The Leader team is comprised of professionals with strong track records who collectively have 50+ years of operating experience in venture backed companies and financial institutions, and nearly 30 years of combined experience in providing venture loans to technology and life science companies.  Prior to the founding of Leader Ventures, most of the team worked closely together at Dominion Capital Management, one of the pioneers in venture lending.  We have invested in over 100 companies and pride ourselves on being supportive of our portfolio companies.

 

Brian Best

Managing Director

 

Prior to joining Leader Ventures, Brian was an Investment Partner with Western Technology Investment, a leading venture lending firm that specializes in investments to venture-backed technology and life sciences companies.  With more than 20 years of finance and technology experience, Brian has worked with a wide variety of companies to enhance their capital structures and improve returns to their investors.  Beginning his career with Ernst & Young, Brian worked with a diverse group of clients.  Following Ernst & Young he joined Ross Systems, Inc. as a pre IPO software company and served in various operational and finance positions.  Brian holds a B.S. with honors from the University of the Pacific and an M.B.A. from U.C. Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

 

Email: bbest[at]leaderventures.com

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bbest

Patrick Gordan

Managing Director

 

Patrick founded Leader Ventures in 2005.  He is also a Managing Director of Dominion Capital Management.  Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Business Development for ShoppingList.com, Inc., a venture-backed start-up.  He also served as President and CEO of Paragon Electronic Systems, Inc., a leading backplane manufacturer, and President of Cima Capital Group, a growth equity firm where he concentrated on investment opportunities in the technology and healthcare services sectors.  Mr. Gordan holds an M.B.A from Stanford Business School, where he was an Arjay Miller scholar, and an A.B. in Social Studies magna cum laude from Harvard College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

 

Email: pgordan[at]leaderventures.com

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/patrick-gordan/0/50/348

 

Robert Molke

Managing Director and CFO

 

Bob founded Leader Ventures in 2005. He is also a Managing Director of Dominion Capital Management.  Bob has over twenty-five years experience in the financial services industry.  He has twelve years of commercial lending experience with The Bank of New York.  Subsequently, he spent eleven years at Providian Financial Corporation in San Francisco serving in various capacities including Treasurer, Vice President Finance, Chief Credit Officer and Corporate Risk Manager.  Mr. Molke has an M.S. in Business Policy from Columbia University and a B.A. in Economics from Bucknell University.

 

 Email: rmolke[at]leaderventures.com

Emily Walther

Finance Manager

 

Emily’s primary duties at Leader are the accounting and tax functions.  Emily has been in the venture debt industry since 1996, when she started with Dominion.  Prior to Dominion, Emily had Big 4 accounting firm experience with Ernst & Young LLP.  Emily has an M.S. in Taxation from Golden Gate University and a B.S in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

 

Email: ewalther[at]leaderventures.com

Linkedin: http://goo.gl/YPAqq

 

Joni Wesley

Portfolio Administration

 

Joni is responsible for documentation, compliance processing, quarterly reporting, and other finance and accounting functions.  Joni has over 20 years of experience in lease and loan administration.  Prior to Leader, Joni worked in similar administrative capacities with US Leasing and Dominion.  Joni attended City College of San Francisco and University of San Francisco.

 

Email: jwesley[at]leaderventures.com

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/joni-wesley/2/156/587

 

Team