Key Takeaways
- • Private Equity International's annual Women of Influence program recognizes 42 exceptional female professionals across private markets, including private equity, private debt, real estate, and infrastructure sectors.
- • The initiative addresses gender imbalance in the traditionally male-dominated alternatives industry by spotlighting women driving strategic innovation, deal structures, and diversity and ESG progress.
- • PEI Group operates an annual nomination and recognition cycle, with 2026 nominations opening May 20, 2025, and maintains an ongoing platform featuring leadership insights and career guidance for emerging female talent.
- • The program extends beyond recognition to convene senior women leaders through dedicated summits and forums, including the Women in Private Markets Summit North America scheduled for 2027.
Summary
Private Equity International's Women of Influence in Private Markets is an annual recognition program designed to highlight exceptional female professionals reshaping the alternative assets industry. The 2025 edition identified 42 women making measurable impact across private equity, private debt, real estate, and infrastructure investment management.
The program addresses a structural diversity gap in alternatives by featuring women who are advancing strategic priorities including development of innovative deal structures, expansion of new investment strategies, and acceleration of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. By curating and publicizing these profiles, PEI Group elevates visibility of female leadership while providing institutional investors with evidence of capable women managers and decision-makers across the sector.
Beyond annual recognition, the initiative creates ongoing platforms for knowledge transfer and professional development. The program publishes leadership lessons and career advice from featured women, positioning them as mentors to the next generation of female professionals in alternatives. PEI Group also hosts dedicated convenings, including the Women in Private Markets Summit North America, establishing direct networking and thought leadership opportunities for senior female executives.
The program operates on an annual cycle with open nominations, allowing firms and individuals to identify emerging and established leaders. The 2026 nominations period opened May 20, 2025, ensuring continuous pipeline development and fresh cohorts of recognized professionals. This recurring structure signals institutional commitment to sustained progress on gender representation in private markets rather than one-time recognition efforts.
The program addresses a structural diversity gap in alternatives by featuring women who are advancing strategic priorities including development of innovative deal structures, expansion of new investment strategies, and acceleration of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. By curating and publicizing these profiles, PEI Group elevates visibility of female leadership while providing institutional investors with evidence of capable women managers and decision-makers across the sector.
Beyond annual recognition, the initiative creates ongoing platforms for knowledge transfer and professional development. The program publishes leadership lessons and career advice from featured women, positioning them as mentors to the next generation of female professionals in alternatives. PEI Group also hosts dedicated convenings, including the Women in Private Markets Summit North America, establishing direct networking and thought leadership opportunities for senior female executives.
The program operates on an annual cycle with open nominations, allowing firms and individuals to identify emerging and established leaders. The 2026 nominations period opened May 20, 2025, ensuring continuous pipeline development and fresh cohorts of recognized professionals. This recurring structure signals institutional commitment to sustained progress on gender representation in private markets rather than one-time recognition efforts.
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