Sumeet is the Founder of HighPoint Associates and directs company strategy. He is dedicated to creating transformational change for HighPoint client partners. His focus on growth has resulted in measurable, positive outcomes, and high rates of client retention. Sumeet’s breadth of experience and keen sense of intuition allow him to partner with clients to identify the roots of their challenges and how best to tackle them.

Prior to founding HighPoint in 2001, Sumeet was the head of Strategy & Business Development at an early stage venture firm that operated at the intersection of technology, media and entertainment. Before that, he served dozens of clients across industry and functional sectors from McKinsey & Company’s New York and Los Angeles offices.

Sumeet holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS from the Wharton School of Business.

Sumeet is based in Los Angeles, where he runs (and runs and runs) almost every morning. After a half-dozen attempts, he gave up on breaking a four-hour marathon and instead now focuses his attention on coaching his son’s sports teams, while cheering on his daughter in skating competitions – and avoiding cursing in front of either of them when his Philadelphia teams let him down…again (save for little blips of happiness in 2018 and 2009).

Richard is a Partner with HighPoint Associates and runs the firm’s East Coast office. He joined HighPoint in 2008 and has since been working with consultants across industries to solve problems, elevate conversations, and deliver breakthrough results.

Prior to joining HighPoint, Richard spent nearly 20 years in a variety of consulting, operating, and start-up leadership positions. Prior to joining HighPoint, he was a principal at Katzenbach Partners, a boutique management consulting firm, where he led client engagements and developed new business in the consumer, healthcare, telecommunications, and financial services sectors. Prior to that, Richard led acquisition and consumer marketing for the largest customer segment within AT&T Wireless. Earlier in his career, he was part of the leadership team at two venture-backed start-ups. He started his career serving in brand management and finance roles at Procter & Gamble.

Richard holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BS from Washington University in St. Louis. He and his wife have two children with whom they enjoy exploring the world.

Kristel is a Partner with HighPoint Associates based in Boston. She joined HighPoint in 2025 and works with consultants across industries to help business leaders develop and communicate strategic plans, operating model shifts, and M&A targets and implementations.

Kristel brings extensive experience in sales and financial management to her role, which she has gained as a Sales Leader and CFO with 25+ years of strategy and management consulting with Accenture and boutique firms. She advises on and leads strategic imperatives such as Market Entry, Sales Force Optimization, Restructuring, and Merger Integrations. She utilizes her expertise and works with consultants to scenario play, to develop change programs, and to implement smart strategic choices.

Kristel holds an M.B.A. in Analytics and Finance from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a B.S. in Chemistry from Wellesley College. Kristel and her husband have two active teenage boys and two beloved rescue dogs. She and  family spend time running, cycling, and skiing (as east coast skiers we believe ice makes you faster).

Justin is Chief Operating Officer and Partner at HighPoint Associates. He devotes much of his time to running internal operations, including HPA partner business development and client delivery support, HR, Finance, contracting, and IT, as well as serves several clients as lead partner.

Prior to joining HighPoint, Justin spent over 20 years in general management, finance, strategy, and marketing leadership roles, first as a senior consultant with Bain & Company, and then in progressive CPG-retail responsibilities at Mattel, Inc.  Most recently, he served as Group CFO and Senior Vice President for Mattel’s Global FP&A, Investor Relations, Commercial Finance, Brand Finance, and Investment Finance organizations.  Previously, Justin helped build out Mattel’s global e-retail and Amazon operations as General Manager of its North America Online business, and headed Mattel’s Corporate Strategy and Development capability.

Justin holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where he was an Austin Scholar, and a BA in Math-Economics from Pomona College.

Justin is based in Los Angeles with his wife and three children. He attempts to maintain a respectable athletic career in all high school / middle-school competitions, and enjoys making music with his family.  When he is not chasing his children’s extracurriculars, you’ll find him cheering on his beloved UConn Huskies basketball teams…or returning to his liberal arts roots with philosophy and theology reading.

