Sukari G.

Sukari G.

5.0

Break into VC with Expert Guidance

Darden School of Business (UVA) Logo

Studied at Darden School of Business (UVA)

Darden School of Business Logo

Worked at Darden School of Business

Available Monday at 11:00 PM UTC

Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.

Sukari’s Venture Capital Qualifications

Experience level: Senior Associate

30+ people coached for Venture Capital

Sukari has helped clients get into these companies:

Hello and welcome to my profile! With a background in private equity and investment management, I am here to guide you through the complexities of breaking into the private investments sector. As an Investment Director and a former junior team member at Venture and growth equity firms, I have firsthand insight to offer anyone exploring careers in this space.My coaching journey began in 2019, and since then, I've conducted over 175 unique career and MBA application coaching sessions, helping clients successfully navigate their career paths with a significant bend towards those interested in the private markets. Additionally, my role as a Second Year Coach at Darden School of Business allowed me to mentor students specifically in venture capital and private equity, equipping them with tailored strategies for success. Let's connect and craft a personalized plan to achieve your career goals! I’ve worked at a number of cool firms including Steelsky Ventures, Sands Capital, Anacapa Partners, Camden Partners, and Maryland’s Tech Development Corporation.

Sukari can help with:

Skill Building

Venture Capital Strategy

LinkedIn Review

Resume Review

Networking Strategy

Behavioral Interview Prep

Sukari also coaches for MBA and Private Equity. View all.

About Sukari

Sukari (Brown) Gaylor is an Investment Director specializing in private equity, growth equity, and venture capital. Throughout her career, she has received notable recognition, including being named a 2024 Pensions & Investments Rising Star in Institutional Investing, receiving the 2023 Forte Foundation's Edie Hunt Inspiration Award for advancing women in business, earning the 2023 C. Steward Sheppard Distinguished Service Award for her commitment to expanding opportunities in private equity and venture capital, and being named to the 2020 HBCUvc 31 Under 31: The Future of Venture Capital honoree class. Her diverse career journey includes healthcare investing placements at SteelSky Ventures, Sands Capital, and Anacapa Partners, as well as roles as Fund Manager for Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) and growth equity Associate at Camden Partners. Sukari has also consulted in infrastructure and capital projects while working at Deloitte and started her professional path as an Engineer at Clark Construction. Beyond her professional achievements, Sukari is deeply passionate about mentoring and coaching the next generation of investment professionals, increasing awareness of all things women's health & innovation, and sharing her insights through podcasts and public speaking. Sukari holds an MBA from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business and a BS in Civil Engineering from New York University. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Sukari remains committed to creating lasting value in the investment industry while inspiring others through her leadership and mentorship.

Why do I coach?

I remember what it was like feeling like my failures defined me. I also remember seeing what I wanted to achieve in my career but not knowing how to get there. I enjoy coaching others because it allows me to help remind others that they are heard, seen, and supported. The road to achieving our goals is not always easy but it can be so much better walking the road with support - and that's why I am here.

Work Experience

Cambridge Associates Logo

Investment Director - Private Investments Specialist

Cambridge Associates

June 2023 - Present

Self Employed  Logo

Career Coach and MBA Application Consultant

Self Employed

August 2019 - Present

Held ~175 unique career and/or MBA Application coaching sessions since 2019.

Darden School of Business Logo

Second Year Admissions Committee

Darden School of Business

September 2022 - May 2024

Admissions Committee Experience

●Conducted interviews with prospective MBA candidates, providing insights into their fit for the Darden School of Business and contributing to the holistic evaluation process. ●Worked alongside admissions committee members and fellow second-year students to assess and weigh interview outcomes, ensuring a balanced and fair admissions process. ● Acted as a representative of the student body, offering a current student's perspective to prospective students and helping to convey the culture and values of the Darden community. ●Participated in interviews that were given equal consideration alongside those conducted by official admissions committee members, highlighting the importance of student involvement in the admissions process.

Darden School of Business Logo

Second Year Coach

Darden School of Business

September 2022 - May 2023

●Served as the main coach for students interested in venture capital and private equity, providing tailored guidance and insights specific to career opportunities, trainings, and resources in these fields. ● Responsible for coaching five students, a higher number than most other coaches, demonstrating strong leadership and mentoring capabilities. ●Assisted students in evaluating their career goals, identifying necessary skills and experiences, and navigating different job environments, particularly within VC and private equity. ●Conducted mock interviews, check-in sessions and feedback sessions, helping students refine their communication and presentation skills for job searches. ●Helped students develop tailored strategies for establishing a roadmap for leveraging their skills and unique POV for recruiting for VC/PE roles.

