The Venture Lab Alumni Award honors a Penn graduate who exemplifies entrepreneurial leadership, innovation, and community building.
This recognition celebrates alumni who not only lead boldly in their ventures but also give back—through mentorship, investment, or thought leadership—strengthening the Venture Lab ecosystem for future entrepreneurs. Recipients are chosen by the Venture Lab Advisory Board.
This recognition celebrates alumni who not only lead boldly in their ventures but also give back—through mentorship, investment, or thought leadership—strengthening the Venture Lab ecosystem for future entrepreneurs. Recipients are chosen by the Venture Lab Advisory Board.
Our 2025 honoree is Tory Burch, C'88, Executive Chairman & Chief Creative Officer of Tory Burch LLC and Founder of the Tory Burch Foundation
Event Details
Our ceremony honoring Tory will be held at Wharton San Francisco on October 24, 2025.
Dinner Reception
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Formal Program
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Dessert Reception
7:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Event Speakers
Ramanan Raghavendran, EAS'89, W'89, LPS'15
Chairman, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Amasia
Chair, Penn Board of Trustees
Chair, Penn Board of Trustees
Robert B. Goergen, Jr. Chair, WG’00
Founder & Chairman, G5 Capital
Ethan Beard, W’94
Co-Founder, Yoz Labs
Director, Google & Facebook
Board Chair, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Francisco
Director, Google & Facebook
Board Chair, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Francisco
Lori Rosenkopf
Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship Simon & Midge Palley Professor of Management The Wharton School
2025 Honoree | Tory Burch
Tory Burch — the company and person — are an iconic American brand. Tory launched her business in 2004 with a clear purpose: to build a global luxury brand and a foundation that would advance women’s economic power.
The $1 Billion Promise: Tory Burch’s Bold Bet On Women Entrepreneurs
As the Tory Burch Foundation celebrates its 15th anniversary, it’s not pausing to look back—it’s doubling down on the future. Earlier this month, Tory Burch unveiled an ambitious new pledge: to generate more than $1 billion in economic impact through women entrepreneurs by 2030.
Previous Winners
Laura Alber, C'90
2023 Winner
President & Chief Executive Officer
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
President & Chief Executive Officer
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
John Legend, C'99, HON'14
2021 Winner
Award-Winning Artist & Performer (EGOT)
Founder, FreeAmerica
Award-Winning Artist & Performer (EGOT)
Founder, FreeAmerica
Amy Errett, WG'88
2019 Winner
Founder, Madison Reed
Founder, Madison Reed
Andy Rachleff, W'80
Josh Kopelman, W'93
Mark Pincus, W'88
Jeff Weiner, W'92
Rick Thompson, WG'96
2012 Winner
Founder, Flycast
Co-Founder, Playdom
Founder, Flycast
Co-Founder, Playdom
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