Sophie Panarese - Platform & operations

I began my career at Cambridge Associates, building my foundation in portfolio construction, asset allocation, and client service. I had the opportunity to work with private equity and venture capital leaders in the space and participated in diligence efforts. This exposure to great investors and innovators sparked my interest in entrepreneurship. With this insight, I knew I wanted to build a skillset in operations to gain an understanding of what it takes to run a business.

After C|A, I joined TJX where I spent my time on the Financial Planning & Strategy team. I gained exposure to all aspects of the business including financial forecasting, distribution & logistics, merchandising & inventory planning, as well as real estate expansion. As I progressed, I was given the opportunity to take on a year-long leadership role as the “Apprentice CFO” of Homesense – a startup brand within TJX. My passion for operations, specifically within the context of a startup, deepened and accelerated.

Joining 186 Ventures allows me to put all my experience and interests into play: working with the brightest founders and industry leaders, establishing best practices for internal and external operations, and drawing on my competitive nature as we strive to build a world class venture firm.  

I attended Georgetown University where I studied Government & English and captained the Division 1 Women’s Varsity Tennis team. Away from work, I love gourmet cooking, spending time outdoors, and playing almost any sport – Muay Thai and golf are my new favorites!