Veteran executive and entrepreneur Mandy Price has been appointed a managing director of the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, one of the largest global venture philanthropy firms dedicated to supporting early-stage, high impact social enterprises.
Price, who will be based in the foundation’s Dallas office, will play a lead role in sourcing new investments for the foundation’s portfolio organizations, DRK said. She’ll also work as an operating partner and board member for those organizations, helping them build capacity and achieve maximum impact.
“Joining DRK is an extraordinary opportunity to collaborate with an unparalleled team dedicated to scaling transformative solutions,” Price said in a statement. “I look forward to leveraging my experience to support mission-driven entrepreneurs and help them build scalable, sustainable enterprises that drive meaningful change.”
Price assumes her role at DRK on February 10. DRK may be best known in North Texas for its co-chair Robert S. Kaplan, a former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas who joined the foundation in 2010.
Holly Kuzmich joined DRK in 2022 to lead the foundation’s Texas presence.
Price joins Managing Director Holly Kuzmich, who came to DRK from the George W. Bush Institute in 2022 to lead the foundation’s presence in Texas.
“I’ve known Mandy for ten years so it’s a great joy to now have her as a colleague,” Kuzmich said in a welcome on LinkedIn. “She brings a great skillset and background to the organization and the entrepreneurs we support.”
Social impact and technology pioneer
Before joining DRK, Price was CEO of Kanarys Inc., a pioneering social enterprise she co-founded. The tech platform earned backing from Google, Morgan Stanley, Revolution’s Rise of the Rest, HubSpot Ventures, and top venture capital firms.
Under Price’s leadership, Kanarys became a market leader in AI-driven workforce analytics, digital transformation, and enterprise solutions, helping Fortune 500 companies leverage technology to create inclusive, high-performing workplaces.
Six months ago, a LinkedIn post said Kanarys had been acquired by “an investment vehicle company created by a group of former Chief Diversity Officers.” The post also said the company would remain in “stealth mode” for the time being before unveiling a new name for Kanarys in the fourth quarter of 2024. Financial terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed.
Extensive experience in M&A and private equity
Price has more than 18 years of executive leadership experience, including extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and corporate governance as a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP and a corporate attorney at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
Price has advised major corporations—including General Electric and Morgan Stanley—and professional sports franchises on high-profile transactions and regulatory compliance.
She serves on the boards of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, the Dallas Zoo, and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. She previously served on the boards of the Dallas Regional Chamber, McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, and ChildCareGroup, among others.
Her leadership and contributions have earned her multiple accolades, including recognition as a Top 100 HR Tech Influencer, EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist, and one of Inc.’s Top 100 Female Founders.
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