Mitchell Green is the Founder and Managing Partner of Lead Edge Capital, a private equity firm with nearly $10 billion of assets under management. Mitchell has led or co-led investments in companies including Alibaba Group, Asana, Benchling, ByteDance, Duo Security, Grafana, Mindbody, and Xamarin, among several others. Mitchell is a former alpine ski racer and is now an amateur race car driver. In 2025, he won the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo 296 Coppa Shell class. He is also a World Economic Forum Partner and serves on the Foundation Board of the US Ski and Snowboard Organization as well as a board member of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. He is the husband of Lisa Green, who is originally from South Africa, and father of four daughters.
You can only have one: Rose’s caramel corn, an ice cream cone from Jersey Junction, or a Yesterdog. Which do you choose?
Jersey Junction all day. I still go there when I’m in town. I’m boring when it comes to flavors. Vanilla, maybe butter pecan. The last time I was there I even got a t-shirt!
What was your path from East Grand Rapids to where you are now in life?
After graduating from East, I went to Williams College, thanks in large part to my ability to go downhill on skis fast. A few years after Williams, I got my MBA from Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania. I began my career in investment banking at UBS and Barrington Associates. Before founding Lead Edge Capital in 2011, I was a member of the investment team at Eastern Advisors, a hedge fund backed by Tiger Management, and prior to business school served as an analyst at Bessemer Venture Partners after working in investment banking.
What specific thing did you learn in East that has enabled you to be successful?
The power of community. East Grand Rapids is a very unique place, where I Iearned the ability of a small group of people to do big things. I feel like I grew up knowing how the world works.
What were you like in school?
Very high energy, very driven, frenetic. I was never in the most popular group, but I think one of the reasons I’ve been successful is that I have a memorable personality. People seem to remember meeting me.
Did you have a favorite teacher or class?
He wasn’t a high school teacher, but Eric Schweinzger at Wealthy was probably my favorite teacher. Mr. Carnevale, my Latin teacher in high school for four years, was the one who pushed me the hardest and to this day probably had the biggest impact on me although to be fair I never was a great Latin student!
If you had to choose one moment in one location to serve as the signature moment of your East school experience, what would it be?
Friday night football games in the fall. Just being in the stands and feeling the energy. And winning a state championship in skiing.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known then?
That I should have raced go karts and cars when I was 10 versus starting at 40!
Do you stay in touch with many people from East Grand Rapids?
One: Brent Traidman, who was one of my best friends from kindergarten. I sincerely wish I had stayed in touch with more people. I wish reunions were organized more as I'd love to attend one sometime.
What advice do you have for young East alums who are just starting out?
In the world we are living in, A.I. will be the great equalizer of intellect so EQ will be more important than IQ. People that will thrive in the coming decades will be people who are personable, persistent, and understand how to interact with people. Sales skills will be a very valuable skill. Build those skills. They will be more important than ever. Oh, and write handwritten thank you notes…it’s a lost art and my secret weapon.
Who else would you like us to have a virtual cup of coffee with?
Ryan McInerney, the CEO of VISA, who is an EGR alum. He’s a great guy.
Bonus question: What are you glad we didn’t ask you about?
Haha. Nothing comes to mind other than the girl I initially asked to prom senior year who said yes and then a day later called me back and said no! Funny to laugh about now (wasn’t as funny my senior year)!
