Sanem Alkan

Sanem Alkan, known as Sam, is a distinguished advisor renowned for her dedication to fostering the growth of emerging ventures and family-owned businesses. With a career spanning diverse sectors including investment management, technology, and philanthropy, Sam specializes in strategic growth and sustainable development.

Currently serving as Senior Impact Advisor to Sobrato Philanthropies Executive Committee member, donor and impact advisor, Sheri Sobrato, Sam offers strategic counsel and hands-on support in impact investing and philanthropic grantmaking. Her key initiatives involve evaluating new funding opportunities and building funder partnerships, with a particular focus on accelerating ventures in critical, funding-constrained areas such as rare pediatric disease care and youth mental wellness.

Sam’s career foundation is built on risk management and wealth advisory experience from her time at Marsh and Goldman Sachs. Her trajectory has seen her lead groundbreaking ventures across various sectors. Notably, she has spearheaded the launch and growth of several successful businesses, collectively raising $5 billion. Her notable achievements include the development of two hedge fund incubation platforms for JH Whitney, one of the oldest private equity firms in the U.S. In philanthropy, Sam significantly contributed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by cultivating new donor relationships, resulting in multi-million-dollar revenues in the organization’s new market of Silicon Valley. Additionally, her co-founded software company was among the first to be featured on app marketplaces by Facebook and Mozilla, alongside prominent peers like Spotify.

Sam’s leadership extends to prestigious board roles at renowned institutions such as The Juilliard School, New York University, and Rotary Clubs, highlighting her strategic acumen and commitment to impactful governance. She holds an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Sam is an active member of Rotary, 100 Women in Finance, and Financial Women of San Francisco. Her global perspective is enriched by her formative years in Istanbul and a lifelong passion for sports.