SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Venture Forward, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in venture capital (VC), today announces the appointment of two new directors to its board: Candice Morgan, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Partner at GV, and Ellie Wheeler, Partner at Greycroft.
“Candice and Ellie bring unique industry perspectives to accelerate our organization’s mission. I look forward to working with them, as well as the full board, to ensure the industry maintains its commitment and momentum towards driving meaningful DEI change that has the potential to unlock even greater returns, impact, and innovation,” said Maryam Haque, Executive Director of Venture Forward.
Candice Morgan joined GV as partner and head of the equity, diversity, and inclusion practice in early 2020, focused on creating inclusive strategies for GV and its portfolio companies. Prior to joining GV, she was the first head of inclusion and diversity at Pinterest in 2016 and a management consulting director at Catalyst in New York and Zürich.
“Venture Forward is bringing together a committed set of firms to enable access for the most innovative, iconic new investors and companies of the coming decades,” said Morgan.
Ellie Wheeler joined Greycroft in New York in 2011 and leads the health tech team, investing across consumer and enterprise models within the sector. She previously held positions at Lowercase Capital, Cisco, and Summit Partners.
“A broader range of perspectives and experiences in venture is essential to ensure our innovative ecosystem continues to succeed. I am thrilled to join the board at Venture Forward and support an important organization dedicated to building a more diverse and inclusive venture industry,” said Wheeler.
With the appointment of Candice and Ellie, Venture Forward’s board of eleven directors will continue to play a critical leadership role in shaping the organization that, to date, has impacted more than 2,500 people through its VC University certificate course; supported 200 underrepresented emerging managers through its LP Office Hours program; and collected DEI data from more than 300 VC firms in its latest VC Human Capital Survey.
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About Venture Forward
Venture Forward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by the National Venture Capital Association to support both current and emerging venture capital investors by addressing imbalances of access, resources, and opportunity. The organization’s vision is to see more women, people of color, and underrepresented people in investment positions of power who will ultimately fund a more diverse set of innovative founders, helping the ecosystem reach its fullest potential. For more information, visit www.ventureforward.org.
