about us
At Kayo, we believe women should have a community that supports, elevates, and champions them. That’s why we create industry events where professional women can connect with leaders, advance themselves, and champion other women. We want women to know we’re stronger when we Trailblaze Together.
Founder Lindsay Burton previously held positions in private equity and banking in New York City, so she knows what it’s like to be the only woman in the room. Her goal was to create a place where women could join forces in a male-dominated business world and advance themselves further and faster.
Kayo currently curates five annual summits plus virtual events, reaching 2,500 women annually in industries such as private equity, venture capital, ESG, energy and infrastructure, credit and debt, and real estate. We also host pop-up lunches and leadership retreats as a way to tighten our community and create continued networking and personal development opportunities.
our team
Lindsay Burton
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Lindsay Burton is the Founder and President of Kayo, a company designing communities, events, and resources to ensure no one walks alone on their path to success. She is also the host of the podcast The Weekly Knockout, a series where industry leaders help women in business turn obstacles into opportunities. Prior to founding Kayo in 2012, Lindsay held positions in private equity and investment banking in New York City at AlpInvest Partners, a division of the Carlyle Group, and Lehman Brothers. She received her B.A. in Comparative Literature and Economics from the University of Virginia. She currently resides in Charlottesville, VA with her husband and two sons.
COURTNEY VAUGHAN
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Courtney Vaughan is the COO at Kayo. As the COO Courtney oversees the leadership team at Kayo to ensure all departments are running efficiently, working towards united goals, and doing what we do best which is championing woman in finance! Courtney’s prior experience has been within the education industry, where she held several executive and organizational leadership roles. Over the past 15 years, Courtney has focused on organizational growth and leadership development. One of Courtney’s favorite things is working on a team that is tackling goals, learning from each other and constantly raising the bar. Courtney is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She holds a Masters in Behavior Analysis and a certificate in Organizational Behavior Management. She currently resides just outside of Richmond, VA with her husband and son. When Courtney is not working, she enjoys running and supporting the local non-profit community.
HANNAH WYNNYK
HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING
Hannah Wynnyk joined Kayo in January 2022 and heads up the Marketing team. She joins Kayo from a 15-year career in luxury retail, most recently in a leadership role in eCommerce operations and development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Old Dominion University and is a steward of commerce and customer experience. She currently resides in Scottsville, VA with her husband and daughter where she can be found exercising her passion for interior design, curating neighborhood relationships and volunteering on multiple Boards in her community.
KATE POTTER
HEAD OF OPERATIONS
Kate Potter joined Kayo Conference Series with 10 years of leadership experience in the luxury retail and manufacturing industry. Kate spearheads all event operations, including event design and executions strategy, client experience, vendor relationships, and programming. Most recently she held a leadership role for Yves Delorme, Inc., a leading French luxury linen company. She resides in Barboursville, VA with her husband and has a passion for her family and horses. Kate earned a B.A. from Old Dominion University.
ASHLEY JOHNSON
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING
Ashley Johnson joined Kayo in May of 2022 as Director of Programming. As Director of Programming, Ashley lends her creativity to curating exceptional content for Kayo events. She develops topics, identifies and recruits presenters and panelists, and helps to expand Kayo’s network of top women speakers. She started her professional career in the non-profit sector after earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. After discovering her love for events, Ashley transitioned into the industry and has since held positions developing and managing events in the arts, local government, state government, and most recently higher education. Ashley currently resides in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. When she is not reading or listening to a podcast, Ashley can be found dabbling in fiction writing, nature photography, and meeting friends at her favorite local eateries.
ALLISON O'DONNELL
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Allison O’Donnell joined Kayo Conference Series with 10-years of experience in Human Resources, recruiting, and general administration. Allison ensures that the Business Development Team stays on track and organized by providing high-level administrative support and completing special projects as needed. Prior to Kayo she has held positions in SaaS, manufacturing, and boutique firms. She is passionate about organization and process improvement. Allison earned her B.A. from the University of California, Irvine. She currently resides in Las Vegas, NV with her husband and two children.
CHANNING CASON SHIFFLETT
MARKETING ASSOCIATE
Channing Shifflett is the Marketing Associate for Kayo Conference Series. As Marketing Associate, Channing is responsible for the day-to-day execution of our marketing strategy and the management of our leads. With several years of experience in event planning through the retail and hospitality industry, her most recent role was in North Carolina with Marriott International in the sales & marketing department. Channing earned her Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech and recently completed her Master’s in Marketing through Liberty University. She currently resides in Madison, VA with her husband and doodle pups, Camo & Khaki.
GRACE FOX
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Grace Fox is the Account Manager at Kayo Conference Series. As Account Manager, she covers day-to day sponsorship logistics and serves as our sponsor’s main POC throughout their journey with Kayo. She has several years of experience in event operations and beyond focusing on the hospitality management field. Grace earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management at James Madison University (Go Dukes!). She currently resides in the central VA region and can be found traveling across the U.S., organizing anything in sight and enjoying a slow pace of life outside of Kayo.
AUSTIN SAMUEL JONES
SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
Austin Jones is the Senior Business Development Associate at Kayo. In his role, he is responsible for researching and reaching out to new client prospects to qualify the leads for the business. Prior to joining Kayo, Austin worked in the fund administration industry for private investments with Assure Services and The Catalyst Group. Austin held roles in operations and client experience management. These experiences helped him to value execution and the importance of delivering a quality experience for clients. Austin has a passion for the private investment industry and enjoys working with the team to deliver for clients and the company. Austin holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management from Virginia Tech University and completed his MBA at Liberty University. He resides in Richmond, Virginia with his wife and newborn son and when not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, sports, traveling, and trying various restaurants.
Samantha Aldridge
DIGITAL MARKETING ASSOCIATE
Samantha Aldridge is the Digital Marketing Associate at Kayo, with over 8 years of experience in social media management across various industries. With a Bachelor of Science in Creative Advertising from James Madison University, she brings dynamic expertise to her role. Samantha’s diverse industry experience, including her recent work with Lighthouse Labs and startup companies, has ignited her passion for venture capital. She excels in content creation, strategic planning, consistently driving increased brand awareness and substantial revenue growth. Beyond her digital marketing prowess, Samantha enjoys watching Star Wars and hitting the gym while listening to Harry Styles.
Ashley Cramer
PROJECT MANAGER
Ashley Cramer is an Assistant Project Manager at Kayo Conference Series. As Assistant Project Manager, she supports event operations and design, including project timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder relationships. With several years of leadership experience, her most recent role was part of Virginia Tech’s Department of Recreational Sports as Event Manager. Her keen eye for detail and commitment to delivering exceptional experiences drive her passion for hospitality, design, and organization. Ashley received her Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech and currently resides in Charlottesville, VA, where she can be found going on walks and discovering new gluten-free eateries.
why attend a kayo event
Our community creates new business opportunities and new connections
in an open, supportive, and collaborative environment.
ADVANCE YOURSELF FORWARD
We curate events where opportunities to speak, network and lead aren’t just welcomed, they are encouraged.
CONNECT WITH LEADERS
CHAMPION YOUR PEERS
Explore new deals or connect with others.
We’ve built a place where women champion each other.
GET RESULTS YOU WANT
trailblaze together
ATTEND
Invest in yourself while you network with other trailblazers.
SPEAK
Get behind the podium to advance your career.
SPONSOR
Be the company that walks beside women in your industry.