Four Yale SOM alumnae are among those recognized by the 2023 edition of Forbes “50 Over 50” list, which recognizes women over the age of 50 who are “changing the world” in each of four categories: Lifestyle, Impact, Innovation, and Investment.
Amena Ali ’90, CEO of Optoro, was recognized in the Innovation category. The logistics company manages returns for large retailers; under Ali’s leadership, Forbes notes, has expanded its use of AI, partnering with Locus Robots “to further automate the returns process.”
Gina Boswell ’89, CEO of Bath & Body Works, was recognized in the Lifestyle category. According to Forbes, Boswell, who was appointed in December 2022, is working to reverse a contraction in sales last year by expanding the company’s product lines to include laundry detergent and men’s grooming goods.
Ranji Nagaswami ’86 and Nancy Pfund ’82 were recognized in the Investment category.
Nagaswami is the chief strategy and chief commercial officer of Strategic Value Partners, “a global investment firm managing nearly $18 billion in private credit, distressed debt, and private equity investments.” Forbes notes that Nagaswami previously oversaw New York City’s pension fund, founded the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Finance Leaders Fellowship Program, and served on variety of nonprofit and corporate boards, including the Yale University investment committee (as well as Yale SOM’s Board of Advisors).
Pfund is founder and managing partner of DBL Partners; Forbes writes, “DBL, which stands for double bottom line—Pfund seeks profitable and environmentally-minded investments—has been an early investor in companies like Farmers Business Network and The RealReal. In 2021, Pfund raised a $600 million fourth fund; she’s looking to deploy the dry powder on climate-tech companies and startups helping to prevent wildfires.”
Forbes assembled the list with MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski, founder of Know Your Value, “a digital platform and community focused on empowering women to express their personal worth and achieve gender equity in the workplace.”
