Vanessa hosts an off-the-record conversation for former engineers, product leaders, and founders now navigating their first years in venture. The group will explore how operating experience provides a real edge in sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support in ways pure finance backgrounds can't. The session will also cover where those instincts need recalibrating; what's genuinely new about the VC craft, how to ramp quickly, and how to build deal judgment and investor relationships when your rolodex is full of engineers, not GPs. Just as importantly, this is a room for new-to-venture operators to connect, compare notes on the transition, and start building their tribe. **For Investors Only**