Lisa Suennen: Leadership by Women in Healthtech

Lisa Suennen, Leader, Manatt Digital & Technology

Lisa Suennen is the leader of Manatt Digital and Technology and the firm’s venture capital / emerging companies practice. With more than 30 years’ experience as an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, board member and strategic advisor, she has focused broadly on new technologies and how they are transforming businesses. She has spent much of her career helping companies adopt and leverage digital technologies, develop strategies for growth through innovation and investment, and build strong collaborations between established players and entrepreneurs. Lisa heads the firm’s digital and technology businesses as well as the firm’s venture capital fund. She also works closely with Manatt Health, engaging with payers, health systems and companies to provide strategic advice on innovation, digital strategy and growth.

Lisa previously served as managing partner of Venture Valkyrie LLC, an advisory firm focused on helping healthcare organizations adopt venture capital and innovation programs and develop new business creation models and digital health strategies.

Lisa spent the past 20 years as a venture capitalist, first as a partner with Psilos Group, then leading the healthcare fund at GE Ventures. Prior to that, she was part of the leadership team that built Merit Behavioral Care, an $800 million behavioral healthcare company, guiding it through its successful IPO and exit. Her earlier career focused on product management and marketing in the technology sector.

Lisa currently serves on several private company boards and chairs the advisory board of the NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health. She is also on the faculty at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, and is cofounder of CSweetener, which matches women in and nearing the healthcare C-suite with mentors.

Additionally, Lisa writes the Venture Valkyrie blog and hosts the Tech Tonics podcast.