Level 20, the not-for-profit organisation dedicated to attracting and retaining more diverse talent in European private equity, is pleased to welcome its 100th sponsor firm, a significant milestone which reflects the increased importance firms place on improving diversity in the industry.
Over the last year alone, more than 20 sponsors have joined the Level 20 community. Sponsor firms come from across the breadth of the private equity industry with GPs and LPs of all sizes operating in the European market. By becoming sponsors, firms commit multi-year funding towards the mission of Level 20, and work closely with the organisation to address and improve diversity and take practical steps towards more equitable and inclusive cultures in their own firms.
We are delighted to celebrate this achievement, which is a testament to the growing number private equity firms placing DE&I at the forefront of their strategic agendas. We are grateful to our GP and LP sponsors for their engagement with Level 20 and its mission, as well as the ongoing support of our growing membership of over 3,500 individuals
Pam Jackson, CEO
Since its inception in 2015, Level 20 has made significant progress, expanded initiatives, independent research and partnerships, and ultimately greatly improved its reach and engagement in the industry.
- Level 20 has successfully launched the diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) Leaders Network and Level 20 Framework and Roadmap to support sponsors and facilitate further discussion, insight and collaboration in addressing the most pressing challenges faced by DE&I leaders in the private capital space.
- Today, the organisation consists of 12 international committees operating across DACH, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Nordics, Poland, Spain and the UK.
- Level 20’s highly successful mentoring programme, with both male and female mentors, has expanded across seven European countries with over 700 women going through the programme since 2015.
- In 2021, Level 20 published the first ever survey presenting detailed data from firms on ethnicity as well as gender, in collaboration with the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association. Level 20 continues to gather data relating to gender representation across its European chapters which will be published later this year.
I am proud of Level 20’s success and the steady progress we are witnessing through our collaboration with private equity firms, but understand that we still have a long road ahead of us. It is more important than ever that we to continue to combine our efforts to encourage diverse talent to join and flourish in the private equity industry going forward.
Cheryl Potter, Chair
ENDS
Notes to editors
Level 20 is a not-for-profit organisation formed in 2015 by 12 senior private equity professionals representing GPs and LPs. It aims to work with the leaders of the European private equity industry to attract and retain more diverse talent across the industry including women, such that they will account for at least 20% of senior professionals. www.level20.org
For further information, please contact Fanni Bodri, Demi Kurban or Bella Lahdo at Greenbrook using level20@greenbrookadvisory.com
