Heather Galloway (SFS’98)
Board Member and Investment Review Committee, Georgetown Angel Investor Network
What is your favorite memory from your time on the Hilltop?
I was a transfer student at Georgetown. I spent my first year at Vanderbilt, but there was no international relations degree offered, and I missed the frenetic and multicultural environment of a New York or Washington DC. A close friend mentioned she was applying to transfer to Georgetown and encouraged me to apply as well. I remember getting out of my car in front of Village C, ready to move in, and seeing my friend just ahead of me. Everything from that first moment fell into place, fast friendships and the unique academic experience I’d been hoping for.
Tell us about your life post-Georgetown. What led you to GAIN?
Following graduation, I took on a broad array of increasingly international posts and ventures - energy and project finance (DC, Miami, and South America), art business in London, consulting on international procurement and supply chain. A friend encouraged me to join an early stage utility scale solar company he was considering for investment. Our small team built the company from the ground up, expanding across Europe and partnering with private equity and suppliers in US. It was a pivotal experience, underlining the importance of angel investment for early stage companies. It has also shaped my work since in energy and other tech-enabled sectors shaping the landscape around the world.
A few years ago, I’d seen an African fintech investment and passed by some Georgetown alums to discuss – including [fellow GAIN board member] Devon George. I’d met Eric Woods through a mutual friend, and later Doug Clarisse. When I heard about the type of work GAIN was doing, I was pleased to join.
How has GAIN enhanced your alumni experience?
The entrepreneurial and investing space within GAIN is unique. For one, GAIN members have an ethos of giving back and investing with purpose. It also provides a way to connect across sectors and experiences – each member has his/her own valuable lens.
GAIN challenges investors to grow, consider a variety of types of deals that might otherwise stand outside scope, facilitates engaging conversations. John Carroll weekends are invaluable, a springboard for ideas and support. My GAIN experience has been incredibly enriching, both professionally and personally.
What areas/sectors excite you most as an angel investor?
I am most excited by opportunities that feature innovative ways to make a tangible impact on people's lives and the environment. Much comes from my journey in the energy sector, extending to where I can add value (knowledge, insight, experience) – particularly as a company grows and expands.
You’ve seen a lot of entrepreneurs pitch their companies to GAIN. Can you tell us about one of these companies that really stands out to you?
In my capacity as a member of the Investment Review Committee and a judge for the Alumni Pitch Competition at John Carroll Weekend in Dublin, I was fortunate to see some strong companies with brilliant and varied businesses. Pratt Standard, Atlantic Fish, and Mazzy Health were the finalists, and each was impressive in its own way. Outside of the Pitch Competition, I really enjoyed learning more about Onrise. Onrise provides mental health support for high school, college, and professional athletes – a great example of how to improve lives and experiences.