Off-duty: Hamilton Lane’s Katie Moore on DEI, 4 Non Blondes and homemade pierogies

Buyouts’ Off-duty provides a snapshot of top investors, including a few details about what they do when not chasing deals.

Katie Moore, a 16-year veteran of Hamilton Lane, is at the center of the $818 billion firm’s big footprint in the diversity, equity and inclusion space.

Named head of emerging and diverse investment programs in 2021, she leads a team effort to support the DEI goals of clients. This includes overseeing the $300 million private equity sleeve of Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board’s emerging-diverse Future Initiative.

Co-chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, Moore also works to advance “inclusion from within,” she told Buyouts, including through HL-All, a plan aimed at further embedding DEI in Hamilton Lane’s culture. “If we get that right, it will resonate with the client base and the market more broadly.”

At a moment when ESG is facing a political backlash, Moore asserts its value in investing: “We’re focused on risk-adjusted returns and we’ve seen first-hand that companies with strong DEI practices are more attractive. It’s smart risk management.”

A wife and mother of two boys, Moore is one of five lead singers in the Hamiltones, a pop-rock band that performs at charity events.

Where is your hometown?

Malvern, Pennsylvania.

If you weren’t in PE, what job would you like to have?

I would write about and teach European history.

How do you relax when you’re not working?

A lot of family time, cooking or on sports fields. My boys love trying to beat us in any type of game. It hasn’t happened yet but it’s coming.

What book are you reading right now?

I just finished The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki. It’s historical fiction but an interesting read as she was the heir and owner of General Foods, one of the first women on a board of directors, and built Mar-a-Lago.

I love stories about women who were ahead of their time.

What is your favorite song, album, performer or music genre?

1990s rock. I can sing a mean 4 Non Blondes.

What is your favorite meal, recipe, cocktail or bottle of wine?

My husband is a competitive barbecue chef and the only thing I like better than his homemade pierogies are his short ribs and barbecue sauce with a side of his famous ‘slaw.

What is your favorite place for a vacation, sanctuary or a place to explore? 

Our home-away-from-home is the south end of Ocean City, New Jersey.

Who in your career do you regard as a mentor?

Andrea Kramer (COO of Hamilton Lane), one of the most exceptional investors I’ve known (those who know her understand what I mean) and have been lucky enough to have – and still have – in my corner as a mentor and friend.

Professionally, what was your toughest moment?

Most of my tough moments have been around a reluctance to take on a new and bigger role and at the same time raise a family and manage other life hurdles.

What I’ve learned is that I am grateful to work for a firm that has always supported my personal and professional journey and given me grace and space as I need it to be successful in all facets of my life.

What was your most rewarding moment?

I started at Hamilton Lane more than 16 years ago, when we were a much smaller firm, and have celebrated many milestones.

But the most rewarding moment that really got me was two years ago: I was driving over the bridge to our brand-new headquarters with our firm name in huge letters on top. It was such a statement moment – sort of a “Hell yeah, look what we built.” I’m proud to have been a small part of the firm’s success story.

What PE buzz words or jargon do you hate most?

“Deal guys.”

What advice would you give a young person interested in a PE career?

If you’re looking for a job where you can channel your ambition, travel the world, form amazing and often very interconnected relationships while at the same time tackling big challenges, this industry is for you.

What word or phrase best describes you?

Those who wish to sing always find a song.

(This story was updated to clarify Hamilton Lane’s role in Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board’s Future Initiative.)