Stephen is a Senior Project Leader leading project teams delivering impact for clients. He has 20 years of strategy and operations experience driving large scale programs in transformation, post-merger integration, M&A, and change management across industry sectors.

He is a former McKinsey Associate Principal and leader in the firm’s Operations practice where he led strategy, Lean transformation, post-merger integration, and operations excellence efforts. Stephen then moved to United Technologies where he led strategy and M&A and managed a multibillion-dollar post-merger integration initiative. After United Technologies, Stephen joined Capital One leading a Process Excellence rollout. His more recent roles include VP of Program Management at CSC Service Works, a private equity owned consumer service business, and Chief Transformation Officer at Club Corp, a private equity-owned private clubs and lifestyle business, before taking on a number of transformational HPA leadership opportunities.

Stephen holds a PhD in Physics from University of California, Berkeley, and a BA and MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University.

Stephen is based in Dallas, where he enjoys sailing and serving with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Annika Anbiai-Fard is a Talent and Network Development Associate at HighPoint Associates, where she collaborates with colleagues and HPA Partners to recommend consultants to client projects. She contributes to network development initiatives by recruiting top-tier consultants to the HighPoint network.

Annika earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Los Angeles, with minors in Professional Writing and Film, Television, and Digital Media. At UCLA, she was a news reporter, copy editor, and photographer for the Daily Bruin, highlighting meaningful stories across the campus community. She also served as a top writing editor for BruinLife to lead the university’s online magazine and train qualified candidates for staff positions. During college, she completed numerous internships in business and fundraising, in which she sourced and engaged stakeholders, built strong relationships, and analyzed data to drive insights.

Outside of work, Annika, a Southern California native, enjoys watching beautiful sunsets and running along the beach. She additionally enjoys reading, learning new languages, and spending time with her friends and family.

Chris is an Operations and Finance Associate at Highpoint Associates. In this role, Chris works closely with our Operations Director across a variety of functions to support business operations, including procurement, marketing, office administration, and business development. In addition, he also supports our Controller with financial and accounting matters.

Prior to joining HPA in April 2023, Chris served as a Client Partner Associate for a Los Angeles based agency delivering AR/VR solutions for Fortune 500 companies. Chris also managed day-to-day operations and sales for a premium swing set company in Massachusetts. Chris graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2020 and holds a BA in Finance and Management.

Chris grew up in a small town in Massachusetts and currently resides in Santa Monica, CA. Outside of work Chris enjoys exploring the city for new restaurants, going thrifting at flea markets, staying active, and listening to true crime podcasts.

James is the Vice President of Strategy and Client Development, where he leads strategic initiatives and drives thought partnership across client-facing and internal efforts. He brings a hands-on approach, broad experience, and a knack for connecting the dots to help clients – and HPA – solve complex problems and grow.

James brings over a decade of experience in strategy, operations, and team leadership, with a proven track record of guiding organizations through complex challenges and transformational change. Most recently, James served as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, where he led high-impact projects across crisis management, customer experience enhancement, and procurement redesign for a wide spectrum of Fortune 500 companies and public sector clients.

Prior to McKinsey, James held leadership roles at McMaster-Carr, overseeing large frontline teams and optimizing fulfillment operations across a 250,000+ sq ft warehouse. He began his career as a Special Education teacher through Teach for America – an experience that continues to inform his empathetic, people-first approach to leadership and problem solving.

James holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, a Master’s in Special Education from Loyola Marymount University, and a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley.

James lives in Northridge, CA, and spends his weekends hanging with his wife and friends / family, trying to train his Pomeranian, cheering on L.A. sports teams, and planning his next visit to Yosemite.

Nicolas Changbencharoen is a Business Development and Consulting Associate at HighPoint Associates (HPA), where he works directly with HPA colleagues and leadership to analyze clients’ strategic and operational challenges, develop solutions and recommendations, and drive firm growth.

Nic is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and History. During his time at CMC, he was a Research Assistant at the Keck Center for International and Strategic Relations, and was a John Roth Fellow and assistant at the Mgrublian Center for Human Rights. Nic was also formerly a member of the school’s NCAA Varsity Swim Team.

