MEET THE MINDSET TEAM
ALISON LAWTON - PRESIDENT
Alison founded Mindset Venture Group in 1997 (formerly known as Winfield Venture Group Ltd.) and has a track record of identifying successful scalable businesses. Alison began her career in private equity sales in the areas of syndicated software, film, television, and real estate. She was one of three founding partners of ideaPARK, a leading technology business incubator that was listed on the TSX in 2000. Alison continues to focus on growing early-stage companies and she has a diverse investment portfolio that includes technology, consumer businesses start-ups, and real estate.
As a social venture philanthropist, Alison founded Mindset Social Innovation Foundation in 2006 and has focused her work around global health challenges and scaling social enterprises. She has been involved with a wide range of organizations including Virgin Unite, The Clinton Foundation, Dispensary of Hope, and UNICEF Canada. Alison is the producer of the award-winning documentary Uganda Rising, and established the International Reporting Program at the University of British Columbia, giving journalism graduate students the opportunity to report on under-covered global issues.
Alison was an early investor in the Acumen Fund, one of the first impact investment funds in the US, and she partnered with Virgin Unite to launch the MaRS Catalyst Fund, managed by the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing (MCII). She is also on the board, as well as an investor, of the Community Hypertension Prevention Initiative, Canada's first health-related social impact bond created by Heart & Stroke, in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada and MCII.
LAURA SCHOENMAKERS, CFA - VP OF FINANCE
Laura joined Mindset Venture Group Ltd in 2013. She manages Mindset’s private equity investment portfolio and leads the due diligence process, as well as the quantitative investment analysis on new investment opportunities. She specializes in building financial models and has worked on a broad range of projects, including many SaaS and consumer businesses analyses, distribution waterfall structures, real estate investment proforma, and has created several financial models to support the development of self-sustaining not for profit organizations.
Laura became a CFA Charterholder in 2018 and holds a Bachelor of Business Economics from Maastricht University in The Netherlands. In her spare time she loves to go camping and snowboarding, cook up a meal for family and friends, and the highlight of all her travels is the local food!
VERONICA SCHOFIELD - OPERATIONS MANAGER
Veronica joined Mindset Venture Group Ltd. in 2021. Her dynamic management style makes her an asset to our team and partners. Having worked in operations since completing her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Veronica has honed her skills with CRM software, account management, and project management. She has a particular interest in entrepreneurialism and small business, and enjoys watching companies grow and succeed.
Veronica considers herself a life-long student, and is excited about all the opportunities to learn about the different industries Mindset Venture Group Ltd. works with. When she’s not working, she usually can be found skiing on the North Shore mountains or hiking with her dog.
LAUREN CASEY - IMPACT INVESTMENT CONSULTANT
Lauren is an independent investment and governance consultant, with significant experience in the field of impact investing. She currently advises and works with Angel investors, entrepreneurs, and financial institutions, drawing on a diverse background to assist clients with investment decision making and corporate/business growth. Most recently Lauren worked as the first Investment Manager (and founder member of the Transition to Scale team) at Grand Challenges Canada, a $400MM plus Federal government-funded, non-profit organization that funds innovation in global healthcare.
Lauren has an Arts degree from Simon Fraser University, another in Justice Studies from Royal Roads University, and a Law degree (LLB) from the University of London. She has a prior background in law and finance, having worked in the natural resource, corporate governance, bio tech, and venture capital sectors in British Columbia since 2003. In addition to her consulting work, she is a director of a thriving health tech company based in Montreal and also volunteers with the entrepreneurship@UBC program, thereby aiding early start-up entrepreneurs to find their feet.
GEORGIA ALEXANDER - NON-PROFIT CONSULTANT
Georgia, a recent Dartmouth College graduate, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Government with a focus on international relations and gender studies. Having co-founded a non-profit dedicated to enhancing athletes' mental fitness globally, Georgia strives to empower individuals to optimize their athletic performance, enrich their athletic experiences, and improve their overall quality of life. Driven by an unwavering passion for addressing the multi-faceted problems confronting Generation Z, Georgia is committed to making a positive impact on the world. She brings a unique perspective and skill set shaped by her academic background and practical experiences.
In addition to her academic and professional achievements, Georgia is a remarkable two-sport NCAA Division 1 athlete, excelling in both basketball and rowing. This diverse skill set reflects her dedication, discipline, and ability to thrive in challenging and competitive environments.
