Ariel Alternatives’ Post

We’re excited to share the Project Black story with you. Swipe to learn more. https://lnkd.in/eS6kBC3E #ShareAriel #alternativeinvestments #privateequity

Ariel Alternatives Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Leslie A. Brun spoke at this year’s SALT iConnections conference, highlighting the importance of inclusive investing and the mission behind #ProjectBlack. Many thanks to co-panelist Roy Swan of the Ford Foundation, Greg Shell of Goldman Sachs and Taffi Ayodele of the Office of the New York City Comptroller Comptroller as well as moderator Dr.Mekala Krishnan of McKinsey & Company. #ShareAriel   

Ariel Alternatives Chief of Staff Nikki Stokes Thompson joined a panel hosted by Silicon Valley Bank, discussing the current state and future of the innovation and buyout economy. She spoke to the unique challenges facing minority-owned businesses and how funds like #ProjectBlack can support their growth. Many thanks to co-panelists Wemimo Abbey of Esusu, Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital, and Renae Griffin of GCM Grosvenor for the fruitful conversation, as well as SVB’s Tosh E. for moderating.   #ShareAriel 

We are delighted to welcome three new teammates to Ariel Alternatives, where they will be evaluating new investment opportunities and managing existing portfolio companies as a part of the investment team.    * Senior Associate Herb Belton III, a proud alum of Howard University, brings investment experience from JP Morgan, Stellax Capital Management and AltFinance, where he worked to offer HBCU students a pipeline to careers in the alternative investment industry.   * Senior Associate Mallet Njonkem, an alum of Yale University, brings investment and private equity experience from Kohlberg & Company, Thomas H. Lee Partners and UBS. * Analyst Rohan Mathur, an alum of University of Chicago, is returning from his summer internship experience at the firm. He will support the investment team with deal sourcing, execution, and portfolio management. 

We were pleased to have Ariel Alternatives Founder and CEO Leslie A. Brun speak at this year’s Forbes Iconoclast Summit about #ProjectBlack’s investment thesis and the future of private equity.   Many thanks to Les’s co-panelist Tracy B. of Kanbrick and moderator Moira Forbes of ForbesWomen.   Watch the panel here: https://lnkd.in/gMfeiCTJ   #ShareAriel

As #DisabilityPrideMonth comes to a close, we are pleased to share that #ProjectBlack portfolio company Sorenson Communications has been recognized as a top-scoring company on the Disability:IN 2024 Disability Equality Index for the second year in a row! CEO Jorge Rodriguez shared, “This award recognizes our leadership in employee engagement, inclusion policies, and our work to engender a rich, diverse, and inclusive corporate culture. This work is an ongoing effort, and is at the heart of our mission of accessibility." Read more about the recognition here: https://lnkd.in/dmgs5_YT #ShareAriel

Yue Bonnet, our Senior Managing Director and Head of Investments, took the stage at this year’s Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Summer Compass Conference in Hyannis Port, MA. Joined by co-panelists Bharath Srikrishnan of BharCap Partners, Aaron Maeng of American Securities and Aron Betru of Trident, Yue participated in a conversation around private equity value creation, the edge that DEI can bring to the industry and how portfolio companies like Sorenson Communications are utilizing AI.   Many thanks to Alexander Abell of RCP Advisors for moderating! #ShareAriel