Ellen Carnahan

A highly successful investor with over twenty years of venture capital experience as co-manager and lead technology investor at William Blair Capital Partners (WBCP), Ellen Carnahan is now Principal of Machrie Enterprises LLC. Machrie Enterprises provides investment capital, expertise and extensive connections to growth businesses and investment funds. She has been a director of over 25 public and private companies, primarily software, analytics and financial services. She currently serves on the boards of Enova (ENVA), the largest on-line small business and subprime consumer lender; and, The Jackson National Life Funds, the $300 billion mutual fund complex underlying the retirement products sold by Jackson Financial Inc. (JFI).

Prior to joining WBCP in 1988, she was Vice President of Marketing & Planning at SPSS, a then $30- million software company and Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis at Trailer Train Company, the largest operator of railroad flatcars. She started her career at Price Waterhouse Coopers in Chicago.

Active in the community, she serves or has served on non-profit boards including Communities in Schools Chicago (Vice Chair), The Chicago Network (FY’ 07 Chair), the State of Illinois Technology Development Fund, the Illinois Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (FY’10 Chair); and, The Metropolitan Planning Council (2018/19 Chair). Ms. Carnahan is a CPA, graduated as salutatorian from the University of Notre Dame, and received an MBA from the Booth School at the University of Chicago.