As a Ventures Associate, Leisan Garifullina brings experience in venture building, venture capital and strategy. She is passionate about creating new ventures and using capital to drive innovation and impact. Her approach is grounded in analytical rigor, creative problem-solving and a commitment to collaborative, cross-sector work.

Prior to joining Gary, Leisan was a venture capital investor at a late-stage venture capital fund, where she led deal origination for more than 1,300 opportunities in the technology sector and helped deploy over $50 million in capital. She played a key role in financial modeling, competitive analysis and post-investment support across a portfolio of 13 companies.

Before entering the world of venture capital, Leisan worked in strategy consulting at PwC, where she led research, market sizing and strategic analysis for private equity and corporate clients across global teams. She began her career in health care strategy, conducting market entry analysis at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and also founded a consulting initiative that served clients across Asia, Europe and the U.S.

Leisan holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Pomona College, where she was recognized as a Pomona College Scholar. In 2025, she was named a Venture Investor and Private Equity Star by DCA Live. She is fluent in English and Russian and conversational in Tatar and Spanish.

In her free time, Leisan loves traveling (she has lived in four countries and visited 35), exploring the outdoors, building with LEGOs and volunteering with children.