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Jay Anna Harris-Theis
VP Portfolio Excellence
Office
Munich
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Jay joined Earlybird in 2021 as VP People, focusing on HR development within the fund and across its portfolio companies. Based in Munich, she brings over 17 years of experience in talent acquisition, employee development, and global HR, gained at organizations including NavVis, McKinsey, and Allianz.
Her role has since expanded to Portfolio Excellence, supporting portfolio companies across key areas of growth: talent strategy, HR advisory, the adoption of digital tools, expertise sharing through Earlybird’s Catalyst program, cross-functional knowledge sharing across the portfolio, and technology partnerships. As a coach and facilitator, she helps portfolio companies establish and strengthen their HR functions, scale teams, and achieve ambitious recruiting goals.
Jay holds an MSc from the University of Texas and a BSc from Austin College.
Growing up I wanted to become…
a professional basketball player and, later, a WNBA coach.
I am personally interested in…
category-changing founders who hire thoughtfully, give constructive feedback, and empower their teams, creating psychologically safe environments where people can innovate together and with clients. I’m curious about how AI tools can make organizations and our lives faster, more data-driven, and more efficient, and where human judgment and involvement matter most. I’m also interested in how VC platform teams can create measurable value, and in the power of teamwork, mentorship, and sponsorship within and beyond organizations.
From the future I expect…
a digital revolution in almost every process that touches our lives, breaking down geographical, linguistic, and cultural barriers. A mindset shift in how we work & what leaders look like so that we see many more women and/or first generation migrant founders leading startups, companies, departments, and topics.
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