Vanesa is the Founding Partner of NoBa Capital, an early-stage venture firm backing and championing tech that transforms how people work and earn.
Through NoBa and EmpowerHER, she mobilises capital, community, and care to support bold founders – especially women – shaping a fairer work future.
What does a typical day look like for you, and how do you structure your time?
There’s no such thing as a typical day – life is a mix of investor calls, founder support, events, and family logistics (I have five kids!).
I start early – often with a cold-water swim – and structure my week around what matters most. Meetings are usually concentrated on two fixed days, focused on founders and investors. That leaves space for deep work, writing, and reflection. I always fit in a run, sometimes even to and from meetings.
I’m lucky to have an amazing team at NoBa who help me stay anchored to the work that really makes a difference. We share the load, show up for each other, and aren’t afraid to get stuck in.
What’s one myth about your industry or role that you’d like to bust?
That you need to be perfectly qualified or come from the “right” background to lead, invest, or build. You don’t.
Change and growth often come when you step into spaces you feel unqualified for. In fact, the best ideas often come from outside — when someone brings fresh behaviours, ways of thinking, and values into spaces they haven’t been trained in. That’s where real innovation happens, not just repetition by domain experts.
If you care deeply about fixing something, you already belong. Passion, purpose, and persistence matter more than pedigree.
At NoBa, we believe there should be no barriers – to work, to opportunity, or to building the future you want to see.
What does success look like to you – has that changed over time?
Success, for me, is about always growing as a person.
It’s less about titles or milestones, and more about who I’m becoming along the way – am I braver, more compassionate, more grounded? Am I helping others grow too?
That definition has definitely evolved. Earlier in my career, success was external – roles, recognition, outcomes. Now, it’s internal: growth, integrity, impact, and the freedom to live and work in a way that feels true to me.
What’s one initiative or achievement you’re particularly proud of — and why?
I’m particularly proud of is EmpowerHER and it’s deeply personal.
Three years ago, I hosted a small dinner at home with eight women from completely different walks of life. What struck me wasn’t just the conversation – it was the feeling. The power of women coming together with no agenda, just openness, curiosity, and care. It left something in me I couldn’t ignore.
That spark grew into something much bigger. I started hosting women-only breakfasts – bringing together women from different industries, stages, and stories, united by one thing: the desire to shift the landscape for women. And from there, EmpowerHER was born.
It’s now a growing community of women investors and operators backing women founders with capital, connections, and belief – especially at the pre-seed stage, when belief is needed most. We don’t just invest; we show up. We stay close. We champion these women so they’re ready to raise again with momentum and confidence behind them.
What legacy or impact do you hope to leave through your work?
I want to leave behind a world where there are no barriers to work, to opportunity, or to belief – especially for women and those who’ve been overlooked.
If my work helps create more inclusive systems, backs bold founders early, and inspires more women to invest in each other – that’s a legacy I’d be proud of.
I want my daughters to grow up in a world where they feel seen, supported, and powerful – not because it was easy, but because women before them showed what’s possible and there’s a whole system of women who believed in them first.
What’s the most surprising lesson you’ve learned in your leadership journey?
That strength and vulnerability can, and must, coexist.
For a long time, I thought leadership meant having all the answers. But the most powerful moments have come when I’ve admitted I don’t. When I’ve asked for help, listened deeply, and created space for others to lead too.
I’ve also learned that you can be what you can’t see – but it’s much harder. That’s why representation matters. That’s why I try to lead visibly and authentically. Because if just one person sees my journey and thinks, “Maybe I can do that too” – that’s leadership in action.
How do you stay motivated when things get tough?
When things get tough, I take time to pause – to breathe, to run, to swim, to reconnect with what matters. I find my centre and remember my north star.
I’ve learned that action creates motivation, not the other way around. So, I take small steps, even when I don’t feel ready. And I pay close attention to the people who bring out the best version of me – then hold onto them tightly.
That combination – grounding, movement, and connection – keeps me going
What are you currently reading, listening to, or watching that’s helping you grow?
I’ve just come off a spiritual Soulshine retreat, where I was reminded of the power of simply being alive and that we get to decide.
If we don’t schedule our priorities, someone else will. Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want now. Growth, for me, must come hand in hand with joy, fun, and presence.
I’m also listening to The Squiggly Careers podcast hosted by two incredible women: Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis. But more than anything, I’m learning to believe in myself – because that always brings me back to truth.
Which leader or entrepreneur has influenced you the most — and why?
Mo Gawdat has deeply influenced me – not just as a thinker, but as a human.
His work on happiness, loss, and AI taught me that leadership isn’t just about vision – it’s about intention, compassion, and responsibility. That’s shaped how I lead at NoBa: building a venture firm that backs founders not just chasing growth but creating meaningful change.
Through EmpowerHER, I carry his reminder that we can all choose joy, even in the hardest moments, and that we must use our voice and our power to build a better, more human future.
What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d been given at the start of your career?
Use your voice. Don’t shrink to fit – expand.
I wish someone had told me that the things that feel hard or uncertain aren’t happening to you, they’re happening for you. Every challenge is shaping who you’re becoming and ultimately the change you’ll drive in the world.
Speak up. Take space. Trust yourself, and above all – keep going, keep growing
