Lily Chang currently serves as Head of the Project Sunflower Network, where she oversees member development and organizes leadership and professional development programs for its high-caliber female executives.

Lily retired in 2023 after 20 years of experience in private equity, where she built a track record of success in innovative cross-portfolio value delivery.  Lily was a Senior Advisor at Leonard Green & Partners after serving as Chief Portfolio Services Officer.  In that role, she founded the Portfolio Services team and engaged with executives at over 80 portfolio companies during her two decades with the firm. 

As part of her vision for private equity value-add, Lily created a collaborative environment for operators to share best practices.  She launched 22 portfolio working groups spanning CEOs, CFOs, marketing, technology, cybersecurity, legal, HR, supply chain, and more.  Lily created one of the first and one of the largest transportation procurement consortia in private equity, with $100 million+ in annual portfolio value-add.  In addition, she successfully introduced new technologies to her portfolio companies ranging from cyber-security tools to media mix modelling to machine learning/AI.  She worked with market-leading companies including Shake Shack, Lakeshore Learning, Leslie’s Poolmart, Aspen Dental, Petco, BJ’s Wholesale Clubs, Whole Foods, Caliber Collision, and Insight Global.

In 2014, Lily created the LGP Women’s Executive Forum, bringing together executives from the firm, portfolio companies, and investor organizations.  Her reach grew to nine different women’s groups with over 600 members who are supported in their careers and lives through mentoring, leadership development, and professional learning. She has helped launch women’s employee resource groups at over a dozen companies and speaks regularly at summits on topics of leadership and career development. 

Outside of LGP, Lily cofounded PE Network of Operating Women in 2020, which is comprised of women in operating partner and operations roles in private equity.  Lily also cofounded Section W, which brings together the 27% of her Harvard Business School class who are women.

Prior to LGP, Lily served in operating roles with iconic global brands including Procter & Gamble and The Walt Disney Company.  Lily serves on the board of directors of Big 5 Sporting Goods (BGFV), and previously served on the board of JOANN Stores (JOAN).  Lily earned an MBA, with distinction, from Harvard Business School, and a BA in Quantitative Economics from Stanford University.