The Pareto & Company team offers a wealth of financial and operational expertise, along with outside-the-box creativity unmatched by other firms. In addition, we can tap into a deep network of advisors with decades of industry and financial experience to help accelerate the growth of our portfolio companies.
PARTNERS
Cory Sandrock
Cory is the Founder and Managing Partner of Pareto & Company. He is also an adjunct assistant professor of finance and economics at Northwestern University and has lectured at The University of Chicago. His career followed a unique path from theatre and film production to investment banking and private equity, with every role combining his creative approach and robust analytical skills. Cory has managed more than $3 billion in financing transactions and has held financial, operational, and transaction lead roles for Northern Trust, The University of Chicago, UBS, and other companies. He serves as a board director for most Pareto & Company portfolio companies and previously led board governance efforts at other firms. He is also a supporter and former board member of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls as well as GreenMan Theatre Troupe. Cory received a BS in Theatre, cum laude, from Northwestern University, and an MBA in Finance, Accounting, and Economics from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Cory is the Founder and Managing Partner of Pareto & Company. He is also an adjunct assistant professor of finance and economics at Northwestern University and has lectured at The University of Chicago. His career followed a unique path from theatre and film production to investment banking and private equity, with every role combining his creative approach and robust analytical skills. Cory has managed more than $3 billion in financing transactions and has held financial, operational, and transaction lead roles for Northern Trust, The University of Chicago, UBS, and other companies. He serves as a board director for most Pareto & Company portfolio companies and previously led board governance efforts at other firms. He is also a supporter and former board member of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls as well as GreenMan Theatre Troupe. Cory received a BS in Theatre, cum laude, from Northwestern University, and an MBA in Finance, Accounting, and Economics from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Kian Gohar
Kian is a Partner with Pareto & Company. He is also the Founder and CEO of Geolab, a research lab focused on the future of work, with training programs focused on AI and innovation, automation, leadership development, and teamwork transformation. He is co-author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book “Competing in the New World of Work,” and his latest research on Human-AI collaboration was featured in the Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, NPR, and Wall Street Journal. In addition to coaching the leadership teams from Fortune 500 companies, startup unicorns, venture capital firms, and government agencies, Kian has also served as executive director of the XPRIZE Foundation and on the faculty of Singularity University. His early career includes venture capital in London and Shanghai as well as scaling a venture-backed startup in specialty durables and niche manufacturing. Kian graduated from Northwestern University, the London School of Economics, Harvard Business School, and was a Henry Luce Scholar in China.
Kian is a Partner with Pareto & Company. He is also the Founder and CEO of Geolab, a research lab focused on the future of work, with training programs focused on AI and innovation, automation, leadership development, and teamwork transformation. He is co-author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book “Competing in the New World of Work,” and his latest research on Human-AI collaboration was featured in the Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, NPR, and Wall Street Journal. In addition to coaching the leadership teams from Fortune 500 companies, startup unicorns, venture capital firms, and government agencies, Kian has also served as executive director of the XPRIZE Foundation and on the faculty of Singularity University. His early career includes venture capital in London and Shanghai as well as scaling a venture-backed startup in specialty durables and niche manufacturing. Kian graduated from Northwestern University, the London School of Economics, Harvard Business School, and was a Henry Luce Scholar in China.
ADVISORS
William Castellano
Bill started his career as a computer programmer and IBM Systems Engineer, which prepared him for success in IBM mainframe sales and as a leader in the computer leasing industry. After selling his leasing company to Chrysler, he continued to grow the business and was an active director and early investor in The Private Bank. He is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur who has launched successful ventures in the technology and financial services industries.
Jessica Fryer
Jess has more than two decades of senior finance experience including CFO and Director roles for various food, beverage, and CPG companies including Guckenheimer, Stone Brewing, Constellation Brands, Harmless Harvest, and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Her expertise includes long-term planning, financial projections and modeling, budget performance management, business process identification and improvement, and engineering in the technology sector.
Collin Ritter
Collin previously led corporate development and investor relations efforts for multiple Pareto & Company platforms. His background also includes investment banking at UBS, business development roles for TEDx as well as National Public Radio, and innovation/data science research projects as part of the Northwestern Institute of Complex Systems, The Farley Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and FH Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences.
Irwin Steinberg
Irwin is a CPA with four decades of experience in public accounting and management. In 1999 he founded Steinberg Advisors, a comprehensive accounting and consulting company, and grew its annual revenues to $10 million before exiting to a top 20 national accounting firm. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Illinois CPA Society, Young Presidents Organization Gold Chapter, and the Economic Development Commission of Long Grove, Illinois.
Bill started his career as a computer programmer and IBM Systems Engineer, which prepared him for success in IBM mainframe sales and as a leader in the computer leasing industry. After selling his leasing company to Chrysler, he continued to grow the business and was an active director and early investor in The Private Bank. He is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur who has launched successful ventures in the technology and financial services industries.
Jessica Fryer
Jess has more than two decades of senior finance experience including CFO and Director roles for various food, beverage, and CPG companies including Guckenheimer, Stone Brewing, Constellation Brands, Harmless Harvest, and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Her expertise includes long-term planning, financial projections and modeling, budget performance management, business process identification and improvement, and engineering in the technology sector.
Collin Ritter
Collin previously led corporate development and investor relations efforts for multiple Pareto & Company platforms. His background also includes investment banking at UBS, business development roles for TEDx as well as National Public Radio, and innovation/data science research projects as part of the Northwestern Institute of Complex Systems, The Farley Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and FH Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences.
Irwin Steinberg
Irwin is a CPA with four decades of experience in public accounting and management. In 1999 he founded Steinberg Advisors, a comprehensive accounting and consulting company, and grew its annual revenues to $10 million before exiting to a top 20 national accounting firm. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Illinois CPA Society, Young Presidents Organization Gold Chapter, and the Economic Development Commission of Long Grove, Illinois.
