8th Private Equity San Francisco Forum

October 7 – 8, 2025

Hosted At Julia Morgan Ballroom →

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The 8th Private Equity San Francisco Forum is the premier West Coast event designed to enhance financial and investment practices while fostering collaboration within the private equity community. 

Join us at the Private Equity San Francisco Event for an exclusive opportunity to engage with industry leaders and experts. The event features a keynote interview with Yann Robard, Founder and Managing Partner of Dawson Partners, on innovative secondaries strategies.  

Hear from Chief Investment Officers & Heads of Private Equity from the top LPs on the west coast as they discuss best practices for manager selection and due diligence.  

Panels will dive into capitalizing on high-growth tech sectors like AI and fintech, exploring effective fundraising strategies in a challenging market, and the CFO’s role in enhancing track record performance.  

Network with peers and gain actionable insights to navigate the evolving private equity landscape. Register Now!

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OUR SPEAKERS

Keynote Speakers

Rich Lawson

Rich Lawson

HGGC

Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Partner

Mr. Lawson is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of HGGC. Mr. Lawson has been involved in all phases of the firm’s development since its formation and directs the firm’s strategy and investment decisions, governance and investor relations. Since HGGC’s inception, Mr. Lawson has overseen over 700 completed transactions representing more than $80 billion in aggregate transaction value. Mr. Lawson also serves as a director, chairman emeritus or trustee on several philanthropic and cultural institutions including the Capital Impact Foundation, San Francisco Zoo, Wasatch Adaptive Sports and the Forever Young Foundation. Mr. Lawson received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and B.A. from Amherst College.

Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor

Investcorp

Vice Chairman, Chief Investment Officer

Rishi Kapoor is Investcorp’s Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer (CIO). He has been with the firm for over 30 years, having served as Investcorp’s Co-Chief Executive Officer from 2015 to 2024, and as Chief Financial Officer from 2003 to 2015. Rishi joined Investcorp in 1992 from Citigroup. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Rishi is a member of Duke University’s Middle East Regional Advisory Board, the Oxford Energy Policy Club, and His Majesty King Charles’ Sustainable Markets Initiative. Additionally, he sits on the Board of Directors for the National Bank of Bahrain, where he chairs the Risk & Compliance Committee. Rishi is a frequent speaker at industry events and conferences and has been recognized by Forbes Middle East as one of the top 10 Indian executives in the region. Top CEO Middle East also named him one of the top CEOs in the GCC in 2018.

Yann Robard

Yann Robard

Dawson Partners

Founder, Managing Partner

Yann Robard is Managing Partner of Dawson. Established in 2015, Dawson (formerly Whitehorse Liquidity Partners) is a leading global alternative asset manager focused on providing innovative structured solutions to the private markets. Dawson has US$20 billion of assets under management and over 200 employees. Since inception, the Firm has deployed over US$25 billion across more than 240 transactions. Prior to Dawson, Yann spent a cumulative 13 years at CPP Investment Board (“CPPIB”). Yann joined CPPIB in 2001 at the inception of its private equity investment program. He was Managing Director, Head of Secondaries and Co-Investments in 2015 when he left CPPIB to establish Dawson. Yann holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (“CFA”) Charterholder.

Adam Vigna

Adam Vigna

Sagard

Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer

Adam Vigna is co-founder & Chief Investment Officer of Sagard since 2016. As the firm’s CIO, Adam is actively involved in all investment decisions made across the platform and is responsible for Sagard’s overall investment activities, including investment strategy, governance, and portfolio construction. Adam also serves as Chief Investment Officer of Sagard Credit Partners. Adam is a member of the Management Committee and is currently a director of Peak Achievement Athletics. He is based in Toronto, Canada. Prior to Sagard, Adam spent nearly a decade at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPPIB”) where he was Managing Director and Global Head of CPPIB’s Principal Credit Investments Group (“PCI”) with approximately CA$20B of AUM. While at CPPIB, Adam was one of the founding members of CPPIB’s Principal Credit Investment Group and led CPPIB’s acquisition of Antares Capital in 2015. Adam holds a B.Comm. (Honours) degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

