Daphne Dufresne has had an illustrious 25-year career in private equity. She credits her success to a hardworking immigrant mother who demonstrated a strong work ethic and extraordinarily high expectations.

Daphne is the Founder and Managing Partner of Awani Capital, a firm she launched in 2024 after leaving her role at GenNx360. Awani Capital was established with the mission of providing capital and strategic resources to middle-market companies, with a particular focus on diverse entrepreneurs and underserved markets.

Prior to founding Awani Capital, Daphne was a Managing Partner at GenNx360, a middle-market private equity firm with $1.8BN under management. She was involved in all aspects of the firm’s investment activities, portfolio management, and fundraising, serving as a voting member of the firm’s Investment Committee. She led 23 transactions on behalf of the firm for four platforms: AeroRepair, GenServe Inc, Precision Aviation Group, and Whitsons Culinary Group.

As a call to action to the lack of capital opportunities for minority entrepreneurs, and in addition to her role at GenNx360, Daphne was a Lead Partner in a small venture capital fund focused on entrepreneurs who are Black, Brown, and LGBTQ. The investments spanned fintech, digital health, media, and edtech.

For over a decade, she led, as one of the founders, a $230MM middle-market private equity fund where she was instrumental in getting the fund raised, building the team, and investing in a portfolio of 12 companies that generated a strong track record. Daphne was Chairman of the Board of Directors of both Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company and Media Source Inc. until they were successfully sold. She also led the investment in J&J Africa with The Carlyle Group.

Prior to that, she was a Partner in a $1 billion fund of funds, where she led their co-investment program. Before that, she was a Principal at a diversified private equity firm managing $4.4 billion in assets under management. She began her investment career in Europe, working in structured finance for European buyout transactions.

She currently serves as the Chair of the Compensation Committee of UNFI (Nasdaq:UNFI). She previously served on the Audit Committee and Nominating & Governance Committee. Prior to its sale in December 2021, Daphne was the elected Chairman and Chair of the Audit Committee of Condor Hospitality Trust (Nasdaq:CDOR). Both board roles included being part of transformational change.