Leslie Zhang

Leslie supports the Portfolio Growth team at Point72 Ventures, where she works closely with portfolio companies to help them grow and tackle challenges from fundraising and hiring to business development.

Leslie is a 2x former startup Chief of Staff, where she helped early-stage teams grow, raise capital, and navigate the highs and lows of building companies. Before her time in startups, she advised F500 clients as a consultant at Bain and empowered students as a high school Physics teacher. Leslie earned her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and her BS in mechanical engineering from UT Austin.

I am passionate about working alongside teams to turn bold ideas into reality

I thrive when I’m working side-by-side with teams to bring big ideas to life. Whether it’s refining a fundraising strategy, brainstorming a product launch, or untangling tough data challenges, I love blending strategy and execution to help teams make progress together. What excites me most is being part of the journey to transform smart ideas into real-world impact.

I believe strong teams are built on trust, clarity, and shared ownership

In my experience, the best collaboration happens when trust runs deep, and teams feel empowered to succeed. I focus on active listening, co-creating a shared vision, and building clarity so we can move forward in sync. My goal is to build a working partnership that makes the team stronger as we go.

Experience and empathy drive my approach

I know what it’s like to be in the thick of a startup, where every day is a juggling act between big-picture strategy and hands-on execution. Whether it’s putting together a board deck or jumping in to handle customer support tickets (often in the same day!), I’ve experienced the challenges that many startups face. This perspective drives how I partner with founders: as a supportive, empathetic collaborator who’s always ready to roll up my sleeves and help where I’m needed.