Laurence A. Tosi

Laurence A. Tosi

Westcap

Managing Partner & Founder

Over 25 years, L.T. has established a career as a distinctive operator, serial entrepreneur, and forward-looking investor. As an operator, L.T. has served in executive-level roles at leading, global institutions Airbnb (CFO, Head of Payments, Customer Experience & Corporate Development), Blackstone (CFO, Management and Risk Committee Member, Head of the Innovations Fund and Blackstone Treasury Solutions Fund), and Merrill Lynch (COO, CFO, Risk Committee, Head of Corp. Dev. and eCommerce).
As an entrepreneur, L.T. was a founding partner or early investor behind several tech-enabled, disruptive businesses across e-commerce, private markets technology and cyber-security. As a founder and investor, L.T. created industry changing platforms Ipreo, TMC Bonds, TheMarkets.com, iLevel and CNBC.com, and was an early investor in Addepar, Airbnb, Flip, FLYR, GoodLeap, Hopper, iCapital, Point, Skillz and StubHub. L.T. is the Managing Partner and Founder of WestCap, an operating equity investor in technology companies that he originally formed in 1997 as Weston Capital Partners, and now has $6B in assets under management and 38 portfolio companies.
 

Speakers

Ruulke Bagijn

Ruulke Bagijn

Carlyle | AlpInvest

Global Head

Ruulke Bagijn is Head of Global Investment Solutions (GIS) at Carlyle, overseeing Carlyle’s private equity asset management platform, AlpInvest, which specializes in primary and secondary fund investments, co-investments, and portfolio financings. With $80 billion in AUM (Q1 2024) and a global investor base, AlpInvest partners with leading institutions worldwide to deliver private capital solutions. Ruulke also serves as Chair of the AlpInvest Board and is a member of its Global Investment Committee, which directs investments across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. With 20+ years of experience, she previously held senior investment roles at AXA Investment Managers – Real Assets and PGGM. A CFA charterholder, she holds an MSc in Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Jim Donohue

Jim Donohue

Sacramento County Employees’ Retirement System (SCERS)

Deputy Chief Investment Officer

Jim Donohue joined SCERS as Deputy Chief Investment Officer in 2019 and is responsible for investment policies and strategy, supporting development of asset allocation and asset class structures, risk management framework, and oversight and selection of investment managers and service providers.
Previously, Jim served as the Private Equity Director for the American National Red Cross endowment and defined-benefit plans. Prior to the American National Red Cross, Jim was with Keyhaven Capital Partners, a European fund of funds and advisory firm located in the United Kingdom. Jim has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Utah, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College.
Eric Wei

Eric Wei

Advent International

Managing Director

Eric Wei joined Advent in 2011 and is a Managing Director in Palo Alto. He advises on growth equity and majority investments in the technology sector. Eric has advised on 22 investments during his career, 11 while at Advent.
Prior to joining Advent, Eric gained investing experience at Sageview Capital, Bain Capital, and Evercore Ventures. He began his career as a Strategy Consultant with Bain & Company.
He earned his BA, with distinction, from Stanford University and his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Prashant Mehrotra

Prashant Mehrotra

Clearlake Capital Group

Partner

Mr. Mehrotra joined Clearlake in 2010. Prior to joining Clearlake, he was a Principal at Silver Lake Partners, where he focused on investments in technology and technology enabled industries. Before that, Mr. Mehrotra was a Principal at Tennenbaum Capital Partners where he focused on special situations and credit investments. Prior to Tennenbaum, he worked in investment banking in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Group at Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Mr. Mehrotra currently serves on the Board of Directors of several Clearlake portfolio companies, including Alteryx, BeyondTrust, Cornerstone OnDemand, DigiCert, EagleView, Ivanti Software, Perforce, Precisely, Quest, RSA, symplr, and Zywave. He also serves on the board of the Association of Asian American Investment Managers (AAAIM) and serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at New Roads School in Los Angeles. Mr. Mehrotra graduated with a B.S. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University, where he was also a Mayfield Fellow, and he received his M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Paul Lanna

Paul Lanna

Coller Capital

Partner, Investment

Paul Lanna is a Partner at Coller Capital. He is responsible for origination and execution based in the United States. Prior to joining Coller Capital in 2010, Paul was a Vice President in the Investment Banking Group at EarlyBirdCapital in New York. Previously, he worked as an Associate in the TMT Investment Banking Group at Bear Stearns in New York. Paul has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Lafayette College, and an MBA from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.

