Rayna Lesser Hannaway, CFA

I work with investors, founders, and executives on the real decisions and challenges in front of them. That might mean pressure-testing an investment or business decision, navigating a difficult team dynamic, becoming a better leader, or recognizing when your own habits and assumptions are getting in the way. I bring nearly three decades as an investor and team leader to the work, alongside the coaching skills to help you see what you may not see on your own. I also work directly with investment firms and family offices, providing fractional investment research and portfolio management, as well as fractional CIO support.

Board Member at BioStem Technologies, a leading innovator in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of allografts for regenerative therapies. BioStem harnesses the natural properties of perinatal tissue through its proprietary BioRetain processing method. Serves on the Audit Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee.

Board Member at Xelcis Bio™, a biotechnology company focused on advancing next-generation cancer therapeutics and enabling improved therapeutic performance through its proprietary XELCIS XB enabling delivery platform.

I co-founded RHK Mountain Ventures with my husband to identify mispriced properties in the Mad River Valley and transform them into high-performing short-term rentals. We brought modern, guest-first housing to a market with aging inventory and launched short-term rentals before the platforms were mainstream. We’re not actively acquiring now. The focus is disciplined portfolio management—operational excellence and selective sales. I contribute investment judgment, capital allocation, and exit strategy. My husband leads the daily operations.

I built and led a global investment team managing three high conviction, innovation focused small and mid cap growth strategies. I developed and institutionalized a proprietary research framework centered on durable growth, reinvestment potential, moat strength, capital efficiency, and leadership quality. My role was deeply hands on in investment analysis and decision making, guiding company research and helping the team strengthen judgment, analytical discipline, and emotional composure. A big part of my leadership was instilling the behavioral foundations of successful long term investing including clear thinking under pressure, maintaining research quality, and holding conviction through market volatility. I also represented Polen Capital publicly on CNBC, Bloomberg, Barron’s, podcasts, and at industry events, sharing insights on markets, strategy, and investing. Beyond investing, I contributed to thought leadership and marketing efforts by collaborating on client communications and strategic messaging for institutional and high net worth audiences. Mentoring was a priority throughout my career. I developed talent across the firm and founded Polen’s WISE (Women Inspiring Success and Engagement) Employee Resource Group to champion inclusive leadership and professional growth.

At Fidelity, I managed concentrated portfolios in the technology, telecom, consumer, and industrials sectors. We were often among the largest institutional shareholders, which gave me direct access to leadership teams and a seat at the table in their strategic conversations. I became a resource to management, offering perspective while gaining insights that sharpened my investment edge. I focused on identifying high quality businesses with strong growth potential and the leadership to unlock it. Through rigorous fundamental research, complemented by quantitative analysis, I built conviction, managed risk, and delivered results. Many of the companies I backed were later acquired or taken private at attractive valuations, validating the strength of the long term thesis and the discipline behind the work.