Irina Anghel

One of the pioneers in the field of legal advice for investment funds financing entrepreneurial ventures in Eastern Europe, Irina Anghel worked for KPMG before she decided 10 years ago to found a law firm specialized in advising both funds and entrepreneurs. As Secretary General of the South Eastern European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, member of the Representative Group of the European Venture Capital Association Irina is constantly involved in activities related to supporting entrepreneurs understanding how can they raise capital for their businesses. In 2008, she became one of the 4 Global Ambassadors of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, covering 77 countries and was selected by Eisenhower Fellowships as one of the 25 emerging leaders of the world who were included in their Multi-Nation program. Irina earned an MC/MPA degree from Harvard Kennedy School, she also holds an MBA degree from the program of HEC Montreal and University of Ottawa in Bucharest. In the past year at the Harvard Kennedy School, as a Mason Fellow, she focused on the role of venture capital in stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation and on policy measures aimed at creating a venture capital ecosystem leading to economic growth. While at Harvard, Irina was also the Vice-President of the Venture Capital and Private Equity PIC at Harvard Kennedy School.

Passionate about entrepreneurship and education, Irina recently returned to Romania with a burning desire to assist in the process of moving the Eastern European mindset to a more entrepreneurial approach, since she believes that the solution for many of the challenges in the region is shifting people’s attitude from “entitlement” to “accountability”.