Bala Ganesan

Bala Ganesan

Oaktree Capital Management

Managing Director

Mr. Ganesan is a Managing Director within Oaktree’s Private Equity Group and specializes in driving commercial and operational performance improvement initiatives, including full-scale turnarounds, collaboratively with management teams. Mr. Ganesan joined Oaktree in 2017 from Yum! Brands, where he was the Vice President of Operations. Prior thereto, Mr. Ganesan led Corporate & Business Strategy, commercial growth and turnaround initiatives for the Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Mattel, Inc. Mr. Ganesan was also an engagement manager with McKinsey & Company, where he served multiple Fortune 500 companies. Earlier in Mr. Ganesan’s career, he served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Singapore Armed Forces. Mr. Ganesan received an M.B.A. from INSEAD Business School, an M.Sc. with highest distinction, and B.Sc. summa cum laude in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Purdue University, respectively.

Spencer McLeod

Spencer McLeod

G Squared

Partner

Mr. McLeod joined G Squared in 2014 and was elevated to his current role as a Partner and Head of Research in 2015. Mr. McLeod is a member of both the G Squared Executive Team and the firm’s Investment Committee. Mr. McLeod has co-led a number of the firm's major investments, including Airbnb, Asana, Brex, Coursera, Databricks, JOKR, Linksquares, Lyft, Snap, Spotify, Toast, and Wiz, among others.
Prior to joining G Squared, Mr. McLeod worked at GSV Ventures and SuRo Capital, and spent time in the early part of his career with Merrill Lynch.
Mr. McLeod is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, where he studied Global Economics (ISF) with an emphasis on Business, Economics, and Political Economics / Theory.
Matt Hodan

Matt Hodan

Lexington Partners

Partner

Matt Hodan is a Partner on the Secondary team primarily focused on the origination, evaluation, and execution of secondary opportunities including partnership and GP-led transactions. Matt joined Lexington as an associate in 2011 from Y-Combinator, where he was an entrepreneur. Prior to that, he was an associate in private equity at Genstar Capital and an analyst in investment banking at J.P. Morgan. Matt graduated from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business with a BS in Finance.

Bobby Bassman

Bobby Bassman

AEA Investors

Co-Head of AEA Growth and Partner

Robert is Co-Head and Founding Partner of AEA Growth and a member of the AEA Growth Investment Committee. At AEA Growth, Robert co-leads the overall strategy and direction of the firm, in addition to leading deal teams focused on the sourcing, evaluation, and management of the Firm’s portfolio companies. Prior to AEA Growth, Robert was a Managing Director of Morgan Stanley and Founding Member of Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital, the firm’s $1Bn Growth Equity and Credit investment fund business. Robert served on four Morgan Stanley Private Equity fund investment committees. Previously, he was a member of Morgan Stanley Principal Investments and Morgan Stanley’s Special Situation Group. Robert joined Morgan Stanley as an analyst within the Investment Banking Division.

John Kettnich

John Kettnich

StepStone

Partner

Mr. Kettnich is a member of the private equity team, focusing on secondary investments. He is also involved in various portfolio management activities. Since StepStone’s inception, Mr. Kettnich has helped to build the Firm’s primary diligence and research platform, as well as its secondary investment business. He also spent time living in Beijing and London, where he focused on developing StepStone’s international business. Before joining StepStone in 2007, Mr. Kettnich was with PCG Capital Partners, the direct investment arm of Pacific Corporate Group, where he sourced and evaluated middle-market buyout and growth equity investments. Mr. Kettnich graduated summa cum laude with a BBA from the University of San Diego and is a CFA charterholder.