Prior to joining HPA, Nic worked in roles supporting multinational and Fortune 500 clients across government relations, law, and consulting. He served as a Government Relations Intern at Bracewell LLP in Washington, D.C., supporting policy research and client advocacy efforts, and as a Legal Intern at Tilleke & Gibbins in Bangkok, where he conducted legal research and drafted memoranda on compliance, data privacy, defamation, and labor law matters. Nic also worked on PwC’s Worldtrade Management Services team, analyzing trade policies, tariff classifications, and regional economic trends across Asia.

Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, Nic has lived in California for the past four years. Outside of work, he enjoys playing basketball, exploring the outdoors, and traveling with family and friends.

Solina Chi is the Director of Human Resources at HighPoint Associates, where she drives the firm’s critical talent initiatives. She is particularly focused on supporting the various “moments that matter” across the employee experience journey, from talent acquisition and onboarding to learning and development and performance management.

Prior to joining HighPoint Associates, Solina worked in the Human Capital Advisory practice at KPMG and primarily led organizational change management as well as learning and adoption efforts for organizations across industries. She previously held roles in healthcare organizations, where she has extensive experience building out learning and development programs and partnering with leaders to design toolkits and playbooks aimed to support best practices in improving the care experience.

Solina holds a MA in Industrial Organizational Psychology from New York University and a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine.

Solina is currently based in Torrance, where she enjoys biking, hiking new trails, and training for races by running along the beach. She currently has a goal of running at least one race per year, whether it’s a half marathon or a marathon!

Marcus is a Manager of Business Development & Strategy at HighPoint Associates, supporting the firm’s go-to-market engine through client outreach, pipeline development, market research, and operational streamlining.

Prior to joining HighPoint, Marcus served as a Program Manager at the Center for Corporate Innovation (CCI), where he oversaw business development and operations of peer-to-peer executive groups. More recently, during his MBA studies, Marcus worked as a Summer Consultant at Fifth Season and a Fundraising & Operations Intern at Rideback RISE, where he gained insights into the business side of Los Angeles’ entertainment ecosystem.

Marcus holds an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business and a BA in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Student Manager for the Men’s Basketball team.

Marcus is based in Los Angeles. Outside of work, he can be found splitting his time between two of his passions: filmmaking and sports. He does his best to maintain loyalty to his Ohio sports teams… though some make it easier than others.

As a Business Development Associate at HighPoint Associates (HPA), Nico DeZerega partners with the firm’s leadership and consulting teams to drive growth through targeted research, market analysis, and client-facing initiatives that translate directly into new business opportunities.

Nico earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Boston College’s Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, with a minor in General Business. He was inducted into Omicron Delta Epsilon, the national economics honors society, and his senior honors thesis examined how professional sports franchise relocations affect local housing markets. At BC, Nico served as Assistant Director of Signature Events for the Campus Activities Board, and sat on the executive board of the Boston College Economics Association as chief editor of its academic journal.

Before joining HPA, Nico worked as an Economic Consulting Intern at Bates White, supporting antitrust litigation analysis, and as a Corporate Finance Intern at Freshworks, where he built financial reporting and analysis for the company’s professional services team.

Outside of work, Nico is an avid hiker, a beginner golfer, and a devoted Warriors fan. In his free time, he enjoys chess, being at the beach, and traveling.

Earl is a VP who works closely with HPA Partners and consultants to lead staffing for all HighPoint projects. He also drives network development initiatives to recruit top-tier independent consultants into the HighPoint Network.

In addition to his work within the HPA talent function, Earl continues to contribute across areas including contracting, proposals, business development / marketing, and operations. Earl has worked with HighPoint for over 6 years, initially joining the firm as a Business Development Associate before transitioning to the network development and staffing side of the firm.

Earl holds a BA in International Relations from the University of Southern California. Earl is based in Los Angeles and is originally from North Carolina, where he grew up a fan of and participant in all things sports, with an emphasis on baseball. Today, he is an avid cyclist, golfer, and surfer who also enjoys cooking (especially pizza), and playing music.

