Kara Barnett

Kara Barnett is a prominent business executive currently serving as the Managing Director and Head of the General Atlantic Foundation at General Atlantic, a global growth equity investor, a position she assumed in October 2023.123

Professional Background

Kara Medoff Barnett has extensive experience in leadership roles across various sectors, particularly in financial services and the arts. Her career highlights include:

• First Republic Bank: She was the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications and also the founding Managing Director of the First Republic Foundation. In these roles, she focused on strengthening nonprofit organizations in areas such as housing, education, and the arts.12
• American Ballet Theatre (ABT): From 2016 to 2021, Barnett served as Executive Director, where she advanced innovation and inclusion within the organization while successfully navigating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic without any layoffs.14
• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: Prior to her tenure at ABT, she held several senior positions at Lincoln Center, including Managing Director of Lincoln Center International, where she was instrumental in its $1.2 billion redevelopment project.24

Education

Kara Barnett graduated summa cum laude from Duke University with a Bachelor’s degree in English and later earned her MBA from Harvard Business School.34

Community Involvement

Barnett is actively engaged in various organizations:

• She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
• A Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute.
• Serves on the Advisory Council of Chelsea Factory and is part of the Global Council for American Ballet Theatre.23

Personal Life

Kara Barnett resides in New York with her husband Dov Mayer Barnett and their three daughters. She has been recognized for her contributions to both business and the arts, including being named one of Crain's New York Business "40 Under 40" in 2014.4