Isabelle Irani

Isabelle founded Sumerian Partners in 2013 after she was approached by several close friends and philanthropists who recognised that her asset management experience – backing sound management teams, providing hands-on business support and structuring the appropriate financing – could help them achieve greater lasting impact.

Isabelle has over 17 years experience investing in both private and public companies worldwide. She started her career at Lehman Brothers in equity research covering education and correctional services stocks in the US. She was then a Principal at Advent Venture Partners, a venture capital firm focusing on technology and services companies in the UK/ Europe – including clean energy. She was actively involved in sourcing, investing and sitting on the Boards of these companies, providing strategic advice with regards to overcoming challenges to growth, positioning them in the market and ensuring successful exits. While at Advent, she was also seconded as a COO to one of the portfolio companies for two years.

Isabelle was a portfolio manager at LK Advisers, the Mittal Family office, where she was one of three investment professionals responsible for investing in public equities, largely in the developing markets. She also acquired a leading luxury goods company for the family in 2009. She co-founded an emerging market hedge fund with over $250 million under management, investing capital in developing markets, building a team of 6 people and raising the money in less than 6 months.

Isabelle has always had an interest in investing in ways that achieved wider social benefit. She volunteered with various organisations, supported by USAID, to help foster SME development in Northern Africa and the Middle East. She utilised her finance and business skills, helping these organisations to deliver greater impact.

She graduated from Lehigh University with a BS in Finance.