Erica Jackey is the Vice President of Business Development at HighPoint Associates. In this role, she leads the Business Development team to collaborate with HPA Partners on go-to-market strategy, lead generation, cultivation of client relationships, and winning project opportunities.

Prior to joining HighPoint, Erica worked in strategy consulting at L.E.K. Consulting and was part of the Tech, Media, Telecom (TMT) practice in LA. She previously held roles in account management and content development at GLG in their New York office. Erica also spent several years as a writing and debate teacher in Hong Kong with Capstone Educational Group.

Erica holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson and a BA from Washington University in St. Louis, where she was a Danforth Scholar and a 6-time All-American in Cross Country and Track & Field.

Erica is based in Los Angeles where she enjoys playing beach volleyball, skiing, and traveling (40+ countries visited). She is one trip away from reaching her goal of visiting all 50 U.S. states (Alaska).

Rojean is a healthcare strategy and operations leader who partners with executive teams to drive clarity, alignment, and measurable impact. She brings more than a decade of experience leading enterprise-wide transformations, organizational redesigns, growth strategies, and large-scale operational improvements across payers, providers, health systems, and digital-health innovators.

Most recently, she has led complex, multi-workstream engagements—including major operational transformations across various healthcare providers, as well as clinician retention and workforce strategy efforts for large FQHCs. She has also supported virtual care companies with provider referral strategy development.

Previously, Rojean served as Senior Director at SCAN Health Plan, where she led corporate strategy and healthcare services initiatives, shaping enterprise growth priorities and cross-functional execution. Before SCAN, she held multiple senior roles at UCLA Health, overseeing international business development, strategic program marketing, and large-scale partnerships across the health system. She also spent time at L.E.K. Consulting supporting healthcare strategy, M&A diligence, and provider-focused operating models.

Rojean holds a BA from UCLA and a Master of Public Health from Columbia University. She also serves on the boards of LA Jewish Health (formerly the Jewish Home for the Aging) and Gateways Mental Health Hospital.

She is based in Los Angeles, where she loves spending time with her family, her husband, and their dog Tito.

Tom joined HighPoint Associates as a Business Development (BD) Associate in June 2024. As a member of the BD team, he collaborates with fellow associates and HPA partners to propel the firm’s growth through tactical initiatives and strong client relationships. Tom also supports consultant teams to deliver strategic solutions and accelerate client success.

Tom earned his BA from Claremont McKenna College, where he dual majored in Biology and Economics. His interest in these sectors led to a senior thesis project where he worked as a student consultant for Alexion Pharmaceuticals, focusing on minimizing waste and optimizing their clinical supply chain. Outside of academics, Tom was a member of the NCAA Division 3 Football Team for CMS and a Claremont McKenna College Senator.

Before joining HPA, Tom held a variety of roles across academia and business. These experiences include working as a research intern at the UCSF Institute of Regeneration Medicine, where he focused on developing more effective treatments for musculoskeletal diseases. He also served as a business strategy and development fellow at Share Ventures, where he was essential in driving strategy and development for their health and wellness eCommerce startup.

Tom grew up in a military family and has lived in many states on the East Coast. Before moving to California for college, he and his family resided in New Hampshire. Outside of work, Tom spends his time weightlifting and playing sports with friends. You will find him mostly on the basketball and pickleball courts, but he also loves to golf, hike, and explore new places.

Juliya Makhanov is a Business Development Associate at HighPoint Associates and a recent graduate of Scripps College with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Studies and a minor in Mandarin Chinese. Throughout her time at Scripps, she developed a strong interest in organizational strategy, leadership, and business design. Her senior thesis explored how intentional organizational practices can foster community, inclusivity, and meaningful human connection through innovative business models.

Prior to joining HPA, Juliya gained experience across strategy, human resources, and operations. As a Business Strategy Intern at Foxino in Prague, she conducted market research and competitor analysis to support strategic growth initiatives. She also completed a Human Resources internship with Target, contributing to talent development, employee engagement, and operational projects. In addition, Juliya served as Co-Head Manager of Motley Coffeehouse, where she led a team of 60 student employees, oversaw day-to-day operations, streamlined training processes, and helped cultivate a collaborative workplace culture.

