Keynote SpeakerKaren Forster

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.