Catherine Lenson

01 –

How did your background prepare you for your role at the Vision Fund?

I grew up in the middle of Lincolnshire, a rural area of England. There weren’t a ton of role models around in terms of people with jobs in financial services or multinational corporations. I was fortunate to be inspired by a handful of exceptional teachers, and I made it to Cambridge University, where I studied modern languages. I’ve always felt lucky to have been able to carve out this life for myself, and I don’t take anything for granted. Staying humble and appreciating what you have are super-important to me.

02 –

What do you think is people’s biggest misconception about the Vision Fund?

I think that many people incorrectly believe that everybody who works here has a particular sort of background, whether that's a technology background or a finance background. One of the things that's been so invigorating for me is that actually it's the most diverse firm I've ever worked at in terms of the life experiences people here have.

We have this extraordinary spread of people from investment banking, technology, venture capital, private equity, and corporate backgrounds. One of the most rewarding parts of my role is to find a way to fit all of those jigsaw pieces together for maximum impact, and create a culture which is unique to us.

03 –

What do you hope to achieve at the Vision Fund?

The HR team I lead has so many areas we’re focused on, but the biggest one for me personally is to build diversity within the organization. We understand the importance of making progress on this from a social-purpose perspective, but diversity also plays a role in making outstanding returns for our stakeholders. Research is clear that the more diverse the backgrounds people come from, the greater the range of life experiences that they bring. We know that groups with this kind of diversity will see opportunities and risks in totally different ways to groups with more monolithic cultures.

By having the most diverse perspectives possible around the decision-making table, we make better decisions.

04 –

What inspires you?

For me, inspiration comes from different people. I find inspiration in my friend who is starting her own business from scratch while growing her family. I’m inspired by amazing communicators―people who can find the right turn of phrase in the right moment. I’m coaching someone at the moment who is making really tough life choices but refusing to compromise his integrity. I love to reflect on different moments from my day and work out what I can take from them into my own life.

05 –

If you hadn’t gone into investment banking after university, what would you have done?

I’d have studied orchestral conducting at a music conservatory. Honestly, I'm glad that things worked out as they did, but I always wish I could find more time for music. Before my children were born I sang semi-professionally with the London Symphony Chorus. That was a dream come true―to be an investment banker by day and then spend the evening singing with the London Symphony Orchestra. That’s my retirement plan!