Department of Economics

Sonya Brown '94

Sonya joined Norwest in 2011 and brings more than 20 years of investment experience to her role as General Partner and co-Head of the firm’s Growth Equity team. Based in Norwest’s Palo Alto office, Sonya is focused on growth equity and buyouts investing across a wide range of sectors with particular interest in consumer products and services, internet/eCommerce, retail, and business services. Her current investments include Jolyn, Junk King, Kendra Scott, MAËLYS, Mtn Ops, SENREVE, and SmartSign. Sonya is responsible for Norwest’s investments in PCA Skin (acquired by Colgate-Palmolive), Bailey 44 (acquired by Digital Brands Group) and The Learning Experience (acquired by Golden Gate Capital). She is a board observer at Madison Reed.

Sonya was previously at Summit Partners, a private equity firm with over $20 billion under management, where she worked for almost a decade in the Boston office and was responsible for leading the firm’s Consumer and Internet Industry Group in North America. Sonya’s past board directorships and investments include Aramsco (acquired by AEA Investors), Airborne Health (acquired by Schiff Nutrition), Physicians Formula (acquired by Markwins), Snap Fitness (acquired by TZP Group), and Sparta Systems (acquired by Thoma Bravo).

Prior to joining Summit, Sonya was a founder and General Partner of iXL Ventures in 1999, where she oversaw the funding and growth of numerous technology and Internet companies. In addition, she was Vice President of Corporate Development for the parent company iXL Enterprises, Inc., one of the largest global web development companies at that time.

Sonya began her career in the investment banking division of Bear Stearns where she worked on numerous consumer and media transactions.

Sonya sits on the advisory board of Harvard Business School’s California Research Center. She is an active speaker at numerous industry events and universities including ShopTalk, SXSW, theBoardlist, Harvard Business School, Stanford Business School and Northwestern University. She also contributes to Women’s Wear Daily and Forbes.

Sonya holds a bachelor of science degree from Northwestern University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. In addition, she is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Recognition & Accolades

-2020 DealmakeHers Power 50 List
-2019 The Wall Street Journal’s Top Female Deal Maker’s Shaping Private Equity’s Present + Future
–2019, 2018, 2017 Mergers & Acquisitions Most Influential Women
-2018, 2017 Beauty Inc/WWD Top Beauty Investor

Katherine Daehler '21

Katie Daehler is a graduating senior studying Economics and Sociology with a certificate in Civic Engagement. While at Northwestern, Katie worked as a research assistant studying social policy and economic development. Next year, she will be working at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business as a Research Professional. Katie is a founding member of Womxn in Economics and a member of the Northwestern University “Wildcat” Marching Band SpiriTeam.