Mariia Eroshin

Mariia Eroshin

Certuity

Partner

Ms. Eroshin has over 20 years of experience working with ultra-high-net-worth families, foundations, endowments, family offices and attorneys.
Prior to joining Certuity, Ms. Eroshin held multiple leadership roles in family offices, including CEO, CFO, Head of Family Office, Director of Investment Research and Senior Portfolio Manager. In her family office roles, she oversaw leading teams, investments, clients, family office operations, finance and accounting, technology, venture capital, private equity, real estate, family business consulting, trust and estate, tax and philanthropy. Additionally, Ms. Eroshin has experience in multi-family wealth management, as well as foundations and endowments, advising attorneys, law partners, providing investment management and serving as OCIO.
Ms. Eroshin also served as Senior Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor at UBS Financial Services, where she created and led an ultra-high-net-worth family offices and foundations practice. Prior to UBS, she served as Director and Private Banker at Citi Private Bank, leading an ultra-high-net-worth team in wealth management, private banking, investments, philanthropy, wealth strategy and trust planning. Ms. Eroshin also served as the Senior Vice President and Private Client Advisor and previously Senior Portfolio Manager, at U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management. Before that, she was a Senior Auditor and CPA at Ernst & Young, specializing in private equity, venture capital and hedge fund audit and valuation in the Global Asset Management Group.
Ms. Eroshin earned an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude and is the first female to receive the prestigious Palmer Scholar recognition. She also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, a Bachelor of Accounting in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Ms. Eroshin is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder, licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®). She has taught alternative investments courses, specializing in family office and endowment due diligence of private equity, venture capital, hedge funds and real estate, as an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of San Francisco for more than 14 years.
Stephen Biggs, CFA, CAIA

Stephen Biggs, CFA, CAIA

The Mather Group

Managing Director, Head of Alternative Investments

As Managing Director, Head of Alternative Investments, Stephen applies his investment acumen and experience to assess and develop new investment offerings based on clients’ investment goals, risk tolerance, and retirement needs. He joined The Mather Group through the acquisition of HC Financial Advisors in August 2022, where he operated as the Chief Investment Officer and a Principal. Prior to HC Financial Advisors, he was a Senior Analyst of Zacks Investment Research, Senior Equity Analyst of Manning & Napier, and Principal of Wells Capital Management. Stephen earned his MS in Business and Finance and BS in Business and Management from San Diego State University. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst® designation, and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. Additionally, Stephen is Co-Chair of the Member Programming Advisory Council of the CFA Society of San Francisco.

Felix Lo

Felix Lo

Golden Gate Capital

Managing Director

Felix Lo is a Managing Director at Golden Gate Capital where he focuses on private equity investments in the Industrials sector.  He currently serves on the boards of Covia, Vantage, Brava Roof Tile, Iron Oak Energy, and Incora. He previously served on the boards of prior GGC investments, including DMC Power, Antylia Scientific, and Safety Technology Holdings.  Previously, Mr. Lo worked as an investment professional at Bain Capital and as a consultant at Bain & Company. Mr. Lo holds an AB in Public Policy from Brown University. Outside of work, he is an active volunteer at Brown, where he currently serves on the President's Advisory Council for Economics and as the co-chair of the Brown Annual Fund Leadership Council.
Kanu Gulati

Kanu Gulati

Khosla Ventures

Partner

Kanu is a Partner at Khosla Ventures where she invests in enterprise applications and infrastructure that leverage advances in AI, as well as robotics and autonomous systems. She has led, and helps manage investments in companies including PolyAI, Kognitos, Moonhub, Regie, Zendar, Nomagic and Waabi among others. Kanu has more than 10 years of operating experience as a research scientist at Intel and Cadence, and founding / early engineer Heavy.ai (hardware-accelerated analytics solution), Spyglass (predictive analytics for design, acquired by Synposys) and Nascentric (fast-circuit simulation tool, acquired by Cadence). She was awarded the Nvidia Graduate Fellowship for her work in hardware acceleration. Kanu has co-authored three books; authored 35+ peer-reviewed publications; and holds a US patent. She obtained a Ph.D. and master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Texas A&M University and a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Delhi. Kanu also earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, where she was co-president of the annual Venture Capital and Private Equity Conference.
Lara Banks