Originally from Spokane, Washington, Juliya recently relocated to Los Angeles. Outside of work, she enjoys discovering new coffee shops, watching documentaries, learning new languages (she has studied 7 so far), traveling, and spending time outdoors. Having studied abroad and worked internationally, Juliya enjoys learning from different cultures and perspectives.

Denise is a Senior Director of Operations and Finance at HighPoint Associates.  She oversees the day-to-day internal operations with a focus on client contracting, insurance, forecasting, and partnering with the Controller on invoicing and consultant payroll processes. She also manages special projects and technology enablement, and leads PMO efforts.

Prior to joining HighPoint, Denise enjoyed a 25-year career with Mattel that spanned various functions such as corporate FP&A, financial reporting, treasury, brand finance, European finance, indirect procurement, and licensing finance.  Most recently, she was a consultant at American Honda Finance Corporation leading an indirect procurement purchase-to-pay system implementation.

Denise holds an MBA from the University of Southern California Business School and a BA in Finance from California State University, Fullerton.

Denise is based in Los Angeles with her husband and three kids.  She is the biggest cheerleader and videographer of her kids when they’re climbing hills on the dusty cross country trails, driving the basket on the basketball court and running 3,200 meters on the track.  She enjoys her annual trips to Maui and Napa Valley.

Arvin is a Manager of Client Development at HighPoint Associates, where he supports the firm’s growth by developing strategic proposals, conducting executive and market research, advancing AI driven business development initiatives, and partnering with leadership to deliver tailored solutions for clients. He pairs rigorous research with a builder’s instinct, turning analysis into practical tools and materials that move engagements forward.

Arvin brings a strong foundation in economic analysis, strategy, and data driven problem solving. Prior to HighPoint, he worked as a consultant at Resolution Economics, advising clients on complex labor and employment matters and using data driven analysis to support litigation, regulatory compliance, and workforce strategy. Before Resolution Economics, Arvin was an Associate at Secretariat Economists in New York, where he supported high stakes litigation and regulatory matters across intellectual property, antitrust, and securities disputes.

Arvin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Boston College.

Based in Los Angeles, Arvin spends his time going on long walks, seeking out unique jazz clubs and comedy shows, rooting for New York teams from across the country, and spending time with new and old friends alike.

Seanna is a Business Development Associate at HighPoint Associates (HPA), working closely with fellow Associates and Leadership to strengthen client relationships and drive firm growth. She contributes to internal development efforts while also supporting consulting teams to deliver tailored solutions across a range of industries.

Seanna earned her BA from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied Public Affairs and Entrepreneurship. As part of her senior capstone, she worked across marketing and sales with Green Econome, a boutique environmental consulting firm, to develop a go-to-market strategy. She also participated in the Social Entrepreneurship Academy, where her nonprofit business plan placed second in a competitive pitch event. Outside the classroom, she was a member of the UCLA Cheerleading Team.

Since 2021, Seanna has also founded and operated Hollywood Tumble & Cheer (HTC), a private coaching business in Los Angeles. She built the company from the ground up, managing branding, website design, marketing, and client acquisition. HTC has experienced consistent year-over-year growth and now employs multiple coaches throughout the LA area.

Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Seanna has called Los Angeles home for the past five years. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, sunsets, and cooking vegan recipes. Plus, she is a passionate traveler – visited 32 countries and counting.

Elizabeth is the Talent Development Specialist at HighPoint Associates where she is responsible for bringing high quality independent consultants into the HPA network. She is a key point of contact for the consultants that drive HighPoint’s success and their champion for client project engagements.

Prior to joining HighPoint in 2021, Elizabeth was a consultant herself at Accenture and led recruiting efforts for Bain & Company.  Her extensive talent development and recruiting background includes work with Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios, LegalZoom, NBC Universal and Dreamwork Studios. She holds a BA in Communication Studies with a Business Emphasis from the University of California, Los Angeles.

