Posts by Wendi McGowan-Ellis

HENRYs (high earners, not rich yet) are usually younger people who’ve come into a high-earning job but spend most of their income on expenses and haven’t built up enough assets to be considered rich. But while some HENRYs may be younger (Millennials or Gen Z), I had a recent conversation with a bunch of other…

Human rights, theory, evidence, and common sense all suggest that greater investment in women’s health could be among the “best buys” for broader economic development and societal well-being. However, women’s health specifically is an often overlooked, yet obvious, sector for impact. We believe It offers investors the potential for outsized financial and social returns since…

At Cassandra Capital, we believe that women have earned the right to be called warriors. They have played a vital role in world wars, from being enlisted in active duty, operating as spies, or even non-military women taking up arms against militias. These might be unique examples, and are directly related to conflicts, but women…

The following is a true exchange between a female founder and a VC: “Your message is fine,” he said. “Your pitch deck is not the issue.” “What’s the issue?” I said. “You’re a woman.” I let the words hang in the air. Finally, I said, “Seriously?” “I’ll let you in on a secret. When female…

A recent meeting with a specially curated group of approximately 30 angel investors and LPs (of which I was 1 of 3 women in the room) got me thinking about VC dealflow — more specifically the lack of diversity in most dealflow — especially here in North Texas. VCs often talk about backing more diverse…

Let’s analyze the difference between how women (in their Louboutins) and men (sporting loafers) invest because research shows it pays to invest WITH, IN, and/or LIKE a woman. FACTS: In a nutshell, diversity finds ​alpha. So, just what is “alpha?” Alpha is a term used in investing to describe an investment strategy’s ability to beat…