Lara Banks

Makena Capital

Managing Director, Head of Private Equity

Lara Banks, a Managing Director, is Head of Makena’s Private Equity team, responsible for day-to-day portfolio management and manager selection across private equity investments. Prior to joining Makena in 2012, Lara was an associate at GE Energy Financial Services, a financial division investing across the capital structure of energy assets. Before working at GE, Lara was a power markets analyst at DC Energy, a proprietary energy trading firm. Lara earned an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in Economics and Government, magna cum laude, from Cornell University.
Matt Barbabella

Matt Barbabella

Kayne Anderson

General Counsel

Matt Barbabella is the General Counsel of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P., responsible for overseeing the firm’s legal activities, including fund formation activities and firm-level strategic transactions. He is also a member of Kayne Anderson’s board of directors and the firm’s operating committee. Prior to joining Kayne Anderson in 2013, he was a transactional associate in the Los Angeles office of O’Melveny & Myers LLP. He holds a B.A. in Ethics, Politics & Economics from Yale College and a J.D. from Yale Law School.
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Key Discussion Topics

Maximizing Track Record Performance: The CFO’s Strategic Role in Private Equity 

This panel will explore the critical role the CFO plays in improving and communicating a firm’s track record performance. Panelists will discuss strategies for refining financial operations, leveraging data for performance insights, and navigating the challenges of valuation and exits, ultimately helping firms demonstrate consistent value creation and strengthen their competitive position in the market.

Exit Strategies in Private Equity: Adapting to Market Conditions and Maximizing Value 

The panel will explore how senior executives develop and implement exit strategies for private equity investments, focusing on tailored approaches for varying market conditions. Discussions will include key actions to prioritize in a strong market, strategic pivots in a flat market, and adjustments required during economic downturns. The panel will also cover best practices for preparing management teams for a successful exit, as well as the critical steps private equity firms must take to ensure a smooth and efficient transition, maximizing value for all stakeholders involved.

Selecting Private Equity Managers: Institutional Investors' Due Diligence Process and Best Practices 

This panel will provide an in-depth look at the institutional investor manager selection process for private equity, focusing on how large-scale investors—such as pension funds, endowments, and foundations—evaluate and choose private equity managers. Experts will discuss the critical components of due diligence, including the assessment of a manager's historical performance, investment strategy, operational infrastructure, and alignment with institutional goals

Global Trends in Private Equity Investments and Buyouts 

Experts will discuss how to navigate opportunities and challenges in key regions outside of the US, and emerging markets, while adapting to geopolitical shifts and evolving economic conditions. The panel will delve into the strategies driving successful buyouts, such as sector-specific targeting, operational improvements, and the growing role of sustainability and ESG factors. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how firms are deploying capital, structuring deals, and identifying value creation opportunities in a complex, interconnected global economy.

Capitalizing on Technology: Private Equity Strategies in High-Growth Sectors 

Panelists will explore the strategies used to identify and capitalize on opportunities in high-growth technology sectors, including software, fintech, and emerging tech such as AI and cybersecurity. Discussions will cover the unique challenges and rewards of investing in tech companies, including managing rapid innovation cycles, scaling businesses, and navigating regulatory landscapes. 

Driving Value Post-Acquisition: Strategies for Effective Portfolio Company Management 

This panel will focus on the critical strategies and best practices private equity managers employ to effectively manage portfolio companies after acquisition. Panelists will discuss how they work closely with management teams to implement operational improvements, drive revenue growth, and optimize financial performance, while also navigating challenges such as talent management, organizational restructuring, and integration. The conversation will explore how PE firms align their value creation plans with long-term strategic goals, foster innovation, and position portfolio companies for successful exits.

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