Leeds Illuminate Team
Susan Cates
Managing Partner
Susan has over 25 years of experience in private equity, investment banking, and education leadership. Prior to joining Leeds, Susan was Chief Operating Officer at 2U, Inc., where she oversaw all product and service delivery operations. She was a founding team member of ThinkEquity Partners, where she led the education banking vertical, and a partner at Best Associates, where she led investments in education platforms across the U.S. and Latin America. Susan served as President of Executive Development at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, and led the creation and growth of the school's ground-breaking online MBA program, MBA@UNC. Susan began her career as an investment banker at Wachovia Bank and Merrill Lynch.
Education
UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School | M.B.A.
Duke University l B.A. in Public Policy Studies