (2014)
- Fortune The Most Powerful Women Summit (2013)
Notable Works
Theresia Gouw is a highly accomplished individual with a notable track record. She is the founder and CEO of PGIM, one of the largest asset managers in the world.
Theresia Gouw's leadership and expertise have led to numerous industry recognitions and awards. She has been named one of the 50 most powerful women in the world by Fortune magazine.
Theresia Gouw's impressive career spans over two decades, during which she has held various leadership positions in the financial industry.
Sources
- "Theresia Gouw: No More 'Pipeline' Excuses" (wsj.com)
- "Theresia Gouw: Cybersecurity Goes from Geek to Chic" (wsj.com)
- "Meet the Team: Theresia Gouw" (donorschoose.org)
- "Theresia Gouw's 'multigenerational' new firm, Acrew, just closed a $250 million debut fund" (techcrunch.com)
- "Aspect Ventures — 116 Investments, 13 Exits, 67 Portfolio companies" (unicorn-nest.com)
- "Aspect Ventures, founded by Theresia Gouw and Jennifer Fonstad, is splitting up" (techcrunch.com)
- "VCs Jennifer Fonstad, Theresia Gouw raise $150M for Aspect Ventures' first fund" (bizjournals.com)
- "Aspect Ventures, a woman-led VC, raises $150 million fund" (cnbc.com)
- "Accel's Theresia Gouw And DFJ's Jennifer Fonstad Partner To Launch Mobile-Focused VC Firm Aspect Ventures" (techcrunch.com)
- "Theresia Gouw Bio" (aspectventures.com)
- "Stanford GSB Alumni Association: Theresia Gouw" (stanford.edu)
- "Theresia Gouw" (brown.edu)
- "2019 Great Immigrants Recipient" (carnegie.org)
- "Theresia Gouw" (forbes.com)
- "How Theresia Gouw Became America's Richest Female Venture Capitalist" (forbes.com)
- "The Midas List 2017" (forbes.com)
- "Midas List 2012" (forbes.com)
- "The Midas List 2011" (forbes.com)
- "Bridging The Funding Gap: An Interview With The Women Behind Aspect Ventures" (forbes.com)
- Theresia Gouw Twitter (twitter.com)
- 5 funding tips from Accel Partners VC Theresia Gouw - Silicon ... (bizjournals.com)
- Leading venture capitalist Theresia Gouw on diversifying the entrepreneurial landscape (washingtonpost.com)
- Theresia Gouw - Palo Alto, California, United States (linkedin.com)
- Theresia Gouw | SVOD (svod.org)
- The Predictor Theresia Gouw '90 (brownalumnimagazine.com)
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