Karen Forster
Karen Forster is an entrepreneur and founder of Aliya Capital, with a background in finance and technology.
Why you should book Karen Forster for your next event
- Expertise and Experience: Karen Forster is an experienced entrepreneur and investor with a wealth of knowledge in the fields of finance, investing, and technology. She has spent over a decade working for world-leading investment firms such as The Carlyle Group and has founded the first female-founded search fund in the UK, Aliya Capital.
- Diversity and Inclusion: As a woman from a marginalized community, Karen is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in business. She frequently speaks on this topic and offers unique insights into how businesses can create more inclusive cultures and work towards greater diversity in their teams.
- Inspiring Story: Karen's personal story is one of resilience, strength, and determination. As a former child in care, she has overcome significant challenges to achieve her success. Her story is inspiring and offers a powerful message to audiences about overcoming adversity and achieving one's goals.
Karen Forster is a London-based entrepreneur and investor with a passion for technology and finance. After spending a decade in private equity and venture capital, she founded Aliya Capital, the first female-founded search fund in the UK. Karen is also a board director for The Creative Education Trust and Digital Divide Data, both focused on education and technology.
Read the full profile: Karen Forster Non-binding request for Karen Forster
Keynotes
Keynote by Karen Forster: Why starting a business from zero is overrated
The benefits of buying and building a business as a path to entrepreneurship.
Keynote by Karen Forster: Why building and scaling a technology business is one of the most purposeful acts you can do to contribute to Europe’s economies
The new cold war is digital not physical warfare.
Keynote by Karen Forster: How to get a seat at the table as a woman and / or minority
Why excellence and meritocracy will always matter more than quotas / tick the box exercises.
Keynote by Karen Forster: Why we need to look beyond gender and ethnicity when considering diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Diversity of Thought is what matters the most.
Keynote by Karen Forster: Why it is important to fail and to fail more often
The importance of failure as feedback and using failure as a stepping stone to success.
Keynote by Karen Forster: When it comes to business and entrepreneurship, courage > IQ
The importance of believing in yourself and your capabilities will propel you further than any intelligence will.
Keynote by Karen Forster: How to juggle your career with caring responsibilities and self care
Why ruthless prioritization and letting go of perfection are crucial to juggling multiple personal and professional responsibilities.
Karen Forster
Join Karen Forster on her journey through finance, tech, and diversity
Karen Forster is an entrepreneur, investor, model, speaker, and founder of Aliya Capital, the first female founded Search Fund in the UK. An entrepreneur with a background in finance, investing, and technology, she founded Aliya Capital with the intention to buy and build an enduring UK technology company with a global remit.
Starting her career as an M&A investment banker at Goldman Sachs, Karen went on to build a career in finance and investing prior to transitioning to entrepreneurship. She spent a decade working in private equity and venture capital for world-leading investment firms such as The Carlyle Group.
In recognition for her contribution to financial services, she was recognized as a member of the Young Leaders Circle by the Milken Institute, Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum, and one of 35 women under 35 by Management Today. Her work has been featured in The Telegraph, The Financial Times, TechCrunch, among others.
Passionate about the role that education can play in elevating individuals from marginalized communities, Karen has served as a board director for The Creative Education Trust, an academy trust of approx. 20 schools in the UK, and Digital Divide Data, a social enterprise focused on technology skills training for young adults based in emerging markets.
Born and raised in London, Karen holds an MA in History from the University of Cambridge, UK, and an MBA in finance from Columbia Business School New York, where she was a value-investing program graduate.
As a woman, an ethnic minority of British, Jewish, and Ugandan heritage, and a former child in care, she frequently speaks on diversity and inclusion, entrepreneurship via acquisition, fintech, innovation and technology, juggling caring / parental responsibilities with career progression, mental strength and resilience, private equity and venture capital, women in business, and women in technology.
Starting her career as an M&A investment banker at Goldman Sachs, Karen went on to build a career in finance and investing prior to transitioning to entrepreneurship. She spent a decade working in private equity and venture capital for world-leading investment firms such as The Carlyle Group.
In recognition for her contribution to financial services, she was recognized as a member of the Young Leaders Circle by the Milken Institute, Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum, and one of 35 women under 35 by Management Today. Her work has been featured in The Telegraph, The Financial Times, TechCrunch, among others.
Passionate about the role that education can play in elevating individuals from marginalized communities, Karen has served as a board director for The Creative Education Trust, an academy trust of approx. 20 schools in the UK, and Digital Divide Data, a social enterprise focused on technology skills training for young adults based in emerging markets.
Born and raised in London, Karen holds an MA in History from the University of Cambridge, UK, and an MBA in finance from Columbia Business School New York, where she was a value-investing program graduate.
As a woman, an ethnic minority of British, Jewish, and Ugandan heritage, and a former child in care, she frequently speaks on diversity and inclusion, entrepreneurship via acquisition, fintech, innovation and technology, juggling caring / parental responsibilities with career progression, mental strength and resilience, private equity and venture capital, women in business, and women in technology.
