about us
At Kayo, we believe women should have a community that supports, elevates and champions them. That’s why we create industry events where professional women can connect with leaders, advance themselves and champion other women. We want women to know we’re stronger when we Trailblaze Together.
Founder Lindsay Burton previously held positions in private equity and banking in New York City, so she knows what it’s like to be the only woman in the room. Her goal was to create a place where women could join forces in a male-dominated business world and advance themselves further and faster.
Kayo currently curates five annual summits plus virtual events, reaching 2,500 women annually in industries such as private equity, venture capital, ESG, energy and infrastructure, credit and debt and real estate. We also host pop-up lunches and leadership retreats as a way to tighten our community and create continued networking and personal development opportunities.
our team
Lindsay Burton
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Lindsay Burton is the Founder and President of the Kayo Conference Series, an event company which champions women in finance. In 12 years, the Kayo Conference Series has held more than 30 summits and leadership retreats and more than 50 virtual events reaching a network of more than 30,000 women in alternative investing. She was the formerly the host of the podcast The Weekly Knockout, a series where industry leaders help women in business turn obstacles into opportunities. Prior to founding Kayo in 2012, Lindsay spent four years as a secondary private equity investor at AlpInvest Partners, a division of the Carlyle Group. She began her career at Lehman Brothers in private placements and healthcare investment banking sector. She received her B.A. in Comparative Literature and Economics from the University of Virginia.
HANNAH WYNNYK
HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Hannah Wynnyk joined Kayo in January 2022 and heads up the Sales team. She joins Kayo from a 15-year career in luxury retail, most recently in a leadership role in eCommerce operations and development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Old Dominion University and is a steward of commerce and customer experience. She currently resides in Scottsville, VA with her husband and daughter where she can be found exercising her passion for interior design, curating neighborhood relationships and volunteering on multiple Boards in her community.
KATE POTTER
HEAD OF PRODUCT
Kate Potter joined Kayo Conference Series with 10 years of leadership experience in the luxury retail and manufacturing industry. Kate spearheads all event operations, including event design and executions strategy, client experience, vendor relationships, and programming. Most recently she held a leadership role for Yves Delorme, Inc., a leading French luxury linen company. She resides in Barboursville, VA with her husband and has a passion for her family and horses. Kate earned a B.A. from Old Dominion University.
LONA DOYLE
HEAD OF MARKETING
Lona Doyle is the Head of Marketing at Kayo Conference Series. Prior to joining Kayo in 2024, Lona held senior marketing manager positions at AllianceBernstein and Goldman Sachs in New York City, where she also served on the Global Best Practices Committee. Most recently, she was at the University of Virginia Biocomplexity Institute. Lona holds a law degree from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University and has a Masters in Legal Studies with a focus on Intellectual Property Law from Albany Law School. She also is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Graduate Leadership Program. Lona currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia with her husband and son. She loves to garden and when not gardening, can be found searching for the next treasure at thrift stores in and around the Charlottesville area.
ALLISON O'DONNELL
HEAD OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Allison O’Donnell serves as the Head of Business Development department. She has a decade of experience in Human Resources, recruiting, and general administration from roles at SaaS, manufacturing, and boutique firms. She earned her B.A. from the University of California, Irvine and is passionate about people, organization, process improvement, and dessert. She currently resides in Las Vegas, NV with her husband and two children.
ASHLEY JOHNSON
HEAD OF EVENT DESIGN
Ashley Johnson joined Kayo in May of 2022. As Head of Event Design, Ashley lends her creativity to curating exceptional content for Kayo events. She develops topics, identifies and recruits presenters and panelists, and helps to expand Kayo’s network of top women speakers. She started her professional career in the non-profit sector after earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. After discovering her love for events, Ashley transitioned into the industry and has since held positions developing and managing events in the arts, local government, state government, and most recently higher education. Ashley currently resides in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. When she is not reading or listening to a podcast, Ashley can be found dabbling in fiction writing, nature photography, and meeting friends at her favorite local eateries.
ERIN LOVING
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Erin Loving is the Director of Speaker Recruitment & Engagement. She joins Kayo with 20+ years of experience in client relations and digital commerce. Most recently she managed the official online stores for music legends and global brands such as David Bowie, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Tim McGraw, Global Citizen, Pepsi, and Madison Square Garden. Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Mary Baldwin University. Erin is also the owner and wedding officiant at Loving Ceremonies. She resides in Nelson County with her husband and son. When not spending time with family or friends, Erin can be found catching up on British detective shows, reading, or watching movies.
Kim martin, shrm-cp
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Kim Martin currently serves in a dual role as the Director of Human Resources and Business Administration. She has worked in many industries since starting her career with USAirways (now American Airlines) and discovered her passion for Human Resources more than a decade ago while working in finance. Kim earned her Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies from The University of Virginia and resides with her husband in Central Virginia.
Katie Mumper
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Katie Mumper is the Director of Community Engagement at Kayo Conference Series. With a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a M.Ed from James Madison University, Katie began her career in university career development before moving into talent acquisition for a software development company. Now, Katie recruits exceptional panelists and presenters for Kayo events, and helps to build Kayo’s network of trailblazing women in finance and alternative investments. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and their cat, Beans.
CHANNING CASON SHIFFLETT
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING
Channing Shifflett serves as the Executive Assistant to the Head of Business Development and Marketing for Kayo Conference Series. As Executive Assistant, Channing provides adminstrative support to the Business Development and Marketing team and helps with special projects as needed. With several years of experience in event planning through the retail and hospitality industry, her most recent role was in North Carolina with Marriott International in the sales & marketing department. Channing earned her Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech and recently completed her Master’s in Marketing through Liberty University. She currently resides in Madison, VA with her husband and doodle pups, Camo & Khaki.
