27 Mar IU Ventures Summit Speaker Lisa Forbes Credits IU with Helping Her Develop as a Leader
As a high school student in Idaho, Lisa McLean Forbes never imagined she would one day become the captain of the crew team at Indiana University.
“Growing up in Idaho, I had never even considered crew before coming to IU,” she explained. “Taking on the challenge of an intense, new sport and improving to the point where I was named captain of the team gave me the confidence to believe I could tackle anything I set my mind to.”
At this year’s IU Ventures Founders & Funders Network Venture Summit, Forbes will join Dan Herscovici and Scott Holloway on a VC Perspective panel entitled “Economic Trends and Investment Themes for 2025 and Beyond,” which will take place on Friday, May 16th. Registration for the Summit is now open on the IU Ventures website.
Forbes graduated from IU in 1999 after majoring in Political Science and earning a Business Certificate. She took on several leadership roles as a student, including serving as president of the Kappa Delta sorority and captain of the crew team. She believes her experiences at IU were pivotal in shaping who she is now, especially the leadership roles that helped her build the skills that have defined her approach to leadership in her career.
“Being on the crew team was particularly influential,” she said. ”It taught me discipline, commitment, and resilience. The early morning practices, five days a week, really set the tone for how I approach challenges, both personal and professional, and stay determined to follow through on my commitments.”
Forbes also sees her friendships from IU forming her first professional network. She moved to Chicago after law school, in part because many of her college friends were there and she wanted to be near the community she had built in Bloomington.
“Those connections have continued to be a source of support and inspiration as I’ve moved forward in my career,” she said. “And, of course, I needed people to watch Hoosier basketball with!”
Forbes is currently General Counsel at Builders Vision, a team of investors and philanthropists committed to building a more resilient future. She joined in 2019 after spending most of her career in the finance industry. The company’s goal is to accelerate sustainable transitions in three key sectors of food and agriculture, energy, and oceans by deploying strategic capital to drive meaningful change and move markets forward.
“What excited me most about joining Builders Vision was the opportunity to take the skills I’d developed throughout my career and apply them to making a positive impact on people and the planet,” she explained. “Over the past six years, it’s been incredibly energizing to work at a place that’s so mission-aligned and deeply committed to using capital to support sustainable solutions that drive impact, economic opportunity, and ultimately, systems change, in these critical sectors.”
As an example, Forbes referenced food and agriculture, where one of their key areas of focus is advancing regenerative agriculture practices, which can improve soil health, boost yields, and increase farmer’s profitability—offering an alternative approach that is both environmentally sustainable and financially viable.
“We’re committed to helping these sectors evolve toward more sustainable, resilient, and economically thriving futures by providing capital, driving innovation, and collaborating with organizations and stakeholders to create lasting impact,” she said.
As part of her panel discussion at the IU Ventures Summit, Forbes plans to share her insights into the opportunities Builders Vision is focused on in their three key sectors, where she believes innovation and increasing demand are fueling rapid growth.
“For Builders Vision, success is about achieving both strong financial returns and meaningful impact,” Forbes explained. “We don’t see impact as a compromise—financial performance and building a more resilient economy go hand in hand. Investing in sustainable and innovative solutions is not just a way to address the world’s most pressing challenges; it’s also good, prudent investing for the future.”
She is particularly proud that Builders Vision works alongside a wide range of partners—investors, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, advocates, community leaders, scientists, and others who are on the front lines of these solutions.
“Collaboration with other organizations is a part of our DNA,” she explained. “This powerful ecosystem allows us to learn from each other and leverage different perspectives, which are essential to our collective success.”
This will be Forbes first time attending the Venture Summit, where she hopes to build new connections with other IU alumni and learn more about IU Ventures and the amazing companies and entrepreneurs they’re backing.
“I’m always open to connecting with others who are passionate about this work and want to join us in making an impact,” she said.
In addition to the Summit, Forbes is excited to visit IU again. She misses the beautiful campus, nights out with friends on Kirkwood, and the sunrises at Lake Lemon where she spent many mornings with the crew team. Forbes also plans to bring her two teenage daughters with her to the Summit, in order to show them around campus. And, perhaps, gently influence their future college plans.
“Who knows, maybe they’ll be Hoosiers one day?” she said.
Registration for the IU Ventures Summit, available on the IU Ventures website, is limited to 300 people and is expected to sell out. Registration is $100 and includes all Summit programming. IU Ventures also offers a limited number of full scholarships (offered first come, first served) for current IU students to attend all Summit activities.