Sands Capital Logo

MBA Associate - Early Stage Investment Team

Sands Capital

June 2022 - August 2022

•Analyzed and evaluated investment opportunities to determine likelihood of long-term growth and viability of returns •Prepared a returns analysis for the firm’s participation in a follow-on investment for an existing portfolio company •Conducted due diligence on high priority companies in the Machine Learning, Digital Life, and Healthcare sourcing pipeline by analyzing business plans, financial statements, competitive landscape, and team competencies •Developed written material on the U.S. Healthcare payments system to better inform investment in remote patient monitoring •Assisted in sourcing new opportunities in Healthcare and Digital Life through personal network and market research

SteelSky Logo

MBA Intern

SteelSky

February 2022 - April 2022

•Compiled impact metrics on each portfolio company and identified alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals •Evaluated ~6 early-stage women's health and healthcare companies for funding based on the fund's thesis, company growth opportunity, and impact on the healthcare sector targeting women's needs •Developed the investment memo draft for the fund's anticipated investment in a food-as-medicine health company

Camden Partners Logo

Investment Associate

Camden Partners

July 2019 - July 2021

●Executed Camden’s $30MM total investment into three companies virtually and under an accelerated timeline by preparing investment memoranda, conducting diligence calls, updating financial models, and managing legal vendors. ●Improved Camden’s process for tracking due diligence activities, deal flow, and value creation activities by developing three Excel-based tools to track progress and automate summaries, cutting down reporting time by ~50% ●Consolidated portfolio company monthly financial data into a standardized format, improving the ability to monitor company performance, track financial information across Funds V and VI, and locate financial information for LPs ●Developed a new onboarding process for incoming members of the investment team, resulting in the successful onboarding of a new associate during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic ●Revamped the deal playbook for the investment team by creating 15 new templates for all transaction-related activities,accelerating the firm’s deal operations standardization process by ~6 months. Highlight: Selected for the 2020 Robert Toigo Foundation Groundbreakers RISE Program for Women in Private Equity - a year-long career development program for rising talent in Private Equity. | Recognized as one of HBCU.VC’s 31 Under 31 in VC for 2020 (1 of only 3 Growth Equity professionals selected).

Deloitte Logo

Senior Consultant

Deloitte

September 2015 - June 2019

● Led a team of four to support the distribution of $56 billion in federal grants for disaster recovery efforts by reconciling disaster project applications with financial documentation, conducting site interviews, and preparing FEMA closeout packets for the release of funds. ● Led a team of four in developing a Comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan (CCIP) for the use of $350 MM in federal funds. ● Developed and evaluated the Operations and Maintenance financial models for a $1.75 billion federal loan for a private high-speed rail project resulting in the identification of risks, cost variances, and operational gaps that complicated the investment of federal funds. ● Led a team of three in the analysis of the deferred maintenance backlog of a federal agency resulting in the identification of $1.7 billion in global repair needs, the establishment of a methodology to calculate future repair needs, and a strategic pay-down strategy for the agency. ● Developed a portfolio analytics tool for an agency that helped identify $5 MM in untracked/missing assets and provided the new ability to manage asset performance, conduct benefit-cost analyses, and identify risks related to 14,000 global residential leases. ● Participated in firm recruitment activities each year by attending conferences and conducting initial interviews on behalf of the firm. ● Served as the representative for the firm partnership with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) for a Board of Corporate Affiliates' Meeting. Notes: Highlights: Graduate of the 2019 Business Development program that trains high performing practitioners to identify opportunities, engage clients, and effectively grow the firm’s business. Also, recognized with 4 awards for dedication to exemplary contributions to clients and the firm.

Clark Construction Group Logo

Engineer

Clark Construction Group

July 2014 - September 2015

● Resolved outstanding project scope conflicts with subcontractors resulting in the completion of severely delayed work and replacement of incorrectly installed windows for a federal building in Baltimore. ● Coordinated the procurement, contract development & award process for six subcontracted companies. ● Yielded a cost savings of $14,000 by identifying errors in the provided contract specifications. ● Reorganized two electronic project management systems for a $1 billion federal project, improving approval and schedule monitoring. ● Conducted New Hire interviews for the company.

Education

Darden School of Business (UVA) Logo

Darden School of Business (UVA)

MBA

Admissions Committee Experience

New York University Logo

New York University

BS, Civil Engineering

12 Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0


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Sukari G.

Sukari G.

5.0

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