Vanessa Colella
InvestorPartner at McKinsey & Company
San Francisco, California
Writes $1M – $20M checks · typically $5M
About
Vanessa Colella is President and CEO of Stellarus. She has led global organizations through high-growth transformations and the adoption of emerging technologies, with recognition from Forbes and American Banker for her leadership.
Experience
- StellarusPresident and CEOcurrent2025 — presentOakland, California, United States
- La Scuola International SchoolBoard Membercurrent2020 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- MIT Media LabMember of the Corporation Visiting Committeecurrent2015 — presentCambridge, MA
- VisaGlobal Head of Innovation and Digital Partnerships2022 — 2025San Francisco, California, United States
- National Venture Capital AssociationBoard Member2021 — 2022Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- CitiChief Innovation Officer, Head of Citi Ventures and Head of Citi Productivity2020 — 2022
- CitiChief Innovation Officer & Head of Citi Ventures2017 — 2020San Francisco Bay Area
- CitiManaging Director, Global Head of Venture Investing and Strategic Growth Initiatives2013 — 2017Palo Alto, CA
- CitiManaging Director, Head of NA Marketing2010 — 2013New York, NY
- USVPEntrepreneur in Residence2009 — 2010Palo Alto, CA
- Yahoo!SVP Insights2008 — 2009Sunnyvale, CA
- McKinseyPartner2001 — 2008Palo Alto, CA
- Dwight SchoolBiology Teacher1991 — 1995New York, NY
- JHS 265/ Teach for AmericaScience Teacher1990 — 1991Brooklyn, NY
Education
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyPhD, Media Arts and Sciences1996 — 2001
- Teachers College, Columbia UniversityMA, Technology and Education1995 — 1996
- The Rockefeller University1991 — 1994
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologySB, Biology1986 — 1990
Skills & more
FinTech5Organizational Leadership5Digital Transformation2Artificial Intelligence (AI)Healthcare IndustryBusiness Analysis14Strategic Partnerships86Analytics73Entrepreneurship49Integrated Marketing22Mobile Internet3Brand Architecture5
+12 more
Start-upsCorporate DevelopmentProduct ManagementBusiness StrategyDigital MediaStrategyTechnologyMergers & AcquisitionsProduct DevelopmentWeb AnalyticsLeadershipManagementFrom Vanessa's professional profile.
Colleagues at McKinsey & Company
Network3
Akshay
Senior Principal at Further Ventures
Enrico Resmini
Partner at McKinsey & Company
Teddy Lee
Investor at McKinsey & Company
Investors connected to Vanessa in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Vanessa Colella work?
- Vanessa Colella is Partner at McKinsey & Company.
- What check size does Vanessa Colella write?
- Vanessa Colella typically writes checks of $1M – $20M.
Same school
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,280
Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDGBrad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and Techstars
+ 1,274 more
Also attended Teachers College, Columbia University10
Louis BernemanFounding Partner at Osage University PartnersJanae HollandAssociate at Juvo VenturesSoenda HowellPartner at Charter School Growth FundChris ChumleyOperating Partner at PHX VenturesDiana JohnsonSenior Manager, Greening America’s Cities at Bezos Earth FundSébastien LégerGeneral Partner & Co-Founder at Slate Venture Capital
+ 4 more
Also attended The Rockefeller University9
David KaufmanInvestor at Third Rock VenturesAdam ZongEntrepreneur-In-Residence at The Innovation SpaceAlejo ChornyPrincipal Investment at Criteria Bio VenturesTommy BroudyOperating Partner, Bridgewest Group at Bridgewest VenturesTim GardnerVenture Partner at PsyMed VenturesLuca ParolariSenior Associate at DCVC (Data Collective)
+ 3 more
Shared employers
Also worked at MIT Media Lab96
Wesley ChanInvestor at Felicis VenturesDr. Catherine HavasiAdvisor at AI CapitalWill JackInvestor at Alsop Louie PartnersArjan SchütteFounder & Managing Partner at Core Venture CapitalKevin TuPartner at DFJAbdulrahman TarabzouniFounder & CEO at STV
+ 90 more
Also worked at National Venture Capital Association68
Jeremy LiewPartner at Lightspeed Venture PartnersByron DeeterPartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersNick WashburnSenior Managing Director, Intel Capital (North America)Tiffany SpencerHead of Marketing at Menlo VenturesKate MitchellFounder at Scale Venture PartnersAdam D'AugelliInvestor at True Ventures
+ 62 more
Also worked at Citi729
Nina AchadjianInvestor at Index VenturesRishi ModiInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)RustyAdvisor at Clear VenturesKerry WongHead of Investor Relations at Pantera CapitalTori KorineInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersAnn PauloseSenior Investor Relations Associate at Greycroft
+ 723 more
Also worked at Yahoo!278
Jess LeePartner and Chief Product Officer at Sequoia CapitalMike SpeiserManaging Director at Sutter Hill VenturesFrédérique DameInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Marcie VuPartner at GreycroftIsabelle PhelpsPartner at Lerer HippeauPaul LevineOperating Partner at Sapphire Ventures
+ 272 more