At Volition Capital, our ability to partner with exceptional founders and build enduring companies starts with our team. Today, we’re excited to announce the promotions of six colleagues whose dedication, insight, and leadership continue to strengthen our firm and the companies we support.
Please join us in congratulating Kyle Howard-Johnson and Melanie Nabar on their promotions to Principal; Emily Pawlak on her promotion to Vice President; Sinjon Goldberg on his promotion to Senior Associate; Kelly Barnum on her promotion to Director of Talent; and Kevin Lamo on his promotion to Senior Manager.
These promotions reflect the impact each of these individuals has had across our investment platform, talent network, and broader Volition community.
Kyle Howard-Johnson, Principal
Kyle has been an instrumental member of our Investment team, bringing deep expertise in sourcing, diligence, and supporting portfolio companies as they scale. Since joining Volition, Kyle has played a key role in identifying high-potential businesses and partnering with founders through critical stages of growth.
He has been closely involved in several of the firm’s investments, including PetScreening, Kombo, and GrowthSignals, working alongside founders and management teams to help drive strategic growth initiatives.
Kyle brings a thoughtful perspective to investment evaluation and works closely with companies on areas such as strategic planning, go-to-market efficiency, and scaling teams. His promotion to Principal reflects both his investment judgment and his commitment to building strong, collaborative relationships with founders and colleagues alike.
Melanie Nabar, Principal
Melanie has made significant contributions across Volition’s investment efforts, combining analytical rigor with a founder-first mindset. She has been actively involved in a number of the firm’s investments, including ABCS Insights, Digital Onboarding, HAAS Alert, HALOS Body Cams, LettrLabs, and Zenarate, supporting both the diligence process and ongoing partnership with portfolio companies.
Melanie is known for her thoughtful approach to evaluating growth opportunities and her collaborative work with founders as they scale their businesses. Her promotion recognizes her growing leadership within the firm and her consistent ability to identify and support companies positioned for meaningful growth.
Emily Pawlak, Vice President
Emily has played a key role on our Investment team, bringing sharp market insights and a collaborative approach to working with founders. She has contributed across the investment lifecycle—from sourcing opportunities to conducting diligence and supporting portfolio companies as they scale.
Emily has been involved in several of the firm’s investments, including Aditude, BusRight, Doing Things, Linkby, Revi, and Screenverse, helping evaluate opportunities and partner with founders as they navigate growth. Her promotion to Vice President reflects her strong investment acumen, thoughtful perspective on emerging trends across internet and consumer markets, and her continued impact across the Volition platform.
Sinjon Goldberg, Senior Associate
Sinjon has been a valuable contributor to our Investment team, supporting diligence, market analysis, and portfolio initiatives. He has supported investments including PetScreening and Relish, helping the team evaluate opportunities and deepen its understanding of key sectors. His promotion to Senior Associate recognizes both his growing expertise and the meaningful role he plays in the firm’s investment process.
Kelly Barnum, Director of Talent
Kelly is a key member of Volition’s Growth Operations team, where she leads talent initiatives that support both our firm and the companies in our portfolio. In this role, she works closely with founders and leadership teams to help them attract, hire, and develop the talent needed to scale their organizations.
Kelly has played an important role in building and expanding Volition’s talent network, connecting portfolio companies with experienced executives and functional leaders across a wide range of roles. Her work helps founders strengthen their leadership teams and build the organizational foundations required for long-term growth. Her promotion to Director of Talent reflects her leadership within the Growth Operations platform and the significant value she delivers to both our portfolio companies and the broader Volition community.
Kevin Lamo, Senior Manager, Finance
Kevin is a key member of Volition’s Finance team, where he plays an important role supporting the firm’s financial operations and infrastructure. His work helps ensure the smooth execution of our fund and firm-level financial processes as Volition continues to grow.
Kevin collaborates closely with teams across the firm to support reporting, fund operations, and the financial systems that underpin our investment platform. His attention to detail and commitment to operational excellence help ensure the firm can continue to effectively support our portfolio companies and partners. Kevin’s promotion to Senior Manager recognizes his continued impact and dedication to strengthening Volition’s financial and operational foundation.
