Leslie
DeBauge

Leslie’s journey is a perfect example of how skills developed in multiple arenas can lead to one’s dream job. After graduating from Harvard in 1992, she began her career as an M&A corporate finance analyst at Dillon Read before transitioning from banking to high-yield bonds. By the time she was 27, Leslie had risen to Managing Director at CIBC Oppenheimer. Using her financial experience and industry expertise, she began investing in technology companies and then discovered her passion for operations and building for scale.

Armed with as versatile a toolbelt as you’ll find on Wall Street, Leslie co-founded Kennedy Ventures, a boutique merchant bank investing in companies and advising management teams across asset classes. With subject matter expertise, including data science/machine learning, cybersecurity, digital media, telecom, fintech, proptech, edtech, and real estate, Leslie is impressively equipped to help female founders scale and accelerate value generation.