A native of Los Angeles, she now splits her time between Atlanta and Southern California. Outside of HighPoint, you can find her working in film, TV, and voiceover as an actor and following her real estate investing passion.

Estelle Potdevin is a Senior Associate of Marketing & Business Operations at HighPoint Associates. At HPA, she focuses on scaling the go-to-market engine, owning key marketing and business development initiatives while driving operational excellence across cross-functional teams.

Prior to joining HPA, Estelle led program operations and community strategy for a Los Angeles-based startup accelerator. She owned the full programmatic lifecycle, from curriculum design through outcomes reporting and alumni engagement. On the community side, she managed event design and execution, mentorship programming, and ecosystem partnerships.

Estelle holds an MS in Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Innovation and a BBA in Management & Leadership from Loyola Marymount University, where she consulted for several startups and won two national pitch competitions.

Based in the South Bay, Estelle enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing beach volleyball, and working on her latest sewing projects.

Nikesh is an Associate within the Business Development Team at HighPoint Associates (HPA), where he collaborates closely with fellow associates and HPA partners to foster the firm’s growth through initiatives that cultivate enduring client relationships. Nikesh also supports consultant teams to deliver strategic solutions and accelerate execution for clients.

A graduate of the University of California, Irvine, Nikesh holds a B.S. in Business Information Management. At UCI, he held leadership roles and made significant contributions to the Undergraduate Finance Association and 180 Degrees Consulting, a premier university-based consultancy for nonprofits and social enterprises.

Nikesh’s professional journey reflects diverse experiences spanning consulting, financial services, technology, startups, and law. Before joining HPA, he served as an M&A Consulting Intern at West Monroe, performing buy-side diligence work for prominent private equity firms, refining his skills and deepening his industry understanding.

Originally from Nepal and raised in the Bay Area, Nikesh currently resides in Los Angeles. Outside of work, he enjoys staying informed about the startup and venture capital ecosystem, exploring the diverse offerings of Los Angeles, enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking and tennis, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Talia Tizabi is a Business Development Associate at HighPoint Associates (HPA), where she works alongside firm leadership and fellow Associates to support business development initiatives, strengthen client relationships, and contribute to the delivery of strategic solutions across a range of industries.

Talia graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology & Society with minors in both Public Health and Entrepreneurship.
Prior to joining HPA, Talia gained experience across business development, strategy, and marketing at startups and growth-stage companies. She supported go-to-market strategy, competitive research, and physician outreach at NeuroKaire, a precision medicine biotechnology company, and held business development roles at Seegnal and POIZON Global.

Beyond her professional experience, Talia has pursued several entrepreneurial ventures. She founded and operated Camp Bloom, a summer sports camp for girls, for two consecutive summers, and also launched Blue Hanger, an online clothing resale business.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Talia enjoys hiking, traveling, cooking, playing basketball, and long-distance running, including completing the Los Angeles Marathon.

Tom is the Controller at Highpoint Associates. He oversees the Accounting/Finance operations and manages the firm’s financial statements, payroll, budget, and tax compliance process.

Prior to joining HighPoint, Tom spent over 13 years in Public Accounting and industry accounting with internal audit consulting roles at Protiviti and RSM focusing on internal audit and SOX compliance consulting, and an external audit role focusing on Banking/Asset Management audit at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Tom most recently served as the Audit/Accounting Manager at MGM Resorts International, where he managed a team of eight accountants performing month-end closing and auditing work for MGM’s ten subsidiaries.

Tom holds an MS in Finance from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a BS in Accounting from USC Leventhal School of Accounting, and a BS in Business Administration from USC Marshall School of Business.

Tom is based in Los Angeles with his wife and two children. Tom enjoys exploring nature with his kids on the weekend and having Chinese hotpot with his family at least twice a month, and KBBQ at least once a month.

Jaylen Williams is a Talent and Network Development Senior Associate at HighPoint Associates (HPA), where he collaborates with fellow colleagues and HPA Partners to recommend the best-fit consultants across client projects. In addition, he contributes to network development initiatives by recruiting top-tier consultants into the HighPoint network.

