Angela Du

I’ve always had an interest in sustainability and economic development. I began my career at Goldman Sachs and have spent the past decade working at three different investment firms across private and public asset classes. At each of these funds, I’ve been able to nurture and develop my understanding of how sustainability can drive the performance of businesses. Today, I think we’re at an exciting junction where consumers are demanding performance and principles, and the markets are rewarding these traits. It’s forcing businesses to be more conscious of how they incorporate sustainability into their DNA. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to bring my investing experience and passion for sustainability and economic development into my current role, and I look forward to partnering with the next generation of mission-driven entrepreneurs.

The opportunity to work with some of the most dynamic founders of our generation is my favorite part of the job. Having a courtside seat to the process of building a company gives me a deep admiration for the discipline required to take a vision and transform it into a business. When I work with founders, I keep three central principles in mind: transparency, teamwork, and trust. Transparency—it’s important, for both sides, to be honest and direct. Teamwork—I want founders to feel supported by the SoftBank Investment Advisers team. And trust—it’s a privilege to partner with founders in growing their business.

Fundamentally, I’m looking for founders who have an ambitious vision to solve hard problems with data and technology. These founders also tend to be genuinely nice people, who are successful because they understand that “doing the right thing” makes good business sense. Attracting talent is difficult—especially in Silicon Valley—so a founder who can build a great culture creates a huge asset for their business.

To me, doing the right thing is when one plus one equals three. For example, technology that enables farmers to produce more efficiently not only improves their economic livelihood but also provides healthier and more affordable produce for consumers. Doing the right thing to me is also the only way to do business. I feel privileged and proud of the investments we’ve made to support businesses that are trying to do the right thing, whether that’s driving better healthcare outcomes, lowering the cost of transportation, or improving access to food.

I’m a huge champion of women-focused initiatives. I’m ecstatic about the shift in narrative—with more women taking on more power and shining a light on previously undiscussed topics. One topic I’m especially passionate about is encouraging more women to invest their money. Studies have indicated that women will control two-thirds of U.S. wealth by 2030, but the average female investor keeps 71% of her wealth in cash, missing out on significant wealth creation. Female consumers are underrepresented in today’s leading financial apps. We need female entrepreneurs to build financial services products that speak to women. This is crucial not just to closing the wage gap but also to getting women comfortable with talking about money and investing. It is the same story in healthcare and in wellness. All across the board, doors are opening. It’s energizing to be supporting these amazing people.