In a world that often draws hard lines between finance and humanity, Mala Gaonkar is the rare force who refuses to choose between the two. A trailblazer in the hedge fund industry, a Harvard-educated intellectual, a philanthropist with a deep commitment to justice, and a storyteller at heart, Mala Gaonkar is not merely building capital—she’s shaping a future grounded in both disruption and compassion.
Born in November 1969 in the United States and raised in the vibrant city of Bengaluru, India, Gaonkar’s upbringing was a beautiful fusion of East and West, giving her a unique lens through which she viewed the world. That duality became the foundation of her ability to navigate not just markets, but also humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Mala Gaonkar: From Harvard Halls to the Pinnacle of Wall Street
Mala Gaonkar graduated from Harvard College in 1991 and returned for her MBA at Harvard Business School in 1996. But beyond her academic brilliance, what set her apart early on was her appetite for impact. After a formative stint at The Boston Consulting Group and a brief role at Chase Capital Partners, Gaonkar found her long-term calling at Lone Pine Capital, where she was a founding partner.
During her 23-year tenure at Lone Pine, she became a leading portfolio manager, spearheading investments in the fast-evolving sectors of technology, media, and telecommunications. Her sharp insights and fearless strategies helped grow the firm into a powerhouse. But even as she thrived in the world of finance, Mala Gaonkar was quietly building a vision that extended beyond balance sheets.
Surgo: The Fusion of Data, AI, and Empathy
In 2015, Mala Gaonkar co-founded the Surgo Foundation alongside Sema Sgaier, a seasoned global health expert, and acclaimed writer Malcolm Gladwell. Their shared belief: the world’s most complex public health problems—like sanitation, maternal health, and disease prevention—could be solved with the precision of AI and data science.
Unlike conventional philanthropic models, Surgo didn’t just donate funds—it delivered solutions. This innovative, mission-driven approach gained traction globally and eventually evolved into Surgo Ventures, a nonprofit that forged deep partnerships with other organizations tackling global health crises.
For Mala Gaonkar, Surgo was more than a nonprofit—it was a proof of concept that data and empathy are not mutually exclusive.
Breaking Financial Barriers: The Birth of SurgoCap Partners
In 2022, Mala Gaonkar once again broke new ground by launching SurgoCap Partners, an investment firm uniquely focused on the disruptive potential of technology across diverse industries. On January 3, 2023, SurgoCap debuted with a staggering $1.8 billion in assets, making it the largest hedge fund launch ever by a woman—a moment of historic significance.
What sets SurgoCap apart is not just its size, but its mission. Under Gaonkar’s leadership, the firm has channeled its expertise into identifying technologies that transform industries—from healthcare to clean energy. By 2024, SurgoCap had grown its portfolio to over $3 billion, investing in leading-edge companies like Nvidia, McKesson, and GE Vernova. The firm also boldly backed Figma in its pivotal 2024 funding round following the collapse of its acquisition by Adobe.
And yet, Gaonkar’s human-first philosophy never took a back seat. She allocated $100 million of SurgoCap’s assets to smaller endowments and nonprofits addressing climate change and underserved communities—a testament to her belief that capital should always serve a higher calling.
A Storyteller with a Soul
Beyond her financial and philanthropic achievements, Mala Gaonkar is a creative force. In 2016, she collaborated with David Byrne—frontman of Talking Heads and her current partner—to create “Theater of the Mind”, a groundbreaking immersive theater experience that explored memory, perception, and consciousness.
Her passion for storytelling doesn’t stop at the stage. Mala Gaonkar’s short stories have been featured in literary journals such as Catamaran, Carolina Quarterly, and American Short Fiction, earning her a Pushcart Prize nomination—an honor that reflects the depth of her voice and vision.
Living a Life of Purpose and Generosity
A devoted mother of two sons and a former spouse of businessman Oliver Haarmann, Mala Gaonkar embodies the balance of personal warmth and professional prowess. Her decision to take The Giving Pledge further underscores her ethos:
“If we were about to be born into the world, not knowing anything about our gifts of talent and status and family and community, in what kind of society would we choose to live?”
—Mala Gaonkar
That question fuels everything she does—from running a billion-dollar fund to reshaping public health, from mentoring young investors to writing fiction that touches the soul.
Leadership Beyond the Boardroom
Gaonkar’s influence extends into global policy and cultural institutions. She is a trustee of the Tate Foundation, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, and Surgo Health. She previously served on the boards of Ariadne Labs, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), RAND, and Harvard’s Global Advisory Council. Her work reflects a deep commitment to bridging the worlds of science, technology, art, and policy.
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