Those who have taken an ILPA Institute course have likely been welcomed by Senior Director of Education Mandy Ilk. An ILPA staffer for the last decade, Mandy has been involved in the immense growth of the Institute’s offerings. Her top priority for those who find themselves in an ILPA classroom? Creating a safe space for LPs to network, problem-solve, and thought-share…and have fun doing it!
What excites you most about leading the ILPA Institute and education overall?
Having been with ILPA for over 11 years, I have seen first-hand the immense growth – in both our association and in the private markets industry. What started with one program back in 2009 has grown into 15 programs in our Institute catalogue, ranging from introductory classes for those who are brand new to this industry all the way through the executive education spectrum, to more advanced, hands-on deep-dives on diligence, legal documents, manager selection, portfolio construction, risk, and more. We even have a unique class designed for LPs looking to strengthen their communications style (which, in my opinion, one of the most important muscles to flex).
I am also constantly energized about the growth of our membership, which has grown into a true global association with members from every corner of the world. The ILPA Institute alone has delivered classes in almost every continent (hey LPs in Antarctica, reach out!) and we will continue to grow our deliveries to reach every single LP who is looking for training and peer-to-peer networking within their community.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give LPs looking to get the most out of their professional development and learning opportunities?
The ILPA Institute curriculum is incredibly valuable and, I promise, will become an essential tool for you to leverage throughout your career. However, what is the most critical (and truly special) to every ILPA Institute program is the opportunity to connect with your peers. We operate under “Vegas Rules” in the classroom, and it is my highest priority to create a safe space for LPs to problem-solve, thought-share and laugh (we host some pretty epic dinners).
The network you gain with ILPA and the Institute in particular is next-level; I would encourage every single program participant to share emails and connect on LinkedIn, touch-base on ILPA Connect when you have a manager question or are sourcing out a new vendor, go for a coffee after that tough LPAC meeting, and find one another at ILPA and other industry conferences – build your network! The connections made in our classrooms will be fruitful throughout your careers!
What’s something about you—inside or outside of work—that might surprise the ILPA community?
The LPs who I have had the privilege of getting to know over the years can attest that I am an open book and that I am fueled by meeting new people and learning about them (professionally and personally) during those long ILPA Institute programming weeks and the ILPA Summit and Members’ Conferences. What’s maybe interesting personally, is that I do not come from a private markets background. I graduated University with a degree in Literature (minor in Cinema Studies) and spent the first decade of my career in the arts industry. When I started at ILPA it was one of those unassuming life pivots that I had no idea would turn into such a rewarding and enjoyable career. I would like to thank every one of the thousands of LPs I have met in the classroom over my tenure for teaching me more and more about who they are as LPs and what it is they strive for within their own careers.