Prior to joining HPA, Jaylen began his career at Goldman Sachs as a Business Partner within the firm’s Human Capital Management division. At Goldman Sachs, he supported key global people processes for more than 5,000 engineering and risk management employees, including promotions, performance reviews, talent assessments, HRIS reporting, and leadership development programs. He also served as a Client Solutions Associate at Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG). In this role, he interfaced with clients at top US Management Consulting firms to support due diligence and market research studies by owning end-to-end recruiting processes for specialized searches across fintech and private equity.

Jaylen earned his BA in Social Sciences with an Emphasis in Psychology from the University of Southern California (USC). At USC, he was a member of the outdoor club, SCOutfitters, and a scout player for the USC women’s basketball program. During his senior year, Jaylen was selected as the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences flag bearer, leading his class at graduation.

Originally from Indiana, Jaylen now brings his Midwest charm and values to the HPA team. Outside of work, Jaylen is a consistent moviegoer who loves a good scare, enjoys both watching and playing tennis, indulges himself in the fantastic LA food scene, and takes pride in his bowling skills (courtesy of his Midwest roots).

Kristi Wu is a Consulting and Business Development Associate at HighPoint Associates, where she works closely with fellow Associates and HPA Leadership to support consulting engagements and drive firm growth. She brings a technical edge to her work, applying her skills in programming and data analysis to deliver insights while building strong relationships across clients and teams.

Kristi earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Business Administration from the University of Southern California. At USC, she was an active member of Ascend, a professional business organization, and LavaLab, USC’s student-run startup incubator, where she developed an entrepreneurial mindset and collaborated with peers to bring innovative ideas to life.

A Southern California native, Kristi was born and raised in the LA area and is happy to call it home. Outside of work, she loves watching movies, playing card games with friends, and traveling.

Wesley is a Senior Operations Manager at HighPoint Associates, orchestrating firmwide operations and driving efficiency throughout the firm. He works with Leadership to streamline internal processes, oversees HPA’s CRM and analytics dashboards, and drives special projects.

Before joining HPA, Wesley served as an Operations Associate at Bregal Sagemount, a growth-focused private equity firm based in NYC, where he supported business development functions and firmwide operations. Prior to Sagemount he was an EA managing projects within Heidrick & Struggles’ Global Healthcare & Life Sciences practice, and with Investors Trust, a boutique wealth management firm in Newport Beach specializing in commercial real‑estate investments.

Wesley holds a BA in English, Critical Theory from the University of California, Irvine. A Southern California native, Wesley is currently based in Los Angeles, where he devotes most of his free time to golfing, exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants, discovering new music & movies, or spending time with his dog.

Zach Zawacki is a Business Development Associate at HighPoint Associates (HPA), where he works alongside colleagues and HPA partners to propel the firm’s growth through high-impact initiatives, research, and client collaboration. He also partners with consulting teams to deliver insight-driven strategies that advance client outcomes.

Zach earned his Bachelor of Science in Management from Boston College’s (BC) Carroll School of Management (CSOM) with a concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and a minor in Managing for Social Impact and the Public Good. During his time at BC, he was the president of the Fulton Leadership Society, a student run continuation of CSOM’s Honors Program. He was also in the Campus Activities Board, where he put on various events for the student body, Best Buddies, and was a devoted Intramural Sports Athlete.

Before joining HPA, Zach gained experience in marketing, strategy, and consulting. He worked as a Strategic Marketing Intern at Data Axle, where he developed research on generative AI, programmatic media campaigns, and attribution analyses. He also served as a Health and Benefits Consultant at Mercer in Nashville, supporting clients in analyzing benchmarking data to provide cost-saving solutions, populating a contact database for client/vendor outreach, and organizing a charity event for the office to donate cleaning supply kits to foster homes.

Outside of work, Zach, a lifelong Californian, loves to travel, cook (eat), and explore the outdoors. In his free time, he plays beach volleyball, weightlifts, surfs, and serves the communities around him through volunteering.