GRACE FOX
SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER
Grace Fox is the Sales Account Manager at Kayo Conference Series. As Account Manager, she covers day-to day sponsorship logistics and serves as our sponsor’s main POC throughout their journey with Kayo. She has several years of experience in event operations and beyond focusing on the hospitality management field. Grace earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management at James Madison University (Go Dukes!). She currently resides in the central VA region and can be found traveling across the U.S., organizing anything in sight and enjoying a slow pace of life outside of Kayo.
Adele Du
EVENT DESIGN ASSOCIATE
Adele Du serves as the Event Design Associate at the Kayo Conference Series. As part of the creative force behind all Kayo events, she oversees content research, project management, and event design. With a Master of Science degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri, Adele brings her expertise in research, project management, event design, and analytics skills. She is passionate about creating the best event experience for all Kayo attendees. When she’s not working, you can find her listening to podcasts of all genres, exploring the local farmers’ market, and crossing off eateries from her extensive “to-visit” list.
Samantha Aldridge
DIGITAL MARKETING ASSOCIATE
Samantha Aldridge is the Digital Marketing Associate at Kayo, with over 8 years of experience in social media management across various industries. With a Bachelor of Science in Creative Advertising from James Madison University, she brings dynamic expertise to her role. Samantha’s diverse industry experience, including her recent work with Lighthouse Labs and startup companies, has ignited her passion for venture capital. She excels in content creation, strategic planning, consistently driving increased brand awareness and substantial revenue growth. Beyond her digital marketing prowess, Samantha enjoys watching Star Wars and hitting the gym while listening to Harry Styles.
Julia Broughton
PROJECT MANAGER
Julia Broughton is a Project Manager at Kayo Conference Series. Her primary goal is to oversee projects from start to finish. Obsessed with the wow factor, Julia helps ensure that our events exceed expectations every single time. Julia joined Kayo from the University of Lynchburg, where she graduated with a bachelor’s in marketing and was a goalie for the Women’s Lacrosse team (Go Burg!) Her competitive nature and love for being part of a team make her a perfect fit for the Kayo community. Outside of the office, you can find Julia coaching local youth on the lacrosse field, crafting and baking at home, or snuggled up on the couch with her two pups: Jake and Winston.
Morgan Harwood
PRODUCT MARKETING ASSOCIATE
Morgan Harwood is a Product Marketing Associate at Kayo Conference Series. With an Associate’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication, she brings extensive project management skills and writing expertise to the Marketing Team. Morgan’s experience extends to team management as the Managing Editor of a rhetoric journal during her undergraduate studies, and she is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in English and Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University. Apart from her passion for turning words into stories and metrics into strategic campaign pivots, Morgan can be found with a book, a vanilla iced coffee, and her dog outside of work.
sarah dodson
ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER
Sarah Dodson is an Assistant Project Manager at Kayo Conference Series. Her primary focus at Kayo is to help our team achieve success for our projects from start to finish. With seven years of experience in the Event Industry, Sarah loves the fine details and creating a seamless experience for the Kayo community. Sarah earned a bachelor’s in Business Administration and Project Management from Liberty University, her love for planning and business inspires her to build events that encourage women in finance. Outside of Kayo, Sarah can be found still planning the occasional wedding, spending time with friends and family, and trying new recipes in the kitchen.
KATELYN HOOPPAW
SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER
Katelyn Hooppaw is a Sales Account Manager at Kayo, with over 9 years of experience delivering catered solutions to clients. With a comprehensive background in client services and a master’s degree in human resources management, Katelyn brings a profound understanding of business needs to the team. Her expertise lies in finding creative solutions to complex business challenges, driving initiatives that support the company’s strategic direction, and monitoring progress towards goals. When not at work, Katelyn can be found walking around her neighborhood with her husband and Saint Bernard or curled up with a good book and tea.
MARY FLEMING FINLAY
EVENT DESIGN ASSOCIATE
Mary Fleming Finlay serves as an Event Design Associate at the Kayo Conference Series. She began at Kayo as an intern and loved the Kayo mission and team, so she began to work full time following her graduation from the University of Virginia! With a bachelor’s degree in Economics from UVA, she leverages her skills in content and market research to enhance the event design process. Mary Fleming is consistently working to create events that feature the latest, most interesting, and relevant topics and speakers, ensuring an enriching experience for all Kayo attendees. Mary Fleming currently resides in Jackson, WY, and outside of Kayo, she enjoys hiking, skiing, running, listening to music, and cooking for her friends and family.
stephanie aizvera
ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER
Stephanie Aizvera is an Assistant Project Manager at Kayo Conference Series. Her role is to support our team’s projects from beginning to end. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Virginia Tech, Go Hokies! After working with Marriott on their events team, Stephanie brings her expertise of event planning and operations into Kayo. She is passionate about the events industry and has a drive to execute memorable events. Stephanie is from Northern, VA but recently moved to Charlottesville, VA. Apart from Kayo, Stephanie loves weightlifting, cooking, and spending time with her loved ones.
why attend a kayo event
Our community creates new business opportunities and new connections
in an open, supportive and collaborative environment.
ADVANCE YOURSELF
We curate events where opportunities to speak, network and lead aren’t just welcomed, they are encouraged.
CONNECT WITH LEADERS
We make it easy to connect with female business leaders and learn from them in a one-on-one setting.
CHAMPION YOUR PEERS
Explore new deals or connect with others.
We’ve built a place where women champion each other.
GET RESULTS YOU WANT
Nothing should stand between you and the career you want to have. We walk beside you until you get there.
trailblaze together
ATTEND
Invest in yourself while you network with other trailblazers.
SPEAK
Get behind the podium to advance your career.
SPONSOR
Be the company that walks beside women in your industry.