Leah Joy Zell

Leah Joy Zell (Chicago) is the Founder and Portfolio Manager of Lizard Investors LLC. Prior to establishing Lizard Investors LLC in 2008, Leah Joy Zell was a Co-Founder and Partner at Wanger Asset Management from 1992 to 2005. While there, Ms. Zell was the Head of the International Equities Team, the lead Portfolio Manager of the Acorn International Fund and the Wanger European Smaller Companies Fund. From 1984 to 1992, Ms. Zell was a Global Equity Analyst for the Harris Associates after she had begun her career at Lehman Brothers in 1979.

Ms. Zell earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Radcliffe College in 1971, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, having won Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Fulbright (DAAD) and Krupp Foundation fellowships. In 1979, Ms. Zell graduated with her PhD in Modern Social and Economic History from Harvard University. Additionally, Ms. Zell earned her Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation in 1987.

Leah Joy Zell has served on several boards and has held memberships with many organizations throughout her career. Currently, Ms. Zell is on the Executive Committee and is the Treasurer for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. In addition, she is the Director of The Horton Trust Company LLC, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and on the Radcliffe Institute Dean’s Advisory Council. In the past, Ms. Zell has also served with the Chai Trust Company, (from 1999 to 2010), the Harvard Board of Overseers, (from 2003 to 2009), the German Marshall Fund, (from 2003 to 2010), and the International Rescue Committee, (from 2006 to 2010).