Private Equity Trailblazer & Founder of Awani Capital Management; Advocate for Diversity in Investment Management; Board Chair at UNFI

Washington, DC, USA
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Daphne Dufresne Biography

Daphne Dufresne is the founder and managing partner of Awani Capital Management, a private equity firm focused on providing capital and strategic resources to middle-market companies in the business services sector. With a career spanning more than 25 years, Dufresne is among the few Black women to have founded a buyout firm in the private equity industry. Her leadership emphasizes growth through a proprietary four-step process to drive value in portfolio companies and a focus on supporting diverse entrepreneurs and underserved markets.

Before founding Awani Capital Management, Dufresne held senior roles at several investment firms. She served as managing partner at GenNx360 Capital Partners, leading investments in sectors including aerospace, defense, and dining services, and executing numerous add-on transactions. Earlier, she was a founding partner and managing director at RLJ Equity Partners, a firm established in partnership with BET founder Robert L. Johnson and The Carlyle Group, where she contributed to fundraising, team building, and portfolio management. Her experience also includes leadership positions at Parish Capital Advisors and Weston Presidio, as well as early career roles in structured finance in Europe.

Dufresne serves on the board of directors for several organizations, including UNFI, where she chairs the compensation committee, and is active in the Young Presidents’ Organization. She has appeared at industry events such as the Milken Institute Global Conference and is a founding member of the Private Equity Women Investor Network. Dufresne holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is recognized for her advocacy of diversity in private equity and her contributions to investment management and thought leadership.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/18/2025.

Daphne Dufresne Videos

Buy and Build in the Middle Market: GenNx360’s Daphne Dufresne

Buy and Build in the Middle Market: GenNx360’s Daphne Dufresne

In this episode, we speak with Daphne Dufresne of GenNx360 Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm that invests in business-to-business...

Daphne Dufresne on Competitive Buying and Company Culture in Private Equity

Daphne Dufresne on Competitive Buying and Company Culture in Private Equity

In this interview, Daphne Dufresne, a managing partner at GenNx360, reveals what she looks for in exciting business opportunities and explains...

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  • What topics does Daphne Dufresne speak about?

    Daphne Dufresne is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Black Heritage, Business Growth, DEI, Diversity & Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, Female Leadership, Finance, Influential Women, Women in Business
  • Where does Daphne Dufresne travel from?

    Daphne Dufresne generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Daphne Dufresne is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Daphne Dufresne for your event is available upon request. Daphne Dufresne generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Carla Harris, Stacy Brown-Philpot, Sheila C. Johnson, Erika Seth Davies and Dina DiLorenzo. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Daphne Dufresne for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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